The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-27
MINERS THANKSGIVING
BY JULIA STANLEY HENDERSON,
Wichita, Kansas.
For the Eagle:

BY JULIA STANLEY HENDERSON,
Wichita, Kansas.
Thanksgiving next week, did you say,
Miller" and the old man shook his ad,
ana sighed as ne paused at the stove to
Stir the potatoes that were frying in the
pan, for his and the little girls supper
Yes, grandpa. and the President says
we have lots to be thankful for: good
crops, peace, happiness, ana prosperity;
the teacher SAYS prosperity means plenty.
Have all the rest Of them got plenty
but just us. grandpa?"
Plenty OF what, dear?" asked the old
man. absentmindedly. as he seated him
self on a stool near the edge of the tent.
To eat and wear, l suppose. the teach
er meant" answered the little girl.
Certainly that MAS it." asserted the
old gentleman. Yes, child, l presume
most of the people all over our broad
land have plenty, or at least enough to
eat ard wear, Then down that refined
and aged face there crept the crystal
sign Of grief
Miles dimpied arm was soon about
her grandfathers neck, and the head
crowned with the golden tresses Of youth
and the one with The silver locks OF age,
were nestled close together, and as they
had so often done before, together they
sobbed out their common grief. Then an
attempt WAS made at cheering one an
other. Soon their scanty meal Of pota-
toes and bread, without butter, was eat
en-. Then the evening prayers were said,
the curtains of the tent were drawn, aid
tied and the old man went to rest for
the night
Next morning at breakfast, Mile said:
Grandpa. I had such a beautiful dream
last night. l thought you and L were
away down in dark. dark mine, with
out miners lamp and that good angel
few right down where we were, and that
she had Us all hoisted out Of the dark
shaft together and we We're always to
stay with her in beautiful light. And
we We're happy. oh. so happy"
Some way the childs narrative cheered
the old mans heart or was if the happy,
hopeful look he saw on the childs face2
1t was the evening before Thanksgiving.
Grandpa sat by the tent door, watching
the holsters" .'giggers," and carriers"
all alike. busy, and TO all appearance,
happy. He meoitated upon their strength,
prospects and hopes-then upon his own
youthful days-opportunities and losses.
And it seemed TO him his heart was as
heavy as the two-ton-l0ad of zinc Just
pa ssing his tent door for the freight cars
1t does not matter fer me. said ne
TO himself But what IS to become of
poor little Mile? She must have clothes.
Snfa1 nd sch
pains ali over my body are telling me
that my day Of usefulness is almost gone
And, then when i am gone what viii
become Of our little darling? AS long as
/ live l can give her love at least. She
may not even have that when / ara gone
Many an orphan child has suffered I'M
toad torture at the hands of strangers.
God knows what is in store for u.s. do
net. But viii trust Him" and, bowling
his head. me offered this silent prayer:
My Heavenly Father do not let any
one be cruel to her, 10 this poor. helpless
babe. my Nellies own child.
The afternoon was warm. The birds
tFFittered amongst the jaekoaks overhead,
aHd now and then a squirrel was seen
leaping from bough To bough. Down the
long row OF tents, little groups could be
eeen. at almost every door. each repre-
eenting its oEn joys and sorrows, almost
ali Were strangers, one TO another; hence
close neighboEs knew little or nothing
of those about them.
The 'diggins" was a comparatively new
one. and. though everything about was
typical Of animation, yet Grandpa was
lonely. detected, and hearts.ck. What had
he 10 be thankful for? He looked up.
just rs the sun. sinking behind the hills.
was finsing back i,s last rays. in a good
night kiss, to the mining-camp. and, like
a. answering smile. the dancing Light
glttered and sparkled in the zinc-crownei
mounds OF crushed flint and crystal rock.
The scene. indeed. was grand one. hut
tie beauty was all lost TO grandpa. until.
from down the road. that wound in and
out amongst the mines, there came the
dancing feet of the one who was. to him.
the light of life. who ran TO him. ex-
claiming. How beautiful the Jack looks
tonight. GRANDPA, It's getting ready for
Thanksgiving. / guess. Don't YOU think
it"
Perhaps child answered Grandpa.
with "a smile. But / was Just thinking
If we had the waste zinc in those mounds
OF crystal tin-you and l. little pet might
have roast turkey tomorrow. and a
great many other things, besides"
Then. grandpa. lets so 'scrapping' To-
morrow" said the little girl. playfully
and again. as was habit. that white
looking baby arm cncircled grandpa
neck. ana, rs far as earnest chIld-caresses
and sympathy could go. the old mans
heart was comforted. And. as the sun
vas sinking.
The last rays kissed the forehead Of
a man and maiden fair
He, with step so slow and weary-she
with suny floating hair"
But just at this moment. an elegantly
equipped carriage drawn ley glossy. black
horses. emerged from between the tents.
along a winding road and stopped almost
in front OF our friends tent door. \ man
dressed in livery sat on The front seat as
driver. \ little black-eyed boy OF eleven,
with his mother, was comfortably cush-
toned in the back seat. She was a b,au-
tiful woman and beautifully. though net
gaudily dressed.
I believe they are coming here, whis-
pered Niiliie in much surprise
1t looks thai way" answered Grand
pa. And before further comments could
be made. the lady sprang lightly from the
low-stepped carriage, and coming toward
the tent saluted them pleasantly.
Grandpa politely offered hey his chair
which she as politely declined. saying she
was making calls amongst the miners. in
viting them 10 their church services: and