The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-20

his life. scene by scene. Once, with
one of his sudden whims. he drew the
pictures into the playing of the tragedy.
When she had died, he put out his hand
and turned her sweet face gently down
ward on the table. Then Comforts
Comfort had come neXt-and then
PHILIPS picture and his Little Ones.
He had had the Little One the longest
but she went too.
Afterward he put all the pictures
back again in their row
1t was late into Thanksgiving morn
ing when he went TO bed. Biggs went
minute or two beforc-he had just
time.
Thanksgiving day was clear and brisk
and sun-fooded. There was JOY and
thanksgiving in thousand, thousand
homes. and in the others-God pity the
others!
In Phillip Lattimer's home there was
make believe" Thanksgiving.
BiggS worked steadily and faithfully
whistling all the while. He arranged
the beautiful table with neat precision
He let in the sunshine upon all the
dainty glass and silver. till they dazzled
his redeemed eyes and hurt them. The
flowers came and were arranged rs
Mister Phillip liked them-roseS at hel
plate and little ComfortfS, and gay
bright flowers ut the Little Un's anC
PHILIPS. At last everything was ready
but he amt" muttered Riggs. He
| gone out see him goin' a spell ago
He was stridin' right along. with his
shoulders dreadful high an square. HI
| never done that before"
| Biggs went back to the kitchen ant
waited. An hour past the time appoint
| ed he heard his master coming in, ant
| "Lordy. lordy. if there amt somehod,
| with him. There was-hark-O, Lord
| little voices. Little voices.
Biggs stole out into the hall and lis
| tened with a startled face. A subdueC
chorus of excited little voices reached
him and one above the others was say
ing admonishingly, Step easy, all o
you-don't you see there's flowers in th'
do. They won't smash. but it don
seem right to step on 'em. There. Will,
| the Kind Mans gone upstairs you al
listen to me-I'm goin' to talk"
The high imperative little voice "car
ried" easily to Biggs' astonished ears
| He heard every one of the slow words
with pauses, for emphasis, between
| them.
'Listen.-if there's butter-to your
| bread don't none o you-look-sur
prised. Spread it on--kind of-indif
Trent, if you can. If there's turkey
Turkey" shrieked all the other littl
| voices.
Ssh he'll hear you. lf-ther's-tur
| key. eat it slow as if you'd always ca
it since you was born. That's ALL"
But we amt ever eat it, Minerv,
Bemis..''
well, what if you amt ever? Cam
you make b'lieve?'
| The small feet shuffled about noisily
| Then the motherly little voice begal
| again.
| "When it's come time. you go ahead
| Patsy--then you, Slome. then Grissel
| I'm goin' clear behind where | can loo
| at the rest o you ev'ry minute. II
| take the baby. Sh! the kind mans com
| in back"
! Then Riggs heard Mister Philip
| steps. They came rapidly down tn
stairs and joined the little shufflin
| steps below. All the steps were turnin
toward the dining room-O. Lord, Lord
| "Biggs," called Philip Lattimer'
voice steadily, "Biggs. Biggs, where ar
| you, you rascal? Why don't you serv
| dinner! Stir up. man"
| Biggs hurried back into his kitche
with radiant face. The wonder in
| was drowned in JOY.
"Bolero Biggs." he cried exultantly
do you hear, he's comm round"'
| In the great brilliant dining room
| the strange Thanksgiving dinner begal
| and proceeded slowly. Philip Lattime
| sat at the head of the table, with TIL
/ stamp Of indelible pain upon his face
| but he filled and refilled all the littl
| plates with steady hand and smile'
| down, now and then. on the little RAM
| and file of beaming faces.
| The other faces that looked up a
him out of the moist, sweet flowers an,
shone dimly in the simmer of sunni
| silver and glass We're smiling, too-se
| renely, as they had smiled at him GU
| of the row of pictures in the night.
| That was not make-believe.
| ANNIE HAMILTON DONNELL.