Middletown transcript., 1904-11-19
A DAY OF SURPRISES

By MARY MORRISON

as usual close TO her hand Ethan always
set them there in the hitherto vain hope
that she might have courage to try them.
There was new expression on her face
this morning as she reached out and took
one in each hand. How much pains
Ethan had taken with them She drew
herself mp slowly and painfully and stood
erect. How strange it seemed to stand
again, after all these weeks. Then she
essayed step-ani then another. 1t
was not as hard as she lad feared, but
she did not get beyond reach OF the
friendly old rocking chair that stood
with outstretched arms to catch her when
at last she dropped into them, painting
and breathless. The old helpless look
was gone, however. She touched the
crutcIles tenderly. They had become
suddenly friends Two homely, faithful
friends, staunch and strong.
1t lacked but two days of Thanksgiv-
ing. Every day for week Polly Bar
stow had heroically stumped about on
her two crutches, and gradually she
found her strength returning. She noted
the fact exultantly. There would be
time after the dinner was cooked, if she
was able, to hobble down to the store
and surprise Ethan. She was hungry
to see it. Were the windows bright and
shining, and did he polish the apples
as she used to do, and pile the oranges
into golden pyramids? The candy jars,
too, she had disposed with view to
artistic display. She bad always enjoyed
her work in the little fruit store. 1t
was her only outlook into the world
the great world of human wants and
needs. with which she was in sympathy.
1t had given her a sense OF ministration
which she missed. OF course she could
not expect to 60 often-but this once.
1t could do no harm. She had planned
one surprise already. It was to be the
preparation of the Thanksgiving dinner,
as she had done ever since she and Ethan
married. She had never missed one
They had no relatives to share it with,
she nor Ethan, but they had each other.
Ethan had meant to cook it himself,
and had even gone so far as to ask her
advice about the stufing OF the exceed
ingly small turkey he had provided, but
then he did not know that she could
walk. This should be another surprise.
How glad Ethan would be to see her,
ard they would walk home together
again as they had done so many times.
There was no snow on Thanksgiving
Day. Indeed. the air was mild with
haze as Of Indian summer. Ethan had
gone out at seven o'clock as usual. Some
one might want few quarts of cram
berries or box Of raisins perha ps. They
could not afford to miss sale. He was
coming home at ten o'clock. She had
almost betrayed herself when he came
to say goodbye in the morning. 1t was
hard to feign the old helplessness and
sit passive while he tucked the pillows
around her and drew her chair to the
window.
He looked at her wonderingly. "Why
how well you are looking, Polly! II
believe you will be able to try the
crutches before long; to-day, maybe,
SO l can help you about a bit till
you get the hang of 'em. They'll be
pretty awkward for a spell, l expect.
My but it will seem good to see you
up and around again. You'll try 'em,
won't you, Polly ?" he pleaded.
"sho'. now, Ethan. A body would
think ! was contrary young one, to
hear you talking and coaxing,"
You amt contrary, Polly, only kind
OF sot. You don't know how much com.
fort they'll be to you till you try 'em,"
"Don'tl |? Well, I'll try 'em to please
you" she told him. There was a merry
twinkle in her eye which he could not |
interpret, but he went away conforted. |
She listened until his slow, plodding
footsteps had passed out Of hearing, then |
she reached out for the crutches. There
was no time to be lost. The stuffiny
had been prepared the day before. All |
her old deftness seemed to have returned |
as she made the turkey ready for the
oven, and went about completing her
arrangements.
The little table pleased her when at
last 1t was ready. True, the mince pie
was made from prepared mincemeat She
had been surprised when Ethan had
brought it home. He always used to be
particular about his mince pies. and
wanted the ingredients compounded at
home, but she did not question him
Expenses had been heavy since she had
been sick. There were oranges and
apples-specked little. it is true. but
they were just as good Ethan was learn.
ing to be economical.
1t was half-past nine when everything
was completed. There was no,bine
further slle could do at present. and she
put on her bonnet and shawl with from.
bling fingers. How surprised Ethan
would be. She drew long breath of
delight when she was fairly out of doors
How good, how good it was to stand
erect-to walk. She leaned op bor
crutches confidently. They had grown
familiar, and she picked her way slowlv
and carefully. 1t was long WALL e..
her, but she turned the last corner nros
emily. An old man sat under bnoo
umbrella just ahead, with small stool
of fruit carefully arranged on s,ora
before him ; apples, oranges and bananos
a pineapple or two, and few CRANES,
a meager supply. She could not seq h;s
face, but the figure looked familiar sha
stopped suddenly.
The old man got up to replace h;o
rosy apple which had rolled off the Stand
She watched him polish it carefully Will
familiar WOODEN cloth and replace !,
I