The Republican journal., 1912-12-12

Wilson, Prop, " Main street.
IA grill" Mrs. Kingsley fairly
hired help in the house one day.
abuse that, could, little Fay have UNDER
soul! Happily she could not understand,
the effect was exactly the contrary to
what his mother desired and his answer
showed her her mistake.
"It may be as you think, he said slow
ly. "We don't know anything about it,
but do know this inherent babe amt
to blame, md I'll be blamed if l don't
stand for her md fight the hull world, if
need be. l amt fit for much. The
Kingsleys amt like other people nohow,
md if this here kid amt respectable it
can't make no great odds to US; we amt
s'ciety folks; but all these fine fxens
she's got on shows she don't long to no
poor trash round here. There's
mystery ahou: it and l hope we won't
never understand. ~
After the uncommonly long speech,
Jack Kingsley put the child in the bas-
ket and went out, his mother never say
ing a word We are inclined to think
she was little alarmed for his mental
condition, though, when she recovered
from the shock little, she remembered
a few other things in his life when Jack
had unexpectedly flung out in a similar
fashion in defense of an abused animal,
and once in the case of sick tramp. She
blamed herself severely for not using
more strategy at the outset; now the
battle was hopelessly lost. Well, he
might hire somebody to care for it, she
would not; and in five minutes after she
had settled this point she was holding
the object of controversy in her arms
feeding it most tenderly. Then for the
first time she remembered that this was
Thanksgiving day. Thanksgiving! And
sitting and rocking, her mind Travelled
back to a time when the day meant much
to her; to a time when life was not so
narrow, so sordid, when she went to
church and enjoyed human companion
ship. Then she remembered the first
Thanksgiving on this farm, when Jack
was a sturdy boy of five and the others
younger; how she had made little feast
out Of almost nothing, but despite the
homsickness and loneliness, they had
been far happier than in years since love
of gain had "eaten them up" spiritually
and mentally. With start she heard
the clock strike eleven. The baby was
sleeping; could she manage to get up a
Thanksgiving feast in an hour? She had
intended to have boiled potatoes, fried
salt pork, bread, coffee and sorghum
molasses.
Ben, her youngest son, was at the
barn for something and yielding to the
impulse of the moment, she called out to
him from the doorway: run me down
chicken, Ben, if you men folks can get
along till O'Clock without yer dinner "
AYE, aye!" said Ben, heartily. but
when he came in with the chicken he
looked so inquiring that his mother said:
Il plum forgot twas Thanksgiving, "
wardly or outwardiy. Ben said nothing,
went out softly. but was whistling gaily
have dinner till the horn blows, reckon
that'll be about l O'clock"
whats up?" asked Tom.
The Kingsleys were not humorous, but
an idea did occasionally strike Ben and
now he answered severely:
You can't expect mother to take care
of youngun and have meals square up
to time
Hang the youngun! was Toms I'M
gracious reply. "Say, Jack. you better
go over to Sweets this afternoon
eff you've any business at Sweets go
yerself; haven't any,"
Even Mr. Kingsley, who was not at all
observing, opened his eyes when he en-
tered the big kitchen, from which most
savory ordor had already greeted him.
Never had the old room looked so in
viting before, and no wonder! A tooth
some feast on a table spread with the
white cloth and best dishes-used only
for company-a baby form in the
old high chair so long relegated to the
garnet. He smiled and laid his rough
hand on the little head covered with
golden red curls.
"Whoop-oe!" said Tom, looking ap-
provingly about. $50 all this comes of
having girl in the familyv'
Jack glanced at his mother and then
did what no Kingsley was ever known to
do before without being asked-filled the
water pals.
Ben looked down at himself; then there
was another departure. He put on a
clean "wampus" and washed and comb
ed with unusual care. Everyone had a
smile or pat for the bright, fearless
babe who, they tacitly understood, was
in some way responsible for the good
cheer.
When ready to sit down. Jack quietly
lifted the high chair to place beside his
own. He meant to take care of her evil
IDENTIFY. And so the new life at the
Kingsleys began. Not all in a day did
the changes come, but the truth of the
words: "And a little child shall lead
then" was never more thoroughly veri-
fed than in this Instance. By another
Thanksgiving time royal feast was
spread and the minister and his family
invited to partake. The house was
frightened; each member of the family
dressed, talked and acted more like 10Th
er people," they even sent wood and
vegetables to several poor families; and
remembered that they themselves had
cause to give thanks for many blessings,
not least among them Jacks baby.
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