Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-21


lars by the rattle. but you amt gunno git
a hundred right down from a farmer What
you can git for the boss that's what he's
wuth."
The boss comes from good stock" said
the Old man. family. IF any one wanted
a fine trotter-"
mo matter who's wantin' fine trotter.
they amt wantin' 1T at a fancy price"
said Mrs. Washington. "Of course IL YOU
must keep the boss. then it's Bulbs place
10 keep the two o you. If he won't let you
stay at the farm. he ought for to make
arrangements about yer board. Lawsr'
she added, looking keenly into he old
mans face, Il should think as the boy'll
be mighty sorry after while If he Goes
The Cissels." said the old man, hrokenly,
they never gifts sorry"
Il don't want to do nothin' mean" said
Mrs Washington, but the boy ought a
come fawward now II ever. Tomorrow's
, Thanksgivin'."
The old man rose and went out of the
house. He walked very slowly across TO
the station and fingered about But tha
people evaded him: nobody wanted to buy
horse, and most of the cowboys were be-
coming weary of his entreates. IF he'd
had the rattle he'd been all right for
awhile" they said.
The world amt got no use for a man
without money, muttered old Cissel He
can't buy a chaw O. tobacco, nor nothin'"
he was feverishly anxious to Sell his horse
that eve of Thanksgiving
Bright and early on the morning of
thanksgiving day the horse sold very
quietly, before many people were around
Inc purchaser arrived for him al noon, but
Kramer insisted upon being paid for the
norses keep before delivering him to his
new master. Old Cissel's hands trembled
as he counted out the dollars for Hawks
keep. Hes a fine hoss," he said as the
new owner rode away; las fine a boss as
one can find in the county. but a body's
got TO take what they can git for a boss
nowadays: faint no use settin a price"
10 h.
into Ann Earp's said that he walked as IL
he were growing young again, but his for
mer landlady's face was severe and unap-
proachable as she answered his knock
Il have come to pay the BILL, announced
the old man, whereupon Mrs. Earp's face
relaxed, and she invited him into the warm
dining room.
Pore people," she said, alphabetically. as
she received the money lis sometimes
forced to do hard things; but If yol've sold
the boss I'll be glad to give you the room
again.
The room in question WI; back of Tho
dining loom. The door between was omen:
II must be warm. too. Old Ciss.-l bowed and
thanked her, but he did not accept.
Mrs. Washington smiled henignly when
she IN turn received her money
It's the last day O. the weeks board"
SAID old Cissel. II git my supper"
Laws! you amt gunno leave?" cried
L said yesterday? / was called on Tor
money myself, and was put to. II ia
known you was gunno sell the boss so
early l wouldn't said a word. Wsshin',on
won't half like il if let you GO
I've made other arrangements" said
ALL"
He left the house after supper.
Coin back to Ann Earp's i s'poee ="
said Mrs. Washington. sneeringly, TO have
the tick took off again when he hoss
moneys spent. Well, | reckon it's hest 10
be shed of him now"
The old man SAT in tho
ing room until very late. He was congratu-
lated several times upon the sale of his
horse, he was told that he. at any rate. had
something to be thankful for; out he look
ed very, very old.
'Bub best take him eff he wants him." said
the cowboys among themselves. Hes
holdin out pretty study for a seventeen
year-old boy"
When old Cissel quilted the station he did
not go to Mrs. Earp's as Mrs. Washington
had prophesied: he went up to the bridge
and stood there looking down mechanically
at the railroad track. There had been two
light falls of snow, enough to cover the
ground several inches, AMI the people had
brought out their sleighs 10. ThanksgiVing
The old man, leaning against the rail of the
bridge, heard the sleigh bells rs in "A dream,
but he knew that it was Thanksgiving. He
brought his hands out of his empty pockets
and folded them upon the railing. He look
ed up at the moon-lighted sky.
I'm thankful he said slowly, that I've
been able to pay my just debts-$12 TO Ann
carp, $40 for the boss and SIS 10 Eliza
Washin'ton. 'Tain't no use settin' price
on boss; what you can git for him. that's
what he's with. Forty dollars for a fine.
sound, young horse. Lord, is the times so
hard as that?"
Then he must have heard the sleigh bells
distinctly, for there were two strings of
them upon a horse that was springing and
dancing behind him; he must have heard
the energetic Whoa and the tingling and
jingling of the sleigh bells shaken afresh.
i seemed heard nothing
at ALL his head had fallen on his arms; he
shifted his feet little TO make surer
prop as he prepared TO spend his second
night without home.
The old head was lifted gently by pair
of strong hands: some one said Father"
in a choking voice. and old Cissel turned
and stared into the boys face.
Father cried Bub again.
But the old man drew back. Leaning
heavily against the bridge railing he an
nounced that the "hoss" was sold, given
away.
You're cold" said the boy, gruffiy; you
git in thar. You're goin' whar you'll he
took care of. / heered all about the boss.
Durn the fool that robbed you
He helped the old man into the sleigh and
drew the robes about him: then he whstled
to his horse and the sleigh bells resumed
their jingling.
The sudden change from the homeless
and destitute feeling of spending the night
upon the bridge with no future prospects
whatever, with the knowledge that il was
Thanksgiving day and that he could only
be thankful over the fact that his empty
pockets meant that each honest debt had
been paid, the sudden change from all this
to the comfortable seat in the sleigh with
the spirited horse rushing him on to
warmth and light and home was too much
for old Cissel. He sat in the sleigh beside
Bub, whimperng like little child.
The boy learned over and very quietly
saw that the robes were rightly placed.
Then old CisSel reached out his hand and
touched his sons coat sleeve.
when man gifts to be nigh on to
eighty, Bub,'' he said, humbly, "he ought
to have sense enough to know that young
blood's hot Though I'm the first Cissel
that ever done it, I'm gunno low I'm
sorry"
The boy turned about. NO, you're not
father" he cried, quickly; you're not to
low you're sorry; you're not to be sorry;
it's me that's both sorry and ashamed"
NO, Bub: no, Bub;' returned old Cissel
Gogged.y. faint hathaway"
They sat in silence for a long time. The
sleigh was turning in at the farm gate, the
nc onlght was over everything. the glow
from the window was visible when old Cis-
sci spoke again.
We amt nary one of us sorry. Bub."
he said, fervently. Its Thanksgivin'
We're both jest overpowerin glad
Why Motif