Middletown transcript., 1905-11-25
A THANKSGIVING TREE
BY N. A. M. ROE


carried off and cut up noway."
1t was a bleak November day. No
snow lay on the desolute earth the sky
bent gray and leaden over the wind
swept land, Dead leaves lay piled in the
fence corners; some still clung to the
branches and rustled dismally in the
chill atmosphere. The hillside showed
blades of grass short and stubbed that
had died long ago and we're now waiting
patiently for their winter blanket Of soft
snow. Everybody looked forward to a
white Thanksgiving, but it was only
twenty-four hours away and no snow had
fallen yet. Near the top Of the hill stood
lone tree, the largest chestnut in the
vicinity, and tie oldest. Beautiful in
shape, it stood tall and symmetrical, per-
haps leaning a trifle, as the winds had
pushed it in vain effor.s to overthrow or
break its sturdy limbs, landmark for
the surrounding country ana glory to
look upon when in full leaf or blossom.
In the valley, at the foot of the hill
stood an old-fashioned square house,
built. in the style Of years ago, when room
and not ornament was songht. At ole
window figure stood and looked out and
up to the giant chestnut tree The figure
was in keeping with the outside world.
for it stopped, the face was wrinked like
the clinging leaves, and the CORNERS OF
the mouth had a pathetic droop that
matched the dull surroundings.
Squire Baker wanted the chestnut tree.
She wanted the fifty dollars he had
agreed to give for it. She had heen
meditating mortgage on the house,
when the Squire advised selling the big
tree. He had long coveted it for use in
his cabinet shop.
Ann Smith drew her rocker to the win
dow and dropped into it with long
drawn sigh. Living alone, she carried on
conversations in which only the tall clock
in the corner participated Now she
talked softly to herself as she swung to
and fro. "Its always looked jest like
that, ever sence 1 can remember. Fust
thing I rec'lect was goin' up ter play
under it, coz mother could see from the
winder and she watched me, but | never
went far from the shadow, and then
Marthy-I declare it don't seem ser long
her mother let her fetch her doll, and
the warn't er day arfter, when we warn't
together somewhere, an she stayed one
night weth me, and she fell out er bed,
too, funny-I hev' ter laugh every time |
l think OF it. She clumb in ter the foot,
and / couldn't make her believe she was
turned round, and / had ter make her |
feel of the pillers fore she'd git it right. |
How we used ter set our china dishes out |
and fill 'em weth cookies, and how we
tt tt n1udd n1udd pies pies day day and Marthy sed 1
she'd never eat another piece, they was
gritty. guess they was, dirt most |
gently is kinder tibet way. She merried
er rich man and amt seen her fer years |
and years. l dom known's | ever shell
ergin." There was silence for a little
space and then she went on. Mother
used ter say the leaves whispered to her
when she'd take her sewin' out and father
was in the field, she was so lonesome like,
and she sort er made er comrade er tibet |
tree. Then father, I've seen him set by
this very winder and look out ter see it
bent most double by the wind, and then
the snow used ter pile up roun' it, and
when the leaves dropped and used. ter go
skurryin' down the hill, he sed twas
good es any race ter see 'em clasin'. Tie
warn't no time when he didn't enjoy
thet tree. Oh, carn't hev it cut down
l carn't, carn't."
She leaned her head back and closed
her eyes, but beneath the lids the tears
would steal down the wrinkled cheeks,
as she thought Of the dear ones who had
loved the old tree.
"Ef mortgage the propty-the Squire
says its wutlI good deal eli It's run down
1 don't b'lieye l could ever pay it.
hev less and less garden truck every year,
and seems if the warn't ser much hay
this year, it grows less and the peaches
was wormy, couldn't spray the trees
and the bugs ct up the pertaters, and
picked and picked at 'em till | mos broke
my back. / sold the wood ter halves,
but l think he skimped my half er else
he gi'me the little end of e, cry log. Wal,
the's some hay ken sell, and the's some
pertaters, and l got them stewed pears
and the hens, and if they lay eggs as good
g they did last year, I'll git on somehow.
I pose Til hev ter come to it, but ] amt
er goin' to sell thet tree-at least, not
yet" She wiped the tears away, and
her lips were set in little tighter line Of
determination. Suddenly she leaned for
ward, holding on to the arms OF her chair.
Then she fixed her glasses, holding them,
as if by some accident they had slipped,
and showed something untrue to her ex-
cited eyes.
who in the wold's that? Maybe they
want ter know the way. Amt they
tony? What pretty girl thet old lady
keeps er lookin' My. she's Civ the
reins ter her and the girls gittin' out.
/ wonder who they be? Is my apron
straight? Land, l hope they won't know
| ben eryin'. Is my nose red? Most
always is. I got ter go ter the door
an way, coz they prob see me er settin'
ter the winder when they drove mp.
There, she's er knockin'. Who do you
s'pose it's p
The pretty girl stood ON the step as the
door swung open. She was smiling, and
Ann Smith could not help giving an an
swering smile as she waited for her to
speak.
s'Is this Miss Smith?
Eyes"
c,..t ~,