The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-07-12
TllANkFUL'S TRIALS.
I'm sure, murmured Thankful Penny

the far West on what the facetious in
habitants of Blue Guch would have
called "a wild goose chase"
She was one of the great majority of
unemployed women in the State of
Vermont, and her cousin, Squire Todd,
had heard from his nephew's wife, who
had a sister at Blue Gulch, that there
was district school teacher wanted
there.
"Chance for you, eh, Thankful"
said Mrs. Todd Better get off as last
as ever you can. or it'll be snapped up.
Such positions don't go a-beggiDg long.
Thankful looked up with big, wIstful
eyes.
''It's awful cold weather to 20 West,
isn't p" said she, little timidly.
Oh, if you're afraid of a little cold
wind and a snow furry or two said
Mrs. Todd, elevating her nose.
And Thankful packed her trunk at
once and departed.
Amt it ruther barbarous mother,
said the squire, .''to send the poor gal
way off West in such blizzard as this
ere -
Well, Joshua, said hls helpmeet,
she's 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, DR.. Lothair's COM
ing pretty soon to visit DR.. Jenningses
folks, next door, and it's jest as well
to have Thankful Pennypacker out of
the way.
Squire Todd's lower jaw dropped.
'Why?" said he in amazement.
"Why?" mlmmicked his wife. Well
give me man for solid Indebtedness !!
Hain't you got darter of your own
and ain't Thankful Pennypacker a
pretty gal, ii she is past five and twenty
years?'
Oh, SAID the Squire. "Matchmakin',
eh /"
Well, call it what you please, said
Mrs. Todd. Anyhow, it's time Electra
was settled in life, and it's jest as we'll
to have Thankful Pennypacker off
somewhere else"
But when the Vermont girl reached
Blue Gulch, old Mr.. Wendell, the
chairman of the board of trustees, pro-
fessed himself exceedingly sorry, but
the position had just been filled by
half sister Of his own.
We always give Western girls the
preference" said he.
So poor Thankful went by to esquire
Todd's nephew's wife's sister in frame
of mind widely different from her name,
and uttered a piteous sentence that
heads our story.
The nephew's sister was called Nc
Cray-a stout. cheerful body, with
bright blue eyes and double chin.
clare to goodness, Miss Penny
packer, said she, / feel sorry for you,
but hain't minutes time to spare a.
lsterin' to what Miles Wendell said
just now. Two O. the Cinnamon have
gone, and Bridget wont stir into the
dinin' room as long as Wong See is
there. It's strange how she and the
Chinese hate each other. And the
train is due in forty minutes, and eigh-
teen mealers have telegraphed ahead.
"Can;t help you?" said Thankful.
"You? Why, you're an educated
lady," said Mrs. McCray.
"That's no reason l can't cook a
fricasee, Or bake q pumpkin pie" said
Thankful, smiling in spite of her trou-
bIes. And | have no especial prejudice
against Wong See, SO I'd as soon go
into the dining room and see to the
table as not.
Well. I'd be mortal Obliged if you
would, said Mrs McCray, with sigh OF
relief. Here's one O. my big white
kitchen aprons to tie over your black
serge dress, so it won't be spilled
and you'll find Wong See very teacha-
Bile and docile.
So that Miss Pennypacker was flying
around presently in the neat, cool
rooms of the railway restaurant, where
long tables, draped IN white, were de-
cofated with evergreen and holly ber-
ries, and the glass and crockery, albeit
of the coarest, was sparkling and clean.
The Blue Gulch meal station, as Mrs.
McCray told Thankful, was celebrated
all along the line for its pigeon pies, its
toothsome waf5les, and its dainty bits
of home made cookery.
And now you're here to sort O. keep
Wong See straghtened up, SAID she,
| can give my whole mind to the
wafflas.
A keen wind bowling down the rail-
way cut a cloud OF drifting snow,
sharper than needles and pins; and
then the shrek of the train. Wong
See adjusted his clean white tunic and
rubbed his hands.
Supper alice readee, said he.
NIissee Cray she got waffle all cookee.
Och, haythen Chinee, said Bridget,
in her den behind the coffee holder,
as she scowled unutterable things at
the smiling Celestial.
The passengers rushed with one
accord for the warm, cosy savory
smelling dining room, for the fame of
the Blue Gulch waffle IS had penetrat-
ed far and wide-when all of sudden
there was an exclamation, pause,
confusion.
What is rt2" said Thankful, who
with swift hands, was carrying tea and
coffee this way and that.
A gentleman bad sIipped on the icy