North Carolina Newspapers

12m CI i We thank Thee, O Father, for all thai Is bright The gleam of the day, and the ctara of tha eight; The flow en of our youth and tha fruits of cur prima, And blessings that march down tha pathway of tima. We thank Thee, O Father, for nil that is dear Tha sob of tha tempest, tha flow of tha tear: For never in blindness, and never in vain, The mercy permitted a Borrow or pain. We thank Thee, O Father, for eong and for feast Tha harvest that glowed and the wealth that increased: For never a blessing encompassed earth's child But Thou in Thy mercy looked downward and smiled. We thank Thee, O Father of All, for Thy power Of aiding each other in iif e's darkest hour; The generous heart and the bountiful hand, -And all the soul help that sad souls understand. We thank Thee, O Father, for days yet to be For hopes that our future will call ua to Thee That all our Ecernity form, through Thy love, The Tnanksgiving Day in the mansions above. Will Carltton. WRITTEN FOR THE PROGRESSIVE FARMER. Farmer Patterson's Thanksgiving. Bt WALTER L. WOMBLE, Author of "Love in the Mists " "AU But Lo$t" "The Black Bracelet." "A Harvest of Wild Oats " Etc., tc ELL, wife, the place is nnld. Iff ell nvfir with. and where we shall turn for shelter now, only God knows." These words were ut tered by Farmer Patter son as he entered the clean, neat kitch en, on Thanksgiving afternoon, where his wife was busied in the preparation of the evening meal. "Yes, the place's clean gone," con tinued the farmer, sinking into a chair, with hopaless despair written upon his honest, weather beaten countenance "sold to a strangV fer $750, a leittle more'n the mortgage did ketch his name Thomas somebody and we kin expect er notice at most any moment to git out. And where air we ter go that's what I don't know. I'd bin lookin erbout long fore now fer sum place or nother, but I wur konfident the Squire's let the mortgage run a while longer, but he didnt." Farmer Patterson bowed his head and groaned. What'r we ter do witeV The good woman first turned the hoe cake on the gridiron, set the ccflee to one side to settle, then came over to where the grief stricken man sat. 8he placed her hand upon his bowed head and gently smoothed back the silvered locks. "Don't take on so, Andrew; God will provide for ua. You kin depend on that. Be that locks after the dumb creatures and the fowls of the air, will surely not forsake them who have served him faithfully to the best of their ability for nigh on to forty yea? No, He'll not see us turned out into the road to beg our bread in our old age. Cheer up, Andrew. Depend on it; He'll make some provisions for ua. We've done our duty the best we known how. I've tried to be a faithful wife to you, and you've been a good husband to me. We've given what we could to the cause of God, and aint never yet turned a beggar from our door unfed or unsheltered. We've fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and sheltered them that had no home. Yes, Andrew, we've done the best we know'd how, and God has promised to help and protect them that love and serve Him. Let us knell down here and ask His help in our time of trouble." And there upon the carpetless, but scrupulously clean board floor knelt this aged couple, whose hair had turned white in the service of love, and with childish simplicity asked the protec tion, bloesing and guidance of their Heavenly Father in this their time of sore distress. Tha farmer concluded his quaint but earnest appeal with tha following words : "And now, our Heavenly Father, we ask Thee to ba with, guide and pro tect our only son, who left us more'n'r year ago fer sum distant land in search ov gold. Had ho stay'd ter horn' as he orter, and had the weath'r not bin so hot and pertract'd, and had it rain'd more'n it did at the right time, and had the corn crap been better on the high lands, and the cotton not suff ar'd frum drouth, and drapp'd er way down to 4 cents had these things not'uv happened we might'r pulFd through. But if it pleases, Thee, our Father, to see fit to take from us our earthly home, we thank Thee that thou hast petvid'd fer us a home above not made vith hands, and which mortgages can Qot lay holt on, and wbair1 there air no drouths, short-craps or low pricor, and where trusts, combines and mo nopolies air totally unknown." WW Supper was soon ready and placed upon the table and the farmer and his wife eat down to their scant meal. "Why wife, what's