The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-24

sick New England iau.
ut is the happiest Thanksgiving din
ner l have had In many a year, my
boy" she said 20 him. as he cleared
away the dishes and brought out the
dessert. Of fragrant ounce preserves
MAY God bless you. And to think how
the dreadful, gloomy morning has been
turned 10 such bright sunshine by your
coming,"
Jem turned TO the window to hide some
tears that would persist In squeezing
themselves out OF his eyes. II wish she
wouldn't be so sentimental said he 10
himself, quite wrathfully But to tho
widow he said: why, ma'am, / amt
done nothln' great; no more you'd have
done for me. Ill bet. amt enjoyed
a dinner so, myself sence j can remem-
Der 1 wish | could jest stay here all
the time"
A new light came into the wosnan's
faded gray eyes. born OF thought that
had been struggling for expression for
an hour or more. "And why can't you
stay, Jem?'
II could. ma'am. II l could come as
as partners"
1t was out at last, the boys yearning
for something as his own and the chance
he saw upon the widows farm. II could
fix things up" he went on eagerly, and
make the chickens lay eggs and the COW
give milk and-and'--
Jem stopped. but the Widows respect
ful attention led him on.
81 could earn my board ia saving things
that's goin, TO waste. When come
through your wOod-lot this mornin' l
noticed cords an cords OF dead trees
that ought 10 be cut an made frewood
Of. An as for timber, there's more'n
hundred dollars wuth there that'll all be
spilled n II amt cut an sold pretty SOON"
The boy hesitated amazed at his au-
dacity; but the widow nodded her head,
ADD smiled approval ~'rhat SIS true.
Jem. The farm is running down for the
lack of some one TO oversee out Of doors.
SO. then. II IS a bargain
And so this strange partnership be-
gan. The first winter Jem spent IN thin
ming out the supcrhuous wood i'm the
neglected lots stacking up behind the
house enough fuel TO satisfy even the
cravings OF that yawnlng fireplace for
years 10 come, and selling TO the saw
mill on the pond timber for shipping that
came TO quite 500.
AS the spring opened he was soon
aheid, continuing the good work Of i'm
provement, and planting time" found
the farm with more and earlier labor
performed than st had ever before cx-
pericnced. In front OF the western door
he threw out a platform, protected by
a latticework covering. and here the
widow passed all the spare time she
could snatch from her indoor duties II
had never occurred TO any one before
that farm work might be made attrac-
tive The widow had only looked upon
the beauties Of her farm around her
through the kitchen window, or during
hasty trip 80 the well or farm-yard
The latticed porch was a revelation TO
her. and haven OF rest where she sat
and unused during the long twilight of
summer.
Il never thought / should take such
comfort here" she said. Before you
came 1 was more than willing to give up
the farm and go away. But now, Jem,
i want TO live here the rest of my life
] would not leave IT for the world"
That's so. ma am. 1t would have been
great mistake TO leave the old place
why, there amt a prettier view in all
the world than this from your front
door. If there IT, then It Is right there,
down in the woods where the great trees
meet overhead. the brook sings a soft
song Of rest and the fern-covered banks
stretch down 10 the pond. / never travel
led any yet. but l don't want to; this
suits me-" And he returned 20 his work
with a CHEEKY whistle that sent thrill
Of satisfaction through the widows heart.
A wonderful change had been Effected
by the time another year had rolled an
other Thanksgiving into the calendar
The roof OF the old house no longer leak
ed, the barn had been raised from its
attitude of deep detection, and it's moWs
were crowded TO bursting with hay and
grain. The old horse spent his days
chiefly in the pasture, while a younger
and moro vigorous animal did the work
assisted by "A yoke of big and handsome
oxen. The solitary COW now had plenty
Of company and frisky calves gambolled
about her In the summer time. There
was no longer any doubt as TO the avail
ability OF any OF the fat gobblers for
thanksgiving dinner.
Thus the seasons succeeded one another
with their measure of content Each
found the widow more and more depend
ent upon her stalwart helper She chung
10 him as she might have chung TO the
son OF whom she had been deprived I'm the
springtme Of her wifehood. As her tot
tering footsteps were supported down the
aisle of the village church, on a Sunday.
few OF the congregation knew that the
handsome young man who watched over
her so assidu0usly was not, I'm fact her
own son. Those who were cognizant OF
the relations between the two shook their
heads knowingly: saying 10 themselves
and to each other: Lucky hoy. that.
stepped right into the farm, Just as the
Old lady was about 10 leave il. lie
knows the side of his bread that has
the butter on it"
But il is doubtful II Jem had ever given
that thought. So happy and content
was he that the merely material condi-
lions OF his life had never troubled his
consciousness. only one thing troubled
his thoughts Of late He was deeply
stirred by the soft brown eyes of pretty
Susie Jones, a chOrister I'm the church,
Susie. who lived as ne had done. with
friends for hoard amt keep, another of
New England's orphans.
He never mentioned this daring spec
ulation, not even to the widow; but her
eyes. though growing dim, were acute
enough 10 penetrate his honest soul His
whole life lay centred in the farm, which
had become as essential TO II almost as
the air he breathed. But now there must
Sbe young life there. A pair of brown
eyes persisted In dancing before HIS face
In woodpile. in field. in garden.
And so IL came 10 pass that there was
n wedding next Thanksgiving IN the lit
tie cottage. now pretty with vines and
CHEEKY within. Susie was glad of so
pleasant place for the troth which she
was 10 plight with Jim, while he, lucky
fellow, though he was could not take
time TO travel 10 Susies home far away
over the rough, hilly roads. "A wife's
a good thing" he sohoquized TO the