Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-01-02

felt also that she had been q happier
and better woman for the last week.
The children entered joyfully into the
idea of a Thanksgiving SO novel,
and all tbs more that their mother
told them, with trembling lips: pa
pa would like it,.
At last the iestival-day came. Mrs.
Broome, in her new cap, and Mrs.
Perkins, trying to look blanGlY in
different, were tie first to arrive.
Then the carriage made n second
trip, bringing lame Mrs. Hutchins.
very meek in her alpaca gown; Mrs.
Peck, proudly stepNed along, and
Aunt Hannah Bro .nfield, as 'gen-
teel" as she could make herself in a
new muslin handkerchief. "Widder
Johnson" lived around the corner,
so came on foot, entering with new
ear-trumpet in her hand, her face ra-
diant.
The dinner proved q great success.
The baby" OF the house sat in the
high chair by mamma; but the elder
boy and girl waited on the guests,
and enjoyed their office.
"Them is sweet children OF your'n,
Mis- Saybrook," sighed Mrs. Broome
"My! il I'd had chick or child
t'would have boen such blessin'."
That's sol" chimed in Mrs. Per-
kins. 81 han two on 'em, to be sure,
when Perkins was took; but they
wasn't no comfort to speak Of for
they went and had diptheery inside
of six months, and one of 'em died
right of, just as sudden. Tother
one held by quite spell, but she was
the miserablest you ever see. |
couldn't feel to keep her here mite
longer, wanted for her to get rest
and easement so.
Mrs. Saybrook's arm stole about
little Willie, and Mrs. Hutchins said
very gently; - expect folks each has
their special troubles. | can't but
remember't when Josiah died and
lett me nigh about helpless with hip
troubIe-and young babe, too. 1t
did seem as though nobody ever had,
or could have, noafiiction like mine;
but somehow l got along, and |
found that there was Others quite as
bad off as | was, and the Lord helps
the lame and the poor" and n smile
and a tear together set their bright
seal to this confession Of faith.
"Well!" said Mrs. Peck, with an
audible sniff and hard voice. 81
didn't think was the worst off that
ever was when Peck died. He was u
drinkin' man. didn't know nothin'
of it when we was married. He had
the tremens three times. and died ont;
and | went out a-sewin,' to keep
body and soul together. l could
have taken care of myself eff my eyes
hadn't ha' give out n spell ago"
Mrs Saybrook regarded her with
infinite pity.
"You don't none Of We hev Jest my
trial." said Aunt Hannah Bromfeld.
tom Bromteld was iuSt mate to a
whalin' ship when he was married. My
sakes how lively he was. He had
money, too. We was real we'll of.
Twas kinder harrowin' To hev HIM
up an off tor N three years voyage
right away, and then he didn't stay
home no time when he did come; but
] had twins for to show him when lie
come back fust, and you never see n
man SO pleased. Well, them boys
was company for me you'd better be-
lieve. They was always a-talkin'
about pm, an where he went to, and
what he did, and a-tellin' about
whales and harpooners, and he'd
their little ships a-saling in the pools.
1t makes me laugh now to thiuk oi
their tricks" And Aunt Hannah
drew her red silk handkerchief across
her eyes, not ~ if she were laughing.
"The fust knowed, my boys were
eighteen wears old, and they hadn't
seen their pa more'n six times; but
he came back then, and there they
was, as likely men az you'd see; and
he had money in the bank and he
and John Stims they clrbbed and
built whaler o their own, and Tom
was cap'en and John iust mate, and
nothin' would do but them boys
must go along iust voyage. Well,
it's thirty years ago. I'm past sixty.
eight now; but don't like to talk
ont. The upshot is, sea and wnves
roarin' day an night. and night an
day; winds a-blowin' and tempest
howlin', and no more boys, nor hus
band, nor nothin', and here / be.
don't know SO much rs whore their
bones do lie, nor haven't these thir.
ty years"
There was dead silence. Nobody
felt like breaking it; but little Ray
who had listened, with her sweet
blue eyes wide opened and her lips
apart, put both arms around Aunt
Hannah's neck. and, with n child't
quick wisdom, gave her a resoundine
kiss.
"That done me real good dearie, ,
she said. IL KEEP school for chill
dren twenty odd year. do know
but what | should ha' died but fol
them. Wasn't it work, now, | tel
We: but hain't got nothin' TO wall
for How-only for the zen to give ZEN
up, and that's pretty fur ahead"
The Others said nothing. Doubt
less, they too had theirsorrows, but
they would sound tame after Aunt
Hannah's recital. When dinner wai