Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24
THE THANKSGIVING DINNER.

Bernans as guests of the Persons. Yes.
The mission had been complete success, so
far as appearances indicated; and when the
Rev. John Bernan asked the divine bless
ing upon the repast, he spoke with heart
felt Thanksgiving in his voice. He had
brought the cousins together in amity. He
could not fail to see that Davy was i'll at
ease, but he hoped to make him sociable be-
fore the meal was over, helped by the gentle
winsomeness of Mrs. Pierson, Martha Pier
son and Mary, all of whom had used their
influence for a week to successfully convert
Henry Pierson into the willing host of the
occasion.
As to Arthur, he beamed on everybody,
and talked in jolly fashion, though his
best attention was paid to Mary, who had q
chair next to his. He was delighted when
the talk turned upon the tourists who
visited the Adirondacks, and Mr.. Bernan
disparaged the dandies-for was he not far
removed from foppishness? And was he
not, therefore, eligible to become a son-in-
law to this condemner of fops?
''If there is any man in the community
that excites my contempt" said Mr.. Ber-
nan, 'It is the soft-handed, soft-headed Top
who, perfumed until the air is actuallysick,
spends his outing in taking killing tatti-
|
talking infnitesimal nothings. and finding
his heaven in the set of lavender kid
glove. Boots as tight as an inquisition, two
hours of consummate skill exhibited in the
tie of a flaming craYat, his conversation
made up of abs, and obs, and he-hees. It
would take 500 of them stewed down to make
a teaspoonful of calf's-foot jelly"
Now, Arthur felt himself free of all these
characteristics, and accordingly construed
the remark as just so much commendation.
20, but men do not abstain from millinery
and elaboration of skirt through any su-
| periority of humility. It is only because
such appendages would be q blockade to
business. There are men who buy expensive
suits of clothes and never pay for them, and
who go through the street in great stripes of
color like animated checker-boards, and
suggest to one thar, after all, convict in
prison dress may have got out
of the penitentiary. Then there
are multitudes of men who, not satisfied
with the bodies the Lord gave them, are
padded so their shoulders shall be square.
carrying around small cotton plantation.
And I understand a great many of them
now paint their eyebrows and their lips:
and have heard from good authority that
there are multitudes of men in New York
-mUltitudes Of men wearing corsetsl''
Again Arthur felt praised, inferentially
at least, and he at once resolved to ask for
Mary'S hand before the day was over. So
he did, and successfully.
But there were important proceedings
right there at the table. When the eating
was over, and there seemed nothing more to
do but push back the chairs, Henry Pierson
cleared his throat with an "ahem" and
said: F."
"I am very glad we are together at this
dinner. am glad to have you-Arthur
and Davy-visitlng in this house again.
We can thank Mr.. Bernan and Miss Mary
for it. They've made peace between us.
But there is something ought to do, and
I'm going to do it. The property that Uncle
Job left met shouldn't have come to me. He
ought to have divided it up. That's what
have made up my mind to do. o, I don't
mean to give it all to you boys. 1 shall
go TO you, Arthur, and a third to you,
DaVv. That is all have to say"
That was astonishing to the whole COM
pany, for Mr.. Pierson had not breathed his
purpose to human soul.
eff am to be lawyer ought to be able
TO make q speech" said Arthur, "but-
but" and he stammered helplessly, 'T
thank you, Henry, anyhow. will use the
money to establish myself in my profession,
and some time may be eloquent enough to
thank you properly. You-Mr. Bernan-
can't you say some something for me?"
The clergyman always needed text for
no matter how brief bit of discourse, and
he naturally found it in the will that had
caused the estrangement.
'"There is one estate which, in all our
l. Ill
our children-an estate not mentioned in
last wills and testaments-a vast estate of
PRAYER and example and Christian entreaty
and glorious memory. The survivors of a
family gathered to hear the will read, and
this was to be kept and that was to be sold,
and it was share and share alike. But
there was an unwritten will that read some
thing like this: In the name of God amen.
1, being of sound mind, bequeath to nv
children all my prayers for their salvation;
beoueath to them all the results of life
times toll; / bequeath to them the Chris.
tian religion, which has been SO much
comfort to me, and hope may be
solace for them; bequeath to them hope
of reunion when the partings of life are
over; share and share alike may they have in
eternal riches. bequeath to them the wish
that they may avoid my errors and copy
W, Il
the name of the God who made me, and the
Christ who redeemed me, and the Holy
Ghost who sanctifes me, make this nv
last will and testament. Witness, all We
hosts of Heaven. Witness, time, witness
eternity. Signed, sealed and delivered, in
this our dying hour, Father and Mother.
That will not be proved at the Surrogate's
office, but kept in the alcoVes of the heart"
Dayy Mulford had been silent since his
cousins announcement. Now all eyes in
voluntarily turned on him as gasping sigh
escaped from his lips.
"What do you want to say, Davy?" his
brother encouragingly asked.
ST want to say" he slowly replied, ''that
can't take anything from Cousin Hank
before 1 own up to what meant to do |
scarecrow. I thought was firing at Hank |
himself"
He made full and abject confession, and |
begged forgiveness, which Pierson accorded. |
for the Thanksgiving spirit swept every
thing before it. There was a family re- |
union such as no such assemblage often |
equals for deep emotion, and twas no won |
der that blacksheep Davy was humbly glad |
to be in-the flock.
'You have all heard the story OF Paradise
and the PERI" said Mr.. Bernan. "An angel
went forth from heaven and searched all the
earth to find some beautiful thing worthy of
transportation. The angel went
down to the gold and silver mines of the
earth, yet found nothing worthy of
back to God and to |
heaven. And then the angel went
down to the depths of the sea |
and examined all the pearls that lay there.
but not one Of them was ut to take to heaven:
and the angel. utterly discouraged and de.
spairing, stood at the foot of mountain and
folded its wings, when looking little ways