The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-11-23
geleft Stnru.
A Moving Tale of Thanksgiving.
AN EXCITING PROGRAM FOR A HOLIDAY
BY ONE CONCERNED.

L
My cousin, Jane Andrews, was just
beginning to meet with success as writer,
and I, Elizabeth Jordan, was making some
| progress as an artist, when we conceived
the brilliant idea of taking shares in bust
ness enterprise in distant city. 1t was
to yield an income that would enable us to
drop all anxiety for things material and
give full scope to the genius that burned
within US. The end of the first year
found our gentlemanly financial agent in
dependently rich and off to the continent
for his health, while Jane wrote early and
late, more for money than for love, and |
produced with pencil and brush anything
whatever that was not indecent and would
help pay the rent. For we were not of
the stuff to turn our backs on the scene of
our defeat. We rented a comfortable
old-f fashioned house, furnished it simply,
and without more ado proceeded to live
within our depleted means.
Among the few rare souls who knew of
eur difficulties and were ready to reach us
hand, if we showed the slightest symp-
tom Of losing our grip, we ranked Cornelia
Sewall first. The day before Thanksgiv-
| ing, when we had been settled month,
she called on us and, as is her woat,
plunged at once into her subject.
"You' re going to take my mother to
room and board. You've twice the room
you need"
Jane and 1 did not look happy as we
knew we ought.
"You think I'm crazy to have Mother
break up house keeping, but she'll store
her goods and we can 60 back next sum-
mer if we like. She shan't stay alone
and when this old school ma am sets her
foot down even mother minds
Cornelia had calmly walked into our
front room and was indicating what pieces
of our own furniture might remain and
where she would put her couch.
"For, of course" she said, 81 will be
home Fridays and holidays"
Before Cornelia we were dumb. She
named sum we dared not refuse with her
keen gray eyes fixed upon US. 1t was her
way of helping us out of tight place and
we knew it. The bargain was made.
She staid half an hour and quite dispelled
the gloom that hovered over us when she
first suggested the plan. Enthusiasm ia
catching.
"You' re sure you don't object to hav-
ing her move in Thanksgiving Day?' By
this time we would have objected to moth
ing Cornelia proposed.
"She won't mind being alone? We
are invited out, you know
''That's all right, so are we. y
When the door closed behind Cornelia
Jane exclaimed:
''Isn' she an old darling2''
Whereupon I seized Jane and waltzed
her around the room. We were grace
full pair, she with much length Of limb and
nose that has been called Roman, 1 with
girth Of waist too great for my height
and tendency to grow more and more
into the likeness of my own pug nose.
''Stop and be sensible minute, I"
laughed Jane, and pinioning me against
the wall with her long arms, she instructed
me in the way 1 should go when we were
no longer free and Independent old maids,
but had a share in Cornelia' mother.
"My dear Madam," said I, "have no
fear. I will be daughter to her. will
walk softly all my days
"You may walk softly into the parlor
and carry your easel up stairs. 1 will
gather up my scattered thoughts at once. !"
She pointed to litter of manuscripts on
the parlor table.
In the afternoon we were standing at the
door Of the front room, looking ruefully at
the cleanliness and the emptiness and utter
lack of any soul, when the bell rang aud
Cornelia came in greatly agitated.
"Girls, I'm called out Of town on i'm
portant business. I can't get back until
Saturday night. Think Of that for a
Thanksgiving holiday. Tvslsf woman
packing for mother; the carriage is engaged
to bring her over at nine tomorrow morn
ing. She insists upon having her own bed.
The sxpressman will bring that and set it
up. She won't need to bring any other
furniture. Your chairs and tables are all
right. I'm awfully disappointed not to be
here to settle and arrange things.
Don't you worry, Cornelia, We Il take
care of your mother.
"Well, good-by, my train leaves in
twenty minutes.
Thanksgiving morning was bleak and
cold, fine snow filed the air. We did
not have to leave the house until twelve
so we took our time to the usual work and
made some appetizing dishes in case Corne-
las mother chose to stay indoors such a
stormy Thanksgiving Day.
Promptly at nine, somehow people al
ways did things promptly for Cornelia, a
carriage stopped at our place and we opened
the door to welcome Mrs. Sewall.
"Hers 1 am and happy Thanksgiving
to you, she ohirped.
"Welcoms home,' Jane said and we
both kissed her and felt a daughterly affec-
ton springing up for the spry little white
haired lady We were unwrapping from
enough shawls and oapes and furs for an
Arctic expedition. The driver meantime
had carried up the steps the band boxes,
an old fashioned travelling bag, six baskets,
the largest holding bushel, and all packed
far beyond their normal capacities, bum
die or two tied up in gay eolored cloth, and
half dozen house plants.
"You' We done we'll to get your things
all over in the carriage" I said.
s'These are just few I picked up the
last minute" she answered, s'my things
will be along soon.''
She glanced out the window.
"Here they come"
We opened the door and looked up an
down the street. Only huge moving
~