Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-11-22

IN the village who would buy ten turkeys at once ana
he had spent the money at the tavern over by Sarve
Now the question was, should she let the affair 60
and remain under the stigma of having taken poor
womans property and refused to pay for it, should
she go to Mrs. Burrages and have perhaps vul
gar alteration with her, and, way challenge John
ny with his wrong doing Either way was dithcult TO
her. The third way, that of giving the woman ten dol
lars not only to acknowledge herself in the wrong
but impossible.
First Miss Anna looked at the note with its smears
and burs written in pencil blank leaf torn from
book and then she looked her teaspoon if for
spration and guidance. She had always supposed the
crest that SPOON worn to a outline now,
sparrow, inferring that the family corrup
ton from that word. But the Minister had told her
that, the other hand it sparrowhawk and
probably marked the robber proves of her ancestry
That is to say their cruelty, she thought And she
recognized the sparrowhawk in her nature that would
challenge and defy Mrs. Burrage and her simple
minded boy.
But that spoon-it was the one which had been al
ways used by her neer-do-weel father who had kind
word and an open purse-smau though it was--for
every And then she felt the father in herself
while wishing she had the ten dollars to give and be
Reluctantly Miss Anna warmed her overshoes. and
daied getting into her cloak and tying her bonnet and
MY Johnnyid said Mrs. Burrage Indignantly
Amt you shamed, Miss Sparrerl poor feeble
MRS Burrage." said Miss Sparrer with dignity, II
bought one turkey, and paid Andrew dollar for It.
you paid Andrew dollarl He never give me no
Johnny, guess Herep And she led Miss Anna
without asking if she would or no. into the bedroom
where Andrew lay burning with fever
ANDREW Macane" she cried. "You jest git up
outer that bed this minute and tell me the truth about
them turkeys"
There moments silence, and then a sulen
voice muttered 81 told YOU"
mo, you didn't You told lie to me- You"
II told you all Pm goin ter" said the sulen voice
EFF you don't say jes what happened about them
turkeys, Andrew, I'll send you the poorhouse before
dark And I'll lam ye thin an inch o yer life inter
fbe horoo nl Xo,1h aar
The boy said nothing.
"You hear me?" she said again
"Oh, Mrs Burrage don't speak sop exclaimed Miss
Sparrer. The child is sick"
Then Andrew looked up with his big burning eyes
startled and dazed, seeing the lovely lady. Andrew
said She have you told the truth"
He closed his eyes if to shut out nightmare;
but still he said nothing Mrs Burrage stood with her
hands her hips, waiting.
Andrew, you must speak," said Miss Anna. "You
must tell Mrs. Burrage the truth"
Still obstinate silence
ing down him. knowing that she looked domi-
nant and overbearing But her heart full of pity.
She didn't know what to do He must be made to
weak,-t shameful of her to take advantage Of
the difference between them She seemed to herself
oppressor cruel and ignobe creature. She would let
it go. She would tell Mrs Burrage there had been
mistake and she should have her ten dollars when
the next Savings Bank dividend came in.
noise in the other room called Mrs. Burrage away
a moment Miss Anna was just about to follow. And
then the boy looked up again with those great shining
he whispered between his sobs
ooh, Andrew" cried Miss Anna. 'Pm so sorryr
Som Il Oh, som /" he sobbed pitifully. IT
amt got no cold It's jest because done it; on. |
feel so awful bad !"
"Andrewl Andrew You poor chidp cried Miss
P1rrf od % sfoTgSe @ oTsyi you this MN
never do it again"
ooh, you bet wontp sobbed Andrew. with deep
'You get right up and come home with me- 1 won't
leave you here another day For in the instant there
flashed over her the glory of world of possib-
ties. That furniturel If she sold it for any such
those young said, and invested that, the
interest would give her all the money she needed to
bring Andrew up educate him, and then start him
she hated to do it;-but she musti You could see
there something in the boy She could not leave
him here in these influences let come what would
She would not! She must take him home and make
honest of him. That is what the Minister
meant. And oh, thank heaven, she would never be
lonesome againl
Almost the point of tears herself with her throng
ing thoughts she bent and put her about the hot
and fevered boy and held his head on her breast and
kissed him, and began to love him from that moment
"There-there amt nobody kissed me since Bates
was hungp he sobbed
day and satisfied Mrs Burrage. And the two young
women who came with their the next week 70
bring her the modern turnituse and take away the Old
stayed to hang their gift of pretty silk curtains
at her windows, | to put in place the things
made so much after the pattern of the old that She
need not feel the difference very keeny
Il suppose you don't want to sell that old sver1
It's quite thin" said one of them. TITS really worth
great deal of money"
"Why, no" said Miss Anna "It is old family sill
And my boy-Andrew,-wil grow up some day
and like it with the family crest it. But I'm going
to make you a present of two of the spoons. For
you've made a great, tremendous. present You've
given this boy, and days and nights that will
know loneliness, and heart full of thankfulnessP
She took the boy on her knee when they had gone
and tea cleared away, and told him Bible story
and sang him old ballad it was yet an hour before
prayer-meeting In the freight the rooms looked
much they had done before. It was only a. matter
of sentiment. That was IN a way dead sentiment
But this was alive alive and made life worth ivingi
She could love her own dear people still, without their
old furniture But she couldn't have this dear boy 70
love- and the furniture, too Tomorrow is Thanks
giving" she said, she tucked him into bed before
the bell rang but for you and me, Andrew lad,
think hereafter it will be Thanksgiving every day of
our ivesF