The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-23

moved his chair very slowly and with
effort across the porch to spot where
1t would be safe from observation, and
sat down. But his point of view was not
the same, and the grape arbor shut out
his favorite tall pine on the distant
mountain. He moved again and yet
again, but could not arrange his view
satisfactorily, at last he closed his
eyes and apparently went to sleep
All was life and hustle about the farm
house. Down in the field, where the
corn was piled in great whitish-yellow
heaps, the men were loading their
wagons, and out at the cribs they were
unloading and throwing it in. One of
the farm hands was hauling an immense
wagonful of yellow pumpkins to be
stored in the cellar while another guild
ed a yoke of clumsy oxen toward the
barn with a swaying, heaped up load
of fodder. Every one was busy doing
something, except the old man who sat
there, idly, feeling that he had no part
in the active currents of life that eddied
about him.
But grandfather was thinking. He
was living over years that We're long
past, and as in a dream he saw hlmSeI
a young man again, and grandmother
a blooming maiden. How happy they
were that day they were married and
came to the new home he had built in
then, as he cleared and titled the land
and gathered the harvest He remem-
bered their first Thanksgiving together,
and the many, many years which FOL
lowed. Their little ones grew up about
them and became men and women; then
one sorrow followed fast upon another,
and when she had lived to see the grave
close over all of them except their
baby" she, too, folded her withered
hands, and the gentle spirit fled How
strange to think of Thanksgiving with
out grandmother But, thank God, 1t
would not be long until he Joined her!
AS he sat there thinking the tears crept
from beneath the closed lids and stole
silently down his withered cheeks; but
N them
There was no one to Sympathize with
him, for all were busy with plans for
the future, and grandfather lived only
in the past. For him there was no 1u-
ture in this world.
He was reused from his reverie by the
sound of the dinner horn, which an
nounced the noon meal The men drove
their teams into the barnyard, and after
washing their perSpiring faces at the
pump and giving their hair a few awk-
ward rakes with damp fingers, presented
themselves in shirt sleeves at Mrs. Viii
lard'S bountifully spread table. The old
man rose, went into the dining room and
timidly took his place at the table, and
his daughter-in-law hastily Wh1Sked
away his plate to put a big napkin I'M
derneath, and noisily threw down
spoon beside it. She did this not I'M
kindly, but hurriedly. Her face was
flushed from contact with the heat OF
the stove, and the burden of serving the
meal had contracted her brOws into little
anxious FUCKERS. Matilda, looking quite
pantry with a big pitcher of milk, but
paused in the doorway as all heads bent
for the blessing, which MIR. Willard ask
ed in his usual business-like manner:
Then there was clatter of knives and
forks as all plates were turned over,
and the meal began in earnest. MIR.
Willard and the men discussed crops
and a variety of other subjects, which
were of general interest. A great many
clumsy jokes were told, and all Joined
in teasing Matilda about her admirers
All took part in the conversation except
grandfather, who ate his dinner silently,
glancing up now and then at his son,
however, but meeting no responsive
look. Mr.. Willard never thought of him.
His mind was filled with affairs of the
farm, in which, of course, grandfather
would not be interested.
After dinner, the old man went back
to his chair on the porch, and sat there
the whole afternoon, looking afar at
the hills yelled in misty blue, and the
fleecy clOud-shipS which sailed so slow
ly across the sky. By and by, the
shadows heightened over the brown
meadows, and the last rays of sun lin
gered on the hilltops. No sound broke
the stiffness, save the call of a lonely
cricket in the withered grass; and over
all settled the nnournfulness of autumn.
fading year and the autumn of life
formed itself in grandfathers mind,
and as twilight gathered about the
farmhouse, and a chill breeze swept
down the valley, bringing with it the
tinkle of bells as the cows came slowly
home, and the patient horses with
clanlking harness entered the barnyard,
he thought of the twilight of death
which was soon to gather and felt that
he, too, should be glad to turn his
steps honeward. The men came in for
supper, but grandfather had already
taken his simple meal of bread and
milk, so he entered his little room and
the day was ended.
Next day, although beautifully bright
-
giving to poor grandfather than any he
had ever spent Every one appeared to
forget his existence, or only to remem-
Der it when he was found to be in the