The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-11-26
John Warren'S Thanksgiving
n SNORT 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
Der OF a 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 to 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 Cobbs 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 mis- pocket a
large roll of bank notes and counted
down the $500 which would release his
father from worry and misery. John
drove at once TO 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 was, 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 loaded with enough to
stock a store" as Harry Scott re-
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
ter around and asked his mother 10
take a ride with him. and finally, after
much urging from Anna. Mrs. War
rem 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 OF entreaty TO Anna. who
only smiled and said: II 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
Scott was showing Mrs. Warren her
{ new quilt, just taken out OF the
frames" and the picture OF Cousin
William, who is on the board OF
! trade" and these two good old women
{ talked over hundred harmless things
which constituted their everyday life
: John finally suggested that II was
!, time they were going IL he could be
= lieve the clock of appetite. Anna me-
them at the door. her eyes dancing al
: she said: Uncle Warren is almost
: ready You lay of your things anc
sit down at the table"
When Mr.. Warren had finished the
> tenderly thankful grace, Johns eyes
as well as Annals, were filled witt
: tears. Mr.. Warren turned over hi
= plate and there lay the cancelled mort
: gage. Slowly he lifted IL. What does
this mean, john The kind voice o
the old man trembled with emotion al
= he glanced at the mortgage, then a
the son. And Johns mother. who has
been peering through her glasses a
= something which wouldn't pour out o
= the cream pitcher, turned the articl
| upside uONn anu Oh Ddul
!, notes dropped upon the table.
n Then the old couple saw II all an,
10 soon the three were clasping hand
10 and no one could say a word unit
n. John managed TO murmur: Father
is mother. it's a part OF my repentance.
The dishes cleaned and put away
!. Anna took the mystified Mrs. Warrel
=. into the little spare room" and job
- asked his father to walk up TO hi
' room. and there. spread out on tn
~ bed was a splendid new. warm suit o
y clothing and shoes and a fur cap an
= handsome great coat.
ar The old man knelt down by the be
% and murmured. II thank Thee, Lore
10 for my son" Then arising clothe
20 himself In the first well-fitting suit
a had ever worn. John. too, arraye
- himself in his best, and soon the
"A walked down into the parlor. wher
70 John saw a sweet. matronly woma
~ and a pretty young woman. both smi
ing and both having evidences OF r.
IN cent tears.
"A During the week that followed job
"a engaged a hired man to ease hi
10 fathers work and a trusty girl to r
IA leve his mother. He also hired
70. carpenter to do some needed repairin
hi and set in motion many plans for Il
"a future comfort for his parents.
en- One day he and Harry Scott hunte
n through the woods. and when, tire
and loaded with trophies of the day
hunt, they came to Mr.. Warren's ar
We found Jennie, Nellie and Anna seate
IN, before the greathearted fire." VIII
a merry supper that was. and how u
he old people laughed at the bright SO
m lies OF the young folk!
ell Then they roasted apples and TO
lis stories, and John felt that he hi
m faithfully carried out the program
er the travelling men.
er When he left for the West he ca
ried in his memory not only the de-
ma faces of his parents, but the gent
ed voice OF Anna as she said: