Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-11-26

ing out OF tneWln-
dow. Not that she saw any OF the beau
ties that lay outside in the glitterinR
frost-ornamented world, or the benutE-
full picture of the white fields set In
the rich framing OF dark green pine
forest. Her stare was wholly mechan-
ical, for her vision was turned inward
and she was moodlly thinking of their
troubles, both the real and imaginary.
The day before one of the farm horses
died. a few days before that q cow
died. Potatoes were only n few cents q
bushel, and this year they had vcnturcd
largely in that crop. Grain was low In
value, The price Of hogs was going
steadily down, down, down. These were
some OF the real troubles. 1t seemed
surely that the bottom was knocked out
Of their prosperity.
Then her soul was equally narrowed,
for she had that way OF frctting over
minor ills. oYer,a long array OF imng-
mary woes. Anew carpet had Just come
home from the wcnver's with the stripes
woven an inch nearer together than she
had ordered. This little. trifle she had
worried over until it was magnifled into
great calamity. She was unable to
get her new cloak this fall, as she had
intended. Her fall house cleaning was
still unfinished. There were actually
fly spccks on the very window before
her now, which fretted her clearly soul
into peevlsh unhappiness. These, and
n score Of similar weighty evils, chafed
her nerves on this beautiful morning
until she was poweTless to see that life
heldrone charm or blessing.
Added to the above woes the children
Ind been clnmoring for days for an
observance Of Thanksgiving. But their
mother hal;told them emphuticully that
they would not haYe any Thanksgiving
this year. That they had been so af-
hicted by misfortunes they had lit&le to
be thankful for, That not turkey or
even q pie would grace their table ON
that day; every turkey must be sold to
buy necessities. B.
She predicted dark Wtlook for their
future, filling the infahtilc minds with
visions of CHASTITY want. Such words
coming from their mother were deeply
impressive on all the children except
Duvy. the little setensyenr rebel OF the
camp. Davy had no appreciation OF
the ethics Of such an unheard-of doc
trine. Dhvy liked good dinner. And
not to hnvet;a Thanksgiving dinner!
not have % turkey! not have pie! not
have any company! Why, It was the
vilcst heresy to oil that was worth liv-
ing for.
Unlike his mother, there was not one
drop of melancholy bloodin little Davy's
swift-howing veins. lie was the very
embodiment of JOY and sunshine. He
saw life through mirror which re-
flccted' back only pictures Of bright
ness. His eager, vivacious, joy-loving
little soul was proof against despond-
emit Infection. So,
AS Mrs. Iloven stood looking out the
window in brooding blueness, her hus-
band came in from the barn and took
seat by the fire to wnrm.
John Marsh passed just now" he
raid. "He says another one Of the
Green children died last night of
diphtheria. How terribly afflicted they
nre! l hope to God It won't get in this
neichbprhood."
The door into an adjoining room
where the children were playing was
slightly njar. A numerous little regi-
ment were the IToven children, and
crowded close together in years. There
were six of them. from. 12-year-old
Katie to year and half baby Roy. They
had nil gathered in the big kitchen on
this morning where they loved no TO
play. And. us usual, Davy was the life
and leader OF the party.
Say, Katie" he cried, "let's play