6 f/A HE fruits are stored, the fields are bare, The ground is hard, the skies are gray; 112 November's chill Is in the air; To-morrow is Thanksgiving day. The farmhouse stands in sheltered nook, Its walls are filled with warmth and cheer; Its fires shine out with friendly look To welcome all who enter here. Full forty years have come and gone Since first this hearthstone's ruddy glow, Fresh kindled, flung its light upon Thanksgiving guests of long ago. Long was the list of squires and dames; From year to year how short it grew! Read out the old, familiar names They heard here when this house was new. Grandmother?—aye, she went the first; Grandfather?—by her side he rests; The shade and sunlight, interspersed. Have fallen long above their breasts. Our aunts and uncles?—sundered wide, Their graves lie east, their graves lie west; As veteran soldiers scarred and tried. They fought their light, they earned their rest. Our father?—dear and grn'le heart! A nature sweet, beloved by all; How early turned his steps apart To pass from human ken and call! Our mother?—brisk and kindly soul! How brave she bore fate's every frown, Nor rested till sh<» reached the goal Where all must lay their burdens down! Our brother?—toward the setting sun, from us remote, his home is made. And many a year its course has run Since here his boyish sports were played. Put by the book! My heart is sore. The night winds up the chimney flee. The fires within gleam as before, But none are here save you and me! Hut, sister, you and I again Will heap the hearth and spread theboard And serve our kindred, now as then, With all that home and hearts afford. The scattered remnants of our line, We'll summon 'neath this roof once more, And pledge, in rare affection's wine, The memory of those days of yore. God bless them all—the fond and true! God keep them all—both here and there, Until the Old becomes the New, Forever, in His Mansions Fair! —Marion Hicks Harmon, in Youth's Com panion. c, T°^ kmbkr had set in as usual, with u '' • l - rril >' ' skil ' >1 iurt you, bu* I can't have you: - parents here." He never forgot the expression of the lovely eyes. "Why. you're not ashamed of them. Geo—.»>'?" she cried, a hot flush stain CAMERON COUNTY PRESS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1898. ing the purity of her cheek, and he did. not answer. So in the Tracys' little home, made so desolate by Elizabeth's flitting, the invitationnevercame. Sixmontlisafter Elizabeth'*} departure, old Ephraim Tracy came slowly home. It was evening, and already the first breath of spring could be detected in the soft air. He sat heavily down upon the little back porch looking more bowed than ever and his faded eyes were infinitely weary. "Lizzie don't say nothin' about our visit, mother," lie began. Mrs. Tracy was busy gettirg sup per, but she came out and sat Gown by him, taking his hand tenderly between her own. "Don't you see through it, Eph raim?" said she, gently, avoiding the wistfulness of the troubled eyes. "We ain't Geoffrey Dillingham's kind of folks, and Elizabeth must do as he tells her, of course. I knew just how it would be; the child dassen't write, father." A mist gathered in the old man's eyes, and he looked away to where the purple hiils kissed the western sun. "The child dassen't write." And he was her father; yes, old. obscure, worthless as he was, she was his child, and Dillingham hid taken her from him He did not eat any sup per that night, and after a time crept quietly off to bed. Next to hisfather, poor Jud mourned after Elizabeth most, refusing to be comforted. Even the most dazzling bits of green and blue glass, brought to him by his affectionate little play mates, failed to please him, and for many weeks the play-house was de serted. The little fellow would rove in and out, a patient sorrow written in the childish eyes. "A DISPATCH HAS COME FROM DEXTER." "Where's Lizzie, mother?" he would ask."l believe she's dead." And his mother, hastily wiping her eye with a corner of her apron, would always answer; "Dead —yes, she is to us, Juddie." And Jud would sigh, and the sun shining on the bits of broken glass failed to comfort him. It had been seven years now since Elizabeth's wedding day. Only