this fort" asked the farmer, noticing that an extra plato was laid; "you're not 'epectin' anybody, air youf "No, not exactly; but somehow I've been feeling all day jest like sombody was coming." "Nobody but a tramp is likely to drap in, I'll warrant; and if he should and proves to be a hungry one, I'm afear'd hell fare right badly here to night if it is Thanksgiving for we have but little for ourselves, much less an outsider. But we'll divide with him, won't we wife!" "We have always done so, Andrew." The meal was over and the farmer had just moved his chair from the table when there came a loud rapping at the door. "Now, who can that bet" asked tha wife. vuij u aui a ft uvk, ucyou uid farmer; and then, as a sudden thought struck him, his face paled, and in a whisper, he said: "It's that fellow what's bought the place come turn us out." "Oh, my! What'r we to do Andrew!" The farmer was silent. Againg the rapping fell upon the door, this time louder. "That's him that's him sure." And then, in an unsteady voice, he cried : "Come in!" The door opened slowly and a tall, broad shouldered man wearing a long overcoat, with the collar turnd up above his ears, and a wide-brimmed slouch hat pulled down down over his eyes, entered the room. "Does Farmer Patterson live here!' he asked. "He do; I'm hinuT said the farmer, "and who might you be?" "I'm the man that bought this place to-day at the mortgage, and" "I said so just as I 'spect'd and you're come here ter tell us to git out, I 'epect." "No, on the contrary, I have come coma here to make you a present of a clean deed to the place." ' Er Yr don't think I understand you," stammered the farmer. "Read this and I think all will be made plain," said the stranger, hand ing him a folded paper. With trembling hands the farmer unfolded the document and found it to a deed, duly witnessed and signed, transferring the place to himself from Thomas Je Hereon Patterson . "Why this here's frum my son," said the farmer, bewildered and con fused. "Whre'she?" "Right here, replied the stranger, throwing off the long coat, slouch hat and false beard . Here he is fresh from the Klondyke gold fields, where he has been for the past year or more, and is now is now the richest man in this whole section." It is unnecessary to attempt a de scription of the scene that followed; but a half-hour afterwards Thomas Jfff arson Patterson was seated at the extra place at the table, and although the fare was common and not at all bountiful, all agreed that it was the happiest ending of any Thanksgiving Day they had ever spent. A JOKE ON JACOB "Jacob," my mother would exclaim, with solemn emphasis, "never marry a girl who cannot cook. Take one as cruel as Borgia, as bitter of tongue as Xintippe, as infirm of temper as Shakespeare's Catherine, but take one who can cook." This bad been drummed into my head from the day I began to cast sheep's eyes at the girls, and when my maternal parent came to the end of Jife she left it as almost a parting in junction. Is it any wonder, therefore, that I set to wondering whether the divine Lucy Thompkins could fill my mother's ! requirements, and to hoping that cha could! - Ah I but ehe was beautiful t ' i-yca cz cecpesi violet and a com plosion fer all tha lika that rose they call white, hut which baa ever and al ways a flesh cf piak car its delicate petals 1 ' But could cha cook t By various devices I sought to dis cover this. I stayed to dinner at tha smallest provocation. Baa cut the bread. I caw her, and it tasted better for the knowledge. She laid tha cloth she disappeared into the kitchen, where I fancied she was making deli cious doughnuts and desserts, but when I remembered that Bridget and Mrs. Thompkins were also engaged therein I hesitated and doubted. - "Can you cook, Miss Thompson!" I asked, as she came in with a plate of pickles. She burst out laughing. "What a question I Can I cook 1 What do you think of that, papa!" she cried, turn ing to the old man who sat rocking himself backward and forward and fanning himself with his hat. "Ain't that a queer question t" And the old man evidently thought it was, for he roared as if I had thrown him down and was tickling him into convulsions, now and then gasping, "Can she cook 1 Oa 1" I got as red as a lobster, but held my sides and pretended to be nearly dead with laughing myself. x But one day there came an opportu mtv. Thomson and nis wire were called over to Blinksville by the dan gerous illness of their eldest