Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1891-11-26
A GLAD THANKSGIVING

A GLAD THANKSGIVING.
She was pretty woman. In fact she
had just stopped short Of being beauti-
ful Looking at her in her shabby gown
and unbeautiful surroundings one could
not help wondering how she would look
dressed as handsomely as the woman
who lived across the way from her-the
woman who never succeeded in looking
any way but ordinary and common
place. in spite Of all the helpful acces-
sories Of the toilet.
She remembered; she could call up
very bright pictures Of herself in the
days when pretty gowns and dainty
laces were her portion
Now she was only a dressmaker. Only,
| say, as if in these days Of high art in
dress that We're not enough; but. then,
she had not grown up in it, and she lived
ina country town, far from the centers
Of art and fashion
1t was only after her unhappy mar
riage that she had taken a stitch fol-
anybody Then. being driven to dc
something to provide bread and butter
for herself and her one child, dear little
Ned. she turned to this. She had taste,
good eye for form and color, and what
the Yankees call faculty She was reso-
lute and strong and patient. as well as
kindly and sweet Of temper, SO with the
help Of ladies books and cnt paper
patterns, and her own "knack" she sue
ceeded in attaining a proficiency that
answered all the demands Of the dwell
ers Of Kingsley
She had just finished a gown. and il
was to be sent home that night-the
night before Thanksgiving The room
seemed more than usually disordered
and as she tied the package. which she
was to take home in the evening, il
seemed to her. 50 tired was she, as
though she never could bring order out
Of the confusion She felt sure for a
moment that she really could not make
any attempt at Thanksgiving.
Shehad promised Ned that there should
at least be Il chicken pie He did not in
sist upon turkey or oysters. but he had
very decided opinions as to the qualities
Of the chicken pies that his mother made
All this afternoon he had been teasing
her with childish, unthinking persistence
to leave the window where she sat and
come over to his window These two
windows were in different ends Of the
room and represented two different states
and conditions Of being One looked
out on little yard green with grass and
gay with climbing rose in summer
weather by this window stood rock
ing chair, and near By table with a big
photograph album. d few books and d
pretty shaded lamp There was a vel
worn but clean, cheerful looking ingram
carpet Oh this end of the long room. a
comfortable lounge with a number oi
gayly covered pillows upon it, There
were Ned's little chair. the bird cage
and two or three pictures-not very
choice ones, but they gave pleasure and
that is more than many choice ones do
There are fans tackled up against the wal
and a stuffed owl on a shelf, likewise E
set of swinging shelves also filled with
books Not much time had she for read
ing, but there was an odd minute now
and then, and Ruth Gray was woman
who made use Of the odd minutes
The other end Of the room, and the one
wherein Ruth spent most Of her time
was the business end. Here were tht
sewing machine, the kitchen table, the
few common chairs, the rag carpet anc
the wonderful brand new coal stove
that was both parlor and cooking stove
in one--a recent acquisition and one they
had not yet ceased admiring. 1t would
do most remarkable things in the way o.
cooking 1t possessed hidden and mar
yelous resources. and above its adapta
ton to the needs of housekeeping it haG
most digniHed and at the same timt
cheerful exterior. It was great de
light. So one end Of the humble room
meant work--steady, hard, nerve trying
work: the other meant rest and relaxa
ton, or as Ned said, "a good time" M
wonder that he liked to get his mother
over the line that divided these two sec
tons
On this special day he had been par
ticularly trying. He seemed to de
velop new and alarming faculty in de
vising cunning misehiefs. but he haC
finally exhausted himself. When Rutf
turned from one kind Of work to begir
the process of picking up and arranging
the fragment strewn room, she founC
the restless little fellow curled mp in ;
little heap on the braided rug before the
stove, where. with the long suffering
kitty in close embrace, he had faller
asleep. Tenderly she raised him and
kissed the rosy cheek and sunny, curly
hair. Yes. she had something to Civ
thanks for Out OF her sea Of sorrow
she had saved this pearl.
She didn't like holidays. and above al
she had an unconquerable aversion t,
Thanksgiving day Not from ingrati
tude, for she was a devout and thankfu
woman: but because the chief sorrow
OF ner life had happened-if anything
ever really happens-on the day se
apart by the authority of the land 70
good cheer and gratitude
She thought about 1t a. she proceeded 3
make preparations for observing the da,
in fashion that should meet Ned's AZ
proyal She had followed father an
mother to their graves on a long pas
4 Thanksgiving day, she had quarrele'
with and parted from the only man sh
had ever truly loved on that gala day 3
the year, she had married James Gray
when. the next year. the songs Of thank;
giving and praise came from gratefr
hearts She dreaded each return OF th
day, fearing lest it shonld bring her som
new sorrow. She looked ut the fushe
4 cheeks Of her little boy with shar
pain. What ii she We're To lose her onl
delight and joy on her fateful dayf B1
when he opened his eyes and declare
himself as hungry as a bear her feai
vanished
II say, mamma. be cried. lets y
gin Thanksgiving tonight. Let's have
nice supper. I'm 50 hungry Then let
have some popcorn and paused Rs