The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-11-28

chair opposite hers was empty. The eeiocS
on the mantel struck nine. Il had mark
ed the halfhour, she remembered, justas
the first brands fell together. 1t had been
a dream, then. She shiyered and came
back to reality, lighted a lamp, fed the
dying FIRE, and returned 10 her new grief.
Now, because that lace had been 80 real,
her gIadness 50 deep, and now it was lost
once more, with a fresh bereavement.
But though the tears fell hopelessiy and
fast from her eyes. and her heart ached
anew with rebellious anguish, still his
words kept recurring to her. She had
not thought of that before. There were
other widows, no doubt-oihers sorrow
ing with her sorrow, in kind, if not in
| degree. She remembered several whom
she had visited in her charitable rounds.
and was startled to remember how she
had passed their sorrows BY without any
real sympathy. A sense of companion
ship stole upon her, as il, suddenly wre <
ed on some desert shore, she had met
with beings of her own race after long,
lonely weeks of silence and despair.
Then the thought flashed across her
1 that these women must dread the reeur-
renee of Thanksgiving, just as she did.
Why could she not ask them all to keep
the day with her?
She fell asleep thinking the matter
/ over, and awoke in the morning with
sharne-faced sense of some light and in
terest creeping into her life, hitherto so
sscredly wretehed. Then she remember
ed her dream-her husbands sad, grave
face Perhaps she had done wrong in
mourning him SO deyotedly that ever her i
children had to be set aside from their
place. Possibly it would please him bet
ter if she carried out her plan.
When the mornings duties were full
filed. she sat down again by the fire
not to dream now, but to plan for action.
But whom should she invite For she
began TO see that Mrs. BFoome, who lived
on the fourth story Of tenement house,
and earned a precarious living, would
hardly be a lit companion, at dinner, for
Mrs Graves, whose husband had lefl her
a large fortune.
A text from the Bible flashed into her
mind When thou nIakest feast call
the poor, the manned, the lame, and the
blind.n With a thrill in her darkened
soul, she recognized the Masters call.
She was sincere Christian but her love
and her great loss had come between her
and her duty. The question as to her
guests was settled, and, in the afternoon.
she set out on her errand. She selected
six poor widows, who would probably
not have feasted, but tasted at their own
homes. Mrs. Saybrook felt teat there
was weight off her mind, and felt also
that she had been happier and better
woman for the last week. The children !
entered joyfully into the idea ofa Thanks
giving so novel, and all the more that !
their mother told them, with trembling
lips -s.-
"Papa would like IT.
At last the festival day came Mrs |
Broome, smiling in her new cap, and |
Mrs. Perkins, trying to book blandly in
different, were the first to arrive. Then |
the carriage made second trip, bringing |
lame Mrs. Hutchins, very meek in her al |
paca gown Mrs. Peek, proudly stepping I
along, and Aunt Hannah Bromield, as
"genteel as she could make herself in /
new muslin neckerchief. Widder John
son lived round the corner, 50 came on
foot, entering with new ear trumpet in /
her hand, and her face radiazt and smil- /
ing
The dinner proved great success. The /
baby of the house sat in his high-chair 1
by mamma; but the elder boy and girl |
waited on the guests and enjoyed their
office.
Them issweet children ofyour'n, Mis-
Saybrook," sighed Mrs, Broome. My. I
if I'd had chick or child, twould've been
such a blessin''
That's so,' ehined in Mrs Perkins
" 1 had two on EN-, to be sure, when Per-
kins was took but they want no com
fort TO speak OF, for they went and had /
diptheery inside of six months, and one
of 'em died right off, jest as sudden. The
other one held by iquite spell, but she
was the miserablest you ever see. could
not feel to keep her here a mite longer.
wanted her to get rest and easement
so.
Mrs Saybrook's arm stole about little
Willie, and Mrs. Hutehins remarked very
gently
4" l expect folks each has their special
troubles. / can't but remembe er when Jo-
siah died and lett me nigh about helpless
with hip-trouble-ani young babe, too.
1t did seem is though nobody ever had.
or could have, no afiliction like mine, but
somehow got along, and found that
there was others quite as bad off as was,
and the Lord helps the lame andpooT,"
smile and tear together set their bright
seal TO this confession of faith.
Well" said Mrs. Peck, with an audi
ble sniff and hard voice, didn't
think was the worst off that ever was
when Peck died. He was drinkin' man.
| didn't know nothin' of it when was
married. He had the tremens three times
and died ont, and l went out a-sewin' to
keep body and soul together. l could
have takep care of myself ef my eyes
hadn't give out a spell ago"
Mrs. Saybrook regarded her with inf
mite pity.
" You don't none OF We hev jest my tri-
al" said Aunt Bromfeld. Tom Brom-
field was fust mate to a whalin' ship wen
we wus married. My sakee, how lively
he was He had money, too. We was
cal well of. Twas kind o. harrowin TO
hev him up an off for three years voy-
age right away, and then ne didn't stay
home no time when he did come but
had twins ter to show him when he came
back ftist, and you never see a man so
pleased. Well, them boys was company
for me, you'd better believe. They was
always talkin' about whales and harpoon-
ers, and he'd their little ships a-sailin' in
the pools 1t makes me laugh now to
think Of their tricks And Aunt Han
nah drew her red silk handkerchief