The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-10
COUSIN HOSEA'S
FAIR BRIDE.

'Lisha, I'm clean give out, and things
amt half prepared, let alone the cookin'
OF the dinner. l sent over to see if Aunt
Jemimy could come and help, but she's at
Squire Halodays, where there's to be a
big family reunion. 'Twouldn't be half SO
bad if twas only you and I, but there's the
| invitation to your cousin Hosea accepted,
| and IT amt meet that he should come and
not be entertained properly. Pretty
housekeeper Cousin Hosea'u think me,
but-ouch 'Lisha, it must be rheumatic
for the pain is just rippin' my knee"
! Cousin Hosea was city man, and very
well-to-do, and had net been back to the
old house for more than a score of years,
although Boston was only fifty miles
| distant
Martha Colsfoot scarcely knew why she
had remembered him at that particular
| Thanksgiving season, and invited him to
| visit them, and Hosea himself hardly
| knew why he had accepted. He half re-
| GREETED after he had written Martha that
| he would come, but he was a man of his
word, and would not disappoint them
| after he had promised.
| Martha CoIsfoot had but broken rest that
| night; her rheumatism was worse, and
| she had been unable to find any help, and
was at last forced to tell her husband that
| she Guessed he and Hosea would have to
| go to the tavern after ALL
| But she rose Thanksgiving morn and
dressed herself painfully. The pain was
worse, and was creeping up into her arms
and hands.
! eff 'Lisha was like some men-Lemuel
| Harden, for instance needn't worry a
mite. Lemuel can cook as good meal as
any woman | know. Not that l think
cookin' is a mans natural sphere, but it
would come in mighty handy now," Mrs.
| COlsfoot thought to herself
After her husband had brought her cup
of muddy coffee, as different from the clear,
| golden liquid of her make as the turbid
waters of an angry brook are from those of
| a transparent placid stream, she looked out
| of the window at the passing people.
Presently down the road came brisk
| little figure in gray, walking as If the house
of God could not be reached too soon. AS
| it drew near Martha Colsfoot recognized
| the figure and said aloud:
"Why, if it amt Miss Kitty Kennedy!
Whenever did she come back? | wonder
| if"- She broke off abruptly and tapped
vigorously on the window-pane.
Miss Kennedy looked up, nodded, hest
| tated for a moment and was about to pass
on, when another loud rap made her de-
eide to run in to see if anything was
wanted.
Kitty was a fine cook. Everybody in
| town knew that. For moment only she
hesitated.
She had longed to attend this early
Thanksgiving service; she felt as if she
wanted to get inside the temple of God to
offer up her praises and thanks.
But after all, could she not return
thanks as we'll in Mrs. Colsfoots kitchen,
while putting the pudding together, watch
ing it boil, basting the turkey and cooking
the vegetables.
"Surely," she thought to herself, "God
is everywhere and will hear me as well
there as at church. Yes, I'll stay and help
this poor woman out of her trouble"
There was great deal to do and she did
not stop to run into the sitting-room and
did not know who the company was until
everything was ready and on the table.
The mashed potatoes were as white as
snowhakes, the turkey crisp and brown,
with delicious gravy, and all the vegetables
done to perfection. The pies stood on
side table, with the hard sauce for the
plum pudding but the pudding itself, the
browning delicacy of the feast, had not yet
been removed from the pot.
Miss Kitty had forgotten all about the
visitor when she went to announce dinner,
but when Cousin Hosea was introduced her
cheeks took on deeper roses than the
kitchen fire had impaired to them.
well, although he had doubtless forgotten
her in all the years of city life since he had
left the old town.
He had brought her apples and nuts, and
always chose her, then tiny morsel of
humanity, in the games that demanded
"kiss the one you love the best"
She was only IA and he but four years
DRY of Hosea and his many kind deeds to
her had never faded from Kitty's mind.
although nearly quarter of a century had
passed since then.
1t is true that the image of Kitty Ken
nedy had faded from Hosea Colsfoot's
mind, but it needed little to recall it.
So this was really the girl he had been
so fond of in his boyhood days. He thought
of it as he ate his dinner
He ate with a relish, and Kitty Kennedy
had cooked it.
She certainly knew how to cook well and
to season, too-just enough seasoning
in everything, and not grain too much.
She was good to look at, Hosea thought,
although she was on the shady side of 80.
Was it the good dinner or the old mem
cries, or mixture of both that moved him
so? Whichever it was it had it's effect, and
Hosea astonished Miss Kitty by declaring
after everybody had eaten as much as pos
sible, that he was going to help ''do up the
dishes''
Mrs. ColSfoOt persuaded Miss Kitty to
stay all night, and as she was a lone little
body, living by herself in her modest dress
making apartments, there was nothing to
keep her from staying.
That night Hosea accompanied her to
the evening praise service, and on the way
home asked her if she had any objection to
living in Boston.
"In Bostonl" she cried. "Why, have
always longed to go there"
"Then why not go, Kitty?" he asked.
"But haven't the means; and besides
haven't single friend in all Boston, ex-
cept YOU Mr.. Hosea"
That's Just it, Kitty, WAS just going
to ask you to come and make your home
with me, Kitty, and I'll see that you never
regret it.
That Thanksgiving day was the happiest
she had ever had, but since her marriage,
which occurred early in the new year,
Kitty Colsfoot declares that every day is
thanksgiving day with her.-Chicago
News.
The windmill, which is so conspicuous
in Dutch and Belgian scenery, is likely to
be seen in India. 1t is proposed to drain
the unhealthy flats around Rom how hv