Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1900-11-24

Should thank God for all His goodness
In a song OF praise this season.
Though my gen'ral disposition is TO grum-
BILE like a hog
For. II ever mar had special cause to hold
celebrEtion
or Thar.,sgiyin,-in his heart OF hearts
that very man Is me.
II yoi'n listen for q moment to word OF
explanation
am sure that when my tale you've heard
to this you will agree.
Though for years i've been a member Of
church, yet I'm confessin'
That nv vicious. wicked temper and fault
findiu' spoiled my life.
II has turned TO bitter sorrow days that
should have proved blessin
And has marked deep lines OF care upon
the brow Of my dear wife.
She has hoped and prayed and waited.
while she patiently expected
That some day her prayer OF faith would
bring an answer from above:
And ut last. In Gods own time and way,
the change has been effected,
For my heart lost all its anger when 1t
found Saviour's love.
How II happened? Well. I'll tell you. See
that dog there? Come here. Rover!
He amt much for looks or breedin', but
that dog no man could buy.
See! he hates to leave the baby-though
she's five years old and over.
Still I allus call her baby" she's the
apple Of my eye.
Monday mornin' bright and early. came
my neighbor. Squire Carroll
And he told Of signs OF turkey In the tim
Der down the creek;
So called the dog and shouldered my old
trusty double-barrel.
And grinned when Mary mentioned that
this was "Thanksgivin' week."
Well. We soon got in the timber. and we
walked and walked and hunted.
But no turkey! So. rs usual. ! got mad
and almost cussed:
And. in spite Of all Squire Carroll said,
grumbled. growled and grunted.
And felt I'D have TO kick the dog or
else I'd surely bust.
So my neighbor said he reckoned there's no
use in US n tryin'
Any longer. since twas very plain the
birds had gone away;
And he laughed and says: 81 see no use
In grumblin' or in sighin.
For It's ten to one there's better luck Tor
us some other day."
So we parted. and / walked on. gettin
madden every minute
At the turkeys. at the squire and at my
self the most Of all
For my wicked. foolish anger-I knew well
there's no sense In it
Well. sir, just then "Gobble. gobble."
came the turkeys welcome call:
Down l dropped. and when l saw him II
just made me warm all over,
For" thinks !. you're just about the
size to suit Thanksgivin' day"
But before / got bead on him. this dog
OF mine. old Rover,
Done some fool thing-least thought
so-and my turkey flew away.
What did I do? Like a coward, grabbed
that poor dog by the collar,
And ! own beat him shameful, but he
didn't even moan.
Then turned my gun upon him. just be-
cause he wouldn't holler:
Like n mad man pulled the trigger. and he
dropped just like stone.
Well. sir. l can't tell my feelings; why.
thought Id surely smother.
When / saw him fall turned away In
horror from the sight.
And thought knew how Cain felt when
he left his murdered brother,
As walked cared not whittier till saw
twas coming night.
When got near home noticed how the
air was growing colder,
And cloud bank rolled up gloomy to
the west'ard. threatenin' snow.
80 hurried on. and wondered what would
wife say when told her
About Rover. She and baby thought SO
much Of him. you know.
As reached the corner yonder could see
the lamplight burnin'
At the window, and knew the folks were
waiting there for me.
And walked on In the darkness slowly.