The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1900-11-23
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CHRYSANTHEMUMS,
A THANKSGIVING STORY
by MANDA l.. CROCKER.

BY MANDA l.. CROCKER.
People said they were IA pair Of
precious fools to give such mite Of a
baby that horrid long name"
"As II II were going to make her
better than we common folks" said
Belle Wickerink, with her nose in the
air; or that "she would be any better
looking, either" added Merry Jaxon,
who was Il recognized beauty from her
birth.
Nevertheless the Kimballs did name
the dot Of humanity that horrid, long
name in spite of the comment and ad-
verse opinion of dozen exceedingly
interested neighborS.
Whether it was because there was a
bank OF the beautiful blossoms In the
sunny south room where she was born
on that Thanksgiving day, they hav.
ing been hustled 10 from the uncon.
genial November air outside few
hours before her coming, or not, was
never explained.
No matter; Chrysanthea was now
the belle of ROserock, nOtwithstand
ing her horrid, long name.
Eighteen serene Thanksgiving suns
had run the glowing dly-rim, setting
In a halo of memories sweet for Kim
balls daughter, and we find her fail
and pure as the flowers for which she
was named.
Tomorrow would be her nineteenth
birthday, and Mr.. and Mrs. Kimball
meant to have lovely surprise on
Chrysanthea. And this special No
vember was behaving itself in a
special way with reference to the
parental plans under way.
To-day the pleasant, deep dining
room was banked with snow-white and
creamy blossoms on three sides, a
beautiful wainscoting, truly.
Mrs. Kimball gave the same reason
to Chrysanthea for the indoor bloom
that she had given to her husband
just 10 years ago. "These bleak
nights" she said, "and chrysanthe.
NUNS were never made for each
other" But her room and her heart
we're always congenial for them. And
Mr.. Kimball smiled In proud, con.
tented way as he carried in the bloom.
ing bank nearly two decades ago.
To-day the stately daughter smiled
the same proud, glad smile while
bending over the rich beauty about
her. "Our dinlngroom will be mag
niticently yet simply decorated for to.
morrow" she said, her fine eyes tax.
ing in the wealth of bloom at one ap.
preciative sweep.
She was her mothers daughter; the
blossoms were her souls delight. But
Chrysanthea had u leaf 10 her heart
chapter which, in some way, had been
left ont or turned over blank in the
bosom Of her fond mamma. She had
a penchant for looking after the poor;
and her father gave her beautiful
compliment when he said that "his
daughter was just like all other flow.
ers, as ready to bloom for the poor as
for the wealthy"
Nothing was ever any truer than
this; and as Chrysanthea drank In the
quiet, rich beauty Of the blossom
bank, a thought Of the bare, cherries
cellar room on Brisbane street, where,
day after day, a child tossed from one
side to the other whith the pain and
restlessness Of long illness, came tc
her and she said. 80, mamma, must
take some OF this beauty and comfort
to poor little Janet when l 20 with
the Thanksgiving basket In the
morning"
"Yes," said Mrs. Kimball, intent OF
training a vine over picture 10 th'
next room, "but pick them out her'
and there, 80 the effect will not bt
spoiled"
10, mamma, certainly; but you are
50 careful OF to.morr0w's effect
wonder at it little, seeing only w
are to be the observers" And the fail
girl looked u little puzzled.
swell, WELT" exclaimed her mother
coming forward with a smile more
puzxling than circumstance or desire
"are we only not as appreciative a.
any company, dear? Z, Your papa ant
; mamma love chrysanthemums; one
especially, with all our heart" ant
she kissed the inquiring face turnet
toward her.
Eyes, mamma" aud Chrysanthe'
smiled again; "but the effect at Kim
bal!s would not, could not, be - beau
tiful as 10 Jauet's cold, cheerless celia
lroom.