Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-11-22
A Thanksgiving
Package
By SHEELA ESTHER DUNN
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation 1911

for. The loss OF our little Molly has
taken all the thankfulness out OF me-
John said what be could to comfort
his wife. but there Is little comfort In
such partings. and happy family
circle had been broken by the loss or
little Molly. the baby. 1t had occurred
as many misfortunes occur from pow
erty. This Is the way 1t happened:
Mrs. Hardwick was taken Ill when
the baby. was but six months old
John was away. and there was no
one to attend to her or the household. |
and more especially the baby. who |
needed more attention than any OF the |
family. A neighbor came In to take |
charge and concluded TO send Molly
away till the mother should have re-
covered. Mrs Hardwick had an aunt
living at the next station on the rail-
road. and since the aunt could not
leave her home II was decided TO SEND
the baby to her In the care OF an ex-
press messenger bassinet was 1T
ted out, the baby put into IL and
tag with the address on IL of both the
shipper and the consignee tied on H.
Then the package" was taken TO the
messenger, who had charge OF an ex-
press car. and he agreed TO take 1t to
it's destination.
Unfortunately an accident occurred
on the railroad that spoiled all these
calculations. \ man passing the scene
Of the accident. hearing cry from
some bushes beside the track. sought
the cause and found Molly. Near by
. lay her bassinet She was alive ana
e apparently unhurt. A child falls with
{ out resistance aud is therefore much
D less liable TO injury than an adult. Be
; sides. in this case the fall was sup
T. posed to have been broken by the
l. bushes. The finder took up the child
Il and it's bassinet and carried II home TO
;. his wife. The bassinet had fallen into
I n ditch, and the address on 1t had been
= so discolored by the water that II was
i unintelligible.
e Now. Molly had fallen into the hands
o OF n couple who had no children and
J. had given up all hope OF having chill
IS dren. Not knowing where to send
10 Molly, they concluded TO keep her. at
is least till they could find her parents.
4 and II not found they would adopt her.
m After the accident the Hardwicks
a learned nothing OF their child. The
In they could not learn where the baby
N was at the time Of the accident. and
r. she was never found But this was
I'm not remarkable. for on one side of the
no railroad was stream. and the body
pa might have been thrown from the cal
Ie into the water and carried away by
81 the current
an At any rate. there was not the slight
- Ill. olf N0
-, and her parents mourned her as lost
IN. Mrs. Hardwick recovered from her Ill
In ness. and the family affairs were Sc
no to rights. all except the return OF litti
ny Molly.
The day before Thanksgiving pity
,oI ing friends sent the Hardwicks din
ner for the occasion. But the mourn
ing mother declared that she had nc
the heart 10 cook II. ThanksgiviE
day being n holiday. John stayed q
-, home. but there was no rejoicing. Th
10 children found 1t difficult to make
o holiday when their parents were S
!" dismal At noon the little ones bega
~ to feel hungry. and. yielding to the
nc opportunities. their mother consente
nj to roast a turkey that had been sci
lnu them. She had hardly got 1t IN II
'"' oven when there was the sound OF
Jul heavy truck stopping before the hous
lse A man ran up the steps and kicked
W. the door When 1t was opened II
u cause of his kicking was apparer
are Both OF the mans hands were in us
iii. In ono no held a basstnet. in the 9th
AZ a book
OF "Sign for this" he said.
ana There WAS a simultaneous exclam
I've ton Of surprise and JOY from the fai
all fly as Molly was handed in. Lookil
the I'D at her mother. she smiled al
one cooed. Mrs. Hardwick seized her a
heir ciasped her 10 her breast
re- Sign for this" repeated the ms
re- holding out the book In which he to
oid. receipts for express matter.
} III Mr.. Hardwick hurriedly scratch
are his name. and the expressman. ri
hom ming down the steps. mounted
reat wagon and drove away.
we And so 1t was that the Hardwfc
IN holiday was made both n day OF
opie foicing and of thankfulness. WI
'hou they sat down to dinner the baby
,wer a.. h.ss,na, was nloced on the tai
and while its parents and broth
vor- and sisters ate turkey Molly pull
Ai"s Justify on her bottle.
COM An explanation came in time. {
Tue day the couple who had taken Nc
King a. haord from q friend Of the Ha
'eAF' wtcks' Of their loss. and II became
King. ~ ,,,ss,r. ch;,d This occurred
quest -. h.,ora rhonksyfvinu and a pls
Goo .nt syrnrise was arm ngcd for the 7