Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-11-25
A GLAD THANKSGIVING.

She was a pretty woman. In fact she
had Just stopped short Of being beauti-
full. Looking at her in her shabby gown
and unbeautiful surroundings ono could
not help wondering how she would look
dressed NJ handsomely as the woman
who lived across tho way from her--ths
woman who mover succeeded In looking
any way but ordinary and common
place. In spite Of all tho helpful accos.
sores Of the toilet.
She remembered; sho could call up
very bright pictures OF herself in tho
days when pretty gowns and dainty
lAccs were her portion.
Now she was only n dre@makcr. Only,
say. asif In these days Of high art In
dress that were not enough. bnt, then,
hho had not grown up In IT, and shc lived
In country town. far from the centers
of art and fashion.
It was only after her unhappy mar
riagc that abe had taken n stitch for
anybody Then. being driven to do
something 10 provide bread and butter
for hepelf and her ono child. dear little
Ned. she turned TO thiA Sho had taste
n good eye for form and color, aud what
the Yankees call faculty. She was reso-
Lutte and strong md patient. as we'll as
kindly and sweet OF temper. 10 with the
help Of "ladies' books" mud cut paper
patterns. aud Ter own "knack" ahc sue.
ceeded In attaining n proficiency that
answered all tho demands OF tho dwell
ers OF Kingsley.
She had Just finished gown. and II
was 20 be sont home that night-tho
night before Thanksgiving. The room
seemed more than usually disordered,
aud as abe tied tho package. which sho
was 10 take homo In tho evening. Il
seemed 10 Der. 90 tired was she. a.
though she nevar could bring order out
OF the confusion. She felt sufo for
moment that she really could not mako
any attempt at Thanksgiving
Shohad promised Ned that there should
at least be u chicken pie. lie did not In.
sist upon turkey or oysters. but hc had
very decided opinions rs to the qualities
Of tho chicken pies that his mother made.
All this afternoon he had been teasing
her with childish, un,hinklng persistence
TO leave the window where sho sat and
come over to his window. These two
windows were In different ends Of tho
room and represented two different statcs
and conditions Of being. Ono looked
out on . little yard green with grass aud
gay With climbing rose In summer
weather by this window stood rock
ing chair. and near by table with big
photograph album, few books aud q
pretty shaded lamp. There was q we'll
worn but clean. cheerful looking ingram
carpet on this end OF the long room, a
comfortable lounge with number Of
Rayiy covered pillows upon It, There
were Ned's little chair. tho bird cage
and two or three pictures-not very
choice ones, but they gave pleasure aud
that is more than many choice ones do.
There are fans tackled up against tho vail
and stuffed owl on shelf. likewise q
set Of swinging shelves also filled with
books Not much time had shs for read.
ing, but there was an odd minute now
and then, and Ruth aray was woman
who made uss Of tho odd minutes.
The other end Of tho room. and the ono
wherein Ruth spent most OF her time,
was the business end. Hero were tho
sewing machine. tho kitchen table, tho
few common chairs, tho rag carpet aud
the wonderful brand now ceai stove
that was both parlor aud cooking stove
in one-a recent acquisition and ono thoy
had not yet ceased admiring. II would
do most remarkable things In the way Of
cooking II possessed hidden and mar
volous resources, and above It's adaptl.
ton to the needs Of housekeeping IL had
most dignihed and at the Same time
cheerful extarior. II was n great do
light So one end OF tho humble room
meant wofk--steady, hard. nerve trying
work; the other meant rest and rolaxa.
ton, or. as Ned said, "a good time Nc
wonder that he liked to get his mother
over the line that divided these two sec.
tons
On this special day no had been par.
ticularly trying" Ho seemed TO do
velop n now and alarming faculty In de-
ylking cunning nsiAchiefs. but no had
finally exhausted himself. When Ruth
turned from one kind Of work TO begin
the prpeess Of picking up aud arranging
the fragment strewn room. she found
tue restless little fellow curled up In d
little heap on the braided rug before the
stove. where with tho long suffering
kitty In close embrace, he had fallen
aslesp, Tcnderly she raised him aud
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,
shv didn't like holidays. and above al
she nsd nm unconquerable aversion I,
Thanksgiving day Not from ingrati
tude for she was a deyoat and thankful
woman but because the chief sorrow
OF her life had happencd-i' anythin,
ever really happenSi-on tho day se
apart by the authority OF the land 70
good cheer and gratitude
She thought about II as she proceeded l.
make preparations for observing the Ia,
In a fashion that should meet Ned's AZ
proyal She had followed father an
mother TO their graves on long pas
Thanksgiving day. she had quarrele'
with and parted from the only man al
had ever truly loved on that gala day o
the ycnr. she had married james Gray
when. the next year, the songs OF thanks
giving and praise came from grateful
hearts. She dreaded each return Of ia
da'. fearing lest II should bring her som