Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1894-11-29
ONE THANKSGIVING
PROCLAMATION.

II happened a long time ago. Once
in a preat while some one OF The Oldest
inhabitants, in exploring the chambers
of his memory, brings it from some
hidden corner-dusty, covered with
cobweb5, and gray with age brushes
II up, and tries to restore its old-tlme
vividness to crafty the curiosity of an
lnappeasable grandchiid who wants to
hear u story" 1t happened away back
In the East,
The TALL dignifed man with iron.
gray huir aud beard, with clothes OF
irreproachable cut, and a general air
of culture and self-possession about
him, who sat looking somewhat YEARLY
out of the car window, was travelling
on an Eastern railway. He had been
"out West merely on visit.
1t was u raw, chilly day in Novem'
Der, and the sky was overcast with
clouds. However much one may re-
we're Emerson, Bunker Hill Monument,
the Charter Oak, the old mill at, New
port, and the memory Of the Pilgrim
Fathers there is seldom anything at
tractiye in a New England landscape
in November, and it is no wonder the
sun himself often gets tired OF look
ing at it, puts d ell of clouds over his
face, and hastens on to the golden
West.
The elderly, dignifed traveller soon
wearied Of the bleak landscape flying
past He took q paper from his pock-
ct, opened it, and began to read
There was an article on the editorial
page, written in the edit RS ablest and
most pessimistic vein, that attracted
his attention The country-so the
editor laid was going to the dogs.
Crops had been failure. The national
finances were at q low ebb The State
was misgoverned, 1t had been year
OF failure, and the editor could see no
ray OF hope ahead.
1t was small satisfaction to the tray
eler to note that the paper was nearly
week old. If things were so desper-
ate as they appeared to be they surely
could not have improved much in one
week He laid the paper on his knee,
took from his pocket memorandum
book, wrote rapidly in it for some
minutes, bordering awhile, looked
over what he had written, added ew
words, replaced the book in his pock-
ct, and bowed his head in reverie.
"Travelin fur, mister?"
The voice that disturbed him was
that of a lank individual on the seat
in front
II am on my way to the State CAPT
tai, he replied courteously
"On business, mebby?' hazarded the
inluisitive man.
The elderly traveller did not reply
He had Ia sed into reverie again.
Anything ptickler on your mind?"
"W6y, sir, and an amused SIN lie lit
up for a moment the seriou', preoccu-
pied face of the gray-haired man. "l
have been wondering If there is really
any hing to be thankful for this
year,
Anything to lie thankful fur, Land
O goodness. American, amt YEP"
Eyes"
"In good healdh?"
"t'alrly."
Alive, anyhow, amt ye?"
Enthusiastically. But look at this
artic e, an he handed him the paper
he had been reading.
"Ya-as, said the other, as he slowly
ran his eye down the column. II saw
that day fore yistedy. 1t don't amount
to nuthin',"
1T is one OF the ablest pa ers pub
lished in the State"
Vas"
And il 8 published at the capital"
That don cut no tigger, It's an
oppo ition sheet. Why. look h'yer!
B'lieve in God, dcn't ye-"
YES" reverently replied the elder
ly traveller.
San the promise that all things
shall work together fur good to his
children"
YES
what might be yer name?"
"My name Hendrickson.
why, you're
Crash!
Without a moments warning the
train in rounding q curve had dashed
into wild freight-train coming from
the opposite direction.
The visible effects of a railway dis
aster were not disposed of as quickly
then as now, but the accident had hap
pened within few miles of the cap
ital, and a relief train was quickly dis
patch d to the scene
Terder hands cared for the wounded
and dying, and the lifeless remains of
those whose eyes had closed forever on
this world We're gathered up for trans
mission to friends.
Down at the bottom OF a heap of
broken timbers in the wrecked car at
the foot of the embankment they found
sn elderly, graJ haired traveller, alive
but insensible.
Later in the day he opened his eyes.
He was in his own home in the capital
ci4y. A sweet-faced matron was bend
ing oyeS him.