The state herald., 1890-11-28

Into tho flckering flames. She was think.
Ing about the proclamation for Thanksgiv-
Ing Day, that had been read from the pulpit
that morning. And smile, saddor than
tears, crossed her lips. "Thanksgiving,"
she murmured, ~ keep Thanksgiving
She sank into chair, and lost herself In
gloomy rcverie. She thought Of the many
times she had kept that festival--kept It
outwardly and In spirit for she was good
woman, and had meant to be d grateful
one, till three months ago She romem-
6ered her childhood. How long the years
seemed then; how she looked forward to
the gathering of aunts and uncles and
cousins, in the old red farmhouse; and
what wonderful viands grandmother
always spread before them.
Then she was u girl, coming back from
school, and her brother brought his class
mate home with him-''to spend ThankJ-
giving" So she had met her husband.
Her brother was dead long since; and now
James. low cry escaped her; the fire
grew dull; and she went on with her review
of the past. Then came her wedding day
on Thanksgiving Day.
After that, were not all her Thanksgiv-
ings alike, full Of cheer, gratitude, blessed
nessi And now
~ shall not try TO keep Thanksgiving"
she said drcamily; and looking up, saw hcr
husband sitting opposite her In his own
chair, which she had never moved from its
place by the hearth. Strangely enough,
she felt neither surprise nor fear, nor did
she remember her loss. 1t seemed so nat
ural to sec him there, that only sweet
sense OF peace stole over hcr soul. He
looked ut her with tender gravity, and very
clearly and slowly repeated favorite
quotation OF his: "Thou sccst we are not
oil alone unhappy adding, there are
other widows besides you, Hatticn
Other widowsi What did he meant A
brand fell, blazed up, ana went out. She
started up and looked eagerly about. Tho
chair opposite hers was empty, The clock
on the mantel struck nine. II had marked
the half-hour, she remembered, Just rs the
first brands fell together. 1t had been
dream, then. She shivcrcd and came back
to reality, lighted the lamp, fed the dying
fire, and returned TO her new grief. New,
because that face had been so real, her
gladness SO deep, and now 1t was lost once
more. with fresh bereavement. But
though the tears fell hopclessly and fast
from her eyes, and her heart ached anew
with rebellious anguish, still his words
kept recurring 10 her. She had not
thought of that before. There were other
widows, no doubt-othors Borrowing with
her sorrow; in kind, II not in degree. She
remembered several whom she had visited
in her charitable rounds, and was startled
to remember how she had passed their sor-
rows by without any real sympathy. A
sense of companionship stole over her, Us
II, suddenly wrecked on some desert shore,
she had met with beings Of her own race
after long, lonely weeks OF silence and
despair.
Then the thought flashed across her that
these women must dread the recurrence Of
Thanksgiving, just as she did. Why could
she not ask them all TO keep the day with
her,
She fell asleep thinking the matter over,
and awoke In tho morning with n shame
faced sense OF some light and interest
creeping into her life, hitherto so sacredly
wrctched Then she remembered her dream
her husbands sad, grave face, Perhaps
she had done wrong in mourning him so de
voredly that even her children had been
set aside from their place. Possibly II
would please him better II she carried out
her plan.
When the mornings duties We're fulfilled
she sat down again by the hre-not to
dream now, but to plan for action. But
whom should she invltci For she began
to see that Mrs. Broomc, who lived In the
fourth story of tenement house, and
earned aprecarious living would hardly be
1T companion at dinner for Mrs. Graves,
whose husband had left hor q large
fortune.