San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1890-02-13
THANKFULS TRIALS,


"Im sure, )" murmured Thankful Pen.
nypackor, II don't know what to do
Thankful Pennypacker had come to
the far west on what the facetious inhab-
itants of Blue Gulch would have called
ga wild goose chase"
She was one of the great majority Of
unemployed women in the state of Yer
mont, aud her cousin, Squire Todd, had
heard from his nephews wife, who had
sister at Blue Gulch, that there was a
district school teacher wauted there.
''Chance for you, eh, Thankful" said
Mrs. Todd. "Better get oil MS fast as
ever you can, or itll be snapped up,
Such positions don't go a-begging long, .
Thankful looked up with big, wistful
eyes.
Its awful cold weather to go west,
isn't it2' said she, little timidly.
"Oh, If you're afraid of little cold
wind and Il snow furry or twoI" said
Mrs, Todd, eleHating her nose.
And Thankful packed her trunk at
once and departed.
"Ain't it ruther barbarous, mother"
said the squire, "to send the poor gal
way off west in such blizzard as this
'ere?"
"Well, joshua" said his helpmeet,
"shes been here two good months now,
and we want her room for your Aunt
Eliza, that's got money to leave some
day; and, besides, DIR. Lothair's a-comin'
pretty soon to visit old DIR. Jenuingses
folks, next door, and it's jest as well 10
have Thankful Pennypacker out of the
way"
Squire Todd's lower jaw dropped.
"WhyI" said he in amazement.
"Why2" nimioked his wife "Well,
give me man for solid thickheaded-
nessl Hain't you got darter of your
own? and amt Thankful Pennypacker
pretty gal, if she is past five-aud-twenty
year,
"Oh," said the squire, "Matchmakin',
eh?''
"Well, call it what you please" said
Mrs. Todd. "Anyhow, it's time Electra
was settled in lifo, and it's jest as well
to have Thankful Pennypaclger off some
where else"
But when the Vermont girl reached
Blue Gulch, old Mr. Wendell, the chair
man Of the board of trustees, professed
himself exceedingly sorry, but the po-
sition had just been filed by half sister
of his own.
eve always give western girls the
preference. said he.
So poor Thankful went back to
esquire rodds nephews wife's sister"
in frame of mind widely different from
her name, and uttered the piteous sem
tence that heads our story
The nephew's wife's sister was called
McCray--a stout, cheerful body, with
bright blue eyes and double chin.
81 declare to goodness, Miss Penny
packer" said she, 81 feel sorry for you,
but | hain't Il minutes time to spare
a-listenin to what Miles Wendell said
just now. Two o. the Cinnamon have
gone, and Bridget won't stir into the din
IN room as long as Wong See is there.
RS strange how she and the Chinese hate
each other. And the train is due in
forty minutes, and eighteen mealers have
ahead"
Cant | help your said Thankful.
you? Why, you're an educated
ady," said Mrs. McCray.
"That's no reason can't cook q
'ricasce, or bake pumpkin pie said
smiling in spite of her trou-
)les. "And have no especial prejudice .
against Wong Sec; so I'd as soon go into
he dining room and SEQ TO tho tables as
lot"
"Well, I'd he mortal obliged if you
would, said Mrs. McCray, with great
Ugh of relief. "Here's one O my big
white kitchen aprons to tic over your
lack serge dress, so it won't DO sp'iledi
nd you'll find Wong See very teachabIe
nd docile."
So that Miss Pennypacker was flying
round presently in the neat, cool rooms
+ the railway restaurant, where long
nLles, draped with white, were decorated
With evergreen and holly berries, and
he glnss and crockery, albeit OF the
was sparkling and clean.
The Blue Gulch meal station, as Mrs.
IcCray told Thankful, was celebrated
i along the line for its pigeon pics, ITS
1othsome wanles. and its dainty bits Of
ONE made cookery.
"And now you're here to sort O keep
Yong See straightcned up" said she, Il
an give my whole mind 20 the wailles."
4 keen wind bowling down the rail
-ay cut: a cloud Of drifting snow, sharper
IAN needles and pins; and then the
lrielS of the train. Wong See adjusted
is clean white tunic aud rubbed his
ands.
Supper alice roadec. said he. mis-
,e Cray she got waffle all oookee."
"OcE, haytben Chinee,' said Bridget,
her den behind the Tea and conee
jljsr, ss Size sco,yled unuticfabie things
the smiling Celestial
The passengers rushed with one accord
n the warm, coy, ssvOry smelling
ming room, for the fame Of the Blue
ulch wafiios had penetrated FAR and
ide-when all of a sudden there was
exclamation. a pause. a confusion.
"What is IT, saii Thankful, who,
iih swift hands, was carrying tea and {
fee this way and that
- gentleman has clipped on the icy
r step, said MrE McCay. Il reckon Z
-ely he's broke hi- le- OF arm or
mettiu-. Here. Mis- Peunyracker.
10 come O. tic uaiFie irons. I'd Just
% and sse what tie troutie g. Nc
s,y airt never On hand az an orncr-
rcr.-
wbe1 tile train had gore Uie hurt pas- +,
ger lay in a little white curtainod :
-n upstairs.