The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-11-29

49, dAld iAS|oAN CNCAS uA OAo oS6p 1900.
Should thank God for all His goodness
in a som of praise this season,
Though my gen'ral disposition is to gruna-
BILE like q hog.
For, If ever man had special cause to hold
a celebration
OF Thanksgivin'-in his heart of hearts
that very man Is me.
II you'll listen for a moment to a word OF
explanation
I am sure that when my tale you've heard
to this you will agree.
Though for years I've been a member of
a church, yet I'm confessin'
That my vicious, wicked temper and fault
findin' spoiled my life.
1t has turned to bitter sorrow days that
should have proved a 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 at last, in Gods own time and way,
the change has been effected.
For my heart lost all its anger when it
found a Saviour's love.
How it 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 ba~by-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 I called the dog and shouldered my old
trusty double-barrel.
And I 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, as usual, I got mad
and almost cussed.
And, in spite of all Squire Carroll said, I
grumbled, growled and grunted.
And I 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 a tryin'
Any longer, since twas very plain the
birds had gone away;
And he laughed and says: st see no use
in grumblin' or in sighin',
For it's ten to one there's better luck for
US some other day.
So we parted, and I walked on. gettin'
madder every minute
At the turkeys, at the squire and at my
self the most of all
For my wicked. foolish anger-1 knew well
there's no sense in it
Well, sir, just then "Gobble. gobble.''
came the turkeys welcome call;
Down I dropped, and when I saw hin It
just made me warm all over,
For" thinks I. you're just about the
size to suit Thanksgivin' day"
But before I got a bead on him.. this dog
of mine, old Rover,
Done some fool t~hing-least I thought
so-and my turkey flew away.
What did I do? Like a coward, grabbed
that poor dog by the collar,
And I I beat him shameful. but he
didn't even moan,
Then I turned my gun pom him, just be-
cause he wouldn't holler;
Like a mad man pulled the trigger. and he
dropped just like a stone.
Well, sir, 1 can't tell my feelings: why, ]
thought I'd surely smother. &
When I saw him fall I turned away ir
horror from the sight,
And I thought I knew how Cain felt wher
he left his murdered brother,
As I walked I cared not whittier till I saw
twas coming night.
When I got neal home I noticed how the
air was growing colder,
And a cloud bank rolled up gloomy tt
the west'ard, threatenin' snow,
So I hurried on, and wondered what would
wife say when I told her
About Rover. She and baby thought 81
much of him, o know.
As I reached the corner yonder I could SCI
the lamplight burnin'
At the window, and I knew the folks wer,
waiting there for me.
AND I walked on in the darkness slowly