son. They had to take Bridget along for a nurse. It left nobody at home but Lucy and her grandmother, who was confined to an easy chair with rheumatism. "I've got her now," I said to myself. "I'll go over to supper and that'll settle the question." I rode over about three o'clock. Lucy was weeding a flower bed and I helped her. I kept hinting 'round about supper, but she didn't take. "She can't cook for shucks," I men tally said, "or she'd tell me to stay. But I'll put her to the test." So I pulled out my watch, and I say : "Well, Lucy, I guess I'll have to be going! I'm afraid I'll miss my supper now before I can get home." "I'd ask you to stay here," she said, "but really we haven't anything in the house fit to eat." "Oh, I don't mind," I exclaimed, "anything will do" but I stopped, for she interrupted me by telling me to come next evening, and before I could say any more she had started me off. telling me to be on hand at Ave o'clock sharp, so as not to let the supper get cold. As I was going up the walk the fol lowing day, dressed in my best, and resolved to propose that evening if the cooking was even passable, I saw 8usan 8 aff Jrd come out the back door and go scudding down the path. She was a girl my mother had often recommen dedthe best cook in the neighbor hood, but homelier than the lawal lows: "Hello, Susan!" I exclaimed; "where are you going!" "Home 1" she said. "I justuropped in for a vist, but I find Lucy too busy. getting ready for company for me to stay." "The dear girl!" I said to myself, re f erring to Lucy, "She's in that kitchen just wading into cookery," and I flat tered myself that the thing was about settled. Well, the supper was "out of sight," as the boys say. I will not attempt to describe that fried chiefcen, those bak ing powder biscuito, that golden but ter, that marmalade, honey, etc., etc. Sue an Safford herself could not have beaten it. I proposed to Lucy in thirty minutes after, and was accepted. Two months later we we on our way home from the wedding journey. "I want to get back, my dear," I said, "where I can get one more of your sup- pers again, l nave never naa a meai that could hold a candle to that one you cooked for me the night I pro posed." She laughed rather queerly. "You liked it, did you!" she asked. "Liked it !" I rejoined "Let me tell you the truth. I had not made up my mind whether to propose or not up to that evening. I was afraid you could't cook, and mother was always harping on that. You know I never could find out, for you always laughed when I broached the subject, but that night I played a trick on you. I got myself invited when nobody was at home to help you; and, well my darling you were just simply immense. I never had such a supper in my life, and you know the result: Here we are, man and wife." "And you wouldn't have asked me if I had failed," she said. "I couldn't have done so in the face of my mother's injunction," I returned. "Thank heaven, you stood the test." "But did I, though!" "Did you 1 Why didn't you get up that spper, tha that Liiw tl manr ever tasted!" "No," cha eald, I did net" This csccrtica nearly knocked down. " "No." cha repeated, "I did net X was afraid ycu were cubjectfso; ma to tha test, and ca I net Cssaa Baffcrd to coma over and help ma cut and made her premise, caver never to tell. Oh, Jack I I euppeca it was awful wicked but I loved you eo much, dear.' "And ycu can't cook at all r I ex claimed. "But just a little," she answered, and then she fell to sobbing. Well. sir. I couldn't stand it. I took her in my arms and was weak enough and forgetful enough of my mother to say : "111 be hanged, Liucy, u wouldn't rather live on raw turnips with you than have the dishes of the gods with any other girl in America. Cook or no cook, I'm glad I've got you, Lucy Tompkins." And I was. E. C. B, in "What to Eat. FOOLISH FEU ALES. The woman who proudly declares that she connot even hem a pocket handkerchief, never made up a bed in her life, and adds, with a simper, that she has been in society ever since she was 15. The woman who would rather nurse a pug dog than a baby, and "rather die" than wear a bonnet two seasons. The woman who cares more for the style of her winter cloak than she cares for the health and comfort of her chil dren. The woman who wants things just because other women have them. The woman who thinks she is an ornament to her sex if she wins a pro gressive euchre prize. Margaret Han nis, in St. Louis Republic HOUSEHOLD. THE