River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1888-11-29


into her old black pocket-booz with a gh
which was far from fest We
The wind gave mournful little chirrup
a il came around the corner OF the old
house, and Mss Mandy shiyered and drew
her fadei shawl close around her
renumatc shoulders as she replied: My,
my. Serena, TO think of Us coming down
to bread and milk for a Thanksgiving
dinner declare it's enough TO make the
bones OF the Bueils rattle in their graves
Il they knew of TT
Wen hope they don't. said Miss Serena.
as ste rose to put her money in the bureau
drawer, ght hand corner, and tucked IN
der pile Of innocent looking handker-
chiefs Father Buell. Thought he was
leaving Us provided for life when he made
that will and here we are so poor that it's
3 temptation 70 thiEk Of selling the cat''
selling the cLt!' echped Hiss Mandy, in
\ shriLl tone of surprise "Sel Thomas
Jefferson! You must becrazy. Serena, and,
besides, who's a buying catsFi
Captain Thompson offered me a dollar
Tor him Yesterday. Tie had heard what a
sp.end d m0user lIe is, aud Iis big house
up there is Just 0verruu with mice -
Eve might rcu' him or lend him for an ac-
commodatiou. but ssI him, 'Lecta's Thomas
Jefferson. no. and Miss Mandv's foot
tapped down cmpha,ically on the bare
hoor
The old house had been comfortably
carTeted in tines past, but in the sitting
room holes and patches had become the
rule and carpet the exception, and when
Miss Mandy had nearly sprained her ankle
by catching her toe IN one of the dilapida-
tiCus, they tore IL up IN disgust and con-
verted it into bed for Thomas jefferson
in the woodshed but winter was coming
on and the bare floor was far from com
Portable for the rheumatic bones Of the
poor old sisters.
Some kind soul had given them a gailv-
braided rug which they laid III the warm
sst corner by the stove, lowering over it as
they sat IN their rocking chairs to knit on
unusually cold days; stiI il was a very
poor apology for the warmth and comfort
Df carpet
''POOr 'Lectar' said Miss Serena 'sWell.
she's where she don't need any Thanksgiv-
ing dinner" and her eyes WANDERED to
ward the window through which could be
seen the tops Of tall shafts Of marble out
lined against the wintry horizon Il was
the village burial ground and only six
weeks before ElectI, the youngest Of the
. sisters. lad been laid 20 rest there.
= l wonder If the mansions IN Heaven
have carpets and nice furniture; 10 hope
50. ami that there'Il be something like lace
curta rs. for have always wanted some
rel lace curtains, and I've never seen any
set shat Just suited my idea" and Miss
Mandy's eyes rested disapprovinglv on the
windows. the well worn and faded shades
Of which conveyed no impress sion OF
beauty 70 her mind. She had a weakness
for lace, and in the chiIdishuess Of age
might easily have been eNtravagant in
gratifying her tastes had she the oppor-
tunitv But ] never expect to have them
now this side O. Heaven"
La, Mandy. how you do talk, and Mss
Serena shook her heal reprovingly, "as If
the Lord would spend His time making
lace curtains or as If there is any thing
real in them
Wen. and why shouldn't there be.
Serena Buclls Isn't this world Just full Of
POOR folks. who have never had the chance
20 use the sparkling diam nds or the gilt
tcring gold, aud all the beautiful things
He mas furnished material for and given
people the understanding 20 make: and
why shou dn't they have heir chance after
their hard work and their pinch ng and
sCrimpiuE is Cver3''
Miss Serena stared az her sister in
amazcment, the idea was 50 entirely novel
that she hid nc words in which 10 combat
II even u she had the de sire Her eyes
fell after moment. and size meckly raised
q stick Of wood and added il 10 the wan
ing fire.
e. I 10 hope. she said, rcflcctively, ''that
tberc'u be water in Heaven. for I've al
ways Iouged for a sea voyage and I'm
never 50 perfectly happy rs when looking
OF on a sheet OF water; such a soothing
restful feeling comes over me, Mandy
can't explain why but it's nature ard I
can't help H.
'tOf course there'il he water there, 8"
replied Mss Mandy. briskly. She had
cherished these oddly uuorthodox ideas for
some time, but IN secret. fearing her sis
TER would laugh at them Doesn't IL