Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-11-28
A THANKSGIVING STORY OF THE EAST
AND THE WEST.

"Yes, be goin' west ter Jack, she
repeated softly to herself, as II she
feared being overheard.
Her resolve sent q glow TO the faded
cheeks Ct the aged woman, and her
hands trembled so much that she
found difficulty in completing the
household tasks, which the family had
left for her to do.
"If Peter s'pects of suddint as be
aimin' ter run away from him an go
out west ter Jack he'd come postin
right home from them doin's at Ligo-
nier an stop me. Then l reckon I'd
be shut up in the insane house, like
his wife onct threated so fierce like.
Well, be goin' ter try mighty strong
ter git away and with sprightly
movements that seemed to belle her
wears, the woman began to dress as if
for long journey.
Satisfying herself that she had ev-
erything ready which she wished to
take with her, she dropped on her
aged knees by her bedside and sent
up her last prayer in the home that
had been hers for so many, many
years, and asked God to be with her
on her journey, and forgive them who
had so cruelty treated her
Strengthened by her prayer, and
taking up an ancient-looking carpet
bag. she left the comfortable house
on the mountain side, and walked rap
idly away through the trees.
Reaching a little hillock the aged
woman stopped and looked behind
her. She suddenly realized how hard
it is for one of her years to break
away forever from scenes and associ-
ations that had become a part Of her
life.
Her eyes grew moist as she gazed at
the meadows and woods tinted with
gold and brown in the late autumn.
Her gaze dwelt, too, on the pretty,
plump cows, which many time her
hands had fed and MIXED.
Then her eyes wandered back TO
the comfortable Pennsylvania farm
house with its fruitful orchards and
well filled barns, and over the fields
stretching away far down in the love
ly valley, and on to the picturesque
mountains with their evergreen vege-
tation.
"Good-by, ole home!" she said with
a touching quiver in the voice which
all her loveless years had robbed OF
its motherly sweetness; II be runnin
away from We. Pears like ther Lord
has gin me ter see clear as it be ther
ONLY way I'm ter snatch a bit o rail
happiness in this life. Oh, fields, an
home. an mountains! be lookin' my
last on yer I'm off ter find Jack.
Across the fields the little old wo-
man, sad faced and heart hungry,
trudged on carefully through the wild
blackberry vines, then into a narrow
path and out at a small gap in the
fence 70 the broad. beaten path that
wound in and out among the beauti-
ful wild laurel at the foot of the noun
tains. Then picking her way across
limpid trout stream, she reached a
crossing where the train often stopped
to pick up country passengers.
Il reckon Peter an his wife'd sure
swear as l be crazy if they's ketch
Inc" she said, glancing apprehensive-
ly about her, as if she expected to see
a pursuer.
But not a person was in sight. Ev-
erybody except perhaps the indiffer-
ent mountaineers had doubtless fol-
lowed the example of Peter Tomp-
kins and his family. and gone to Lig-
onier TO the "doings.
She had not waited more than half
an hour when a heavy, rumbling
sound fell on her ears. The train
was coming. How her poor old heart
leaped as the shrill whistle resounded
among those laurel enameled hills!
Her step did not falter, however, as
she approached the track, waving her
shawl as a signal for them to stop.
The conductor saw her, stopped the
train and helped her aboard. He
could not avoid noticing how neat
she was, and though she must have
been over 20 years old, how sprightly
/ she was.
Where to = he asked kindly, bav-
ing seated her comfortably in the
| train.