St. Landry democrat., 1891-01-24
NED'S THANKSGIVING.

come tn'S y6dF-lL makes NE locI uuS Edte
full" sighed Ned Annas, lying at flu
length on the river bank that dreary Nc
vember morning.
The brilliant gold and crimson fores.
had faded to a lusterless brown, and gra
! branches were more plentiful than leaves
The sky was of paler hue, and even tn
clouds looked cold and cheerless.
The great white house on the hill
Ned's home-looked cold and cherries
too and so it was, to the boy to whom NJ
thanksgiving spirit had come. In weel
the holiday would come but only the da,
before, his father snd mother had received
telegram calling them away, aud the!
would be detained for more than tive
Weeks.
Or course there could be no usual gath
ering of aunties and uncles and cousins, a.
there had been ever since Ned could re.
member, and the dear grandmother hae
gone during the past year, too. So yor
see Ned really did have some cause for his
thankless feeling.
He had not learned that best remedy OF
all for discontented heart, to find some one
less favored to open his eyes to his OWE
blessings.
eff grandma was hare she would think
of some fun for me-she always did" he
mused with tears in his brown eyes, that
dimmed the sight of the quiet church yard
toward which he was looking.
1t did not matter to Ned that the SER
wants at the great white house had re-
ceived their instructions to make the day
as pleasant as ossible for him.
He knew well that the table would not
lack for the incest of eatables, that the
turkey would be Drowned 0eiciously, and
that the pies and jellies would be as per-
feet as the cook could make them.
Oh, no, Ned was not a glutton, but his
lonely heart was starving for love and
companionship.
"Here, you, get out here don't want
no more of you. l aint millionaire, and
l won't keep no boys round with such high
notions as yours be. You've got to shift
for yourself now, so git !"
The voice, brutal and harsh, was just
beyond the stone wall Ned had not heard
the team as it came up, but now he saw
jaded horse standing in the road, rickety
wagon, coarse, hard featured man, and a
shrinking, psle-faced boy.
"Please, please don't leave me alone !"
pleaded the boy. 81 don't know no one
here"
$50 much the BETTER" said the man,
with harsh laugh. "They won't expect
you to do nothing that goes agiu your soft
conscience. Get, now!' s.
He took the boy by the shoulder, gave
him push from the wagon, cracked the
whip and rode off, leaving him lying by
the road, where he had fallen.
"The brute" cried Ned, forgetting his
own troubles, as he spsang up and leaped
the stone wall, then knelt beside the Sob
bling boy. "What is your name2 Who
was that man? He wasn't your father,
was he3 What did he throw you out for?
He's bad lot, any how, isn't he?" he ques-
tioned breathlessly, not waiting for one
answer before he asked another.
The boy stopped sobbing, and stared at
him in sullsn curiosity.
"What's your nsmeI" asked Ned.
"Charles Hamlin," answered the boy
proudly, adding the next instant, with
dropping head, "but they called me
Weasel because weasel is sly and can 60
most anywhere, and the reason why hey
throwed me over was because wouldn't
help 'em crack no more cribs-that is,
after Miss Nell got me to 60 to the Sunday
kcbool and told me how wrong it was"
'Crack cribs u calculated puzzled Ned.
''That's what / said" returned Charlie,
carelessly. "Mavbe you don't know what
it means; you don't look as though you
would. 1t means to steal-break into
houses, stores-anywhere where there's
lotSsof swag.."
nWhat's that 2" asked Ned.
ooh. forgot you wouldn't know that
either" said the boy with an air of half
shame for his superior knowledge in that
line, half of pity for Neds ignorance. 81
meant money, jewels, or anything that we
could get rid of without the cops-police
knowing"
= sob !" breathed Ned, drawing back.
ooh, you needn't rum won't hurt
you," said Charlie bitterly, "Besides,
amt going to do it any more; and that's
why Jack brought me out here to leave
me. He's afraid might tell of 'em in the
city" w..
SIS Jack your father2"
"Oh, mol"
"Where is hef"
"Ain't got any-guess never had one."
"Where is your mother, thenS'
"Ain't got any mother either"
Where didSyou live, anyhow
with the gang-but don't now. I'll
starve first"
"Did you ever have Thanksgiving"
Ono, but I've seen 'em through the
windows Of the big honses. My Amt
they splendid?"
Charlie meant the Thanksgiving dinners
Just such dinners as Ned would have to
eat alone at the great white house this
year.
Ned stood up and looked down upon
him with puzzled, thoughtful eyes.
Ii he had had brother or sister he
might have hesitated longer, but he had
always been an only child, and the long
ing for companionship was very strong.
"You shall come home with me and
have one of your own this year." he cried
heartily, laughing at the others dazed
surprise. Mother and father have gone,
and | can't begin to eat all the good things
alone. Come on, let's go up and get some
&pples. Do you like Nodheads?'
Don't II" answered Charlie. "They
area cent apiece, though"
"You can eat barrel for nothing if YOU
like" said Ned, carelessly, then turning
suddenly he added: "We won't tell the
folks anything about Jack, nor cracking
cribs, nor the swag, for-for-"
II understand" breathed Charlie, with
q flushed face. miss Nell told me enough
so know how you feel about it. But YOU
needn't be afraid. I won't do it again,
never |"
81 know it," smiled Ned, with an en-
coufaging pat on his shoulder. 81 know
you won't"
And somehow that dull November day
seemed great deal brighter to Ned.
well, of all things I never saw such
10Y to pick up folks as Master Ned isl
wish his father was home. We shall all
be murdered ia our beds Dear, dear, We
may wake upGany morning and find our
selves dead, and the master and mistress
will be away two weeks yet" gasped the