Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-12-08

| but as lae door closed behind them,
the clerk, 70 his surprise, saw the
stranser take the package from che
boy, evidently several questions and
answers passed between them, a
quarter changed hands, and with a
smile On his face, and Quick. alert
step, the stranger turned in an op-
posiie direction from Shat taken by
the boy, and before the clerk had re-
covered from her surprise, was out of
sight.
When Samantha came home from
church that noon. her mother opened
the door for her with a somewhat
confused and guilty air Il dunno
how You'll like what I've done,
Smanthy," she began. but l had TO
do 1t, there want no two ways about
It."
Then the mother told how she had
sent both the reserve pies to the ex-
change
What for, mothers"
Because they was sent for. and l
guess the folks down stairs, not bein'
used to EN- won't miss EN-, and we've
got to where 40 cents amt to be
sneezed at, though 1t does seem = poor
kind OF Thanksgivin dinner, bein'
It's your birthday, too, with only but
nut cakes and cheese for dessert"
oh, that's all right, mother, but
1t doesn't seem like Thanksgiving,
not having anything to give to any
body. wish we could have found
someone lonlier and poorer than our
selves to share our dinner"
Il was wishiu' that, too, S'manthy,
1t int the time of year not to do. nor
be done for. But the folks down
stairs amt so poor t feel uncom-
Portable bout them. and as for bein
lonely. there's plenty OF EN- such as
they are"
"oh, yes, wasn't thinking of
that, mother, only" the tears
came to her eyes and her lips
t.embled.
Her mother took OF her spectacles
and polished them deliberately ON a
corner of her apron. clearing her
throat very audibly the while,
Now, S'manthy," said she, look
ing up and wiping her eyes frankly,
there's no use denyin' that we're
lonesome and homesick, as Is only
natural, bein' it's Thanksgiyin' and
we situated just as We are, and havin
been situated different. But things
might be worse. In fact they hev ben
worse. The prospects now are for
food and coverin' and we'd ought TO
praise the Lord, For His mercies
ever sure, which from age to age en-
dure.' This was your fathers fav'rite
hymn. What hand he was for
singin in church, to be sure"
Just then very audible step was
heard ascending the steep, bare
stairs. A mans step Enthusiastically,
and as Samantha and her mother
stood looking at one another ques-
tioningly, mans knock on their
kitchen door re-echoed through the
bare hall.
Samantha FASTENED to open It, A
tall middle-aged man stood before her.
his brown hair slightly tlnged with
gray, his clear frank eyes looking
into hers with almost an expression
OF appeal.
You don't remember me-" he said
quickly.
Yes, l do" faltered Samantha,
growing red and white by turns.
"Mnthas. hara 10 nna 80 am ala sriandg
come to see u.s."
Well. | want to know" said Mrs.
Snow, coming towards him with a
puzzled smile, and holding out .
trembling hand. She peered at him
curlously for moment. carefully ad.
justing her spectacles for the purpose
then queried, You amt Ed Tompklns
are you? declare IL 1t don't beat all to
come acrost you way out here
How'd you know where we was? Sc
right down. S'manthy tUke his Goa
ind hat"
Il was afraid you woulu
Doth have forgotten me-" said he.
Mother wrote me that you had set
led here, and so | thought I'd look
you up. and see If you wouldn't give
me a Thanksgiving dinner"
You don't live here, do your"
asked Mrs. Snow.
No, but It's only couple OF hours
by rail from the town where do live.
and | thought I'd run over"
We'll | call that friendly. S'manthy
d'you hear that?" to Samantha, who
had slipped into the other room
to lay aside her hat and jacket. Eds
travelled two hours on the cars just
to see us"
And how did you find where we
lived?' asked Samantha softly, her
eyes smiling and her cheeks glowing
like a young girls.
That's the strangest thing" said
ed. Il don't know what SHOULD
have done il hadn't happened 10
| come across one OF your mother
pies when | went into the Woman !
exchange for lunch. I've never for.
/ gotten your mince pies. Mrs. Snow
and this one looked just as they used
TO, and besides II had s. s. on top
and, OF course, recognized Seman.