The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-11-27
THANKFULNESS OF
FARMER DENNING.

IANilLN DLlNINllNU.
Yes, times are growing harder. and
no mistake! Nothing seems to prosper
as 1t used to. Can't take up a daily
paper but first thing one sees some dis
e%ouraslng story OF business trouble. and
the whole financial situation grows more
trying.
Now comes Thanksgiving before
iohs, VI course, I'm thankful my head
IL ABOVE water, as the saying IL, hui
when 1t ONE to wanting me 10 send n
bushel OF potatoes TO the dinner for the
factory boys, n turkey to the minister,
ana to Increase my subscription to home
Missions, l think It Is asking altogether
too much for one man.
Tn wife wants me to invite William
nutchins and his family to our house
THANKSGIVING day. and I'm Just AZ de-
termlned not to do It! It Is true William
~ my own cousin, and his wife Is cousin
10 my vile, so 1t might be natural
enough to invite them all In and feast
them well, but it,s my opinion that cousin
William is lazy and might get more work
II he tried. It's the rheumatism, always
the rheumatism, that serves as an ex-
cuse for his giving up work every little
while and letting people help him out.
NOW, whatever else l consent to, / mean
to hold firm to one thing: William
Hutchlns, his wife and two children may
spend thanksgiving day wherever they
please. but l don't have them at my
housed"
And yet. farmer Dcnnlng had Jared
none SO poorly during the year, True,
there a been seasons when, he had
made more money, but even during the
past year he had not lost n cent. TO the
contrary. the lofts were well filed with
hay, the kitchen cellar with vegetables
OF various kinds. The poultry had more
than paid for their keep, and over and
above all expenses n small sum had been
added to the account at the savings
bank.
But with regretful eyes his good wife
noticed that the farmer grew q little
more close-"near," she called it-every
year he lived. Last season at Thanks
giving time he had tried to get another
farmer of the church to send a turkey to
the minister, and the good man would
willingly have done Il only that seven
out of his solitary brood Of turkeys had
died, and he had but one remaining for
his own dinner. And I'm mortal 'fraid
to trust him out O my sight for fear he'll
slip up before Thanksgiving comes" he
had added ruefully.
THE idea Of asking Mr.. Perkins to
send a turkey 10 the minister when he
had eight and you've had twenty-cight!"
Mrs. Denning said in disgust.
But she was reminded In 4 tone of
ind fph1inr rpthpr than nppnr tbo-
1t was hard work to raise poultry, that 1t
was no triiing responsibility TO work for
the support OF 4 family, and that her
husband had done well by her and the
children thus far, II she could trust to
his judgment as TO what he could afford
TO gige away. So she had said no more.
This year there was SILL stronger re-
volt. And Mrs. Denning closed her
mouth. firmly resolving to say no more.
after the former had relieved his mind
with unnecessary force concerning poor
William Hutchins and his meagerly-fed
family. Yet Farmer Denning was an
affectinnate man withal, and dearly
loved his wife and two young daughters.
Lizzie was twelve and almost through
the grammar school already. being an
ambitious scholar and 4 very good girl.
Jennie was ten and considered quite Z
lIOuiSS III IillSlG lUE SuCn u cnllI. IN
dreams. the farmer already saw LizziH
in college, whittier he had resolved she
should go. did matters but go on prosper
ously, and as for Jennie. she should have
all the advantages both for vocal and
musical culture that he could give her.
1t wanted but ten days to Thanksglv-
ing day, and Farmer Dennlng must
needs go a long days journey to see
some cattle he heard were to be disposed
OF at q very low figure. and rs other bus
iness was to be attended to ct the same
time, he left home expecting to be alb
sen two nights.
You are quite decided, are YOU" his
wife had asked the morning OF his de-
parture. making a last attempt toward
carrying out her own kindly wishes,
that Cousin Williaman his family can
not come here for Thanksglvlng?"
Il thought l had said 50 pretty plain
~" was the almost pettish answer. 81
may send them some vegetables, but l
think he ought TO earl even these"
How hard father Is getting" sighed
his wife, as she relinquIshed all future
hope OF extending the genial invitation
she felt sure would do so much good.
Conscience pricked Farmer Denningas
he started away that clear November
morning, but 1t only pricked n little and
he soon s!lenced it. The visit was sue
cessful!y accomplished, and the evening
Of the third day he was expecting to be
at home. AT loon on the train he heard
a few words ut which his heart froze
with apprehension and terror:
"At Farmer Denning's; four OF them,
and not n df them escaped" Such
were the words he heard.
He turned his head after n moments
silent d!smay. but 1t was too late to make
inquiry of the man who had spoken. The
train hatt halted at 4 way station when
the words fell on his ear; the speaker
a left the train. and they were in mo-
ton the next moment.
In vain the farmer called himself -the
stupideSt of all stupids not to have I'M
mediately pinned the man and demand
cd Information. Now, how could he ride
On for hours in the dreadful suspense al
ready cholliDk him! How could he
have allowed the dreadful words 10 so
nearly paralyZc him at first?
When the conductor came around Mr..
Dennlng arose, and In q voice he struve
va!nly to render steady, asked him IL he
had heard any reports concerning his
township or In connection with the am
of Dcnning.