Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-11-26

he had spent the money at the tavern over by Starvr
ley Cove
and remain under the stigma Of having taken poor
wonans property and refused pay for it, should
she 60 over to M5 Blu B4rTas and have Pehaps n
ny with his wrong doing. Either way difficult
her. The third way, that Of giving the dol
lars, was not only to acknowledge herself III the wrong
but was impossible
First Miss Anna looked at the note with its sncars
and blurs, written in pencil on a blank leaf torn from
book and then she looked her teaspoon as il for in
spiraon and guidance She had always supposed the
that spoon, worn to outline a
sparrow, inferring that the family name
ton from that word. But the Minister had tod 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. Burrsgc and her simple
minded boy.
But that spoon--it the which had been al
ways used by her ncer do-weel father who had kind
w@a s on And then She e the aer in
while wishing she had the ten dollars to give and be
done with it, Mis-. Arm, warmed her ouo-ho. md
daied getting into her cloak and tying her bonnet and
ad ,,t d her tRPct sid NJ. p--.oo .,;u.n
edsboy like that"
Mrs Burrage" said Miss Sparrer with dignity, I
bought one turkey and paid Andrew dollar for it.
'You paid andrew a dollar He never give me no
d IoHn5y That's heTf An That s. "h sd My
without asking if she would or no, into tic BEDROOM
where Ande lay e1"s s with .1sd fever you m
outer that bed this minute and tell me the truth about
them turkeys"
There was moments silence, and then sullen
.uice muttered, Il told you"
mo, you didn't You told lie to me YOU"
EFF you don't say jes what happened about them
turkeys Andrew iii send you to the poorfousc before
dark And I'll lam ye thin an inch o yer life inter
the bargain You hear me-"
The boy said nothing
you hear me-" she said again
"oh, Mrs Bnrt?ge' don't speak so" exclaimed Miss
Then Andrew looked up with his big burning. eyes;
said she, have you told the TRUTH
He closed his eyes # to shut nightmare;
but still he said nothing Mrs Burragc stood with hei
hands on her hips, waiting
Andrew you must speak, said Miss Anna. You
must tell Mrs Burrage the truth
Still obstinate silence.
"Andrewl" said Miss Anna. She stood there gaz
nant and overbearing But her heart was full of pity
She didn't know what to do He must be made tc
speak of course But ne was little, roor, il
weak,it shameful of her to take advantage
the difference between them She seemed herself
oppressor, cruel and ignobe creature. She would lc
mistake and she should nave her ten dollars whcn
the next Savings Bank dividend came in.
a noise in the other room called Mrs. Burrase away
moment Miss Anna Just about to follow. And
then the boy looked up again with those shining
ewes and burst ONT crying 81 meant to pay it back
On, Andrew" cried Miss Anna. I'm 50 .orry"
AMI got no cGld It's jest because done il: oh,
Andrew Andrew, You POOR childl' cried Miss
Sparrer STOPPING over him. Il forgive you this min
u'c God will forgive you; know He will You'll
"Oh you bet won't" sobbed Andrew, with deep
conviction.
leave YOU here another day For in the instant there
flashed over her the lory Of new world Of possbi-
ties hat, hat iurnare If she soId it fer any such s
interest would give her all the money she needed to
bring Andrew up anc educate him, and then start him
in lie with the principal She didn't to do it,
there something in the boy. She could not leave
him here in these influences, let come what would come
She would not She must take him home and make
honest man OF him. That is what the Minister
meant And oh, thank heaven, she would never be
lonesome again
Almost al the point of tears herself with her throng
ing thoughts she bent and put her arms about The hot
and eyered 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 Bate:
was hung" he sobbed
Miss Anna borrowed ten dollars Of the Minister that
women vino with their the week 10
bring her the modern furniture and take the DID,
at her windows | to put in place the new things
made so much after the pattern OF the old that she
q suppose you don't want to sell that old sverl
It's quite thin said one OF them ITS really worth
great deal of money
why, no." said Miss Anna at is old family sill
yer And my hoy-Andrew-wl grow up some day
and like it with the family it, But I'm going
to make you present of OF the spoons. For
you've made me great, tremendous, present You've
given me this boy and days and nights that will never
know loneliness and heart full of thankfnncss"
She took the boy on her knee when they had gore
and cleared away, and told him Bible story
and sang him old ballad ii was yet an hour before
prayer meeting In the freight the rooms looked
much as they had done before. 1t was only matter
of sentiment. That was in way dead sentiment
But this alive, alive, and made life worth living
She could love her dear people still without hc
old furniture But she couldn't have this dear boy
love. and the furniture. too, Tomorrow is Thanks
giving" she said, as she tucked him into bed heor,
the bell rang, But for you and me- Andrew lad,
think hereafter it will be Thanksgiving every day
Our ives!