Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-11-26
THE SQUIRB'S MOTHER.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

ILL OQO1lGu ~ 11O IL
A THANKSGIVING STORY.
"what fools people ars" said Squire
Sabbcrton, with short, contemptuou'
laugh.
He had stopped in the village store
to settle his monthly account pro-
ccedings in which he was as regular as
the change Of the moon or the southing
of the sun.
And while he stood waiting for his
bill, he could not but observe the
maneuvres Of honest John Johnson,
the carpenter, as he hagged and bar
gained, and choapened, a pair Of skinny
little turkeys, the smallest Of Job Platts
heap; and finally, having completed
what seemed to him suitable compro-
mise, bore it off in triumph, its blue
legs protruding from the end of his
ragged market basket.
"Guess they be, squire, as a general
thing" observed Mr.. Platt, the proprie-
tor Of the village store. 'But what put
it into your head to say 50 jest nowP
'Lool< at that IDIOT, Johnson" said
the squire, with asp3rity. Cant hardly
keep soul and body together, he's so
poor. Got a wife and Lord knows how
many children; and there he is fooling
away his money on a turkey, just when
turkey meat is higher What's turkey
to him2 Pork is a deal cheaper and
beef contains 20 per cent. more Of nutri-
tion to the pound.
81 guess likely he wants a Thanksgiy-
ing" said Platt. ''H res your receipt
squire"
'Humph" observed the squire, as he
folded up the slip of paper, and placed
it in one of the compartments of his
pocletbooz. 81 can eat most anything
on THANKSGIVING Day and be thankful
for it, too"
job Platt grinned and made no re-
sponsc; but. when the squire's heavy
boot heels had ground themselves away
over the dusk road, he shrugged his
shoulders.
"If ever too much money has spilled
a man, said he, sit has spilled Squire
Sabberton. lie don't b'lieve in nothln'
but the almighty dollar"
1t was trueLSquire Sabberton was
the richest man in the village. But was
lie the hoppiest1
'Your father won't ike it." he heard
his meek little wife say, in remonstra-
tive voice, as he crossed the threshold
of his handsome brick house that night.
Father never likes anything but
work." said Minnie Sabberton, i'm
patiently. 1--WE might as well be as
poor as the poorest mill girls in the
factory for all the fun we have"
'Every ono else is sending out invita-
tions for Thanksgiving Day." added
Rosalind, the second daughter; "but
we are neither allowed to go, nor to
have company at home. Mother, if
father was dead, could we keep our
Thanksgiving Day"
"Hush, child, hush!' said Mrs Sab
berton with a scared glance over her
shoulder Don't you know how wicked
it is to talk so2'
But the squire had no opportunity to
reprove his daughter, for just then the
doctor came down stairs.
Old Mrs. Sabberton was ailing--had
been ailing for some time. She was not
confined to her bed, but she was ylsibly
drooping, and no one could suggest a
reason
If there was one strong feeling in Squire
sabberton's heart it was affection for his
old mother lie had brought her vi
from the old house on the ea-girt Rhode
Island coast, where the apple-trees all
leaned away from the east wind, and the
meadows were fringei with the fiat,
stunted growth of the savin bushes, and
had established her in the luxurious best
bedroom Of the new brick house.
"There amt nothing in my house toe
good for my mother" said the squire,
rubbing his hands.
And he could not understand why il
was that his mother had not taken
kindly to the change.
How is she to-day, doctorl7 h,
asked
"About the same" the doctor
answered." about the same. I cant
say she's worse, but she certainly isn't
better no, no better" mechanically
stroking his plump, welI-shaven chin.
''But, doctor" said the squire, with
perturbed face, this won't do. l cam
have her running down like this; she'
my mother, you know Can't do some
thing to cheer her upl-to sort o'turI
the current, you know7"
A salutary change of some sort would
not be amiss,n conceded the medica
man. "And to tell you the truth
squire, think she is pining after tn
habits and associations of her youth.
She misses the good old ceremonies of
Thanksgiving Day."
The squire involuntorily started.
Was this fetish Of vulgar observance
thus to start up before him all the days
Of his lifel