Year: 1872

BY MHS. q. u. ATWOOD


Poor little Hepsy Brown Although
it was the night before Thanksgiving,
and very lovely night, too, she felt any
thing but happy, and very little inclined,
l fear, to give thanks for anything.


One would think that Hepsy had a
great deal to make her happy and CRATE
full. Grandmother Brown had been busy
all day getting ready for the great family
dinner party; and besides the long rows
of flakey pies and plummy cakes-such
as but no one but grandmothers can
make-and the two huge turkeys stuffed
and trussed ready for baking, there stood
on one especial shelf row of ten little
puffy pies for the ten little cousins. The
inside of these pies was a profound mys-
terry to Hepsy, as Grandmother Brown
had locked the kitchen door during their
concoction. So, besides other anticipa.
tions, which should have been delightful
to little girl twelve years old, there was
mystery to be unveiled.


Besides this, the dear little pale-faced
mother had been busy upstairs for two
days, all for Hepsy, too; and tonight the
last stitch had been taken, the last bast-
ing thread pulled, and a bright blue,
plaid dress, with dainty crimped rufiles in
the neck and sleeves, hung in the ward
robe, and a pair of bronze boots, real
bronze button boots, lay on the closet
shelf.


So why should little Hepsy sit by the
CRATE with her head on her hands and
such a sorrowful look on her face {?


Only year ago-Hepsy was thinking,
as she looked in the bright coal fire-only
one little year ago she had a strong, hand
some father to keep Thanksgiving with
her. How Well she remembered how he
pulled the wish-bone with her, and crack
ed nuts, and told fortunes, and finally
how they finished the day with such a
royal romp that they broke one of NAM
mas vases; then how papa caught her in
his arms and ran up stairs, pretending
that some dreadful punishment was COM
ing.


1t was only little while after that her
father had gone abroad on business. At
first there were letters for mamma, with
sometimes little one for Hepsy. Such
jolly, happy letters, full of mysterious
hints about huge French dolls, boxes of
dainty bon-bons, and little No. kid
gloves, that might come home to some
body, if somebody were very good. Then
there came the happiest one of all, saying
that he would sail in a certain steamer,
and that mamma and Hepsy must come
to New York to meet him.


Hepsy remembered very well the ride
to the city with her mother, that ride so
full of pleasant authorizations, commenc-
ed so joyfully, en- co very wretchedly;
for though the st q Tr came there was
no papa uponi it. Trey waited another
week for the next one; still no papa.
Then they W ote to the last address; then
to the business firm: but all they could
discover was that he had hidden them
good-by in excellent health and spirits,
and since that day nothing had been
heard of him.


Then they had locked up the dear little
home, and come up among the hills to
Grandfather's. And though the little
mother never gave up all hope, and s&d,
often and often 81 know he will come
back to us, Hepsy dear feel sure the
dear God has not taken him from us r'-
still the hope deferred which maketh the
heart sick paled the sweet face, and
brought white hairs among the waving
brown locks. So sometimes Hepsy feared
that God was going to take her mother,
too, and leave her alone in the world.


Do you wonder now that Hepsy's face
was so sorrowful, or that when she crept
away to bed her little pillow was wet with
her tears?


But you know, though "sorrow may
endure for a night joy cometh in the
morning" So, when Hepsy opened her
eyes Thanksgiving morning, and saw the
sun cleaning through the frost-pictures
on the windows. her heart bounded
with the natural joy of childhood, and all
the dismal forbodings of the night before
passed away.


"I feel so happy, mamma" she said,
as she was dressing for church. 81 feel
so sure that something beautiful will hap
pen to-day; perhaps Uncle Tom will
bring us letter from papa"


" Perhaps so, my darling" she an
sigh.


1t was such pleasant drive to church
Grandfather always drove his own horses,
and Hepsy always sat by him. To-day,
after many furtive looks at the back seat,
to be sure that her mother wasn't MOTTO
ing, Grandfather Brown put the reins in
Hepsy's hands, and she drove into the
church-yard in grand style; her cheeks as
pink as blush roses, and her blue feather
waving triumphantly. 1t was all the
grander because Uncle Toms little Tom
stood on the church steps watching her
with envious eyes.


Never you mind, Miss Hep," he whis-
pered, with sly pinch, as she prepared
to sal by him, "l'm a-going home with
Grsn'pa Brown; and what1l you let he
don't let me drive all the way;"


al don't bet on the church steps,
child 7" she answered with a dignifed
air, which was entirely wasted on young
Tom.


Church was a very pleasant place to
Hepsy that day. The huge square pew
was filled with relatives, and the innum-
erable little cousins were distributed in
the neighboring seats.


"How perfectly happy / should be, :"
thought Hepsy, eff papa were only here"
And when she put her head down she
prayed earnestly that God would send