Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-12-23


"No, I never"
"Then Of course you never made be-
lieve n Thanksgiving"
Biggs looked around quickly. The
lamplight on his face showed tho hints
of slow, serious smile II never, Mr..
Philup There's them that has," he
said gently.
Philip Lattimcr smiled gravcly too.
"Ycs, yes, Riggs. there are those that
have. There are men and little chill
drcn. and who knows how many more?
It's hard work making believe, Riggs"
eyes, Mr.. philup"
Biggs voice quavcrcd with something
that beginning like Il sob, ended in n
queer, uncanny whistle In whistles
Biggs found vent for all his warm emo
tons.
In the stiffness that followed Philip
Lattimer slipped away to his room and
his books aud haunting memories.
Three years three years it had been
since lie had broodcd there alone, shut
ting himself out of human fellowship
and the softening influences of ii. 1t
had been three years since lie and IL
light heart parted ways.
Tonight the heaviness weighed upon
him more than ever lie could not
stif1c it in books. us sometimes. 1t
could not be stifled. After awhile he
gave up the attempt and loosed the
bars of restraint and let his grief have
its own way. Willy not? Why not?
Biggs crept along the hall on his way
to bed and stopped ut his masters
room, as usual, to see lie all was well.
The door stood little ajar and he
peered in.
ooh, Lordy! Oh. Lordy!" he cried in
wardly, with tug at his henrtstrings.
Hes at 1t ag'in! He's got the picturs
all out, an that's the sign. He's at
1t ag'ln! Lord. Lord, amt there no
end?'
Biggs was on his knees and might
have been praying. The tears were
rolling down his creased brown cheeks.
Through the opening n chink of light
escaped and made bar across his
face. Within he saw Philip Lattimer
sitting with bowed head before little
row of pictures on the table. He had
set them up before linn with great care
hers first, then PHILIPS. then Com
forts and then the Little Ones. The
| sweet, still faces regarded him serene
ly. There was no grief, no heartbreak,
In them. rs there was in his. Now and
again lie put out his hand and smooth
ed one of the faccs-hcrs oftenest. The
room was perfectly still, except for the
terrible, dry sohs in the mans throat.
ooh, Lord. oh, Lord" moaned poor
| Biggs in his stricken heart He crouch
ed there in the dark hall. with the bar
Of light atllwart his LONELY, working
features, grieving his masters grief.
1t was all the grief he had ever known,
but it broke his heart
Lord, Lord, couldn't you "a took 'em
one to time, one to time, Lord? He
might a. got over 1t then. Look at
him in there. touchin' the faces! Now
he's touchin' the Little Un's. Look at
the Little I'm smilin' back! An she's
a-smilin' too. They're all a-smilin but
him. He's maxim them awful sounds
in his throat. Oh, Lord, ! don't know
but it'll kill Mr.. Philip! If could jest
croy for him
Biggs was crying for him now. he
let his big. ungainly body slide noise
lessly to the floor and curl up in aban-
donment of sorrow, but he made no
sound. Inside the quiet room the faces
in row smiled on happily. and Philip
Lattimer sat on before them hour after
hour. He lived over all the tragedy of
4, his LIE scene by scene.,---O nee.-witlI
one of his sudden whlms. he drew the
pictures into the playing of the trag-
edy. When she had died lie put out
his hand and turned her sweet face
gently downward on. the table, then
Comforts Comfort had come next
and then PHILIPS picture and the Little
Ones. He had had the Little One the
longest, but she went too.
Afterward lie put all the pictures
back again in their row.
1t was late into Thanksgiving morn
ing when lie went to bed. Biggs went
a minute or two before. He had Just
time.
Thanksgiving day was clear and
brisk and sun flooded. There were JOY
and thanksgiving in thousand thou.
| sand homes, and in the others-God
| pity the others!
In Philip Lattimer's home there was
a make believe" Thanksgiving
Biggs worked steadily and faithfully,
whistling all the while. He arranged
the beautiful table with neat precision
he let in the sunshine upon all the
dainty glass and silver I'LL they dazzled
his Redeemed eyes and hurt them. The
flowers came and were arranged as
Mr.. Philip liked them-roses at her
plate and little Comforts, and gay,
bright flowers at the Little Un's and
Philips. AT last everything was
ready.
"But he amt" muttered Biggs.
Hes gone out see him goin' n.
spell ago. He was stridin' right along,
with his shoulders dyeadful high an,
square. He never done that before
Biggs went back TO the kitchen and
waited. An hour past the time ap.
pointed he heard his master coming
in.
Iiordy, Lordy. ii there amt some
body with him! There was-hark-
oh. Lordy. little voices. little voices!
Biggs stole out into the hall and lis.
tened with n startled face. A subdued
chorus of excited little voices reached
him. and one above tie others was
saying. adnonisIlingly: "Stcp easy. all
o. you. Don't you see there's flowers
in the carpet? Step round 'em if you
can, like LIDO. They won't smash. but
1t don't seem right TO step on en-
There, while the kind mans gone up
stairs you MI listen to me I'm goin'
TO talk"
The high, imperative little voice car
ricd easily to I.isgs' astonished ears.
He heard every one of the slow words,
with pauscs. for emphasis. ba.ween
them.
Listen! If there's butter-to your
bread don't none q yo,i- look-sIir-