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

| "Whats"
"Oh, I kept my eyes open, an 1 see. It
was supper time, an Mis- Emerson. she
wouldn't set about gettin' supper cause
she hadn't nothin' to put on the table, an
she was ashamed, an wanted to borrow
a spoonful of ginger, an I followed her
into the buttry. She didn't want me to.
she kept sayin' she'd bring out the ginger,
but was bound would, an did. Mis-
Goodel1, it's the ivin' truth, and there
want enough In that buttry to feed a
baby"
81 guess she had some things put away"
mo, she didn't Mr. Emerson he called
| her out minute jest before went home:
an jest slipped in there again, and 1
peeked in two or three jars, an the -four
EE-rrel-there aUG7l't alothdra'p'
well, it is awful .thinkin' of any;.,r'v
not havin' enough to eat" said Mrs Go,..s
ell.
She was frowning deeply as she went
about her work again. Jane Lord contin-
ued to expatiate upon the sad case Of the
Emersons
CAN that amt ALL" said she, cycling
Mrs. Gooden sharply. ''They amt got
enough to wear to keep 'em warm this cold
weather, 'cordin' to my b'lief. You ought
| to see the clothes they have out on the
line Of all the patched-up flannels, an
| so thin you can see the light through 'em
AM the clothes they wear outside amt
hardly decent. Mr.. Emerson's great-coat
| is all threadbare, an it's bright green
across the shoulders an Mis- Emerson's
| looks as if it came over in the ark. AM
Fanny amt no better off. Mis- Grant says
she had to take every cent of her school
money to pay in towards the interest. I
don't believe she nor her mother either
has had new dress for three years"
Mrs. Goodell was still frowning ''Wen,
dunno, Pm sure" said She
'sWell, I dunno neither, but it seems
pretty hard lines to think Of folks a-suffer-
in right amongst us Thanksgivin'. amt
no idea they've got turkey nor puddin'.
Well, | dunno what folks can do If men
amt got judgment, they amt, an dunno
whether it's the duty of them that has to
support them that hasn't, or not.
know I can't afford to. Well, 1 must be
goin', or Rachel will think I'm maxim
sugar"
After Jane Lord had gone, tripping
shiveringly down the road with the sugar,
John Goodell, Mrs. Goodell's son, came.
He lived in town some fifty miles away,
the railroad connections were not very
good, and he could not reach home much
| before Thanksgiving noon.
The young man entered the kitchen
door, and a gust Of fresh cold air came
with him. He set his valise down on the
floor, and shook hands with his mother.
He did not kiss her. The Goodells were
not demonstrative among themselves
"Well, mother, how goes eyerything?"
said he.
"Pretty we'll" replied Mrs. Goodell,
looking at him with a kind of depressed
delight.
Father gone to church?''
eyes"
The son strongly resembled his mother,
only he was better looking. A certain
blonde harshness of feature that did not
set well upon her, was quite attractive in
him. People called John Goodell very
| good-looking young man. He took off his
overcoat and hat; and sat down in the
kitchen with his mother, and watched her
work, and chatted with her. He had not
seen her for some six months
He inquired after the neighbors in fur
tive fashion, as if hs were stepping o. de-
batable ground.
"How are all the neighbors getting
along, mother?" he asked. He picked up
raisin and put it into his mouth with
careless air, and chewed it absorbedly, but
his face began to flush.
"Well, l guess they're gettin' along
bout as usual" his mother replied guard
edly.
"How are the Lords?''
'Pretty well, guess. Jane was in here
this morniu'."
'How archie Emersons?"
"Well, / dunno"
The young man tried to speak in jocu
lar way, but his face was very red.
'fWell," said he, 81 guess Ill find out /
think I'll go down and call on Fanny some
day while Pm here"
His mother was stirring some butter into
a dish of squash. She stopped short, and
surveyed him
John, you amt goin' down there. when
you know how your father an | feel about
them Ernersons'
81 amt been down there for quite a
while, because | knew how father and you
| felt, mother"
"Ain't you goin' to keep on?"
81 don't know"
81 don't see for my part what you can
see in that Fanny Emerson, little thin
peaked-nosed thing. There's lots of girls
/ should pick out before l should her, if I
was a young man."
John Strengthened back his shoulders
THAT hasn't got anything to do with it,
that l can see, mother" said he; 81 don't
see why she doesn't look as well as the
other girls. But we won't talk any more
about it now. It's Thanksgiving Day, and
I've come home to have a good time; we
don't want to get to arguing over any
thing or anybody. Amt .-he turkey most
done?'
"You amt goin' down there to see hen
John?"
'Itell:you, mother, won't te..k any more
about it. Here's father coming"
Mrs. Goodell dropped the subject then.
When it came to an argument with John.
she never wished for any assistance from
her husband. She had always punished
him herself when he was little boy, and
she had felt fierce at the bare idea of any
one else touching him.
Hiram Goodeu had a sober air when he
entered; even the meeting with his son
could not dispel it. He had walked home
from church with neighbor, and the two
men had stood talking together for quite
little while at GoodelPs gate.
Presently when John left the room for a
minute, Hiram turned to his wife. 81 come
up the road with Abel Bemis," said he.
/ 'an' he says the Emersons are in a pretty
bad box this time, an no mistake"
"Jane Lords been in here talkin' about
it." returned Mrs. Goodell.
'What did she say?'
'She thinks they amt got enough to eat
an keep 'em warm. 1 dunno, but it does
seem as if man might contrive to get