The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-11-27

low. Not that she saw any Of the beau
ties that lay outside in the glittering,
frost-ornamented world. or the heauti-
full picture of the white fields set in
the rich framing of dark green pine
forest Her stare was wholly mechan-
zeal. for her vision was turned inward
and she was moodily thinking of their
troubles, both the real and imaginary.
The day before one of the farm horses
died. \ few days before that COW
died. Potatoes were only few cents
bushel, and this year they had vcntured
largely in that crop. Grain was low Ia
value. The price of hogs was going
steadily down. down. down. These were
some of the real troubles. 1t seemed
surely that the bottom was knocked out
of their prosperity.
Then her soul was equally narrowed,
for she had that way of fretting over
minor ills, over q long array of imag-
mary woes. A new carpet had just come
home from the weaver's with the stripes
woven an inch nearer together than she
had ordered. This little trifie she had
worried over until il was magnified into
a great calamity. She was unable TO
get her a new cloak this fall. as she had
Intended Her fall house cleaning was
still unfinished. There were actually
fy spccks on the very window before
her now. which fretted her clearly soul
into pecvish unhappiness. These. and
a score of similar weighty evils. chafed
her nerves on this beautiful morning
until she was powerless TO see that life
held one charm or blessing.
Added TO the above woes the children
had been cla..Sring for days for an
observance Of Thanksgiving. But their
mother had told them emphatically that
they would not have any Thanksgiving
this year. That they had been so af-
nicted bv misfortunes they had little to
be thankful for. That not turkey or
even a pie would grace their table on
that day; every turkey must be sold TO
buy necessities.
4 She predicted dark outlook for their
future. filling the infantile minds with
visions Of CHASTITY want. Such words
coming from their mother were deeply
impressive on all the children except
Davv. the little seven-year rebel of the
camp. Davy had no appreciation OF
the ethics of such an unheard-of doc
trine. Davy liked good dinner. And
not TO have n Thanksgiving dinner.
not have turkey! not have pie. not
: have any company! Why. 1t was thu
vilcst heresy to all that was worth liv
ing for.
Unlike his mother, there was not ont
: drop OF melancholy blood in little Davy'
swift-fowing veins He was the yer!
: embodiment of JOY and sunshine. III
] saw life through a mirror which re
Elected back only pictures OF bright
ness. His eager. vivacious. Joy-lovint
little soul was proof against despond
ent infection.
A Mrs. Hoven stood looking out tn
!. window in brooding blueness. her hus
!. band came in from the barn ana TOOK
|. seat by the fire TO warm.
.John Marsh passed just now p
9 said. ale SAYS another one OF tn
!. Green children died last night .
. diphtheria. How terribly afflicted the
i are, hope TO God it won't get IN TN
neirhborhood."
a The door into an adjoining roor
!. where the children were paying v"
e slightly ajar. A numerous niue rig
h mcnt were .he IIovcn children. an
4 crowded close together in years. liner
were six Of them, from l2-year-oi
Katie TO year and a half baby Roy. lhe
had all gathered in the big ktchen 9
this morning WHERE they loved 20
). nlav And. as usual. Davy was the lii
: and reader of tEc party.
.Gpv. Katie" In cried, lets p's