FARMER'S THANKSGIVING. The earth is brown and skies are gray, And the windy woods are bare, And the first white flakes of the com ing snow Are afloat in the forest air. But the sparks fly up from the hickory log On the homestead's broad stone hearth. And the windows shake, and the raf ters ring. To the lads' and lassies' mirth. The farmer's face is furrowed and worn And his locks are thin and white, But his hand is steady, his voice is clear, And his eve is blue and bright As he turn 8 to look athis sweet old wife, Who Bits in her gown of gray, With the cobweb kerchief and creamy frills She wore on her wedding day. He bows his head to the laden board And the euesta thev are silent all "Thanksgiving, Lord for the sun and ram And the fruit on the orchard wall: j.For the silver wheat, and the golden corn. And tha crown of a oeaceful life The greates blessing that thou canst give A true and loving wife !" This white-haired lover he bends to kiss Her hand in its frill of lace And the faded rose on her wrinkled cheek With a proud and a courtly grace, And the snow fl ikes click on the win dow pane, . And the rafters ring above, And the angels sine at the gates of Qod The words of the farmer's love . Independent. HICKORY NUT CAKE. Rub to the cream one and one half cups granulated sugar and one half cud nutter. A.aa tnree Quarters oe a cup of sweet milk and two and onto half cups of flour, through which has been sifted two teaspoonfuls of baking powder. Stir in one teaepoonful of vanilla and one cupful of hickory nut meats. Lastly, fold in lightly the white of four eggs beaten to a stif froth. Bake in a long tin lined with ' buttered paper on the bottom, in a medium hot oven. It will require about an hour's baking, and should rise in the pan to its full heieht before it begins to brown. BUTTER CAKES. Put one quart of flour in a bowl, add one teaepoonful butter, half table spoonful salt and teaepoonful of sugar. Rub the butter fine in the flour. Die solve half yeast cake in one pint luke warm milk, add it to the flour and mix all into a firm dough. Knead this on aboard till it does not stick to the hands. Return the dough to the bowl and let rise to double its size. Koll the dough out to one-quarter inch in thickness and cut mto rounds with a cake cutter, and let them rise a few minutes, then bake them the same way. BOILED CUSTARD. Many cooks fail with boiled custard because they have it over the fire too long. Boil a pint of milk with two tablespoonfuls of powdered sugar, and when it has slightly cooled, add to it the yolka of six eggs well beaten, HE NEW STYLES Are fast running into " MAHOGANY, CURLY BIRCH and BIRD'S EYE MAPLE. We are showing rare bargains. ' We sell Oak also. Can chow you more Styles at lower prices than you can find elsewhere, write for our Bargain Sheet of FANCY ROCKEE&- ianos iin The Very Best Makes. We guarantee the lowest prices. Easy terma Wo guarantee absolute satisfaction. Write me if interested. E. M. ANDREWS, Larpt Dealer in Mtore, Carpets, Pianos anfl Organs in tie Slate, CHARLOTTE, N. C. stirring all the time. Now strain all the mixture into a jug. stand this in a saucepan of boiling water over the fire and keep stirring the custard one way without , stopping until it begins to thicken, then stir more rapidly, letting the spoon touch the bottom of the jug, until it is on the point of boiling, when the jug must be instantly taken from the saucepan of boiling water. If this is delayed a moment the custard will curdle and be spoiled. Sometimes a little flavoring is liked; if so, a few drops of lemon, vanilla or almond are added before the mixture is poured into into the jug. , YOUISTGr FOLKb, LUCK AND PLUCK. The boy who's always wishing That this or that might be, But never tries bis mettle, Is the boy that s bound to see His plans ail come to failure, His hopes end m defeat, For that's what comes when wishing, And working fail to meet. The boy who wishes this thing Or that thing with a will That spurs him on to action, And keeps him trying still When effort meets with failure. Will some day surely win, For he works out what he wishes And that's where "lues." comes inl The "luck" that I believe in Is that which comes with work. And no one ever finds it Who's content to wish and shirk. The men the world calls "lucky," Will tell you, every one, That success comes, not by wishiDg, But by hard work, bravely done. Eben E. Rexford. WANTS MORE YOUNG FOLKS LETTERS Mt. Olive, N. O. I have written to