The Meeker herald., 1898-11-26
THANKFUL MRS. LANE
Aud How She Camo to Appreciate: the
Nations Holiday.
PAULINA PAGE.

Good morning. Mrs. Lane" said
Mrs Wilson. ns she stepped briskly
along with her market basket over her
arm.
Good morning." replied Mrs. Lane.
hut her voice had none of the glad ring
of the first speakers, and her face was
Tar from cheerful.
Il am going to the market early"
said Mrs. Wilson, $50 that l can have
my choice of the turkeys. am always
better suited when ! pick mine out
myself"
Well, for my part, | wish there Were
NO Thanksgiving Day this year. for !
don't see what l have TO be thankful
Tor You know the children had the
scarlet fever in the summer, and we
We're Just paying the last of the Doctors
bill, when my husband tool; the rheu-
matsm. You remember the night the
bridge WAS washed away and the
freight train was wrecked: Well, he
and his men worked all night in the
ram to rebuild the bridge and have the
track cleared for the early morning
passenger train. It's no wonder he was
taken sick. But that was seven weeks
ago, and he hasn't done Il stroke of
work since. ! really don't see what is
TO become of us
But think how well the children are
now,'' said Mrs. Wilson. "and ] am
sure Mr.. Lane is improving. l didn't
mean to tell you, hut I'm planning II lit
Tie surprise for them tomorrow. Try
to look on the bright side, for am sure
things will be better soon.'
1 suppose you are right, but 1t isn't
so easy to look on the bright side when
one is out of money, and sees no way
OF getting any. Frcddes shoes are so
bad | shouldn't send him to school, If
ne didn't cry to 20. He is so proud OF
going to school with the others"
She looked lovingly after the sturdy
little figure trudging up the street with
his slate and book under his arm. He
was pretty little fellow with great
blue eyes and fair curls pushed back
under the soldier cap.
II always stand here ut the gate TO
see them safely across the tracks, the
mother said. THAT is Il dangerous
crossing on account of the sharp curve
at the end of the street. The train is
SO close before it comes in sight. Their
father often tells them to look both
ways before they try to cross, but I'm
afraid they might forget"
"Hurry up. Freddie" cried the older
children, stepping quickly over the
tracks and leaving the little one to FOL
low as best he could.
Just then Freddie heard II roar and
the cang of bell, and looked up to
see the great engine already around
the curve and close upon him. He tried
to hurry, tripped and fell. with both
short legs across the farther rail. How
the whistle shrieked, as the engineer
vainly tried to stop his train.
Up the street rushed the mother, but
she knew she would be too late.
The little one could not get up, but as
he struggled he slipped few feet down
the steep embankment OH which the
track rested, and was saved!
The train thundered on and stopped.
Mighty close call for the little fel-
low," said the engineer, as he put the
frightened child into his mothers
arms. "And to think of it's being
Lanes little chap, too. My heart stood
still when l saw him."
The mother sat upon the embank-
ment, pressing her boy closer and closer
to her heart, MS she caressed the little
feet which might never have needed
any more new shoes.
She could not speak, but Mrs. Wilson,
looking in her face, knew that Thanks
giving Day had already dawned in
her neighbor's heart.