The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-11-22

~AOs~NJ
tie, brave Nan, who smiles through
great, unshed tears upon him, where
suddenly she meets his sorrowful gaze
after many long quarter of an hours
silent retrospection.
"Oh, it must come right soon, Plant
they never would shut you out Of
their lives foreverP'
"You don't know them," mutters
the boy.
"I'm pretty we'll acquainted with
you, dear, and if any father or mother
could treat such son as you are so
scurvily-there, that's an ugly word.
know, Plant, but it's the right one to
use in this instance-all have to say
is that they don't deserve such a good
child-there and two pretty arms,
barred to the elbow for kitchen conven-
fence, find their fond way about the
neck of her chosen lord.
Her chosen lord smiles family at this
speech and tries desperately to rally his
dropping spirits.
It was a very humble position that
the college bred Plantagenet Altick
found himself obliged to accept to keep
the little house going-the only position
open to him when he, beside himself
with just indignation at an unreason-
able opposition and great and absorb
ing love, broke bounds and besought
the faithful Nan to leave her position
as governess in a wealthy family and
share his five roomed cottage and his
meager salary.
Nan, too used to poverty to let it
frighten her, and imagining, innocent
at so dear boy as Plant, consented,
and the home coming, though lone
some little affair, brought with it hap
piness enough to last a fortnight at
least.
Then Plantagenet saw that there was
to be no relenting on the part of those
he loved and reverenced with all the
strength of his boyish nature, and his
grief grew greater with every passing
hour To crown all, he had lost his po-
sition the second week in the November
following, owing to the insolvency of
the firm by which he had been employ
ed, and, though they have given him
splendid recommendations, there is no
position easily obtainable.
One mornings stray thought, finding
it's way from out that great mysterious
silence SO full of untried possibilities,
comes to him suddenly and sends him
upon its own little errand straight to
Uncle Job.
Up long flight of front stairs, up
short back flight and several knocks
upon doors panel causeit to open and
discover to young Altiok room Uttered
with papers, books, trays Of specimens
and two or three volumes Of Hugh Mil
ler.
"Good morning, Uncle JobP
"How dye do, Plantagenet?"
81 do miserably, thank you, sir. Un-
Gle Job, I've lost my position, and-and
LII could help you in any way-copy-
ing or the like-I write tolerably de-
cent hand, Sir, and thought perhaps
YOU'D like to hire me''-
"No-no-nol Not even though
YOU'RE Yale fellow we'll met I'd
not trust you with theml Not soul
save myself shall do line Of writing
on these particular manuscripts. What's
the matter?"
"Firm worked for failed"
"Humphi How's Nan?"
"How should she be? Happy and
Joyous as BELTS bride-the bride Of a
Imam shut out from home, and who has
mot red cent in his pocketi Heaven
knows where tomorrow's bread and
butter will come fromP'
"And it won 'ttelh lisa sort of hab'
1t it has got into, you see, about be-
ling sort of mysterious over the. ends il
has in view. But there, you may sort
out the numbered pages for me from
among the litter yonder, and we'll SCI
about the bread and butter for tomor
row. Tomorrow is Thursday-bless me
boy, it's Thanksgiving''-
Thanksgiving So it is. Thanks
giving"
"Your tone of voice would sugges
! that you hadn't the dearest little wifi
in the world to be thankful for. Sham
upon you, my nephew. There, I'm no
rich man, as rich men go, but tax
, this bill to Nan and tell her it's from
her Uncle Job. ("
| Late upon this same afternoon Pro
: fessor Altick, basket on arm, goes fron
lgreengrocer to butcher shop, inten
. upon his purchase of Thanksgivin
. turkey The fowl he means to buy b
s will offer to his nephews in turn, feel
F. ing sure that he who accepts it will n
9 doubt ask him to share their dinner,
: it Tom, Dick or Harry or Toms dir
: obedient son. With an unmistakabl
grin of amusement the dealer in poultr
Q places very thin, very poor, very blu
about the breastbone, low priced tul
o key in Uncle Jobs basket.
q Early Thanksgiving morning the ol
f professor starts out through the COLI
o uncertain sunlight that shines fitfull
r through the riffs of hurrying, win
i swept clouds, and, basket on arm, fine
d his way to Thomas Altick's elegaI
y home. He rings and is admitted.
is "Good morning, Uncle Job. An.
n thing 1 can do for you this morning?"
j. "No, Thomas, thank you. It's som
y thing want to do for you. I chance
ss to remember it was Thanksgiving-vel
is odd indeed, my remembering it-and
t. bought you turkey. Will you have j
ot Thomas?'' and out comes the old gentl
l. man s sad little specimen of the gem
le meleagris gallopavo
N 1t is too much for Tom Altick. Wi
le a laugh that fetches Mrs. Tom quick
ct from an adjoining room and provok
ner to join in it's hearty roulades
- declines the poor fowl with thanks wi
- a sarcasm veiled SO lightly that the ug
t. features of a rude and insolent natu
10 shine full upon poor Uncle Job.
Of Quietly he replaces the turkey with
the basket, quietly he takes his hat al
w gloves, and as quietly, with a bri
in "good day." he leaves the house of b
- no1I,oxxy ThoypaS