The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-11-28

by the time another year had rolled an.
othsr Thanksgiving into the calendar.
The roof Of the old house no longer
leaked. The barn had been raised from
its attitude of deep detection, and its
mows were crowded to bursting with
hay and grain. The old horse spent his
days chiefly in the pasture, while
younger and more vigorous animal did
the work, assisted by yoke of big and
handsome oxen. The solitary COW now
had plenty of company, and frisky calves
gamboled about her in the summer
time. There was no longer any doubt as
to the availability of any of the fat COB
blers for Thanksgiving dinner
Thus the seasons succeeded one an
other with their measure of content.
Each found the widow more and more
dependent upon her stalwart helper
She chung to him as she might have
chung to the son of whom she had been
deprived in the springtime Of her wife
hood AS her lettering footsteps were
supported down the aisle of the village
church on Sunday few of the congre-
CATION knew that the handsome young
man who watched over her SO assidu-
ously was not in fact her own son.
Those who were cognizant Of the rela-
tons between the two shook their heads
knowingly, saying to themselves and
to each other: Lucky boy that Step
ped right into the farm just as the old
lady was about to leave it. He knows
the side of his bread that has the butter
on it,"
But it is doubtful if Jem had ever
given that thought; so happy and
content was he that the merely material
conditions of his life had never troubled
his consciousness. Only one thing trou-
bled his thoughts of late. He was deep
ly stirred by the soft, brown eyes of
pretty Susie Jones, chorister in the
church-Susie, who lived, as he had
done, with friends for board and keep
another Of New England's orphans.
He never mentioned this daring spec
ulatiCn, not even to the widow. But her
eyes, though growing dim, were acute
enough to penetrate his honest soul.
His whole life lay centered in the farm,
which had become as essential to it al
most as the air he breathed. But now
there must be young life there. A pair
of brown eyes persisted in dancing be-
fore his face, in wood pile, in field, in
garden.
And so it came to pass that there was
wedding next Thanksgiving in the
little cottage, now pretty with vines
and CHEEKY within. Susie was glad Of
SO pleasant place for the troth which
she was to plight with Jem, while he,
lucky fellow though he was, could not
take time to travel to Susie's home, far
away over the rough, billy roads, "a
wife's good thing" he remarked to
the widow the evening before his mar
riage, "but there's cows to be looked
after and hens to be fed-more' n you
could tend to alone.
That's SO, Jem," said the widow,
smiling brightly, land thanks to you
for it all"
Under branches of autumn leaves
from the last reddening trees Jem and
Susie promised all the things Of the sim
pie marriage service Then came the
country wedding supper.
When the last guest had gone, driven
away in the farm wagons that had clus-
tered around the door all afternoon, the
widow turned to Jem and Susie, sitting
bashfully in the freight.
you're my children, now, both Of
you, she said. Call me mother just
once, Jem and Susie. -
"Mother'' cried Jem, taking the
feeble hands together and kissing them
tenderly. my darling mother, dearest
friend ever had!'
She returned his loving glance linger-
ingly, gratefully, as they led her to the
door of her room.
Next morning Jem knocked again at
the Widow Wilson's door just as he had
done on that lonely Thanksgiving day
four years ago This time not even a
feeble voice answered his repeated calls.
Three days later, as the neighbors
struggled back from the little cemetery
on the hill, Squire Lothrop drew Jem
apart.
81 s'pose you know the widder's left
the farm to you? No? Shol It's mighty
strange she didn't tell you. She made
her will more'n year ago, and you re
her only heir. She seemed to set lot
by you, the wilder did, and'-looking
around approvingly over the snow COW
cred fields-"I nos blame her. The
last four years hev been the peacefule st
of her lie, and she's left her peace
with you, for surep'-Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
DIR. Talmage Likes Turkey.
GET On, noen,npo1iton in nv lilzac -