Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1888-11-22
PILLS THANKSGIVING.

II
should be continually sparing the boy
TO him. when he refuses all our invita-
tions, and lives like hermit !"
"But Phil likes the old place, and
Uncle Max, too, with all his queer
ness" answered Mr.. Shepherd. look
ing up from his magazine. when he
begins himself to rebel against these
yearly visits, we will put an end to
them at once; but, Helen, doubt very
much If you would deny that lonely old
man the bit of brightness our boy
brings into his life"
So Phil went-a ''bit of brightness, :"
as his father had said-into the dreary
old house amongst the mines, where
Uncle Max watched, day after day, the
great masses of black coal come forth,
knowing that each lump meant more
gold to add to the pile he kept so safe.
What had drawn the old man, who
30 persistently stunned all companion.
ship, to the merry, light hearted boy,
no one could tell. Perhaps it was that
the light in Philips brown eyes, or the
ring of his merry laughter, carried
him back to days which no one gave
him credit for remembering-days
when Thanksgiving meant more thar
a comfortable, old-fashioned dinner, in
dining-room lar tc o large and empty
for one old man.
Philip came on Tuesday morning.
The cold afternoon he spent down by
the shafts, hunting up his old friends
among the miners, and poking in and
out of the most inaccessible places
with the new engineer.
mike" he said to a rough work.
man who had stretched out his hands
TO help him over dangerous passage,
''has it been good yearfn
"Ay, ay!-for the master, young
sir; but it's hard work and poor pay
for the men, and no end on it either
But" continued Phil, stopping to
rub bit of coal-dust off his Norfolk
jacket, ''when the mines make more
money, don't you get more payp"
Hear the boy!n laughed the miner.
ats no divide work, iaddie. We're
no in partnership wi the master"
"An' it's well for ye,N spoke up an
old man standing near, his shoulders
bent with the heavy work the years
had brought him, THAT We ken little !
o. it all. Ay! it's the place that
brushes the life out o. mon. I've |
seen laddies like yourself come singin'
into the mines, but it's na use; the
song dies out! There's ma singin' wi
hungry mouths at hame to FILL"
Come, come, Sandy; it's not the /
lads fault that it's a weary world,
broke in Mikes cherry voice. MAS
ter Philip, as We start towards home I
stop at my door, and my woman will T
gle We the queer stones I've been saw
ing for We this year. Ye must ma mind
Landy's words, boy" he went on in
lower tone Hes hard and bitter
since the fever-time last winter, when
we saw them go just O. hunger and
cold. He buried two fine lads then,
and it's kind o. dazed him since; but
it's bright world for We, laddie, and
We belong to that half of it.
1.-TWO halves to It'll" Phil wondered
over it as he walked home in the gath
ering twilight over the barren fields.
His half-and theirs! He had stopped
minute at Mikes door, to have his
pockets filed with fossils and crystals
Through the open door he could see
into the little room. Even in the dim
light it looked cold and bare. Mikes
crippled boy sat by the fire, and three
pale-faced children were playing on the
floor. This was the other half of Gods
world
That night he sorted his specimens
carefully as he sat by Uncle Max after
tea.
I'm going to send Dick some by
mail tomorrow. He'll like them for
'Agassiz.' Got bit of paper. Uncle
Max? Mrs. Dent gave me a box. |
think I'll write on the outside: From
Phil. A Thanksgiving present" J
The pen scratched on a few minutes, /,
and Uncle Max read his paper without
Suddenly Pills hand
was laid on his arm.
''Look, Uncle Maxi / never thought
of this before. Thanksgiving is really
two words, isn't Misunderstanding. I
Did you ever notice the giving part, I
Uncle MAXI wish had lots to give. :
guess my halt of this has to be Just 7
the thanks part, though, until I'm q
big. You could do the giving f
couldn't you2 | suppose" he added, t
thoughtfully, 1.-THE first part of the /
word means we are to thank God for :
what He gives us. and the last part
means we must be giving to somebody
else"
The box had been directed now, but
Pills busy tongue wandered on.
Eyes, I'd give those miners of yours d
a real Thanksgiving Day-the whole c
word, Uncle Max. And l don't see t
how it could be done. unless we gave a
to be thankful for first. h
MIL. 1 I