Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-11-26

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here was in as deeorous order as in tn,
parlor, but it had the look which al
ways distinguished a frequented room
from one which is seldom opened. Sht
turned into the adjoining bedroom
laid aside her outer garments, changed
her best gown for her second best, tiet
on an apron and came back and sa-
down before the fire, opening as sht
did so the case she had brought from
the parlor.
On one side were her father anC
mother, posed TO look straight ahead
! her father in J stiff ''d1ckey' anC
! black satin stock and vest; her mother
in smoothly banded hair and wide
| embroidered collar fastened with a big
oval cameo brooch over the lustrous
! black silk gown whose wide sleeves
showed beneath them the full white
cambria undersleeves.
And in the outer side were "the
children" herself and Prudence and
Reuben; the little girls sitting hand
finland in their low-necked short
! sleeved blue merinoes, displaying bare
arms and shoulders, which looked very
thin and angular,-but that had moth
ing to do with the fashion in which
the dresses were made.
Reuben stood behind and between
them, in a wide white collar and broad
black ribbon bow, over a straight-cut
roundabout very high I'M the neck
and very short in the waist.
Where was Reuben now? That
question had remained unanswered
for many years. Pretty, pale Pru-
dence, with her sweet voice and her
deft fingers, had died in decline, 80
odd years ago. Aged II yrs and 4
mos" said her gTavestone, with its
carved lily broken at the stem, and its
scripture text: Blessed are the pure
in heart, for they shall see God"
When and how Reuben had begun
to go wrong it would be hard to say;
harder yet to tell why ne should go
wrong at all. 1t began with boyish
escapades, like smoking a forbidden
cigar, probably because it was forbid
den, and staying out too late at the
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stealthily in, frightened at his own
wickedness, yet glorying in it.
His father believed in the good old
rule that sparing the rod spoiled the
child, and SO things went on until one
night there was a burned barn, whose
setting every one believed to be acct
dental, and I'M the morning Reuben
Baxter and one of his mates were not
to be found.
Two years went by with MO news,
and then, early in the civil war, Tenn
perance, sitting at an upper window,
saw a stranger turn into the side yard
and pause where her father was busy
at the woodpile. She listened eagerly,
her heart flutterinig, as it always had
at sight of stranger approaching the
house ever since Reuben went away.
lis your name BaXter?" said the
man. Had a son Reuben, hadn't
ye?" Mr. Baxter stared at him with
out speaking.
Went away spell back? Well, l
met him down in Texas a while ago.
He had just enlisted in the regular
army, and | told him when [ worked
along east I'd stop and let We know
Then, just as Tempy thought he was
going to say Il am Reuben" he turned
and walked out of the yard and up the
street at brisk pace, and returned no
more.
Tempy ran down stairs excitedly,
sure it had been Reuben himself, but
he could not make her father think so.
He was older than Reuben, several
years, and he had a full beard. Don't
you suppose l would know Reuben?'
said her father. But Tempy was I'M
shaken i'm her belief.
Another year, and letter came from
Cousin Esther, married and living in
a western city. She was sure she had
seem Reuben pass by her house in
uniform, one of body of troops
crossing the city from one railroad
station to another. 1t had been but
momentary glimpse, as she stood at
her gate to watch the long lines Of in
fantry, but she was sure she had seen
Reuben.
After that, silence, profound as the
grave Was he starved at Anderson
vile? Was he one of the unknown
dead" for whom flowers were heaped
and dirges sung every 30th of May?
Or was he unscathed and living
God alone knew, what manner of life
under a false name? If he lived I'M
der his own they might never hear
of it.
Then her father died and the two
women lived on alone till the gentle
mother-heart ceased to beat. eff
Reuben comes back, be good to him
for my sake, Tempy, she had said
the day she died.
No, Miss Tempy was not thankful,
albeit she wondered at her own hard
ness of heart. Coming out of church,
she had heard this one and that speak
ing of the kinsfolk who were coming
and she had thought bitterly That she
had NO one to bid to the feast or to
ask her for loves sake to share their
festival.
And yet she would make Thanks
giving" Having sufficient means to
live in her frugal manner and to be
charitable in due and proper ways she
was considered ''fore-handed
woman" and her New England train
ing forbade her to slight the festival.
So she would make a loaf of raised
fruit cake such as her mother. used to
make. She would stew some cram
berries and make a couple of squash