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Show I THKNKSCIVIN'C H -KTt the Old Homestehd, B (0o rrlilt, MM, anl all tlilitl nrrl, by oeoffrtr vvniWon (tulslliis ) H "Next Thursday will be Thanksi.lv. B iig," said Mrs. kattah Whitcomb one B November morning, as ilic cams hurry 2 ng In from the kitchen, where the had HHt .airled to personally tupertntend the H falshlng touches of the mornlnj meal, H ind took her seat at the head of the B break-fail table, around which her bus- H band and ten children were already H grouped ' Only a week to prepare for H It and nothln' done vet." 1 Her utterance ol the word "Thanks-Living "Thanks-Living ' brought a look of eager expectancy expect-ancy Into the face of every Whitcomb H present from the 90 year old ton Kubcn B to little Kuth, the IS months old baby of H the household, who, as though she liad B the clearest possible notion of the slg- nlficance of the occasion and the host of good things Indissohiblv associated ulth It, laughed and crowed and clap. ped her tiny hands as she sat on the lip Hi of her sister Hope. Tint sister was a rare tjpo of New Hi Piigland beauty. I he eldest of the latge Whitcomb family, she hid been ' passing fair" at 16 but now, at 33, th0 HI dominant radiance of early jouth was Hi crowned by a pensive sadness that made C t still more bciutiful. Ilka nnny mother New England girl, Hope Whit omb'sllfe had known the romince of sailor lover a fine manly fellow some HK 'even jearslier senior, to whom she It it been betrothed at 17, and whose ship hud been lost with all on lio-ird three months before the rinnksghiug (li) HHb (et for their wedding. lint nutwithstaiuhng that inelanchol BbB issochtlon, llunksgulng wn always 1 BMJ iojous occasion in the household of losepb Whitcomb, an industrious and prosperous NVw bnglind firmer, resUl- Bal ing wherever the reidcr chooses to BMM Ipcitc him utthln the great rrlgon Ixiun ded by the shores ol the Connecticut river, the Cnt.cn .Moiiut-ilns, Mount E Hone, mid Moosehead Lake. 'Well now, mother, " said Mr Whitcomb, in response to his wilt, i boservatlun ' I should think awirk wis "!"c enough to get up a Thanksgiving dinner and a Thanksgiving supper good enough fur King Ctorgt. himself 'So 'twould be' nnswered Mrs Whitcomb, "if uehad an thing in the house to get it with, hut we ham t a bit of Hour, nor no inett ft r mince pies ' ".Sever you mind mother," responded Mr Whitcomb, well hive a Thinks giving ft for the Governor in spite of all that 1 ast Saturday I put into n big m good a bushel of wheat as ever was (.round Kuben cm take a horso und K carry It to the mill this mornln' and jau'll have .prime Hour in a brace of BB shakes e've got plenty of butter anil J laid, and Ruben can orders our raisins, f splcta ami slch at Crlflnh s storr on his MB wny home (torn mill. I Ider llecjum's goia' to kirt a beef critter this murnin' an' 1 ve spoke for a quitter. I calkcr-htei calkcr-htei hundredweight of beef will make all the mince pies you II want. We've got lots of milk ami five cart loads of yellow punklns In the ham for ruinkin pics, and 1 II kill as many turkejs and chickens as you think necessar) . Now, go ahead and make as much Thanks, giving as ou please and as fast as possible," 'I he old Whitcomb hontcstiad was nn unusuilty busy household from that hour, and when the all Important day arrived thre had been prepared such a profusion of food as seemctl lmHssib!c of consumption In any one week much less any one day by any slnglo Tamil), even though it numbered, including father, mother, children and hired help, some sixteen persons Nor was it intended in-tended tint It shoaid be consumed by so comparatively small n number. The Whltcombs nail Invited an extensive company of their neighbors to eit 11 Thanksgiving dinner with them and had also mule arrangements for giving a I hanksgrving supper md frolic to a still hrgcr company of young folks in the evcplng. In all the prcpiratlons Hope, the eldest thughtcr and mainstay of the household, hatl borne a prominent part, though she felt tint they could bring little of joy to her. During the ehjit long years that hid pissed since the sin lo v of her great sorrow had fallen upon her life she had been true to the j memory (f her first and only love, though she had had many suitors of whom the claims of more than one hid been