Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1888-12-01

called the swamp, he had quite 1or
gotten his discomfort and envy, and
felt as bright as ever. He went
straight to the Somers house, for
there was a bright-faced girl of three
who, in spite of the face being always
dirty, was great favorite with him.
The family seemed just up, and
Somer's himself was scolding about
something as he knocked at the door
Such dirty room! Nosmell of good
cooking here but a horrid, close air,
foul with whisky, with four or FIVE
children, and boys who were hurry
ing to get out doors away from their
parents.
T've brought Rickie an APPLE"
said Sammy, slipping the big rosy
apple into the child's lap.
"How's your map" asked Mrs.
Somers.
every well, thank you; she is busy
getting our Thanksgiving dinner"
"That's itv' said Somers, Grossly.
"Everybody'll help a widow. I'll
bet she's had turkey, with all the
fixin', given to her, while we haven't
anything but pork and potatoes"
Sammy heard as he went out.
Pork and potatoes! and he had
thought chicken was not good
enough. 1t was the same at all the
houses. In one or two there was, to
be sure, extra cooking; there was
great rejoicing at the COTS, because
father had brought home a shin of
beef, and they were to have soup and
meat; then the Hardys boosted of
suet-pudding; but all the children
were unwashed and ragged, and in
almost every house the father drank
and the mother had lost heart and
ambition; even the best of them had
no such pretty room as his mothers
with its neat paper curtains, its boxes
of plants and carefully-blacked stove.
"Pve got one thing that nobody
gave me-" thought Sam, as he hur-
ried home. "Pve got the best moth
er in the place, and l guess the folks
love to help her."
His road lay past the country grave
yard. 1t was square of ground with
no church near, but kept neatly by
the neighbors who had dubbed to-
gether to buy it, and Sammy, as he
F passed, could see his fathers grave,
marked only by painted board as
yet, but which he meant should have
a fine marble at its head. Though
he could not see the letters painted
on the white board, he knew them by
, heart, and now he seemed to hear
f them spoken in his ears: 1.-THE Lord
gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
/ blessed be the name ofthe Lord"
Sammy fairly stood still. What a
dreadful thing he had said! Nobody
: to thank for his mother! He was a
9 a boy, so he did not go to the grave,
or, in so many words, ask God to
r forgive his thoughtlessness, but he
), walked on soberly, with new feel.
; ing at his heart, something like q
comprehension of the meaning of the
!, day dawning upon him. Thank
God for father whe had never fast.
/ ed liquor! yes, and for good mother
Y too!
J. The boy fairly forgot his dinner fol
j. a few moments, and walked into the
: little white cottage hardly knowing
s what he did. His mother was moi
l. in the front room, but there was thu
/, table set, and bonnet and shawl lay
l on chair, and-he gave long sniff
n yes certainly he smelt pie and on
:. ions, and with a quick dive he wa
in the back kitchen, and there wa
v grandma.
e "And such a turkey, Sam, and
IL pie!"
o "Did you cook the chicken, moth
" err"
"Bless the boy! he wants to be sur,
y Of enough" said grandma.
10 But mother guessed his thoughts
d eyes, dear; and you'd like to Civ
Of it away-to hear some one say
ir THANK you to you. Is that it?"
is Sam gave pleasant nod of assent
but if his mother could have onl,
:e known how proud and thankful h
e. felt for her!
IL mo dinner in the land tasted BET
s. ter than that one in the cottage; AM
t. then Sam was glad to bring the Bib
p, and sit by his mother while she an
id grandma read aloud and talked G