The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-03-11

yuh love best In the world" He sat
in the shop until the sun went down
behind the hill. The hired man fed
and watered the stock, and milked
the cows alone. A cold wind blew
up, and the old watchdog shifted
about his knees and lay down at his
feet unheeded.
Reused from his meditation by the
voice of Ellen calling him to supper,
he went STOPPING up the path, en-
tered the house and shut the door.
The next morning he gave the chill
dren's letters to his wife, and she
read them, at first downheartedly;
but Ellen was ever an optimist.
'Never mind, john" she said
cheerfully, "let them have a good
time; they're young. We have each
other-and there's Henry. There he
is now." Henry was coming in at
the gate, covered with snow. 1t was
showing hard, but he stopped in con-
versation with the hired man, while
John and Ellen watched him from the
window.
Huh" " complained John, cause
he has big fur coat and a spankin
new cutter and glitterin' sleighbells
amt no reason fur i'm standin there
all day talkin' about nothin'!" Open
ing the door, he stuck his head out
and whooped
Say, Henry Miller! / always DID
have to tell yuh when to come in
outen the rain!"
John" laughed his friend, "if l
had home on Thanksgivin' Day
with turkey and prnkin pies and all
the good things reachin' out and call
in, I'd never have to be told to come
in"
The two friends stood by the big
log fire and exchanged pleasantries.
If dark and menacing cloud threat
ened to obscure Johns Thanksgiving
Day with turkey and punkin pies and
all the good things reachin out and
calm, I'd never have to be told to
come in"
The two friends stood by the big
log fire and exchanged pleasantries.
If dark and menacing cloud threat
ened to obscure Johns Thanksgiving
Day, he instantly throttled it; and
when they sat down to dinner, he said
grace with at least semblance OF
heartiness. AS he passed his friends
plate heaped with turkey, dressing,
mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and
peas, a shadow fitted past the win
dow, then another, scrambling at the
door, and Jim and Lucy burst in
loaded with bundles and sprinkled
with snow.
"Mamsy, daddikins, and Uncle
Henry Do you think for one minute
I'd stay away?" laughed Lucy,
I'VE put up bluff on you, dad;
no city in mine!" cried jim.
They fought over their mother,
their father, and old friend, by turns
until they were all like a flock of
school children turned loose. When
dinner was over and they sat round
the big fireplace with the blaze roar
ing UP the chimney, and the snow
falling softly against the window,
John was secretly surprised that he
had actually forgotten the mortgage.
"Daddikins," a n ou n c d Lucy,
Jim and | have a present for you,
but Jim is so bashful he wanted to
sneak it under your pillow. l say he
shan't. OF course, it's for you, too,
mamsy!"
"Aw,' protested Jim. "you always
did make me go to the 'front.'" He
took folded paper from his pocket,
and handed 1t to his father. Inside
the paper was the money they had
saved to pay off the mortgage. The
hard lines in John Dwyer's face re-
laxed, his mouth twitched, and tears
coursed down the furrows In his
cheeks.
ooh, John" sobbed his wife, II al
ways did think too much OF my own
pleasure, and let you bear everything
alone!"
Henry Miller stole out, went down
to the stable, and then walked brisk
ly down the country road. The moon
struggled dimly through the gray
clouds and fell across his stopping
figure as he moved along in the feath-
cry snow.
When they missed him at the
house, they set out to look for him.
They went down to the stable, and
found the horse and cutter and on
the seat note addressed to "Mr.
John Dwyer" John opened 1t and
read
Dear John and Family: 1t ain t
easy to write by lantern light, but /
u,out tp toll yo,1 tho tyidu huftod In IN