The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1889-11-28
ABxrRs WAY

he 90 s,insyl There, I've said Il u ! did.
nj mean To- Aud VIA, else 10 ~ We
haveat had . regular Thanksgiving since
/ can remember Never bad anybody
more than Aunt Nancy or Grandma Carr.
10 al these years; aud did think maybe
We could this year But Of course, they
Won't think OF such thing, and wouldn't
do IL II they did
/ She a., on The cellar stairs. this tesrfnl
Indignant maiden Mamie Holcomb. one
Monday morning in November II Was
bright, brscing day. aud some small rays
OF sunshine penetrated even the cellars
semi-dsrkness. Ooe particularly lively
sunbesm -.its cspricious course determined
by The Autiering clothes on the dryer out
side, vent dancing up and down among
the bins And barrels ~ II To inspect their
contents or. more likely. in Kind OF sun
ny ecsiscy over the harvest wealth therein
displayed. Aud. 10 truth. there was good
reasons for exuitstion. or ~ grieving ~
Mamie thought. thanksgiving There
we're long bins OF potatoes. sound. shapely
stable; barrels. red and gold aud russet !;
boxes OF bee,s, showing their ruddy skins
through clinging soil. and big dull color
ed iurnips. There were great heaps OF
golden pumpkins SHINING 10 the gloom
like globes OF soidi6ed sunshine, and
smaller piles Of winter squashes Of pale
tints and lesser size. There were baskets
OF late pears in the warmest corner, aud
boxes with suspicious coveriugswben ce
came fragrance as OF grapes. Through
the gauzy doors Of . swinging cupboard
might be seen the golden bulk OF the last
cburninp. and by their side. on long
tray. we're combs dripping with nanslu
cent honey.
Enough here. anybody would think. to
keep Thanksgiving With. went on the girl
only 'twould be like the play Of Hamlet
with Hamlet left out, for l don't believe
Unce Enos has saved ont any turkey, and
should think be might
And the girl lost herself 10 regretful rev
cry once more. She was pretty girl, ,this
little sannie, though the small hands were
triHe red with much house.work, and
the soft brown hair blown into tangled
waves by the wind as she had gone in and
out the fair cheek tear.stained now, and
the brown eyes red with crying. Enos
Carr had taken her into bis heart and
home in her desolate, orphaned baby hood.
Very comfortable she had found the latter
all these twenty years. despite its sober
quietness. Very pleasant it had been to
grow mp 10 it. to assume one by one little
housewifely cares as daughter might. and
finally TO End herself mistress, with un
disputed sway over all things indoors,
aud not little influence in outdoor az
fairs Yes, the home was certainly q pleas.
ant one. She loved il well And Uncle
Enos's heart well, it seemed to her a
good one in its way. He cared for her, OF
course, 10 his own staid fashion. She did
not think it was in Uncle Enos to love any
one very enthusiastically, perhaps. And
Abner was as like him IN most ways as
son could be like father Abner was
younger aud quicker to comprehend, OF
course. He had his own ways. quite un
like those Of any other whom Mamie had
ever seen. He was very thoughtful Of
her comfort; very careful that she should
not overwork. He studied with her, his
tory and literature and botany and miner.
alogy and music. He read the papers to
her. and talked over their contents. He
helped her care for her plants, and got
her new. rare ones. He brought her dain
ty trihes, new music and late books, when
ever be went to town. Mamie did not
like TO think what life might be without
Abn.r be was so good and kind and cou
sinly. though he wasn't really her cousin
nor a relative at all. He was Uncle Enos's
son by bis first wife; she. the neice OF the
second Mrs. Carr.
II was funny, Mamie unused, that Alb
nsr didn't think they ought to keep
Thanksgiving by having their relatives
With them. There we're just three or four
families would make such nice little
Company. Aunt Nancy and Uncle and
Aunt Guyscn, with Nell and Frank, and
Aunt Gate aud Ned. Ned was home this
ye,r. which didn't always happen. and he
would come OF course. Mamie knew be
would be glad to. for be had walked home
from church with her only the night be
FORE and be had said that the country was
lonely. or that their farm was. He hoped
il might not be always.
Mamie had not cared 10 consider what
be meant. but she would have liked him
to come 10 their house for Thanksgiving
Tba, would mske things little less lone
some for him.
There were steps and voices outside,
snl Mamie remembered in q panic that
the roll way was open. She would bave
ded upstairs, but she caught the mention
Of her name. 1t WAS Abner's voice first
Good weather for Thanksgiving. isn't
il, il i, only holds. Father. ] don't know
but We ought TO invite the folks over. and
make Thanksgiving ourselves this year
uncle Joe had Us all las, year, and il is
orr ,uil aud | think Mamie would like
1t.
She hasn't said sny,hing about i. TO me.
thought maybe 'twould make too m,ny
chores Tor her. returned the elder msn'
No. no, 10 me, but ! think she'd like
il. and don't believe she'd mind The er-
trs chores
Nigh, ak her. suywsy, said Uncle