Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-12-12

said: "There's my ranch"
Soon they drove in, and the whole
family, hearing the wheels on the
road, was out to see what father had
brought for the morrow. Jumping
down from the seat the old farmer
lifted the little fellow off the wagon
and handed him over to his eldest
son, John, who was standing near
by, too surprised to speak.
"rhere, John, there's your Thanks
givin' gift. Take the poor little fell
low in to.the fire, reckon he's well
nigh frozen"
"Sakes alive, Eben Stubs, what
you been dom? Whar did you get
the boy?" cried his amazed wife.
"Never you mind, wife, cts all
sight. I'll come and explain when l
put the horse away. Here you, Bill,
tex them things outen the Vaughn,
50 as | kin onhitch,"
Receiving no answer he turned to
see what had become OF Bill and saw
them all going into the house. In
the excitement over the new arrival
they had forgotten the fathers
Thanksgiving purchases.
So he carried the things to the
house and drove off to the barn,
whence he soon returned. He told
them all the story of the little boy,
and when he turned to look closer at
the lad, he was startled by the like
ness he bore to some one he had seen
before.
"Wife," he said to Mrs. Stubs,
who was busily picking over some
old clothes, from which she was 60
ing to select suit for the little waif,"
who does this boy look like?"
"Well, Eben, 1 noticed that, and l
can't recall to save me-"
"Come here, Willie," she contin~
ued, addressing the lad, "let me see if
one of Henry's old shirts won't fit
you"
Stripping off the child's torn shirt,
she was about to try on the other
when she noticed a locket dangling
from a gold chain. "What's that,
my boy?" she inquired, looking at it
closely.
"That's got picture of grandpa
and mamma in it," he said, opening
it and showing it to her. CHANGING
at the miniature photos she trembled
and cried.
"Look here, Eben, if this amt a
picture of your father and sister Kate,
what married Clifford Green, my
name amt Martha Stubbs."
Sure enough, there it was, pic
ture of Eben Stubs father and sister.
"Come here, lad, and tell me all
about your mamma. Where does
she live?" cried the overjoyed farmer
Hardly knowing what he was do
, ing, the frightened child told all he
, could remember. He pathetically
3 told of his fathers death, and the
. poverty of himself and mother
since his death. How his mother
tried to locate her brother, and how
wearied out, she gave up her search
after she had traced him from his
t native home to the town in which
t they now lived.
"Jest to think of it," cried the
farmer, "me a livin' only 10 miles
| away from her, and havin' plenty
while she was sufIerin'. You, Bill
harness up the black colt to thu
r spring Vaughn and bring him rounC
a to the door. Pll have Kate and hel
: boy here to spend Thanksgiving ant
r as many more of 'em as they like.
That black coltnever went over thu
9 pike at such a rate of speed before
The 10 miles were covered in {
s short time, which seemed an eter
nifty to the farmer.
He drove down across the tOwr
t and turned into dark marrow street
< and pulled up with "whoa" be
q fore dilapidated cottage. Knock
: ing on the door and not waiting fo
the hurried response he heard from
d within, he pushed forward, anc
0 soon brother and sister were Onc'
Y more united after long separation.
Oh, what a Thanksgiving Da!
y was that! Their prayers of thank
;, assembled with the greatest fervor t.
n the One who had caused this happ!
n reunion.