The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1889-11-28

DrlSuG NONemDeT
ing, two days before Thanksgiving, for
which great occasion he was going to
town, twenty miles away, to "do some
tradin'."
He told the children, Bob and Elsie,
that he would come back with lots of
things-peanuts and raisins, and perhaps
some oranges, besides other eatables
necessary for the Thanksgiving feast.
How the little ones shouted at the
mention of oranges, for you must know
that such dainties seldom fell to their
share. Hard work, early and late, on
the little farm, only sufficed to keep the
family plainly clothed and fed, and they
had very few luxuries.
AS the sleigh logged along the man
fell to thinking of the dear ones who
would watch for his return on the NOR
row.
"I'll give 'em good Thanksgivin' f I
can," he thought. "There amt no fam
lily that deserves it more. Wisht
could sell everything I've got with me.
Wouldn't make their eyes open, though!
Mebbe could buy 'em some figs. The
children's never seen any. An I'd git
Mirandy an egg beaten. She amt never
had none"
The miles to town grew less as the
horse went on, and the influence of the
brilliant winter day made Mr.. Wilkins
happy, not SO much because he was sus-
ceptible to natures beauty, but because
he thought: eff this here weather'n only
hold out, I'll be back early ter-morrer."
Mrs. Wilkins spent the day in getting
ready for the feast, with such material
as she had on hand. She killed the big
gest and plumpest chicken in the yard,
Bob looking on delightcdly at the opera
ton. Tender hearted Elsie ran into the
house and put her fingers in her ears, so
that she ''could not hear the poor chickie
cry" she said. Then there was rye
bread to make, and kind of ''plain
sweet cake" the best they ever had.
There were also dried apples and pump
kin pies to bake, the house to set in Or
der and the chickens to feed. Nine
year-old Bob and 6-year-old Elsie were
eager to "help mother" and while the
former fed old Red Top, the rooster, and
bis family. the little girl trotted around
in her coarse brown cloak and blue hood
sweeping the doorstep and picking up
sticks in the yard for the fire, she said.
So the day wore on, and when the
early winter evening closed in upon
them, they had their simple supper of
bread, mush and milk, and soon the lit
tie ones were asleep.
AS Mrs. Wilkins sat sewing, she heard
the wind rising, and went to the window
to look out. The moon was partly COW
cred by threatening clouds. While she
watched they obscured the silver light
completely.
''It looks mighty threatenin'," she said
to herself. II should feel real bad if pa
couldn't git back for Thanksgivin', for
the children has set SO much store by
what he's goin' to bring 'em. wouldn't
feel right good myself. We've eat our
Thanksgivin' dinner together on that
day this ten year, an I've alters been
thankful for my man an children.
There amt many sech."
Thus her homely thoughts ran on I'M
til the light began to grow dim for the
scarcity of oil in the lamp. Then she
prepared for rest, first thanking God for
her blessings and asking protection for
her husband on his journey and a speedy
return on the morrow.
Quiet brooded over the house and it's
inmates, over the little village near which
they lived and over the tavern where the
father lay, twenty miles away. But not
for long. The rising winds, which had
themselves loorl H+f,,l1x-
grew furious. They reveled in the open
stretch of country around the Wilkins
farm, which stood on the edge of the
village, and chased each other across
meadows whose crusted snow cleaned
when the clouds were blown for a mo-
ment from the face of the moon. Soon
more flakes began to fall, and, what with
the wind and the smooth surface of the
snow already fallen, were blown and
whirled violently about until they threat
ened to hide some landmarks completely.
Mr.. Wilkins little house came in for
a share of the drifts. 1t was low and
white and square. Like many houses in
rural New England, it's rear door opened
into q shed, behind which were the barn
and OuthOuseS, SO that in case of storms
the live stock could be easily reached.
The snow played very queer pranks with
the house that night. 1t left the roof al
most bare, while it piled drift in front
which hid all but one corner of the win
dow. 1t drifted against the barn door
and hid the shed completely. Fortunate
ly the well was under the shed roof and
the chicken house could be reached with