rarely did she visit home, and even then the visits were not satisfactory. Elizabeth knew, and they knew. Old Ephraim Tracy never went to the store when Lizzie came home; he would sit in his arm-chair and watch his beautiful daughter with adoring eyes. Once he came up and took the slender white hand, sparkling with rings, into his old knotted ones. "Only <0 think of a Tracy having rings like that." he said, exultantly. But Elizabeth suddenly burst into tears. "I'd give them all, father, if only you and mother could be with me," she said. The old man only pooh-poohed at this, but it was noticed that he disap peared quickly, and some minutes aft erwards they found him crying softly in the woodshed. Yet he never seemed to harbor any ill-will toward his son in-law, but was proud of him in his quie', unobtrusive way. "I would like to see Lizzie's house," he sr.id one day, looking across the same purple hills. "But mebbe it's all for the best; it's all for the best." Geoffrey Dillingham, with all his faults, was not stingy, and the cer tain, generous checks that came from his hand to the Tracy family began to have their effect. The term of shiftlessness that had been applied to Ephraim for so many years gradually lifted, and a certain air c.f prosperity began to pervade ihe hitherto bare little dwelling. But the cup had its bitter drop, you may be s ire, for the Tracys never forgot that the giver of it all despised them in his heart, and they would gladly have returned to the pinch of poverty again, could they but have had their Lizzie back. So the years rolled by, bending o!i Ephraim Tracy's back more and more, silvering tlu hair of Elizabeth's moth er and deepening the childishness of Jud's wistful eyes. "Seems like Ephraim's stories ain't nigh so funny as they used to be," said Elihu Stafford with a shake of his gray head. "Guess he niopes after that gal of liis'n; never's seen the inside of her house yit. The whole family feel it pretty much, I guess." "Where does Lizzie live, mother?" asked Judson one day. "Can't T go there? I w«nt to see hsr." But his mot hrr had atisworM him so sharply, Jud had pone away to his lit tie room and cried. No one ever spoke sharply to Judson. And Elizabeth mourned, too. Af fectionate, dutiful and loving'as she was, the sundering of old ties was deeply painful. She wanted her moth er; her dear old,patient father; simple Jud with his pure, child's soul; she wanted them all, even Jim and An drew. Geoffrey Dillingham read his wife's heart well, marked the sadness of the sweet face, but he kept silent. November with its short days passed rapidly away, until it lacked but two weeks till Thanksgiving. Ephraim Tracy came home one night bearing a live turkey. "For the land's sake, father," cried his wife, as she came out to investigate the muffled gobble, "what did you get a live one for?" "This is for Lizzie, mother," replied the old man."l got it early so's to fat ten it myself for Thanksgiving. She can Luy plenty of 'em, but she'll relish the one father sends her most." Mrs. Tracy brushed away a sudden tear. "So she would, father," she an swered, softly. So the turkey was penned securely in the yard and fed so much by watch ful Jud that it threatened to burst before the eventful day arrived. Elizabeth, in her home, seemed to grow paler and slighter these short November days. Her husband, coming homo one night, found her shivering over the library fire. "What is it, Elizabeth?" he asked, anxiously. "I don't know," answered his wife, her teeth chattering, "only I'm so cold, Geoffrey." So cold. He went up to her and pushed back the lovely hair from the white forehead. "You'd better go upstairs, Lizzie," he said, tenderly. They put her to bed shortly after that, but before morning' sharp pains set in and a doctor was hurriedly sent for. As the fever rose she grew light headed and babbled on about father, Jud, and Andy, too. She thought she was at home again, living again her simple, humble life. "What is it, doctor?" her husband whispered, a great fear tugging at his heart. "Inflammation of the lungs," the doctor had answered briefly. So. in tlia : luxurious room, the strug ble began, the life and death angel closing in combat. Geoffrey Dilling