The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-09-22

I
tho college and twenty miles from hem
The wort part Of Il was that ,hore WAS
one for Chris,lse Gray 10 blame Tor u Al
She might have btcn at home instead Of b
lng here, bat she bad chosen TO stay st u
college for Thanksgiving reception, ,,hlnl
ing TO reach home Ia time for u c famll
dlanCr by taking the mixed trala hat CA
ried both freight ard passengers by
shorter route than the one che usual
travelled.
She hsd been the only psssergar who
the q spldated old engine bad brokOu dow
a mile rp lhe road. Then che had wake
to ihe village, while the trainmen had gor
back to the nearest telegraph.statitu /
send Tor sno her engine.
They could not hope to 70 on for sewers
hours, ard Christine stood by the wlrdo,
Of the country store that served sc raj
way station, looki, Z disconsola,ely out ~
on the long stretch Of muddy road, Dor
dered on each side by old ,unpaluted houses
II there had been any bysaty In the lIttl
village /: had vanished when the dear Nov
embCr Wind and rall had beaten the leave
from ,he trees aud vines that had klndll
hidden lie defects. Aad now the barrel
uglin,ss did not make a pleasing view.
The ylcg inside had been even less pleas
ing, however. The ger iil storckeeper hat
of rcd her backleas chair near the stove
but every available box and barrel had beer
occupied by loafers, who stopped squirting
tobacco juice at the rusty stove to stare a
her, uu II she rose and took her sand BY
The Window.
Chri,tiue's usually funuy temperament
was throuied 10 gloom, and she was ihlnh
ing bitterly that Thanksgiving was all fool
ithness, after all. What was the use o!
celebrating II, and travelling miles j1st ia
eat dinners She had not really cared "a
20 home, when life was so gay at the col
lcge and the football game, the event Of
the season, was to be / yed in the after
noon.
She wished that her mother had not writ
ten that pleading letter, making her feel
that she could not refuse. Here she waf,
twenty miles from anywhere, in a rude
crowd, tired, hungry ard cross. A pretty
state Of mind for Thanksgiving day Chris.
tine did not feel that she had a single thing
to be thankful for.
A gray haired man came into the store
ard asked for his mail. The storekeeper,
who was also postmaster, handed out let
ter, which the man grasped eagerly. He
turned to leave the store, and glanced eur.
iously a. Christine. Going back he talked
in low tone with the storekeepar for a
They we're talki1g about her, Christine
felt ture, for she caught the sentence,
Engine broke down, an she's got to walt
until another comes along" The man pass
ed her again with curious glance, and
Chiistine's face flushed at the supposed
rudeness.
The loaiers were going home to their din
mere. Glal cling at her watch, Christine saw
that /, was after eleven o'clock, Soon she
weuld have to purchase the lunch which
the stortkeeper had assured her some time
before that he could furnish, and the
thought Of the crackers, cheese and dried
beef, saturated with the atmosphere Of the
store, made her feel faint.
The gray haired man was coming back up
the road, carrying a package, and Christine
wondered impatiently II there was no es
cape from his gaz,. When he entered the
store he came directly to her, saying heart.
Iy, "Mother sent me right back after you.
You'll have plenty OF time 10 70 over and
sat your dinner before the trains gets here.
It's pretty muddy, and | saw you Didn't
nave any oyershoes, so brought mothers
along. They'll be too big, but I'll tie em
On,
Christine stsmmeIei out her thanks for
he Invitation, feeling that any change
would be relief from the atmosphere Of
he store, and put out her foot for the man,
who was kneellng, ready to tie on the
hoes. IL was well that the overshoes were
arge, for her shoes, with their thick soles,
Utmost filed Them.
The man tied them carefully.
Now we can make IL all right he sad,
come on
She followed down the muddy road,
plashirg along, almost to the tops OF the
ustil they came to the laat houfe
q The row
The house sas 10 better than lis neigh
'ors, bu. Christine looked up with pleas
ire, for woman stood 10 the doorway,
With smilirg welcome on her plain face.
I'm 80 glad you came she said cordially,
While the oyershoes were belpg united. We
we're 50 lonesome without Faith, and II
il seem almos. a. II she had come, to have
girl at the table In US. Faith 10 our
sughter, che explained, while Christine
1as removing her wraps. She's away out
D Colorado for her health, and we miss her |
o but we're go thankful that she can live,
ven there.
Christine locked about the quaint sitting
Dom, and I urd her.tlf wondering how |
ny one could iteI very thaplfli who lived |
J fueh plaes But the house, with its
cilly iuri ure, was clean, sd the uner-
ected klnc cts bad restored Chrlstine's
ooi temper, 20 she entered into the spirit
I tie. occasion, ard was 20 sweet hrd
rierdly that he two CID people fairly |
esmtd with delight.
The womsn buried about the kitchen for
time, ind ihef e.lled them on. TO dinner.
o be iure. n dluIna-room was only one
ID of tie lll. k,lchen, the clean white
I5le.el9th was n SO ard The dishes we're
.mnon; but v her ihs griy.hsired man
,ok his Bible asd feaI psalm Of thsnkf-
wing, Chiiaice forgot all this.
The repetition I he seutepce, "Por hls
I rev rfdgstfh ,Gf EYER Al III a reyey. /