The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-27


receive one by one the folks as they
came, but she went back again.
Near IL O'Clock she said to little Lid
dy:
Have they all come, Liddy?"
NO, mum; not all
"Who is there to Gomez"
Annie, num-"
She's dead--dead here. I sometimes
wish she would come, Liddy. But |
wouldn't speak to her if she We're to
come-that common sailors wife! L
wouldn't, would you, Liddy?"
Yes, num-"
You would? Tell me why now"
because she is Annie, You would
too"
Mis- Overfeld gave great sob and
threw her apron over her head and said
in a muffled voice;
What made you say that, Liddy?'
There may come a day when Annie
cannot come back. The earth binds
fast-the grave does. Think what you
might have 20 reflect upon"
Il. Liddy; II"
Yes. And there are more folks in
some ~old houses than one can see al
ways They come back. There's been a
dead soldier here already. | seen HIM
And last night heard the latch of the
back door lift up three times
oh Liddy! Nothing can ever harm
us if we do just right. 1t was Annie
that went wrong, not I. What do you
suppose made the latch lift up?"
She stood silent, then said, with sud
den resolution:
"Iiddy, you go straight to your du-
ties and never answer your mistress
back again, not on Thanksgiving day
nor or any other day"
The rooms filled, Brothers and sis
tiers, nephews and nieces. came, and
some of the guests offered to help the
women folks about the house.
The hand of the brass clock was
moving around toward u. A savory
odor filled the room. Little Liddy fitted
to and fro handling hot dishes briskly
so as not to get "scalded."
Those who were voluntarily helping
the women folks carried hot dishes in
wrong directions. For twenty minutes
or more everything went wrong in the
usual way of the country kitchen at
that hour of the day
There was a jingle in the new brass
CLOCK. linen IL SlIuthf anu lilC leAA AiiNl
raised his hand, and everybody stood
still.
Twelve
Now, if you Will all be seated at the
tables" said Farmer Overfield, Il Will
supplicate a blessing"
He did Prayer has long journey
around the world on Thanksgiving day.
He arrived at last at all who have
gone astray but that are still part of
the visible creation"-his mind wavered
here-"grant EN- all repentance and
| make us charitable" he said in lower
voice.
The room was very still One could
almost hear the dishes steam.
There was a sound in the corner of
! the ROOM The clock case quivered.
Farmer Overfield became nervous in
this part of his long prayer opened his
| eyes and said:
"Oh, 1 thought 1 heard something
somewhere. Where was 1? Liddy, she
says that she heard the latch lift in the
night / didn't know
Just here there was a crash of dishes
Little Liddy had seen the clock case
shake, which caused her to lose nerve
power lust as she was very carefully
moving some dishes when she though
| all other eyes We're shut. The guests
started.
Accidents will happen" said Farme
Overfeld. Nov all fall to and hell
Yourselves. 1t seems like old times t.
find all the family here again just as il
used to be-all except Annie, Annie, An
ME. Her name has not been spoken to-
day. 1 shall keep this plate and seat foi
her here close by my side. Annie's heart
! is true to me still. I seem to feel that.
wish she was here today. The true note
/ of Thanksgiving is lacking in a broken
! family. There can be no true Thanks
/ giving where there is an empty chair
| that might be filled. l shall always
take Annie's part. A father is always
true to his daughter 1 will yet die in
| her arms. A daughter is the angel for
| the fathers room when the great shad-
| ow falls"
| He stood, knife and fork in hand, the
! tears running down Eis face.
| There was a little Shrek in the door
| leading tc the pantry.
What now, Liddy?" asked the farm
| er.
Il saw something" said Liddy, with
shutting eyes.
What did you see, Liddy?'
THE sun and moon moving"
Massey! Where, Liddy?"
"On the face of the clock. Something
is in there That clock comes to Ire
sometimes" she added, going out.
All eyes were turned toward the CLOCK
Knives, forks and spoons were laid
down, clicking on the many dishes.
The top of the clock. which was un-
covered, seemed animated. Some said
that they could see it move, others that
the supposed movement was merely
matter of the imagination
Lid1y came into the room again with
more dishes.
Il. think" said she, that the clock
case is haunted"
"Pshaw. Liddy"' said the farmer.
"And what makes you say that? Who
is it that would haunt that old eight
day clock?"
zone of the Britishers who was shot
by bullet made from the lead weights.
That's my way of thinking. I've known
about it for a long time"
"Liddy, you're a little bit off-toucned
in mind-that's what you are, Liddy.
You never was quite all there
The dinner went on. but amid a nerv-
Gus atmosphere. Farmer Overfield felt
the disquiet and said to one of the
guests:
Cousin Lucy, you are waiting for
place at the table ! would give you
Annie's If 1 could, but my heart won't let
me do that She might come back. Sit
down there at Annie's melodeon and
sing a little song. DO They Miss Me at
Home? That used to be one of her
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