ham in the terribly trying days that followed, bending over that slight, be loved form, realized for the first time what his sin had been; the misery he must have caused his wife, the pride that had blinded him to all parental claims. With old Martin Chuzzlevvit, he could but exclaim: "Self —self— self." And now she would die and leave him. lie walked to the window and looked acrofs the bare and frozen fields. "And they have loved her, too," he murmured. "Oh. Elizabeth, my wife, only live, and I will make it up a thou sand times." He would send for them now, he whispered. As if in answer to his thought, the kindly physician raised his eyes. "Better telegraph for her parents," he said. "She will reach the crisis be fore twenty-four hours, and she may not pass it." Ephraim Tracy was in the backyard divesting his plump turkey of feathers when the telegram came. Jud stood gathering up the feathers for a duster. "Ain't it fat, Juddie?" said the old man gleefully, "and won't our Lizr.ie lik • it?" Before Jud could frame an answer, Mrs. Tracy came out and held up the yellow sheet. "Father, father," she cried, trem bling! j*, "a dispatch has come from Dexter, and Elizabeth is dangerously sick." Jim and Andrew went too. "If Geoffrey Dillingham thinks I'm goinp to stay pway. he's mistaken," said Jim. with a big lump in his throat. "She s my sister and I've a right to see her." "And so have I," evied Andrew, brushing his shirt sleeve across his tear-filled eyes. They reached Dexter that night, but she did not know them. .7'.id alone was .-hut out. and wandered at his own sweet wi ' 1 up and dov.-n tV^ rooms that seemed, like fairy-"and to him. All that night Jim and Andrew walked restlessly about, but Ephraim Tracy sat, a pathetic, bowed figure, by his daughter's bed. His son-in-law had asked him to his house at last, but alas—for this. But it was the father'* hand that administered the needed nourishment, the father's hand that smoothed the damp and curling hair, the father's hand that held the pale and wasted one, and Geoffrey Dilling ham, as lie watched too. for the first time in his life saw, in the despised old man. something to revere. Night passed, and it was the day before Thanksgiving. The doctor came, and with his practiced eye detected a change. He looked across to wher«* Elizabeth's husband stood, gray and haggard, awaiting his verdict. "Dillingham," said he, gently, "to morrow will be Thanksgiving day. Thank God for your mercies, for your wife will live." A low sobbing broke in upon them. It was old Ephraim Tracy, down upon his knees, his face hidden in the cov erlet. Though the tears were raining down his own face, Geoffrey Dilling ham went over to the old man and lift ed him as he would a rhild. "Come, father," he whispered, brokenly, "come." The afternoon of Thanksgiving day Elizabeth lay on her pillows exhaust ed, worn, but at peace with all the world. "And ycu're all here," sbe whis pered happily "Father, mother, An drew, Jim and dear old Jud. Oh, I've been so sick, bu« this repays me for it. all." She smiled at them, her old, sweet smile, and then she murmured: "Kiss me, all, of you, for I am so—• ha ppy." They kissed her, as she asked, with full and thankful hearts, and quietly went away. Jud's turn came last. The great, honest fellow stood over her, his childish face alight with a wonderful joy. "You are to get well, Lizzie," he whispered, rapturously; "and oh, I say, Liz, ain't it all grand?" His sister raised her feeble hand and laid It against the loyal cheek. "Grand—aye, that it is, Juddie," she echoed, dreamily. The room was quiet now, with only her husband beside her. Elizabeth turned her eloquent eyes to his. Those eyes, that he had feared miirht never know him more this side of the gates of pearl. "You've been good to me in every thing but one, Geoffrey; you won't re fuse me now?" she said. He understood, for he bent over her suddenly, and for an instant his cheek lay against her own. "My wife, my wife," he cried, with solemn emphasis, "your life shall be .1 different one, please God. from tliii day forward—and theirs, too," he add ed, reverently. They hunted the place over for old Ephraim Tracy a few minutes after wards, but it was his wife who found him, back of the big barn, sitting on a bench. The gray head was bowed between the wrinkled hands, and he was weeping unrestrainedly. She went up to him and touched his arm. "Come, father," she said, gectly. The old man lifted his head, striving in vain tc still the trembling cf his quivering lips. "I'm crvin'. Mandy." he answered, brokenly, "and I can't help it. Only to thSriK; it'sThanksgivingday.Lizzie'* gettin' well, and—lie—called me —fa- ther —Mandy." Ilis wife nodded with tear-wet, s-mil ing eyes, and hand in hand they turned and went into Elizabeth's house. —Su- s.