Connecticut western news., 1896-03-26

Many years sgo lady died in Old Tyringham, leaving thirteen children, the youngest of whom was Nathan Jack son. who was then four months old.
 Not long after this Colonel Jackson married widow who had six children, and to her were born six children more. The reader will readily perceive that such family would all an ordinary farm house to overfiowing.
 Nathan, at an early age, went to Stock bridge to live with his sister, who was the wife of Mir Manning,
 When 12 years of age lawyer by the name of Bidwell. also native of Tyring- ham. became the owner of a very fine horse, upon which he was accustomed to take exercise when not engaged in his legal pursuits.
 He promised Nathan that if be would catch the horse fos him when he needed him to use during the summer, he would let him have him to ride home to keep Thanksgiving. To a boy fond of a horse this was no small inducement. He per. formed his part of the contract to the satisfaction of his employer.
 The day before Thanksgiving be mounted the horse and rode up to the lawyers office. Mir Bidwell came to the door and said:
 "Well, Nathan, you are all ready. perceive. !"
 "Yes. sir"
 "Ihope you will have a pleasant time.
 "I expect to, sir"
 "How many of your fathers family are coming home to Thanksgivsuef"
 "I don't know, sir; lots of them guess"
 "I guess so, too, even if half of them are there. By the way, Nathan. have you any pocket money?"
 "Yes. sir. I have got three nine penny pieces
 "Here. take this" He handed him g silver dollar.
 "I thank you, sir. said Nathan. and rode away.
 It can easily be imagined that a boy l2 years old, on fine horse. with sil yer dollar in his pocket, did not loitel on the road. He was not long in lesv' ing behind him the pleasant valley oi the Housatonic. He rode along the bor ders of the stream which empties into that river, and then mounted the hills, and soon arrived at his fathers house, which was situated in that part of Tyr inRham now called Monterey.
 He put tbe horse in the stable. and then felt in his pocket to be certain that his nioe-penny pieces and silver dollar had not been lost by the ssy. | Some of his brothers and sisters had not as yet gone from home. and some who had been away had come home tc enjoy the festive occasion. His little half brothers and sisters were mingled | with the others. As the shades of even ing fell they gathered in the large kitch en and. before the blazing fire on the hearth. they seated themselves to take their comfort
 Soon the mother opened the door o the large brick oven, and the childrer were delighted as one after another the pies were taken out First came some made of pumpkin, then some of tart and last some made of mince meat These were set away to cool.
 Nathan. meanwhile, had taken one o his half sisters on his lap. and she heard the money jingle in his pocket and asked to see it. So the dollar was produced It was admired by all. The younger children had never seen SO large & snm and were anxious to know what he wal going tn do with it; but he told them h. had not made up his mind.
 The next day he went to church. I will not surprise the reader to learn ths as he was in the gallery with other boy of his own age. that silver dollar va exhibited, even while Mir Avery. tn, pastor, was endesvoring to impress upol the minds of his congregation the dut, of Thanksgiving.
 When the services were concluded this company of boys formed a littl' knot near one of the horse sheds. On, said:
 Mate, where did you get that dollsr?'
 Esquire Bidwell gave it to me"
 "He did?"
 "Yes."
 "What are you going to do with it?
 "I don't know yet"
 Idon't wonder" said Charlie Jones "you don't know. shouldn't if I ha, as much money as that
 "Come, Nathan," said Mir Jackson and this broke up the conversation. Thanksgiving passed of much as sucl occasions generally did in those days The long table was loaded with variou kinds of good things. There was th, turkey. and then the chicken-p pie, ant this was followed by puddings and pie of various sorts. No one of that lsrg circle could complain that there was no . "fullness of bread" There WAS not however, an abundance of idleness. especially among the younger member of the family, who played blind man buff, and hide and seek, sId other game common at that period.
 The next morning before Nathan lef he told his father he wished to talk witl him few moments. The question. wbs to do with his dollar. was one of consid erable consequence to him. Had hi father been like some men, he womb have taken the money and put it in hi pocket and tlis would have been tn,