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Show THE BEE. I aint that look! lit, he muttered, but then Once more the smile came like n burst of sunshine through the clouds and the dimpled hands reached out alluringly. In thought With the some neighbor had left it mind that after the family had retired, he lifted the lid. "Jupiter! was the one word that escaped his lips, and then he simply stared. But it was not Jupiter or any other celestial body that lay there so snugly In the basket, but a very lovelya terrestrial body in other words, beautiful babe smiled up into his face. let fall Jupiter! he said again, and immedito it lift again the lid, only Jack iv as Marching; About. ately. It would have been a study for an artist the old brown farm house amid the leafless trees for a background, the flurry of snow sifted over the porch, the great willow' basket, from which smiled the lovely infant, and the uncouth figure in high boots, overalls, short brown coat and slouch hat bending above it. How long he might have remained in this pose is uncertain, but the little one's efforts to free her arms aroused him. Once more letting fall the lid he lifted the basket into the kitchen Just as his mother emerged from her room. What on airth you got? she questioned. Somebodys young un left on the half-forme- d HE Iv I n gs 1 c y called by pecuneighbors liar and we are not disposed to contradict them. There was the father, mother and three sons, the latter all woman-liaters- , or at least woman shunners, wore for even when boys at the district school, not one of them would play with or In any way notice a girl. As a family, they were industrious, economical and Work, work, work was the order of the day, and save, e of their save, save was the lives. If there was one among them more of a hustler than the others it was the eldest son, Jack, and if one more than another of the sons was averse to society, it was Jack. It was on Thanksgiving morning that our story opens, but we doubt if any of the Kingsleys had given a thought to the day. In their busy, unsentimental existence there had been no account made of the days that come like pleasant mile stones along the way. There was no Thanksgiving cheer, or Christmas gifts; New Year meant nothing to them but a change of date, and Easter was only Sunday, the day of rest, at this farm house. In the East, long years before, Mr. and Mrs. Kingsley had been church members and doubtless still claimed to be, but for years they had only attended services when some neighbor was buried. They had come Wert when the country was new and the children babies. There was no place to go at first, and by the time churches and Social privileges had come to them, they did not want them. The boys never inclined to mix much with other people, though plenty of nice girls in the neighborhood would have risked their chances of happiness in their keeping, for morally they were without reproach. If any one could be said to rise first in a family where all were up betimes, it was this same Jack, whose heavy footfall oftimes wakened the house. On this Thanksgiving morning he was out even earlier than usual, for it was time, and in one way and another they had been hindered this particular fall. Stumbling out into the cold, early light, he was surprised to run against a great willow well-to-d- o. key-not- ' ccrn-huskin- g - door step. Mercy sakes! The inmate of the basket here raised her voice in protest against longer imprisonment and once more Jack lifted the cover. I reckon its about froze, he said, and then turned to replenish the fire. Mrs. Kingsley wonderingly undid the rich, wrarm wrappings until the little arms, unpinioned, were held pleadingly up. What woman could refrain from lifting the little creature out and pressing it to her breast? Even Mrs. Kingsley could not, though she made sure first that Jacks back was turned. Soon the remainder of the family were on the scene, surprised and wondering ovc Jacks baby, as it was called from the first. There was nothing by which she could, be identified, save a square white card bearing the one word Fay. At breakfast Mrs. Kingsley remarked complainingly: Now therell be a trip clean to John Sweets. John Sweets? queried Jack, as he watched his mother feeding milk to the. little stranger. Yes, hes the poor commissioner, absent- -mindedly, aint he? What of that? What of that! did I ever! Why, you cant, git this young one into the poorhouse without seeing him about it. A wave of color sw'ept across Jacks anshaved face, but he he guessed they could that only replied board her until Sunday, leastways no one could be spared from the husking sun-burne- x fer d, now. i Nd how dye spose Im to do my work nd care fer a baby all that time? Here its only Thursday. She dont seem troublesome yet. No, of course shell be good while Im minding her all the time; but wait till I put her by. Before Jack had been at work two hours he made an excuse to go to the house. His mother happened to be out of doors when he entered the kitchen, but there sat the lovely child in her basket, gleefully pulling the strands of a skein of scarlet yarn. The moment she caught sight of him . What the nations this? he growl-td- she gave a happy, gurgling laugh, dropped the yarn and held out her Now, we would not have you under- arms; but he pretended not to see her. When next he glanced in her stand that Jack was a particularly man; but it is usually true direction, the babys lip was trembling that in families where the little re- and tears were welling up into the finements and courtesies are omitted, great dark eyes. the boys sometimes the girls grow lie made a step toward her, then up surly and irritable in manner, even paused, looking from his dirty hands when, in