strongl) uracil by both her pirents Hut she wis one of those who cm love but once, and to whom nnrrlige with nil) save tlv.ii first and only love seems J sienkge Rebellious thoughts often rose hi her hem, 'Whit have I to be tlnnkfulorr" shu would ask herself hi anguish antl bitterness of spirit it the approach of each recurring Tlnnkrglv-1 Tlnnkrglv-1 lug day that should lino In en an an-I an-I mversary of her wedding, ' Shall I ,ive thanks to God for having deprived me ol ill I held most dear? Can He expect me to be thankful or to believe In Ills hive and mercy? ' Hut the stronr faith implanted In her by many preceding gener itlons of luritan ancestors would 10011 triumph over such doubts and reconfirm her Lelief in the goodness and wisdom of God, and she would once more resume the burden of life saying einl), It might have been, but Thy will be rone " "Now, Kubln, who's comin' here to nbjit? Whom hive )ou invited)' ished Patirnce' the second diuejitcr of the I household a falr-lnlred girl of 18 It I was drawing low trd the evening of the thanksgiving day nnd many of the eltlerl) people, who Ind gathered about the hospittblc board of the Whitcoinb'i at dinner, had retired to their homes "Oh there's a lutein 'em. I've nsked pretty much all the young folks about here." "Have )ou asked I'sther Stratton? ' "its, and what's more interesiln' to you her brother Dave." "Dive does'm Interest me a bit," re- piled his sister, coloring violently as she turned to leave the room. 'Wall a minute, bis. I heard todav that he's uiltln'on faussn Une), hut they'll Ie here to-night nnd jon can judge for yourself." I wont believe It" exclaimed Patience "Is her brother Hill coinln," "es, but I'll vvagernhlg red pippin that she II come with Dive Stratton.'' The day had been I Ittcrly cold and the mercury fell still lower as night drew on. Hut the Whitcomb boss kept the large fireplace In the long dining room the "fore room" nnd the "endroom," well piled uii with good sired logs, and the blaring tires sent witmth anil light to every corner ol those apartments. And now the )oung folks began to arrive. Rosy checked girlt In shiwls cloaks and tlppits, stout uovs in round Jackets, and stouter bovs In sack and tailed coats Mr, and Mrs. Whitcomb sit in the fore room with some of the middle aged members of their dinner parly, who had been Invited to remain to supper, while the oung folks were gathered Into the end room walling till the table should be read), In the long dining room "Here's Dave Stratton's bells," said ltuben as a merry tinkle was heard coming nearer, and n few moments later Dive Stratton, his sister 1 sther, Susin Olney and two strange gentlemen were ushered In One of the strangers w it a young man of some aj seirs He was of medium height and light build and his countenance counte-nance w is sluguhrly frank and winning 1 he other, was a tall, stout, old man, and thmuh the snows of nnny winters had heavily bowed his form, his fice was remarkably smooth antl unw rlnklctl and his features singular) bold and well defined fur one of lilt jeirs. His long white hair fell nearly to his shoulders, and beneath his bush), gray brows peered out lircc, dark eyes of piercing brightness His dress wis ver) odd and strange, being many, many venrs behind the fashion of the time He mcrel) made a comprehensive bow to the com-' pmy In general as he entered and selecting the cosiest corner near the fireplace, fire-place, he placed therein a e,rcat club -almost a log which he carried and touching touch-ing some secret spring contained within it metamorphosed it into a quaint oil en chair, upon which he sit down Taking from hi pocket n snnll book ha began to tei I It so intently as to seem oblivious oblivi-ous 1 ( all around him 'I don't know what to mike of that old thip," said Dive .Stratton anxious to a count fur the I rest uce and strange conduct of the old gentleman, before in trodue ng the v oting one, that's ust the wit) we found him sittin it the loss roads on our way here Don't bu nfraitl of hurtln his f elms hy lilitin' ibvut hh 1, forties ju-tt as deaf as a post, lie tvisholilln' up his hook Juntas ynu see him now, pretendin' to be readin by the moonlight, though 1 know he couldn t see a hue He hilled ma and sild he'd been set down there by the Cranlham cinch, hut sjinebod) he'd expected lo meet him hidn t come, an' he thought twain no use to wait for 'em nn longer Said he w is afcerd he'd fieere In deith out there, an' could he hire a bed and place for the night? We wis too fir from home to turn bick, nn' as I couldn't let the poor critter freeze, why there wmt nothln' fur It hut to tike him into the sleigh mi letch him here " I verylwdy hiving declired lint Due bait done just rUhl, he Introduced the )ouiigcst stringer as 1 .ekiel Perkins, who hid been engii,ed to keep the ills Irict school, which was to open bit the, ' morrow, ' He came to board at our house this af'ernoon," sa tt Due, aside to Kuben, ' so 1 had to bring him with us " "That's jnst right, " sild Kuben, ' 1 am glad ou did,1' though at the same lime he fetretl the schoolmaster's presence would spoil the pleasure of the evening At the mention of Mr Perkins profession, pro-fession, the boys and girls had ceased their chiller and merriment, and hatl assumed face of doleful length nnd seriousness Suppressed muimurs of dlscontert might have been heard on cxeryhand. All were agreed that Dive Strati in ought to a knowett better than bring the schoolmaster there ' to spoil all the fun " I itlence presently whispered whis-pered to her brother to take Mr. Perkins into the fore room and Introduce him lo lather nnd mother anil the rest of Hie old folks ' An' if I w ere you I reckon 1 dleue him there," shendtled. Kuben w is not slow to act on this suggestion, nnd thu pedi,ogiie had nu sooner left the room than Joyous merriment B(,aln reigned among the company. buppcrwas now innounccd and the fore room and the end room poured forth their occupints into the long din ing room, where it was found that there was not sufheient accommodation for all the guests Consequent!) It wastlecldett that the elderly people, the schoolmaster and the )oungest of the voimg folks should sit at the first table beeause the older young folks pielerrcd lo wall and I cit hy themselves There vias 0110 exception, however, for Susan Olney, when she saw the schoolmaster placet! near the head of thu festive board, had seited herself through hutlvcrtince perhaps Immediately beside hint. On observing this, the face ol Davebtntton, Miss Susan's escort, assumed n vt ry queer expression nnd a very high degree of color, which vou may rest assured w ere not unnoticed by Miss I atience 1 W hltcomb. When ample- Justice had been done to I the great lours of beef, roasted turkejs, 1 geese and chickens, mince, apple, cus tird ami pumpkin pics which comprised the supper the elderly people relumed to the fore room, whose hearth was plentifully adorned with mugs nnd pitchers of cider mil great bow Islieipul high with mellow apples red, jtllnw and green while the young folks quickly cleirctl the (lining mom of the table, dishes anil chnlr, and piipired for an evening of .antes. Whit was the dismay of all when 1 reklcl Perkins, the. schoolmaster, walked in from the fore room, nnd how quickly theihsnta) chinv.cd to delimit I when he Mapped ltuben Whitcomb I heirlllyon the hick und exel timed In a cheery vuicf ' W'ell, old fellow, ulnt's thepr i.nmmefo to night? Wind nun's hull forfeits or whit? Don't lit s waste the time " This cheerful suggestion was quickly acted upon, ind In all the sport that followed, the schoolmaster proved himself him-self as much of a bo) as any one present The unknown bid gentleman hail found his wa) from the end room and hid es tahllshetl himself as before on his quaint oiken chair by the fireside Kusled I with his readtrg hit seemed to notice I nothing of whif wis golnt on, and no one pud the slightest attention to him llrst the) had i gome of forfeits, ami then one of blind man's buft" In the latter Dave Strilton could nt help noticing notic-ing that Susan (line) alwii)H blundered Into the sime corner tilth the schoolmaster. school-master. I sen when she u is blindfolded she ilwoys knew where the at hoolmistcr was and would catili nobody t Ise If I )ou had brushed against her, at many I of them did on purpose, she would have made feint of Jelnnr )oii that would have insulted )our intelligence and would Instantly have made olT In the direction of the schoolmaster, Mr Per kins must have thought it was not filr, and doubtless told her so when the) were so confidential together behind the window curt ilus. Many limes that night did Dive Stratton Strat-ton