Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-11-22
ONE THANKSGIVING
PROCLAMATION.

It happened long time ago. Once
In a great while some one Oh the oldest
inhabitants, in exploring the chambers
of his memory, brings 1t from some
hidden corner-dusty. covered with
cobweb5, and gray with age brushes
IL up, and tries to estore its old-time
vividness to crafty the curiosity OF an
inappeasable grandchid who wants to
hear astory." 1t happened away back
In the East.
The tall, dignified man with iron.
gray hair aud beard, with clothes OF
irreproachable cut, and 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 q 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
tractive in a New England landscape
in November, and it i no wonder the
sun himself often gets tired OF look
ing at it, puts a ell of clouds over his
face, and hastens on to the golden
West.
The elderly, dignified traveller soon
wearied ( the bleak landscape flying
past. He took a paper from mis- 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 aid was going to the dogs.
Crops had been failure. The national
finances were at a 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
a 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 lew
words. rep aced the book in his pock-
ct, and bowed his head in reverie.
"Travelin fur, mister"
The voice that disturbed him was
that of lank Individual on the seat
in front
81 am on nv way to the State capt.
tai, he replied courteously.
"On bu 8iness, mebby!' hazarded the
inauisitive man.
The elderly traveller did not reply.
He had La sed into reverie again.
Anything p'tickler on your mind?"
@Why, sir" and an amused SIN le lit
up for q moment the serou', preoccu-
pied face of the gray-haired man. Il
have been wondering ii there is really
ANYTHING to be thankful for this
aAnything to te thankful fur Land
o. goodness. American, amt YEP"
"Yes."
ain good health?"
@Fairly."
"Alive, anyhow, amt yer
Internationally. But look at this
nrtic O." AMI he handed him the paper
he had been reading.
@Yaes,D said the other, as he slowly
ran his eye down the column. Il saw
that day fore yistedy. 1t don't amount
to nuthin"
1T is one Of the ablest pa ers pub
lished in the State"
"Yas'
And IL 8 published at the capital"
THAT don GU no tigger. Its an
oppo ition sheet. Why. look h'yer!
B'1ieve in God, d mt ye:'
YES" reverently replied the elder
ly traveller.
"An' the promise that all things
shall work together fur good to his
children"
"Yes."
"What might be yer name?'
"My name Hendrickson-
@Wby, you're
Crash.
Without moments warning the
train in rounding curve had dashed
into wild" freight-train coming from
the opposite direction.
The visible effects OF railway dis
aster were not disposed of as quickly
then as now, but the accident had hap
peaed within few miles OF the cap
ital, and relief train was quickly dis
patch d to the scene
Teuder hands cared for the wounded
and dying, and the lifeless remains Of
those whose eyes had closed forever on
tnis world were gathered up for tran !,
mission to friends.
Down at the bottom of heap Of
broken timbers in the wrecked car al
the foot of the embankment they found
an elderly. gra ;-haired traveller, alive
but insensible.
Later in the day he opened his eyes
He was in his own home in the capita
city. A sweet-faced matron was bond
ing over him.
aWhat is it. dear? Where am Il
What has happened." he asked.
@Hush, John she answered. "Yo,
are among your own"
"Ah' / RENE nber," he broke in
feebly.
He closed his eyes. In a moment lac
opened them again
Rachel he said, will you please
look in the inside pocket OF my Goa
and see IL there Is little-pass' bool
In it?"
She complied.
"Wili you please--read to me thu
last-entry In it,"
Among the friends standing SILENT,
about the bed was one who seemed 4
sustain some confidential relations u
the disabled man. To him she handel