Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-29

on the walls, and the woodwork was very
white and glossy The fire in the air
tight stove cracked, the air was soft and
warm.
About four o'clock John got up and left
the room. Pretty soon he passed the WIN
dow.
81 wonder where Johns goin'," said his
mother. Hiram sat near the window and
looked out.
He's turnin' up the road said he, 81
guess he's goin' up to see the Bemis boy"
81 shouldn't think he'd go off Thanks
giving Day.
The Bemis house, low and red-painted
with a smoking chimney, was visible up
the road across a wide stretch Of field.
Hiram turned again to his paper; his wife
rocked. with her feet close to the stove.
Presently Hiram also arose, and prepared
"a leave the room.
here you goin', father" asked Mrs.
GoodeH.
Il amt goin' far"
But he didn't return speedily. Mrs.
Goodell went to the window, and saw
figure that looked like his plodding up the
road.
"For the land sake, he amt goin' ND to
she, 81 should think they was all struck
on the Bemises.''
She looked vexed and frowning. She
sat down again. Presently the fire got low
and she went out for more wood On her
way, she stepped into the buttery and
looked around.
"There's that other chicken pie" said
she, ''an' L could cut a plateful off that
turkey, an nobody'd know it, ar there's
twenty mince pies, an ten apple, and eight
squash-no there ain'5-why 1 don't see
through it. I knew there was twenty
mince an can't count but nineteen, an
there amt but nine apple, an seven squash
for the land sake"
She counted over and over again, but
she could make no more of them. She
could not account for three pies.
''Well, there's enough, anyhow" said
she. 81 could carry 'em three or four. an
piece of my p1um-puddin', an not miss
it, s'pose. I dunno. 1 dunno how they'll
take it,
Mrs. Goodell stood celebrating. Then
she put stick of hard wood in the sitting
room stow packed basket full Of pro-
visions, put on her thick Shawl and hood
and started. When she got to her own
gate she stopped and looked up the road
cautiously; ne had put on her speovacles,
but she could see nothing of her husband
or son. Then she braced the basket against
her hip, and went down the road to the
Emersons. The Lord sisters were at the
window, she saw them with quick side
flash of her eyes, but she did not look up.
She went straight on at a good pace; the
hoc b A. h,1tc h
When she reached the Emersons she set
the basket under lilac-bush at the cor
ner of the house, then she kept on to the
side door. She stood before it and knocked
She heard a step inside, then Mrs. Emer-
son opened the door. She was a stout
woman with pretty, child-like face. She
flushed when she saw Mrs. Goodell, then
she became quite pale. Mrs. Gooden her
self was pale, and she looked scared, but
she spoke first.
"Good afternoon" said she.
"Good afternoon returned the other
woman with kind of stiff timidity: then
she added, won't you come in?"
Mrs. Gooden stepped in. Mrs. Emerson
led the way to the kitchen.
''I'n have to take you in this way" she
settin-room. Fanny's in there now. Some
body came to the front door, dunno who;
Pm afraid they'll catch cold"
'I'd jest as soon go into the Kitchen"
returned Mrs. Goodell, with anxious alta
bility.
The two women sat down in the large
kitchen.
Mrs Gooden noticed that there was no
o6or Of 10 he i'm, IF
she entered. Mrs. Emerson did not ask
her to lay aside her hood and shawl Both
women were afraid to speak, and they
hardly looked at each other. Still Mrs.
Goodell had a distinct purpose in view and
that gave her more self-possession.
cts pretty cold day, amt it?" said
she.
Eyes; it's been pretty cold," Mrs. Emer-
son admitted, shyly.
Mrs. Goodell turned her eyes on the
others face. Mrs. Emerson's hair was
quite curly over her temples; she used to
wear her hair In long curls to her waist
when she was little girl. Suddenly Mrs.
Gooden remembered them and how pretty
she had thought her. They had been
schoolmates when they were girls.
Seems to me you look kind of pale,
Nancy" said she.
Mrs Emerson looked at her, then she
put her hands up to her face.
"oh. Lois" she sobbed,. ''you dunno
what I've been through latelyI'
Mrs Gooden sat immovable in her chair
but her eyes suddenly became red.
''Don't take on so, Nancy. Mebbe the
worst of it's over" said she.
81 dunno how the worst Of it's over.
Foster amt got thing to do this winter,
an we amt got cent Of money. Fanny's
had to put in all her poor little money to-
ward the interest. Oh, Lois, it's been
Dreadful
Mrs. Goodell had out her handkerchief.
"Look here, Nancy, there's somethin' I
want to say-I s'pose you've been feelin'
hard cause amt been in, an know I've
had hard feelin's myself-an' Pm willin' to
let it all go now, an go back and forth jist
as we used to, if you are"
Mrs. Emerson sobbed so that she could
hardly speak. II guess Pm willin'P' she
said. ooh, Lois, you dunno how it's wor-
ried me, when we used to be so intimate!
it's been a dreadful trial to me- I've told
Foster time an time again, that the wood
land weren't worth it. An I wish Mr..
Goodell had it this minute; we've jist had
it to pay taxes on this ten year, an that's
all it's amounted to- / wish the lawyers
had decided the other way round"
'sThere amt any use talkin' about that"
said Mrs. Goodell "We'd better let that
all go. There's somethin' I'm goin' to ask
you, Nancy, an you mustn't be offended.
How are you off for things?"
Mrs. Emerson's tears seemed to suddenly
stop flowing, her pretty face grew very
red. LOIS" said she, with certain dig
nifty, 'we're dreadful poor. It's much as
ever we've got enough to eat an wear"