-.tt Hubbard Martin, in Ladies' World, New York. A THOUGHTLESS lIEMAMK. "How often,"said Miss Miami Brown, "hit do happen dat er thoughtless re mark'll spile de plaisure ob er occa sion!" '"Yassendeed," replied Krastus l'inkley. "One o' de gues'es at ouah own table stopped pap right in de middle o' de kyahvir,' ter ax 'im whah he got de turkey."—Troy (N.Y.)Times. I.ct All Give Tin. 11 ks. Sing sweet thy sweet Thanksgiving, O, Soul! and ring, ye bells, Till the world shall catch the chorus and the anthem heavenward swells! For His love and for His mercy—for His cross and chastening nrj, For Ills tender benediction*. Jet the whole world thank its Goii* —Atlanta Constitution. Society Turkey. Billings—Ah! Society turkey to-day, eh ? Mrs. Hashcroft—WUy. v hat do you mean, Mr. Billings? "The dressing is the best part of it."—lndianapolis Journal. Why IVot t Let us each and all buy two Thanks giving dinners —thu sec nd one for the stricken family that does not now sec where that dinner is coming from. —N. Y. liecorder. Vain Hejjrci*. Tommy—l wish I hadn't eaten sn much turkey. Mother—Why? Do you feel sick? "No; but I'd ljke to eat soma 3?ore." —N. Y. Truth. SSOO Reward Tha above Reward will be paid for ie-. that will lead to tho arrest and conviction of the party or parties who placed iron and ilnbe on the track of th« Emporium k Rich Valley JR. R., nea* lie east line of Franklin Howler's farm, «a the evening of Noy. 21«t, 1891. II INKY AIICHIJ, 88-tf. l'rct\de%\ t. PINE LIQUOR STORE EMPORIUM, PA. THE undersigned hu opened a flraN olaes Liquor store, and invites tfee trade or Hotele, Rcatanrarita, 4fca We shall carry none bat the beat Jimmt* loan and Imported WHISKIES, BRANDIES. GINS AND WINES, BOTTLED ALE, CHAMPAGNE, Eta. Cboloe line of Bottled Goods. F addition to my large line of liquors I emnrjr coaatastly la stock a f\iil Mm© of CIGARS AND TOBACCO. SVPool »o4 Billiard loom in aamo bnHdlag.~Wi C*LL AKD SEE MI. A. A. MCDONALD, PROPRIETOR. EMPORIUM. PA. & F. X. BLUMLE, V « EMPORIUM, l"i. Bottler of and Uulcr to B 4 BEER, W & WINES, j? & WHISKIES, 3; ■Q? And Liquors of AH Klnda. ft The beet of goods always JJS w carried in stook and every- SR *Tj thing warranted aa represent- Ijf 'P, Especial Attention Paid te W V7 rioii Orders. $ EMPORIUM, PA. W 112 60 TO S U. Jk.l^ifisler^j 1 Broad Street, Emporium, Pa., Where you can get anything you want ia ( \ the line of X s Groceries, / 1 Provisions, ? P FLOUR, SALT MEATS, > I SMOKED MEATS, \ J CANNED GOODS, ETC., X J Trn, (offfts, Fruits. ConfettioEery, ) 5 Tobawo and (ig&ra. v \ Good* Delljcred Free any 1 112 Place in 'l ow 11. S d CILL iSB SEE BE iXD GET PRICES. \ C S£iß P. I K. DEPOT \ RHPORItn Bottling Works, JOHN MCDONALD, Proprietor. Near P. it E. Depot, Emporium, Pa. ZMMji Bottler and Shipper of Rochester Lager Beer, BEST BIUJM OF ETFOKT. The Msnufkcturer of Bofl Drinks and Dealer in Choice Wineaand Pure Liquors. — We keep none bat the very beet Beer and are prepared to fill Orders on ihort notice. Private families served ialljr If desired. JOETN MoDONALD. C«»e«t*, «nd "1 r.-. ir-Mirt, < ent busiaess conducted for moderate Fees. < 1 I OUR orricc is OPPOSITE U. 8. PATENT orrtCE 1 j i and we can secure patent in leas time than tuo*c ( , 1 remote from Washington. # ]» Send model, drawing or photo., with deserip-<[ ('tion. We advise, if patrntable or not, free of] ( 1 1charge. Our fee not due till patent ia secured. <> ], & PAMPHLET, How to Obtain Patents," withi ] < oost of same in'the U. S. and foreign countries; \ sent free. Address, < \ iO.A.SHOW&CO .5 j! DM. r«riNT Orncr. W*amr*GTON^n^*^S .8* O*H CHIC ACQ HE\N YORKom:»V L M. KELLCGQ HEWSPmB CO.