Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1896-11-21

ing out Oh tue VIII
dow. Not that she saw any of the beau
ties that lay outside in the glittering.
frost-ornamented world, or the bcauti.
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 modify thinking Of their
troubles, both the real and imaginary.
The day before one of the farm horses
died. A few days before that COW
died. Potatoes were only few cents
bushel, and this year they had vcntured
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 fretting over
minor ills, over long array OF mag
mary woes. A new carpet had just come
home from the weaver's with the stripes
woven nm inch nearer together than she
had ordered. This little trifle she Ind
worried over until II was magnified into
Q great calamity. She was unable 10
get her new cloak this fall, as she had
intended. Her fall house cleaning was
still unfinished. There were actually
Hy specks on the very window before
her now, which fretted her clearly soul
into peevish unhappiness. These. and
. score of similar weighty evils, chafed
her nerves on this beautiful morning
until she was powerless to see that life
held one charm or blessing.
Added to the above woes the children
had been clamoring for days for an
observance of Thanksgiving. But their
mother had told them emphntically that
they would not have any Thanksgiving
this year. That they had been so af-
ficted by misfortunes they had little to
be thankful for. That not turkey or
even pie would grace their table on
that day; every turkey must be sold to
buy necessities.
She predicted dark outlook for their
future, filling the infantilc minds with
visions OF CHASTITY want. Such words
coming from their mother were deeply
impressive on all the children except
Davy, the little seven-ycar rebel OF the
camp. Davy had no appreciation of
the ethics Of such an unheard-of doc
trine. Davy liked good dinner. And
not to have Thanksgiving dinnerl
not have turlSeyl not have pie! not
hive any company! Why, II was the
vilcst heresy to all that was worth liv-
ing for.
Unlike his mother, there was not one
drop Of melancholy blood in little Davy's
swift-fowing veins. He was the very
embodiment of joy and sunshine. He
saw life through n mirror which re-
Elected back only pictures Of bright
ness. His eager, vivacious, joy-loving
little soul was proof against despond-
ent infection.
As Mrs. Hoven stood looking out the
window in brooding blueness, her hus-
band came in from the barn and took q
seat by the fire to warm.
"John Marsh passed just now" he
said: "He says another one of the
Green children died last night of
iiphtheria. How terribly afflicted they
prel I hope to God IL won't get In this
heighborhood."
The door into an adjoining. rom
where the children were playing was
slightly ajar. A numerous little regi-
ment were the Hoven 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 all gathered in the big kitchen on
this morning where they loved so to
play. And, rs usual, Davy was the life
and leader Of the party.
Say, Katie" he cried, "let's play
Thanksgivin.' II we can't have truly
Thanksgivin' let's have q play one. /
Ruess mamma won't care II we just play
Thnnksgivin' That won't make us
pny poorer. win It. Katis?"
aHow shall we play Thanksgivin'.
Davy?" asked Helen, who was Just his
senior.
aOh, wen have sermon, an then 90
home an have dinner. Katie can fix us
M q nice Thanksgivin' dinner. You can |
take some bread an apples, Katie, an
cut 'em upan' give 'em some nice names.
An I'll run get one Of my little sweet !
pumpkins. an wen make . turkey Of
\ ~ ws'Il livs Il ina" |