Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-11-28
THANKSGIVING
INDEED.

n;thin and without all seemed to
a ,.n. Rhent unutterably dismal
W.. ~, s,ood at the window leaning her
haad against the cold pane. down
s,oh the twilight rain was flashing.
s...s,,tssiying," she said. with an i'm
smraab HE contempt. Poverty, dis
race. loss-and expect me To be
thankful ;, -.
,,aughter-in-law.
What for?" cried the elder woman.
..riny on the other sharply. Be
,.,ss YOU are worse than widowed, |
~, worse than childless-
Van oushtn't TO talk 50. mother.
,oar. YOU oughtn't. really" said An
W hooking up from the hearth where
mo snelt. mending the fire.
us kind of tempting Providence.
;snr III" said Mrs. Bhent. Il don't
WOW If care If d. tempt Provi-
lance Tempt it to what? To do me
;,iurvq What more injury can it do
me-"
oNo,her mother, You brighten me,
~ real wicked. You know we've a
-,eat deal to be thankful for at the
,rcrst And-and there isn't any
worst" And the beautiful girl rose
and stood in the red freight shining
orar her. like splendid accusing
,rsel with the CLINT of her rich red
hair the flush on her cheek. the
sn,rkle in her eye. The difference be
,reeu her and the other was that be-
tween listless gray despair and the
very spirit OF hope.
Isn't any worst" said the mother
When saw it all myself"
Il wouldn't believe if did see it"
II saw il with my own eyes"
Il would not believe my eyes if they
.tw it twice over
1T can't do John any good for YOU
n talk that way, Annie. People be
lryc what they see. believe what |
saw. I've told YOU every day these
three weeks that | saw
1T was just as likely to be a bundle
Of old letters
1T was a bundle of bonds 1t was
Mss MarCy's bonds she left in my safe
keeping till she should come back.
shes coming back. she's coming back
tomorrow. Oh. dear, oh. dear, What
shall do" she cried. wringing her
hands till they ached. They We're
here. He had them. They're gone.
He's gone, too
And YOU can think such things
when I've heard YOU say there was
never a drop Of black blood in the
Ehents' veins"
Never before
Nor now" cried Johns wife How
can you breathe it, dream Of it,"
When YOU have child, you will
know how | feel. If he goes wrong.
YOU will recall the words Jobs Wife
cried out" said the older woman. and
she turned away from the darkened
window. for the night had come down,
with gesture that was 4 desperate
sort Of defiance of life ana nature and
fate
Mother. mother" cried the girl,
running and throwing her arms about
Ter. You mustn't. He'll be back
know he wll-he's got to come back.
Aud il YOU actually saw him with those
bonds, ne was taking them to a safer
place. And e ha--oh. If he never"
-'F'tI ''lileS pdCh Niiu tIe iilotil-
en- grlmy
lhen n has been Waylaid. and
and And she burst out weeping.
and as the other woman sank into Il
chair beside the fire, she fell on her
knees and hid her face in the mothers
lap and the mother laid her wrinkled
old hand on the bright head. and
WISHED She We're under ground.
"Mother" said the girl. looking up at
last you have known John for near
y thirty Years. Did YOU ever know
him to do ANYTHING unworthy?"
No. He must have been acting lie
for thirty years. Think of it."
Yes, think of it, cried Annie.
Swinging 10 her feet again. Think Of
mans mother being the first t. fol-
low him 10 earth. accusing him of
crime"
II il was nv own hand did il |
would cut IL on"
Think Of 4 mans mother. who
should defend him against the world.
aba ndoninp him evan i'm her thoughts
mother who should hide his sin. if he
had s sin in the bottom Of her heart:
who ought to die for him. ought 10 die
before 50 much as suspecting him."
"yos ;. a,:0, I'LL.
its bad mother like that makes a
bad son.
The gin looked at her in wonder. and
then she dung herself beside her gain.
and put her arms about her and drew
n