wbh Hut he had not brouLht Susan Olney ind tint Patience Whitcomb might forget that he had done so 1 he noise and I tughter of blind man's btilf drew the elderly peopte to look on, and at list Mrs Whitcomb could withstand with-stand the allurements of the gsme no longer. Slipping on her shoes she lolned In and ran about more lightly uud quickly than any of the girls Her ex ample was soon followed by the other old folks, who seemed to enjoy the spott immense)) The fun was at Its height when suddenly, sud-denly, above all this mirth ami noise, theiu r ing out a loud shriek a crv so shrill that It must hive been tittered by a woman, and yet so wild and piercing tint none could tell if it were an expression expres-sion of terror, joy or soirow. I ver) member of the romp my becime silent ind motionless as sudden!) is if a thunderbolt had descended upon one and all Theyglinccd toward the fireside fire-side whence the shilek hatl seemed to come, antl there on the hearth a strange sight met their care The unknown stranger old no longer, but )oungntid htudsomc, with brown, curling hair In stead of tqe vt hlte locks w hich had hung about his shoulders was clisplng the fainting form of Hope Whitcomb, and covering her Unconscious fice with kisses "Tarnel heavens' Its Asa Gibson come hick from the gravul' shouted old Whitcomb when he hid recovered his voice, of which surprise had temporally tem-porally deprived bin it w is, Indeed I lope's sailor lov er Wlnl it io)ous time ensued' How the) all htiighetl ind cried together for o)' Fvervbody present hid known and toveJ Ihn gallant young sailor, whom ill Ind mounted as dead for light long ) ears How they all crow ded aliout him to shake his hand' It's n mercy lint hi their eigerness tliev did ut slnl e It off With Hope restored to consciousness, sitting hy his side and holding his hand blushing!), silently happj, and her glorious beauty more radlent thau eier Asa toltl ihem all his stoty, A long continued and terrible storm hid wrecked wreck-ed his vessel alter the ciptaln had lost Ids reckoning and had no knowledge of where they were I Inning 011a spir he was picked up after a period of tern hie suffering by a boat which he Ind at lirst thought manned by cannibals. 1 hey proved t,o be Inhabitants of one of the Marshall group of Islands near the equator. There he was kindly cared fdr and wis placed In attendance upon the savage king, I Ive wear) vears passed by, and then 1 vessel bound for Australia touched at the Island fur fresh w iter. Hu told Ins storv to the Captiln, with whom he nude the v ov agn to Sydue) . Thence lie drifted to the 'gold diggings,' where after a series of adventures ami financial upsand downs that would furnish Incl dents enough for a hundred novels, hc secured n claim thit proved 11 rich one iidths he hnall) sold for whit was a lar(,e for une In those dis. Then hc f, , 1 'or his uld home and Hope W lutromb I earing that she must hate given him up for dead long Kforc the expiration of his five )era upon the Island where sending i tetter was an inipossibltlt), ho had resolved not to distress her with the know ledge that lie still survived in the event of her having forgotten him and tnirrled another He had thtrclore re fr lined from writing md hail revisited his ohl homo md Ills sweetheart disguised dis-guised as an old titan, ' So, hero I am nt last dear Hope," lie concluded 'bile and heirt) md rich besides, but Hope, I would rather have come back crippled for life md penniless too, I would rather hive lost my arms a)e, would rather have lost lit) head thin to hivccome back to hud yon dcid or anything but what 1 hive found )ou Thank Ood for all his goodness'" And llsti-ntngto all thlj, Hope knew tint she was his, that she mlr-ht love now in happiness as she had so long loved In sorrow; that God is good, and that byono moment of such' complete and perfect happiness He reveals to his children the dawning of that joy which cometh In the morning and recompenses them for that weeping which has endured en-dured throughout the long night It was late, or ruber early, when the company deputed, alter hiving lecn bidden back to a wedding feist on that night week Hcfore lenving, Dave Stratton Strat-ton whispered to P itlence that he should have to take Susin Olne) honu.hut it w is the list lime lie would ever hike her an) tv hero, |