reality, there is no anger in and dusty clothes to the dainty garments she ware. - - - their hearts. ill-natur- - -- Goo, goo! she said, hut he thought she meant good, ami well, when his mother entered the room she was simply dumbfouuded at the sight that met her gaze. Jack, who had never even touched a baby before, was marching about, the child on his shoulder, one band fastened In his rather unkempt hair, the other patting his chock. she cried louder and Goo, goo! louder. Jack KIngslo3', are you crazy? she cried. With a shamefaced expression, ho turned toward the basket, but paused half way and turned, defiantly. No, I aint crazy, but Im goin to keep her. Goin to keep her? Mercy on us, you must be out en yer head. I tell you I aint, but Id be shamed to put a purty little critter like her in the poorhouse. Ilaint we got enougli, Id like ter know, to feed one seek kid? The poor fellow looked perplexed, but Fay, at this moment, nestled her head against his neck, cooing contentedly, Da, da, da, da! I will, if theres nobody else, he answered defiantly; leastways I can hire a girl. A girl! Mrs. Kingsley fairly shrieked, for in all her life she had never hired help in the house one day. And then she poured forth a tirade of abuse that, could little Fay have understood, would have burned into her very soul! Happily she could not understand, but Jack did, after a fashion at least, but the effect was exactly contrary to what his mother desired, and his answer showed her her mistake. It may all be as you think, he said slowly; we dont know anything about it, but I do know this inner-ceu- t babe aint to blame nd Ill be blamed if I dont stand for her nd fight the hull world, if need be. I aint fit fer much! the Kingsleys aint like other people nohow, nd if this here kid aint respectable it cant make no great odds to us; we aint sciety folks but all these fine fixens shes got on shows she dont blong to no poor trash round here. Theres a mystery about it that I hope we wont never understand. After this uncommonly long speech. Jack Kingsley put the child in the basket and went out, his mother never saying a wrord. We are inclined to think she was a little alarmed for hfs mental condition, though. When she recovered from the shock a little, she remembered a few other times 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 a 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 and feeding it most tenderly. Then for the first she remembered that this was Thanksgiving! day. Thanksgiving And, sitting and rocking, her mind traveled hack 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 companionship. 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 a little feast almost out of nothing, but, despite the homesickness and loneliness, they had been far happier than in the years since when love of gain had eaten them up, spiritually and mentally. With a 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 tQ him from the door y ay: Ituu mo down a chicken, Ben, If you men folks can get along till one oclock without yer dinners. Aye, aye! said Bon, heartily, but when he came In with the chicken lm looked so inquiring that his mother I plum forgot it was Thankssaid: giving, just as If hey ever observed It either inwardly or outwardly. Ben said nothing, hut shying a glance at the sleeping babe, went out softly, but was whistling gaily when lie sheds. reached the eo-Cant have dinner till the horn blows; reckon thatll be about one oclock. Whats up? asked Tom. The Kingsleys were not humorous, but an idea did occasionally strike Ben, and now be answered, severely: You cant expect mother to take care of a youngnn and havo meals square up to time. was Toms Jiang the youngnn! Say, Jack, you ungracious reply. better go over to Sweets this afterI n noon. If you've any business at Sweets, go yourself; I havent any. Even Mr. Kingsley, who was not at all observing, opened his eyes when he entered the ldg kitchen, from which most savory odors had already greeted him. Never had the old room looked so inviting before, and no wonder! A toothsome feast on the table spread with the white cloth and best dishes only used for company and a baby form in the old high chair so long relegated to the garret. He smiled and laid his rough hand on the little head covered with golden red curls. Whoop-ee- ! said Tom, looking apSo all this comes about. provingly of having a girl in the family! Jack glanced at his mother and then did what no Kingsley was ever known to do before without being asked filled the water pails. Ben looked down at himself; then there was another departure. He put on a clean wamus and washed and combed with unusual care. Every one had a smile or a 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 a place beside bis own. He meant to take care of her, evidently. And so the new life at the Kingsleys began. Not all in a day did the changes come, but the And a little truth of the words: child shall lead them, was never more thoroughly verified than in this instance. By another Thanksgiving time a royal feast was spread and thj minister and his family invited to partake. The house was brightened; each member of the family dressed, talked and acted more like other people; Jack Quietly Lifted the High Chair to a Place Ueside His Own. 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. Farm, Field and Fireside. Ferley Hulie Jinx! going to take Thanksgiving day off? Jinx Yes. Going to devote it to athletics. Perley Good. What kind. Golf or foot ball? Jinx Neither. Im going to carve a turkey I raised myself for ten people. Theres exercise for you. Harpers is probably the last Thanksgiving Bickerly will celebrate. Griggs Hows that? Briggs Its the day hes going to be married on Brooklyn Eagle. Briggs This |