Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-12-01
CAPTAIN PIXIES THANKSGIVING,


up seafaring life and he was well on in |
years when his lameness, aggravated by |
the extremes of weather, forced him to |
come ashore for good.
He deeply regretted that he was to live |
on land, and, for the tirsr time in his life,
began to feel that he wished he had saved !
a little money He made application for
the pension to which he was justly entitled,
but it seemed a slow proceeding at best,
and the captain finally decided to make his
home with his youngest daughter, Mrs.
Bishop.
When he was away on his long voyages,
and during the years he had served as a
soldier, he had left hisltwo motherless chill
dren in charge of relative. They were
women now, in homes of their own.
81 reckon Louiza'l find something l
can turn my hand to- thought Captain
Pike, "She want more twelve when she
thought she was old 'nough to keep house
for me, and 'praps Id been better off if I'd
let her try it.
When her father come to live with her
Mrs. Bishop gave him the small room over
the shed, looked after his mending, and
made him as comfortable as her limited
means would allow. She had two small
children, a gOod-natured but indoent hus-
band, and the burdens of life rested heav-
lily upon her.
AT the end of three months, finding the
old captain still apparently vigorous, she
secured work for him in large boot shop.
Here Captain Pike was able to earn small
sum each week. He gave the larger por-
ton of it to Mrs Bishop, and from the re-
mainder he contributed toward occasional
charities, and now and then bought some
little gift for his grandchildren.
He was lame, and it was sometimes diff
cult for him to climb the long flight of
stairs to the room where he worked.
1t was a long. narrow room, with many
windows on each side, the smell of leather,
the noise of the machinery and the close
air were rather hard for the old sailor
through the sultry summer days.
Captain Pike had never thought of max
ing his home with his eldest daughter, Car
oline Mrs. Bishop was poor, and he was
even poorer. so the old man fancied that
his youngest daughters house was the
place for him.
He was punctual in his attendance at
church, and it was great pleasure to him
when Nelson, his little grandson, would 60
with him. In fact, Nelson was the old
mans nearest companion. The boy de-
lighted in listening to this sea stories which
his grandfather equally delighted in telling.
If the old captain noticed any lack of
interest in his sociey from the other MEM
bers of the family, or from his shOpmates,
it never appeared in his manner He was
as hopefully smiling, as prompt in his sal
utations, as he had been in more prosperous
days.
The first outward break in the old man 5
content came when the overseer OF the
shops discharged him. II hate to do it, -
he said to one of the workmen, "but the
fact is I've kept the old captain for weeks
longer than he's been of any use, and now
he's got to 60.
Captain Pike took his discharge as
serenelv as he accepted his other misfor-
tunes. But when he received his pay for
the last time there waa a little mist in his
eyes and falter in his good-by to his
shOpmates.
Mrs Bishop heard the news in ungra-
cious surprise. well, declare; | should
a thought, father, you d tried to kept the
place, situated as We be, What be you cal
culatin' on dom now?'
II hadn't thought, LOuiza. been a
havin' some pain with my leg lately, and
dunno as there's much work left in me.
But we'll see. Perhaps | can get work in
Bascoms shop responded the captain.
The trouble in the lame leg increased,
and for number of weeks he was unable
TO leave the little shed chamber, whose
one window and sloping walls made a
narrow berth for him.
Mrs. Bishop sent up his meals by \ elson,
and looked after his needs in an irritable,
complaining way.
By the first of November he was able to
get out to church again, but he walked
with greater difficulty than before.
l., Nl,y, 1-1r riN~iV
and Mrs. Bishop was busy; and as she
went briskly about her work she was de-
Gliding how she should tell her father that
he must make up his mind to 60 and spend
the winter with her sister Caroline
don't show no feelin' for him, but 'twon't
do no harm for him to make her a visit,
and now Nathaniel amt got no work,
seems as if father ought to 60 to her; she's
got enough" thought Mrs. Bishop. ia
Their don't set down right front of my
oven door, she exclaimed, as the old
man lmped into the kitchen and sat down
near the stove.
He moved his chair, and after an in
quiring look toward his daughter, sat
down.
t'What be you calculatin' on dom this
winter"
81 seem to be like a wornout ship that
underwriters won't take no chances on,
but that amt quite bad enough to sink,
he answered.
THAT amt answerin' my question,
said Mrs Bishop relentlessly, Il want to
know where you're plannin' to live this
winter"
The captains head dropped as he listen
ed. He had felt himself unwecome, per
haps, but not to this extent.
81 dunno, Louisa" he said in low
voice, without looking up.
81 should say you'd better 60 to New
town and stay with Caroline. You ain'i
ever made her visit, and this II be 6
good chance to 60. 'Tain't that we dom
want you, father; but Nathaniers out OF
work and we've got to manage pretty close
Winters settin in, Thursdays Thanks
giving; so if to-morrow's bright, fair day,
you'd better plan to start"
81 hate TO tell you, LOuiza," said the
captain, his head still bent forward as il
ashamed to lift it, ''that l amt got money
to pay my way to Newtown."
swell, I,dunno what you've ever done
with all your money. I'm sure you've
earned enough in your day. NewtowI
amt more'n seven or eight miles, and
guess you can manage to walk it. I'll see
that your white shirts are all done up, anC