The Jasper weekly courier., 1909-11-19
John WarreD's Thanksgiving
n SHORT STORY

Travelled so often years before. Just
as they entered her fathers gateway,
John said
Anna. my parents think just as you |
do that | have made failure OF life |
Well. | haven't. ! am junior mem |
ber OF very prosperous firm In the
West, but | want To. keep the secret
! little while longer and ! want you 10
help me give them a kind surprise"
/ Then he unfolded his plan 10 her
and her voice rang with delight as
she said: "Oh. John. how lovely that
will be-"
The next morning. after the old
family Bible was read and heart
felt prayer offered. John asked the
loan OF his fathers horse and drove
straight to Squire Cobb's Office and
that worthy being In. John said:
Squire. came to see you about
that mortgage you have on my fathers
farm"
With that he drew from his pocket
large roll of bank notes and counted
down the $500 which would release his
father from worry and misery. John
drove at once 20 the farm OF Mr..
Scott and called "Whoa," just as
Anna. her father. mother .and brother
came to the gate.
There were hearty greetings. and
then Anna. all ready for a long drive.
sprang in beside him. How bright the
morning wasl How happy were they
> as the bells jingled and the sleigh
. moved over the wilderness of snow
and through the deep woods. What
mysterious bundles they brought out
of the stores in town until when. at
last they arrived at Anna's home. the
: sleigh was loadS1 with enough TO
stock a store" as Harry Scott re-
e marked.
Thanksgiving day dawned bright
and glorious with sun and snow. and
early in the morning Anna appeared
and she wanted TO help get dinner.
Soon John brought the horse and cut
a ter around and asked his mother TO
take a ride with him, and finally, after
much urging from Anna. Mrs. War
y ren put on her shabby cloak and hood
and with a warm soapstone at her feet
: was tucked into the sleigh beside
John He noticed the cloak and gave
: little look % entreaty TO Anna, who
( only smiled and said: 81 wish you
would call at mothers before you
: come back" Away they drove toward
! the mill and down by the river, then
stopped at Farmer Scott's. Soon Mrs.
y Scott was showing Mrs. Warren her
new quilt. just taken out OF the
&c frames" and the picture Of Cousin
William, who is on the board OF
= trade" and these two good old women
talked over a hundred harmless things
which constituted their everyday life
John finally suggested that IL was
:, time they were going il he could be
~ lieve the clock of appetite. Anna met
y them at the door, her eyes dancing as
n u she said. Uncle Warren is almost
- ready You lay of your things and
sit down at the table"
When Mr. Warren had finished the
a' tenderly thankful grace. Johns eyes
~ as well as Anna's. were filled will
= tears Mr.. Warren turned over hi
~ plate and there lay the cancelled mort
ie gage. Slowly he lifted IL. What doe
this mean. JohnY' The kind voice o
the old man trembled with emotion a.
or he glanced at the mortgage, then a
ne the son. And Johns mother. who ha,
rs been peering through her glasses a
oy something which wouldn't pour out o
Sn the cream pitcher. turned the articl
ne upside down and a bunch of banl
IN Then the old couple saw II all an
he soon the three were clasping hand
No and no one could say a word unit
~. John managed to murmur: Father
ais mother, it's a part OF my repentance.
The dishes cleaned and put ava,
!. Anna took the mystiied Mrs. Warre
'n into the little spare room" and job
ls asked his father TO walk up to hi
o
~ bed. was a splendid new, warm suit {
w clothing and shoes and a fur cap an
~ handsome great coat.
,ar The old man knelt down by the be
,ca and murmured, Il thank Thee. Lor'
l,,, for my son" Then arising. clothe
80 himself in the first well-fitting suit
"a had ever worn. John, too. arraye
,La himself in his best. and soon the
.ad walked down into the parlor, whei
re John saw a sweet. matronly woma
NV and a pretty young woman. both sm
ing and both having evidences Of 7
M, cent tears.
"a During the week that followed Jof
nad engaged a hired man to ease b
lie fathers work and a trusty girl to 7
ola lieve his mother. He also hired
80 carpenter to do some needed repairir
gbt and set in motion many plans for Il
- future comfort for his parents.
hen One day he and Harry Scott hunt
un- through the woods, and when, tir
and loaded with trophies Of the da,
hunt, they came TO Mr.. Warren's al
ave found Jennie, Nellie and Anna seat
oh. before the great-hearted fire" VIII
a merry supper that was, and how I
she old people laughed at the bright S
en- lies of the young folkl
cell Then they roasted apples and &c
his stories. and John felt that he h
en- faithfully carried out the program
her the travelling men.
her When he left for the West ne G
ried in his memory not only the dc
ma faces of his parents. but the gen
med voice Of Anna as she said:
- ...r.. -. MT until Iunn Inhn I,