People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-11-26


the back door, and brushing off the
snow Jem soon had some dry wood, with
which he made a roaring blaze. 1t was
not long before he had the satisfaction
Of seeing the kettle send forth a volume
Of steam, and few minutes later he tap
ped again at the bedroom door with a
tray, on it tempting cup Of tea and
two well buttered slices of bread.
Wrapped in a shawl of Canton silk,
the heirloom Of a grandmother whose
father once sailed from Salem to the
Indies the widow sank back into her
comfortable armchair with deep sigh
Of content. She closed her eyes from
sheer weakness, while Jem tiptoed
about the room, Setting things to
rights" and preparing the table for
prospective meal. To be sure there was
very little in sight, but he had faith
that there might be something in the
cellar and in the cupbOards, for the
widow was known in the township to
have been a good pervider" in her
days of afiuence.
you've made me very happy, Jem-
very thankful.
well, ma'am, I'm glad Of it. It's
Thanksgivin."
what Really Thanksgiving day.
It's the first time I've forgotten it
ever. must be growing old"
Jem grew holder.
There's a turkey out in the barn.
yard. He amt very fat, but if you say
so I'll help you fix a turkey dinner"
The widow urged no objection, and
both fascinated at the prospect Of a
Thanksgiving dinner, with themselves
as host and hostess, the boy trudged
out to the barn.
Some sticks Of hard wood were soon
piled on the fire, and by the time Sir
Turkey was ready for the oven the
widow had peeled the vegetables and
dropped them into the mysterious depths
Of the steaming kettles, Jem looking on
with glowing but bashful appreciation.
A snowy cloth over a round table,
with two seats opposite each other, is
always an inspiriting sight, and when
topped by a steaming brown turkey,
with all the ''ixings" of a turkey din
ner, the feast is one to melt hearts
harder than that of the lonely widow
and the homesick New England lad.
1T is the happiest Thanksgiving din.
ner l have had in many a year, my
boy" she said to him as he cleared
away the dishes and brought out the
dessert of fragrant ounce preserves.
May God bless you'll And to think
how the dreadful, gloomy morning has
been turned to such bright sunshine
by your coming"
Jem turned to the window to hide
some tears that would persist in squeez
ing themselves out of his eyes. II wist
she wouldn't be so sentimental, 4" sale
he to himself quite wrathfully. But Il
the widow he said: "Why, ma'am,
amt done nothin great-no more'r
you'd have done for me, I'll bet. | ain
enjoyed dinner so myself sence l Cal
remember. | wish could Jest stay her
all the time"
A new light came into the woman
faded gray eyes born Of thought tina
had been struggling for expression TO
an hour or more. "And why can't yol
: stay, Jem?"
II could, ma'am, if l could come a
as partners "
= 1t was out at last, the boys yearninI
for something as his own and the chanc
he saw upon the widows farm. I"
: could fix things up" he went on eager
ly. land make the chickens lay egg
5 and the COW give milk and-and"-
Jem stopped, but the widows respect
full attention led him on.
= II could earn my board in savin
: things that's goin to waste. When
\ come through your wood lot this morn
| in, | noticed cords all cords of dead tree
that ought to be cut an made frewoo
r of. An as for timber, there's more
. 500 with there that'll be spilled if
: amt cut an sold pretty soon"
8 The boy hesitated, amazed at his au
< dacity, but the widow nodded her hea
and smiled approval. That's true
0 Jem. The farm Is running down for tn
, lack of some one to oversee out Of doors
9 So, then, it is bargain. "
t And so this strange partnership be
gan. The first winter Jem spent j
Q thinning ont the superfuous wood i
t the neglected lots, stacking up benin
the house enough fuel to satisfy eve
the cravings Of that yawning ireplac
7 for years to come and selling to tn
4 sawmill on the pond timber for ship
ment that came to quite $500.
AS the spring opened he was 500
afeld, continuing the good work of in
, provement, and planting time" foun
/. the farm with more and earlier labc
e performed than 1t had ever before e1
: perienced. In front of the western doc
n he threw out platform, protected by
d lattice work covering, and here tn
= widow passed all the spare time sh
j could snatch from her indoor duties.
e had never occurred to any one befor
: that farm work might be made attract
{ i've. The widow had only looked upo
e the beauties of her farm around be
:. through the kitchen window or durin
S hasty trip to the well or fsrmyart
The lstticed porch was a revelation
is her, and haven Of rest where she So
4