Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1908-11-25
lsAl W.Ir.a's Thanksgiving.

John Warren dropped his newspaper
ON the hoor of the car and stared out OF
the window. Strongly built and hand
come, he was just now wearing on his
face look of utter WEAKNESS, resulting
from .. long trip in the West, where he
had been looking after some interests Of
the firm Of which he was junior partner.
Nine years before, in fit of anger, he
had left his home in the country and, too
proud to return. had, by dint of logged
persistence, secured humble place in the
packing rooms of Brace s Browns WHOLE
sale dry goods store. Fortune favored
him, and this same quality of resolution,
together with application, had raised him
70 the position he now occupied group
OF travelling men were making ready to
leave the train. 1t was ocular set
and they had enlivened their trip with
stories, politics and trade gossip, and now
the jolly-faced hardware drummer said
Boys, where are you going to be
Thanksgiving day?"
I'm going back to the feshpots Of
Egypt and eat my turkey in the country
said one
Yes said another. .l'm going to be
In my old place at the old table with my
lwhite-haired little mother smiling at inc
from behind the coffee pot and my dear
old dad pilinE enough on my place to feed
regiment"
Think Of those home made pies !" said
another. ''those fat moons Of apple, pump.
-kfn mince and cranberry. Say, no res
Observation-Disclosures about them.
And, said the boot and shoe man, ITO
sit around the old fireplace and watch a
row Of juicy apples roasting In front OF
that roaring, great-hearted log fire. Boys,
you couldn't fence me away from home
that day,
And 80 each one, with home picture
IN his heart, hurrhd out OF the car and
up the long flight of station stairs away
to his destination, while slowly behind
them came John Warren with surgina
tumult of feelings in his breast, and as he
slowly mounted the last step tear. drop.
ped on his brown beard and sudden res.
/; olution filed his heart. He almost shout.
ed: "I'm going home. too
John hurried to his hotel, and taking
very shabby suit from his wardrobe pack,
ed It with some other things in a large
satchel, and then Fastening to the station
climbed into the sleeper just us the long
train pulled out for the east. Arriving
at a point twenty miles west of his old
: home, he went to an obscure hotel and
changed his clothing for the old salt in
his satchel.
When the Eleven forty" pulled Into
the town of NJ two days before
Thanksgiving the usual crowd of loungers
observed tall, brown bearded man,
whose clothes seemed the worse for wear
step on the rear platform, and without
looking at anyone strike off toward the
farm Of Richard Warren. Much curios.
ity was conferred on this event until the
seediest looking loafer present said:
That was John Warren, or I'll eat my
hat He's come home to live on the old
folks. 1t wouldn't be for long. though
cause Squire Cobb has given notice thai
he's goin' 10 foreclose the mortgage be
has on the Old mans place."
II they had followed the stranger for
half mile they might have ssen the
strong young man shed heartfelt tears, as
he leaned against the old oak tree by the
little, gate and gaze earnestly on the
brown house at the edge Of the woods
Crushing the snow with hasty> steps, he
wai soon at the woodpile at the side OF
the house. Flinging down his satchel and
catching up the Ak, he SPLIT an armful oil
wood and opening the kitchen door said
mi voice tremulous with emotion. Moth
er, Is this enough wood to get dinner
WITH"
Acry Of wonderful jog and the mother
i wept on her sons shoulder while his
father paced the floor shouting, Praise
God! Praise God stopping often to
clasp his cons hand and murmur, My