Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-11-25
Charles Thanksgiving


~ NE year ago, Charlie had come to
IL The city TO make his fortune lie
~ was fond of farming and farm
Etock: but they were slow means to
wealth. He would go to the city for the
fortune, aud would then come back and
purchase the best farm in the vicinity,
and have fine horses and big meadows
End-envious neighbors.
He was standing on a street corner,
with hands thrust deep down into his
pockets, and wearing the same clothes
he had brought. from home But the
clothes were soiled and worn threadbare
and shiny, and the shoes were unblacked.
and the hat lacking part of its brim and
long ago he had discarded such extras
rs collars and cuffs. The fingers of one
hand played idly with his two last half
dollars. both Of which were owed for
the poor little room he rented on Que of
the back streets; and the other fingers
touched several pawn tickets, which he
had no expectation OF redecming In
deed, he was wondering duly if there
were al thing else in his trunk which
could be pawned He had had no break
fast, and there was no prospect for u
dinner-and this was Thanksgiving.
A few yards away, a street boy was
sitting on a dry goods box, swinging
his bare feet industriously to the tune
he vas whistling But his eyes were
axed on the listless figure of his neigh
h0r.
Say, country" he called, suddenly,
what you thinkin' OFF,
Charlie flushed but did not answer.
~Come, don't make an owl o. your
self" the boy went on: there's nothin'
In this werid to fret over. Look here"
swinging his legs upon the box: mo
clothes to spare an what there is amt
much for cold weather; an my jackets
lost an arm, an my shirt most o. one
shoulder; an furthermore" pausiug to in
dulf,e in another bar of the street ditty
he was whstling. Il amt had no break
fast an only cold pertater for supper
last night; an still | amt no split milk
% cry over" His legs swung back into
space and beat a lively accompaniment
10 the conclusion of the tune. Then he
looked at Charlie.
Now. what's broke with you?' he de-
nanded. "You amt stalled, an you've
got shoes on your feet"
But l cant eat my Shoes" Charlie
retorted; .'and the two pieces of money
have Left are TO pay for my room. And
and what's worse, I'm out of a Job.
'T>wasn't mueh-sweeping ont oifces--but
IL meant room and something 10 cat"
The street boy stopped drumming and
looked at him with more interest.
IT'S sort o bad he acknowledged
IAN you bein' from the country an know
In nOthin' makes it worse. Whatd you
come for?"
why, 10 get rich, of course" Charlie
answered. .what does any one come to
the city forT'
-Huh. derisively. can here I've been
boOkin' ahead to goin' into the country
20 Ect rich. Sss, So you have fellers like
me. an like that crowd on the sidewalk
up in your COUNTRY g
Charlie looked at him. and then at
the haif-doxen disreputable men who
we're smoking in front of a saloon op-
pasite. and the two or three women sort.
ing over an ash barrel. and the squalid
dirty-fsced children playing end fghtins
ziong the gutter. and answered. with an
expression Of disgust:
''No, indeedr'
"a thought so. Then the country's the
richest an best place" He looked al
Charlie Il little euviousiy.
''Say. you got horses an COWS an dogs
an chickens, an pa an ma, an green
grass an fishia' up there?" he demanded
'-Of course" with eager recollection
In his voice; "and miles and miles Of
woods where we 90 after chestnuts and
grapes in the fall. and big ponds to skate
ca In the winter"
AN YOU run away from then-fol
tAisT' snatchiag his fragment of cap and
Asriinx Ii into the gutter as expressive
81 his unutterable disgust. Then be
stoed upon the box and stretched bimseli
Go his full height, raising his hand n.
tkouxh to invoke benedicfion-
~My son." he sad. solemnly. go HON,
sn' eat the fatted calf an your mas
aougAnuts. larry not. Hasten to pas
tares new where the calves flourish as