The Progressive Farmer once before and eeeiDg it in print gave me courage Co write again. Write up boys and girls 1 There have'nt been very many letters lately. Let us try to improve. I've been picking cotton lately, but will assure you I have'nt picked more than my share: I live savxdUe&frein the little town of Mt. Olive. I enjoy read ing the young folk's column very much also the Christian Life Column. I al ways read the young folk's letters and the Christian Life Column. I will ask the cousins some qua tions. In what place in the Bible are the words 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy" found? What is the middle book of the old Testament? How many verses in the New Testa ment? I will close for fear of the waste basket. I would like to correspond with some of the cousins about my own age, 18 Very truly, Eddie Walker. FROM CHATHAM COUNTY. Mo n cure, N. C. We have been here at Moncure about two weeks. We came with the horses and wagon and drove three cows and four calves. We 8 tar ted the 28 in of October and arrived here the 29 sh about sunset, it is about 40 miles from where we lived to this place, so you know we had a long drive. The 28 th of October was my brothers 9 th birthday and the 29 th was my 14th birthday. We will stay here about two months and then move on a farm about three miles from here. I will answer a question asked by Tank Whitaker. Wnich deserves the most honor, Columbus for discovering America or Washington for defending it. It is Washington for defending it. I will ask a few questions. How long did Paul stay in his hired bouse? Who wrote the book of Acts? Where is dead flies mentioned in the Bible? UN" Olio I will close wishing The Peogrtc ive Farmer much success. Jessie L. Farsand. ANSWERS. Pulaski, N. O. Here comes a eixtecn year old kid" knocking for admbsics. Don'fe-you think we young folks could improve our column? Let's remember the editor's suggestions, and try to make our column more interesting. When some of the cousins take a trip it would do us all a lot of good to hear of the interesting places visited, and so on. I wonder how many of the cousisa ever try to work for the pape?. I think it is so nice in the editor to givo us a column all for ourselves that we ought to try to get some new sub scribers. Most farmers have sold their rv a nnm An1 r . .M . -X. a. A. send the editor one new subscriber be fore Thanksgiving. I have had a fine ttime lately goin to corn shuckings and hunting musca dines. I will answer some question. The word girl is mentioned in tho Bible only once. Tho loaf- rsw4ci r? TaI A 1 amswere: This is the last of earth; I am content." The Monroe doctrine is the doctrino enunciated by President James Mon roe to the effect that the UnitexLgtatc3 must protest against any European power's attempting to extend its possessions in the new world. The battle of New Orleans was un necessary .because peace had already been made between the United States and England. Owing to the slowness of ocean travel at that time, however, the news had not reached America. J. Wilkes Booth, an actor, assassi nated President Lincoln. Why don't more of the older cousins write? All who are not too old to go to echool are welcome, are they not, Mr. Editor? Ed. Certainly, jreaj- My papa and I injetl- getting up a club for thsnpspSfthis week. How many others will do likewise? Brisooe Llewellyn. FROM WILSON COUNTS'. Elm City, N. C I am a little girl 10 years old. We live on a farm and tho nearest town is two miles distant. I like to go to school but have not been any since last March. I have threo eiaters and three brothers. I have five pets four cats and a dog. My dog'o name is 8am. I like toread the youcf folk 8 letters very much. Succee3 to The Progressive Farmer Mattie D. Batts. SOME QUESTIONS FOR SOLOMON AND HI3 SUCCESSOBS Faison, N. C I am a farmers daugh ter, twelve years of age. I will ask a few questions: If your uncle's eistcr is not your aunt what relation is eho to you? Where was the first candlo litgthed ? How does amull headed cot hook? Who was Cain's first wife! Where did the first drop of rain fall? Tolas Hargrove. f Vare subject to peculiar 111. Th9 rizht remedy for babies' Ills especially 'worms ana cvom&ca disorders la Frev's Verm If uno i i .viMwn fnr no vea.n. Send for ilius. book about the 111a and remedv. cm. boi mm.iiea iw . El A S. FBET, Baltimore, WANTED. Five hundred new vzm ecribers to enter oar lict during week. ..... Tin PZHX22Z22XVB Ealcfh, If, 0