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

EIDE OF tine room, nunB WIN DlaCk iron
crane from which was suspended tea
kettle. The woodpile was outside, near
the back door, and brushing off the
snow Jem soon had some dry wood, with
which he made roaring blaze. 1t was
not long before he had the satisfaction
of seeing the kcttle send forth volume
of steam, and few minutes later he tap
ped again at the bedroom door with
tray, on it a tempting cup of tea and
two well buttered slices of bread.
Wrapped in a shawl of Canton silk,
the heirloom Of grandmother whose
fathtr once sailed from Salem to the
Indies, the widow sank back into her
comfortable armchair with q deep sigh
of content. She closed her eyes from
sheer weakness, while Jem tiptoed
about the room, Setting things to
rights" and preparing the table for a
prospective meal. To be sure there was
very little in sight, but he had faith
that there might be something in the
cellar and in the cupboards, for the
widow was known in the township to
have been good pervider" in her
days Of afiluence.
you've made me very happy, Jem-
very thankful"
"Well, ma'am, I'm glad Of it. It's
Thanksgivin. "
"What Really Thanksgiving day?
It's the first time I've forgotten it
ever. must be growing old.
Jem grew holder.
"There's turkey out in the barn
yard He amt very fat, but if you say
so I'll help you fix turkey dinner. "
The widow urged no objection, and
both fascinated at the prospect of
Thanksgiving dinner, with themselves
as host and hostess, the boy trudged
out to the barn.
Some sticks Of hard wood were soon
piled on the fire, and by the time Sir
Turkey was ready for the oven the
widow had peeled the vegetables and
dropped them into the mysterious depths
of the steaming kettles, Jem looking on
with glowing but bashful appreciation.
A snowy cloth over a round table,
with two seats opposite each other, is
always an inspiriting sight, and when
topped by steaming brown turkey,
with all the "fxings" of turkey din
ner, the feast is one to melt hearts
harder than that Of the lonely widow
and the homesick New England lad
"It is the happiest Thanksgiving din
nor have had in many year, my
boy" she said to him as he cleared
away the dishes and brought out the
dessert Of fragrant ounce preserves.
{ "May God bless you'll And to think
how the dreadful, gloomy morning has
been turned to such bright sunshine
by your coming!"
Jem turned to the window to hide
some tears that would persist in squeez-
ing themselves out of his eyes. II wish
she wouldn't be so sentimental" said
he to himself quite wrathfully. But to
the widow he said: "Why, ma'am, l
amt done nothin great-no more'n
you'd have done for me, I'll bet. l ain't
enjoyed dinner SO myself sence l can
remember. I wish could jest stay here
all the time.
A new light came into the woman's
faded gray eyes born of thought that
had been struggling for expression for
an hour or more. "And why can't you
stay, Jem?"
II could, ma am, if I could come as
AS partners.
1t was out at last the boys yearning
for something as his own and the chance
he saw upon the widows farm. Il
could fix things up" he went on eager
ly. "and make the chickens lay eggs
and the COW give milk and-and'-
Jem stopped, but the widows respect
full attention led him ON.
81 could earn my board in saving
things that's goin to waste. When l
come through your wood lot this morn
in, | noticed cords an cords of dead trees
that ought to be cut an made firewood
of. An as for timber, there's more'n
500 with there that'll be spilled if it
amt cut an sold pretty soon. "
The boy hesitated, amazed at his au-
dacity, but the widow nodded her head
and smiled approval. "That's true,
Jem. The farm is running down for the
lack Of some one to oversee out of doors.
So, then, it is bargain"
And so this strange partnership be-
gan. The first winter Jem spent in
thinning out the superfuous wood in
the neglected lots, stacking up behind
the house enough fuel to satisfy even
the cravings of that yawning fireplace
for years to come and selling to the
sawmill on the pond timber for ship
ment that came to quite $500.
AS the spring opened he was soon
afield, continuing the good work Of i'm
provement, and planting time" found
the farm with more and earlier labor
performed than it had ever before ex-
perienced. In front of the western door
he threw out platform, protected by a
lattice work covering, and here the
widow passed all the spare time she
could snatch from her indoor duties. 1t
had never occurred to any one before
that farm work might be made attract
i've. The widow had only looked upon
the beauties of her farm around her
through the kitchen window or during
hasty trip to the well or farmyard
The lattioed porch was revelation to
her, and haven Of rest where she sat
and unused during the long twilight of
summer.
II never thought l should take such
comfort here" she said. Before you
came I was more than willing to give
hn Co. and Rr,t