The Wrangell sentinel., 1917-11-29
Martha s Thanksgiving
She Found a Reason For
 Celebrating It
By CLARISSA MACKlE.

"Give thanks for what?" demand ed Martha Butterworth fercely.
 Being alive, of course, for one thing" retorted her roommate, old Mrs. Loyd.
 Alive" snilfed Martha. "Every- body else in the world is alive as well as be-"
 "You're sacrilegious, Martha" said Mrs. Loyd solemnly.
 T s'pose I be, s'pose I be-" said Martha drenrily, and she stared from the window down at the frost nipped lawn of the old ladies' home.
 Martha Butterworth hated the old ladies' home with a fervor that few of its inmates understood. Most of them were simple minded old women who had invested a little nest egg of savings in the institu tion to receive dividends of a life long home and decent burial.
 ,,,Irs. butterworth in her younger days had been quite parsonage in the county, for her husband, Da- rius Butterworth, had been known as the richest farmer within a ra dius of twenty-five miles. Bnt Da- rius had fallen victim to the gold mine fever and awoke one morning to find himself the posscssor of a big tin box full of worthless mining stock, while even his farm had been morIgaged to its full value.
 The horde of consorious relatives which immediately gathered at the Butterworth farm and clamored their disapproval of Darius ''crazy investments proved 10 be too much for the patient, unbusincsslile Da- rius, who, dazed by the great mis- fortune that he had brought upon his wife as well as himself, prompt ly disappeared, taking the box of beautifully engraved stock certifi- cates with him.
 Thc closest search failed to re- veal the whereabouts of the fugitive farmer, and the aforesaid relatives, still censorious, but in a mute, heartbroken sort of way, helped Da- rius' bewildered little wife to close up all the affairs that hungry cred itors had not already bounced upon, and they agreed that Martha should live in tulA with one and another of them until Darius should come back or something turned up.
 The bread of dependence is bit ter, and for five long years Martha Butterwolth tasted gall and worm wood. Then she packed up her few belongings and took d position as lousckccper in the family of man who had an invalid wife.
 For five more years Martha look ed for her husbands return, and then hope died in her breast with the ending of the tenth year of his absence.
 Shortly after this severe attack of rheumatism crippled Martha's busy feet, and so she gave mp her situation and, taking her small say ings, did what her soul loathed to do-shc became an inmate of the old ladies' home in the adjacent city.
 Old Mrs. Lovd knew that Martha Butterworth had been very bril- liant pianist in her day. Before Martha had married Darius she had taught music, and afser she was married she played for her hus- bands pleasure. For ten years her work hardened fingers had not touched piano keys, and in spite of Mrs. Lovd's pleading that Martha enliyen their long autumn evenings with "tunes" on the big square pi ano in the parlor of the home Mar tha had as steadfastly refused to touch 1t.
 "Thankful, indeed" muttered Martha again. q hate this old place. 1 hate this home" she said between her clinched teeth.
 Mrs. Lloyd, who was now stand ing in the doorway, heard her and drew her mouth in sudden dismay. "Td be afraid to say that, Mrs. Butterworth. It's flying in the face of Providence to say such things. I've got sister who is crazy to come here and stay, only she hasn't got $500 to buy her way. If she was here with me we'd be perfectly happy. Pm afraid she will never have $500 to come, though"
 'fYou don't know. Maybe Provi- dence will open a way for her," said Martha Butterworth, suddenly los ing her bitterness. I know of somebody who is tired of it and wants to leave"