The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-11-25
A SAD THANKSGIVING.

IL "dS d OIlcl HlcSS1SO tIdJ Gu0 6LldIJ
looking telegraph boy delivered at tn
coy house on Cleveland avenue. but i
was freighted with a world of happiness
for little Mrs. Harris, to whom it wa.
addressed:
LIVERPOOL. Nov. 14.-Home Thanks
giving. WILL.
Mrs. Harris read and reread the pre-.
cious line.
Dear Will, how thoughtful of him tc
cable! And it is nearly two weeks ear
lier than he expected to get through.
See, Dorothy, papa is coming back to us
again.
Dorothy dropped her dolly and pat
tered across the floor to her mother
side.
"Papoo, dee?" she lisped.
Yes, honey, papa dear is coming
home. Won't he be surprised to see
how big you have grown, and what a
good girl you are, and how many new
words you can say? He will be proude
than ever OF his little girl"
"Uh-huh, asserted Dorothy with the
supreme confidence of her two years. as
her mother tenderly swept her hand
over the little ones glorious tangle of
golden curls. "PapOo tum tee mamma,
Dzak, Dawsy."
Yes, darling, papa will come and see
mamma and Jack and Dorothy. Brother
will be home from school presently and
he will be glad, too, when he knows papa
is coming so soon.
Mrs. Harris counted the days after the
receipt of the cable. She knew that it
would take about ten days Tor the ocean
trip at :.iat season of the year, and she
feared little for the safety of their
loved one on the treacherous bosom of
the great ocean. Sturdy little Jack
was his mothers comforter through the
days that draggei slowly on, and each
night mamma and Jack and Dorothy
knelt at the side OF Jacks bed and
united in fervent plea to the Good
Father to watch over their dear one and
bring him safely home.
A week passed without special Incl
dent. There was something done in
sthe way of preparation of the Thanks
giving dinner, which had been feature
with them ever since they We're mar
ried. Mrs. Harris came of good cid
New England stock, and the Indian
buildings, and minc g pies, and "crullers"
that invariably formed part of this
meal were always prepared by her own
hands. Her husband insisted that no
one else could make them taste so
good,
The Thu, sday before THANKSGIVING
when little Jack came home from school |
his checks were flushed and he COM
planned OF his throat. Mrs. Harris, who |
never liked to take any chances, called |
the family physician, who sail that it |
was nothing serious, though it should |
be carefully watched. The next morn |
ing Jack was worse-much wOrse-and |
that night was very bad indeed. When |
the doctor came he brought another |
with him, and their verdict struck a |
chill to the heart of the little mother.
My dear madam, said the old doc
tor, kindly, your boy has diphtheria Of |
the most malignant character. We |
will do all in our power for him, but We !
gravely fear for the result. In the |
meantime the little girl must be kept in |
another part of the house."
Dorothy was banished to the upper |
floor, and Mrs. Harris sent for her Sis |
ter to help her. Together they watched |
over the pillow upon which Jacks curly |
head tossed, and together they prayed. |
All, the terror Of those nights; the hopes |
and fears that alternated in the bosom |
of that fond mother; the prayers that !
went up from the depths of that gentle |
woman's soul for the preservation of |
the life Of her boy. oh. God, spare |
him to US, she pleaded; ~let him live to |
glorify Thy name and bless Thee In the |
days when he shall have arrived at |
mans estate. Take him not from, US, |
We pray Thee; heal his sickness and re- !
store him whole to the arms Of those |
who wait for him. Yet. il he must die,
oh. our Father, We pray that he may be !
permitted to live to see his earthly |
ather once more"
So she duplicated for the life Of her |
first born. and when she rose from her !
knees great beads Of sweat were on her |
forehead. Her eyes were dry and hot.
She stepped lightly to the side of Jacks |
bed. He had not stirred. His lips, |!
parched by the fever's horrid heat, were !
swollen and cracked. His face had lost |
the brilliant flush it first bore, and was /
taking on the darker shade that tells |
the trained physician that hope is gone. |,
%, why cannot Will be here to bear /
this with me? Must our little one 20
before he comes? Heavenly Father |
hasten him on his way" Who can
measure that poor mothers agony.
None save those who have watched |
while the light has faded from loving,
sunny eyes, and tiny hands dropped |
nerveless upon q breathless bosom.
Mondays papers noted the arrival at |
New York of Wills steamer, and II !
there was no delay on the way he might :
get home In time. That night Dorothy !
exhibited some unfavorable symptoms, |
and By Tuesday morning WAS In the |