The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1893-11-30

called ''Pcacc." NV host brought bits
ii news from the evening papers and
Rejoice told of her Fittings here aud
there and gave freely ui her precious
store of experience.
But the day was not euled for me as
Ia out side affairs. We were only called
in for bit of rcfreshment. Another
walk | soon found myself taking, for,
learning that Rejoice and her husband
were going. would not remain, even
by such a coy lircside. large baskets
we're taken hy Samuel an i snail one
carried. but no one gave my cNplana-
ton oil this odd performance, Rejoice
eutcred house after house only mo-
menf. Will wc waited and then giving
IL nes direction we would proceed To
another house. Not all lhese places
seemed poverty stricken. many ot the
pltees We're comfortable enough To- Il
passcr-by, but Rejoice kneN, il was evi-
dent, where help of all sart- was need
ed aud stIaightWav she gave il. |
found when our baskets Mere empty,
suddenly others filled to th.' brinl would
appear though they were .ilrntly passed
and a silently received. Nine O'Clock
had sounded some time heinre We walk
ed quickly up the avenue Wiere we were
met by quite multitude Of YOU peo-
pie who presently surronn led Rejoice.
With greeting aud to my inquiry hcf
husband said "tlicy are jul leaving the
house
Rejoice has quite ehori, aud tins j.
the last rehearsal before Thanks giving
Truly il dill seem quite fitting that Re
ioiee -honld have chorus AMI turned.
tor the gaycst Youngsters Nere singing
good night Ia their beloved patronrss.
Shall ever forget it: the perfect night,
the solemn stars Lighting the scene.
Samuel with his grave, fine features and
noble form, standing near Rejoice, she
with her sweet face all aglow With feel
ing aud the singing, young voices al
ways suggest to me the first singing our
world ever heard aud the Glad surprise
of ii all, WAS such delight. Instinct
lively under the wondrous beauty of the
night and in the presence ol Rejoice they
all began to sing solemn. grand an
them of worship and praise.
Thai night in my dreams | was sing
ing also, though had never even dared
to think should sing Oh earth. When
| aWoke | asked myself II This was
heaven aud suddenly remembered that
was still on the earth, but with II happy
laugh | said cousin Rejoice is with me.
How much HAT word cousin was to me
cannot express and JUS then, from
the garden. ! heard her sweet voice in
reply Ia her husband say, when cousin
Thankful i ready we will 90. Ny
name, mine, and no one had ever even
cared 10 call me by il. | wondered now.
that Rejoice should have called me by it
first, on this Thanksgiving day. Last
night it had been Mary, hui 50 every
one had called me, and well | remember
ed that | had once wished that | could
have been called Thankful instead of my
first name. Mary. Names always inter
est me and | felt glad to know that my
mother and grandmother had borne the
stately name before me.
soon joined my hostess and | said,
''cousiD Rejoice, are you Waiting for
Thankful: And then she told me how
much she loved the name; she said our
old family names were so dear and the
puritan maidens seeiued to be influenced
by their stately names. wcrr helped to
become the sweet, home spirits thai
have come down to us il story and in
song. | would not tell Rejoice how very
little deserved the name, how out of
harmony my own heart had been with
this day. | would not trouble the calm
happiness that glowed in her eyes and
gave an added grace to every word that
fell from her lips. We were to go first
to the music room. directly after break
fast.
At this morning meal found many
guests and began to fear that should
have little of my cousins company. |
was given the duty here, IN the very
first, OF helping Rejoice in entertaining
her guests, and it became pleasure be
cause she had wished it. To the music
room we went and WAS surprised and
delighted with the large hall SO perfect
ly arranged and vet. almost too spacious
for IL common company. Rejoice. with
"A smile, showed me that their usual mu-
sic room was only the center, the other
arches were really separate rooms, divid-
I'd by sliding doors Always, said Re
ioice, at the holiday season we give up
these rooms that we may have room for
all our friends. The ceilings were a
mass of green and perfectly simulated a
leafy bower, still there was little
of mere decoration, it all seemed so
natural.
Flowers were everywhere and great
jars of growing ferns. Pictures gleam-
ed out of unexpected places md books.
too, quite musical library could have
been gathered from the shelves. Rejoice
spoke and | listened with growing won
der. ''Iast night Mary might have de
clhea TO ASSIST US III our ceieora'ioh 10,
nay, put tiis morning ihahhiul VIII
consent, am 4ulte sure. Ana prom