The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1892-02-18


cold.
II tell yous what, mother" he said,
as he threwsof ,hisA,cap, thick wooden
muller and mittcns in front of the
great fireplace in the roomy kitchen of
the farmhouse, Its cold as-as blazes.
Gideon voca bulary was not affluent
OF synonyms and comparisons) The
cattle are all a-shaking as though they
had the ague, and Dams cross as q
Turk S.% @ssS@ft, ~ h5S
Mrs. Granger rose from the hearth,
where she had just turned the johnny
cakes that were baking on tins before
the hot fire, and looked at the sturdy
little figure, dressed in homespun con >
tinentals, and wearing his shock of
yellow hair in queue, for Gideon
was a boy of 49," and pretty small
boy at that, looking scarcely to be
fourteen, as he averred he would be If
he lived to the Goth of the following
March.
us it as frosty as that?" she said.
why, your ears are as white as snow.
They are early frozcn.''
Gideon began to rub those members
vigorously with his hands till good
healthy glow succeeded the paleness.
"Its9terrible cold, he repeated; "cold
enough for the Esquimaux. Such a
change from yesterday"
II knew a change was coming -
piped Grandmother Andrews. Mrs
Granger had been an Andrews before
marriage.) There was ringing in
my ears all the evening. The heart of
winter is not broken yet, and spring
is far distant"
s'And oh, think of our poor soldiers, ~
said Mrs. Granger, pityingly, the tears
starting to her mild blue eyes. MAY
the God of battles protect them. il
makes my heart ache to think of them
camped over there in that valley with.
out enough to wear or to eat, being
tracked by our dogs by the blood they
leave in the snow whenever they go
abroad. l wish we might do some
thing for Them
Mother" said Gideon, in a low tone,
II have been thinking of something ]
would like to do if you are willing, 81
and he regarded her earnestly. II lay
awake last night more than an hour,
my mind full of the suffering and the
hunger among our brave soldiers, and
felt as though ought to try to help
them some way"
Eyes, Gideon, but what can you do?''
and'his mother pushed the mass of.light,
tousely hair from her boys freckled
forehead with a gentle, sympathetic
touch that caused the flush to deepen
on the young cheeks
II cannot do much, know" he
whispered, but there's the twin calves
father gave me last spring, they're
yearlings now, and fat as butter, and
they're all my own. They'd make
many poor soldier good meal, and
their hides could be used to make moe
casins for their wounded feet. If you
will let me III see Bert Stillings, and
perhaps he would drive his own, too;
you know he's q pair most as large as
mine. And think Of the good they
do 80
But your father, what will he say?"
murmured Mrs. Grang er, anxiously.
What can, he say, mother?" an.
swered Gideon. 1.-THE steers are mine,
and haven't 1 as much right to give
mine to the Americans as he has to sell
his to the British? You know as we'll
as I do that he's gone to Philadelphia
for that purpose. i General Putnam's
aid7de-camp offered him fair price for
those very cattle last week, but heard
him tell John that he knew Gen. Howe
would pay him still more. think it's
a shame, and our soldiers are suffer-
ing ~@'S> - -."i'
= Hush, Gideon" y7said his mother,
placing her hand over his mouth. IRE.
member he is your father 80
II do not forget it, and my shame is
all the greater" cried the boy. indig.
nantly. but the British shan't have
my calves not even if'I was offered all
the jewels in King Georges royal
H''pat not you your taith; in princes, but
trust in the Lord of hosts said Grand
~ mother Andrews. who caught indis:
ti7ctly the illusions to King George
q sand taiesBritisha ''The arms of Great
4 B-itains will never conquer our coun.
try. Washington is q praying man,
and If there IS anyone to whom the
LAd will listen he is the man. Unde,
4suoh q commander our Independence is
cSft6in cannot doubti It for a instant. y
The good old lady uttered this speech
with the energy and the assurance OF
m ancient pythoness. It was easy t.