The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-11-19
5elrft MisfrllanlJ.
An Island Thanksgiving.
BY PRISCILLA LEONARD.

Lucretia Elvira sat up very straight
behind the wire-front of her post-of1ice
| say h1rs, because, though William
Luther Staples was the ostensible pro-
prietor of the one store, warehouse,
and post-ollice combined that Far Is
land possessed, every one, him self i'll
cluded, realized fully that his wife held
the reins, and held them tight. Far
Island recognized, too, that she was a
woman of ideas; for had she not en-
larged the store until its low-ceilinged
eXpanse was wellnigh IS large rs the
Westinghouse on the hill? Was it not
she that had sent for the first barrel of
onions and the first basket of pears
that the island had ever seen, when
Eunice Philura Pratt started in to take
surmer boarders, and had nothing pro-
vided for them but the ordinary island
fare of smothered Goldfish, potatoes,
and tea, at which they murmured!
Had she not taken vessel and gone
to the mainland, after consulting with
the boarders aforesaid, and brought
back such load as bcwildered the
mind to consider? And what more i'm
posing sight could be than her two
store windows since, with decorated
china and fine pressed glass galore,
and tin things for cooking such rs the
simple housewives had never dreamed
of in their primitive kitchens, till LII
crctia Elvira proudly explained their
uses! Well might her heart be exalted
as she sat at her rallied desk, on her
high chair, and gaZad around upon the
two broad counters, filled with pocket
knives and suspenders, muslins, cali
Goes, buttons, ribbons, boots, croquet
sets, patent medicines, lishng-tackle,
candy and chewing gum! Yet Lucre-
tia Elvira, in bitterness of spirit, saw
none of these with her beady black
eyes as she sat gloomily pondering the
letter in her hand. which had come that
day from her cousin on the mainland.
and ran as follows:
OAR Cousin LUCRETIA ELvIRA.-
take my pen in hand, hoping this
may find YOU in good health as we are
at present but Eurila Henrietta is not
well. thought She might get better
but dear Cousin think you had better
send for her for She is Il sick Girl
Reuben says She ortt.r b home if She
is going to be 50 sick til" Doctor calls
it pros. Eatin. lie means She is kinder
IN Il decline from What can make out
She don't eat nothiu and Sac don t
sleep nights and looks awful peaked
and She cries. think She had better
come home for q spell anyway if YOU
no more from your atfectionatc Cousin
LOIS JANE KELLOGG"
Il know what she's frcttin over,
said Lucretia Elyira, grimIy, to her
self; its Elmer George Pratt There's
nothln as unTratctul rs ones own
children. Eve done more fur thct Girl
than any girl on Far Island ever he'd
done fur her, and Jest bcause | wouldn t
hear of her marryin' Il Young tcller
that letln't notiin, and his folks to
support, and because he's gone off and
got drowned i'll Il gale. why. Euriily
Iirnerictty heZ to throw away all her
chances nd run down her health a-viY
ing over split milk. Sue. Il lot OF
dresses cZ she had this spring. and 90
in over to the mainland to learn music
nd painln nd every girl on the is
Ind wishin she was in her shoes. But
Eurilly lcncrictty never he'd any
spcrit: she takes after her pa. | de.
clare. the pair Of EN-, they jest set me
wild: there ain the ambition OF tiy
in either Of EN-. Well, | guess We
might as we'll send vessel to-morrcr
Pal" and she raised her pleasant island
voice to its highest pitch. SO as to
reach William Luther, who was placid
" playing croQuct, and chcwcd gun a,
they played.
| Yes, ma!" said William Luther