The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-08
THE EVENING STORY
Her Celebration.


been located at Wellsvile many weeks
when he discovered that here was a
woeful lethargy about such matters.
When he began to talk up Thanksgiv-
ing contributions for the poor. there
was half-heartedness or total indiffer-
ences and as he thought of a Christmas
! tree bearing a hundred or more pr esents
for the Sunday school children In order
| 10 1nc1te new interest and ambition his
| heart grew heavy. He kept pounding
away, however, and it was not until a
| few days before Thanksgiving that he
realized he would have to give the
idea Up.
The minister was sitting in his study
one oay when Aunt Mary Frazer was
announced. Aunt Mary was a little old
woman 80 years old. She lived in a
little old house and supported herself on
an income of 81 per week sent her by a
church for years. Now and then some
/ GOOD soul sent her lot of groceries. a
ton or coal or a new Dress but she did
rot consider herself an object of char
lty On the contrary, she felt herself
almost as good as anybody" and she
had come to call on the minister as
other folks had called. He had noticed
her and been told that she was good
hearted but rather eccentric.
Aunt Mary had made a ten minute
call ana was on the point of departing
When Deacon Hope was announced. She
thought of one more thing she wanted
to say, and therefore slipped into the
parlor, next to the study, to wait for
the deacon TO 60 It was a full hour
before he went, and she left five min
utes ahead of him. There was a long
and confidential conversation between
the minister and the deacon, every word
or which was overheard by the caves
oropper. The two men believed alike
about church work and church interest
in charity, and the deacon had been
sent around to do some more sound
ing"
To
look of resolve on it as she left the
minister's house, and she went
straightway home and changed her
dress and put new edge on the butcher
knife by drawing the blade across the
stovepipe. Once upon a time she had
kept chickens. That is, flock of half
a dozen had foraged for themselves
during the day and came home to
poor old coop at night. One by one
they had given up the ghost until only
a poor old rooster was left to wonder
how he was going to pass the winter
Aunt Mary had had no thought of kill
ing him for a feast. She had none when
she was sharpening the knife. He was
to be killed for another reason, and
killed he was, and the body was hardly
cold when she changed her dress again
and took a walk of half q mile in the
gathering darkness. Her errand was at
the house Of perhaps the richest man
in the congregation. She had always
looked upoTf the house as a palace. and
upon it's owner as something above this
mortal clay, but she was not afraid to
ring the bell and ask for the master.
Her errand justified a display of nerve.
Seated in the library she found the man
she had come to see, and as he looked
at her with wonder in his eyes she laid
the dead body of that old rooster on
his desk and said:
THAT is for you. I'm awful sorry 1
can't do more. but am poor, you know.
If you boil him for a day or two
think he will be tender enough"
"W-what does this mean?" he de-
manded.
aIts chicken for your Thanksgiving
dinner"
But I don't understand. Why do you
bring it here?"
Because I heard Deacon Hope telling
the minister that he had called on you
to ask you to contribute to buy chick
ems for the poor, and you said you
would be lucky if you had any chicken |
for yourself. I'm sorry you have lost |
all your money and become poor, and |
I'm willing to help you all can"
The rich man turned red and white |
and hitched around uneasily, and 1t |
was & minute or two before he could |
send Aunt Mary away with her rooster |
under her arm. She would not go I'M
til he had assured her that he thought |
he could manage some way to scrape
10 a chicken for the family dinner.
The next call was made at the house |
Of another man reDuted to be wealthy. /
He had the highest priced pew in the
church. and drove to and fro in his
ca rriage He wasn't home. but his
wife received Aunt Mary and had con-
siderable curiosity concerning her err
rand. Into the richly furnished and
the little old woman and the half
frozen body of the half-starved roost-
ar. but the caller was not abashed.
ssIt seems too awful bad that all
these beautiful things have got to be
sold" said the caller after a look
around.
Mary was asked
"TIouse and furniture and horses
and everything to be sold! 1 know
low vcu viii feel and I pity you. You
Won't have enough left to buy a
dinner. but have
.hought of you. Here is the last
chicken of my coop.
CARNATIONS and demands for a clearer
explanation, and Aunt Mary humbly
aid:
or money to buy Thanksgiving chick
ms for the poor, and your husband
aid that If his debts was paid he
couldn't buy an old hen for his own
Inner. I heard the deacon tell the
Minister this" .
Aunt Mary got out with her rooster,
,ut she left a very indignant woman
behind her. The husband probably
lad very bad half hour that evening. ,
The third call was at the house of one
f the trustees of the church. His wife
wore diamonds and had her own car
iaRe. his two daughters were richly
lresSed and he had son at college.
lie was home when Aunt Mary was ,
Omitted He knew her to be poor, !,
nd at sight of her took a dime from
lis rocket and extended his hand. She j
ocked at the coin and then asked:
brother Blank, thank you, but I
,now how things are with you. I heard
Oeacon Hope telling the minister all /
acu. It this afternoon
What did you hear him telling?''
You know the minister wants to