The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-11-27
CHAffY MACDONALD'S THANKSGIVING RIDE.
BY AGNES CARR SAGE.

BY AGNES CARR SAGE.
1.-The long storm is over at last, but
how the wind does blow" remarked
Jessie Macdonald, glancipg out of the
window at the rapidly scudding clouds
overhead
eyes, we shall have cold day for
Thanksgiving" replied her mother;
and she sighed as an unusually fierce
blast shook the old red frame house,
and her thoughts flew to her absent
husband, who, if still in the land Of the
living, was probably tossing about on
the high, tempestuous seas. But near
ly year had elapsed since any news
had been heard of brave, warm-heart-
ed Sandy Macdonald, and a vague
fear, as we'll as the gaunt wolf Power
ty, was stealthily but surely creeping
into the little household OF women and
children, waiting and watching for the
son, husband and father among the
fair New England hills.
"Aye, aye; tomorrow is Thanksgiv-
ing, sure enough" chimed in the old
Scotch grandmother. SANDY loved
the day as weel as though ne were
born Yankee like you, Susan but I'm
thinking it will be q sorry least we'll
have this year, with him away and
ne'er a pasty in the pantry, nor a
bubblyiock Scotch for turkey in the
barnyard."
eyes, the luck of the MacDonalds
sailed away IN the Heather Bell " re-
sponded her daughter-in-law, sadly.
do you mean, mother, that we are
to have no Thanksgiving dinner at
all?" cried 13year-old Chatty, who
at that moment appeared.
Corn beef and cabbage, perhaps,
but there is no money to spend on
delicacies. Mrs. Peterkin promised
me a young turkey, but the weeks
storm has prevented my sending for it. ="
Let me go now, then" exclaimed
Chatty.
"Why, child you would be blown
away" said her mother, while Jessie
shivered, saying, "Tom-boys may like
such things, but | would not stir out
to-day for all the turkeys in the coun-
try"
"Oh Pm strong" laughed Chatty,
and love to feel as though | was
leaf tossed about by the wind. Then
| have an errand OF my own. / want
to call on Mrs. Jellife and ask her for
two or three OF her crickets, Dan says
they are overrun with"
"Cricketsl And what would you
do with them?" asked Jessie.
"Let them sing on the hearth, of
course. They sound so CHEEKY; and
besides, you know, they are said to
bring good luck to q house; and Pm
Wa nna1 ~ hoI
But the Jellife farm Is half mile
farther than the Peterkin's and be-
yond the railroad bridge" protested
her mother.
81 shall not mind that if l can get
my lucky crickets, aud / will stop for
the turkey on my way back. Do let
me go, mamma dear"
Mrs. Macdonald could rarely refuse
any request OF bonny, authenticated
Chatty, and she now yielded, although
reluctantly.
"1ou must wear my plaid, then,
bairnie," said the grandmother, and
she hobbled off to bring her tartan
scarf-a relic OF her early home in the
land Of "hills and braes and wrapped
it about the bright head and slender
figure, crossing, and tying it carefully
behind
Five minutes later, then, Chatty
was speeding up the country road,
fairly flying indeed, for the wind was
in her back and helped her on her way.
''Chatty should have been a bow
Sandy Macdonald had often said; and
fragile, ladylike Jessiefrequently found
fault with her young sister for climbing
trees and fences, playing ball with the
country lads, and even INDUCING in
stolen rides on the bare backs of the
horses which had been turned out to
pasture by neighboring farmers. She
was indeed fearless little horse
woman, and her most ardent desire
was to own q spirited animal OF her
very own.
''If father would but come home, it
would be the best Thanksgiving we
could have; for he has been gone so
long-so very long more than eight
cen months, +" said the girl to herself,
as she turned into lonely road lead
ing to the river; and q rush OF tears
binding her eyes as she thought it
might be they should never see the gal
liant captain of the Heather Bell
again. "But what is that ?' A rush
ing, roaring sound fell on her ears,
and, wondering, Chatty hurried for
ward until, on reaching the railroad
bridge that IN secludedspot SPAWNED
the Five Forks, q scene osdevastation
suddenly burst upon her view.
The heavy November rains-longer
and more severe than had been known
IN many years-had swollen the small
river to an enormous height. 1t had
oyertiowed the banks, and now ap.
peared broad and really imposing
stream, that rushed turbulently along.
bearing on it's heaviug bosom a
motley mass OF tiotsam and ietsam
that 1t was whirling angriIy onward
towards the sea.
why, the water is nearly UP to the
railing " exclaimed Chatty in surprise,
as with some misgivings she stepped
upon the weather-beaten old bridge
and picked her way along the iron
track. There was no danger OF a train
at this hour; but it was rather fright
tul to hear that seething, boiling tor
rent directly beneath her and feel the
wooden structure vibrate and culver
like acreature in distress. 1t was with
sigh of relief that she touched
Mother earth once more and FASTENED
up the hill to the Jellife farm, for there
was not another person in sight, most
OF the men and boys OF tie rural dis.
trict having gone 70 assist at the
village, where there was serious APP
prehension OF an overflow and much
destruction OF property.
Chatty found the usually cheerful,
busy farmers vile standinaid idly by her
kitchen window. She welcomed her