Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1914 — Miss Penelope’s Thanksgiving [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Miss Penelope’s Thanksgiving

By JEAN DOUGLAS.

AT the end of Maple street stood a lovely white house with green L shutters. This was the home of Miss Penelope Semple, the last of an honored and loved family numbered among the first settlers of Concord. For some twenty years she had dwelt —with Anne Barnes, her maid, a descendant of those who had served the original Semples—in the house of

her forefathers, and none hut the oldest inhabitants could recall the times when the family consisted of Judge Joel Semple, Ins wife Elizabeth and their children. Richard. Penelope and Martha. The son was a bitter disappointment to tlic judge, because be refused 1.0 study law and succeed bis father in that honorable profession. Nature had endowed him with a talent for reproducing her beauties, and he worshiped before the shrine of Apollo in preference to that of the wise Athene. As a result he quarreled with the judge and departed for Europe. For several years lie communicated with Penelope, but finally his letters ceased to arrive. The gentle mother succumbed to an attack of pneumonia and was followed a year later by hes younger daughter. Shortly afterward the judge was discovered dead in ills olfivo. a victim of apoplexy, and Penelope was left to face life alone in the large white house. She exerted every effort to locate her brother, only to experience failure; In the days when there were many branches to the family tree it was the custom for the Semples to assemble at the home of the judge for Tbanksgiv ing. Since the death of her parents Miss Penelope continued to throw open the hospitable doors of the white house for Thanksgiving celebration. For the twentieth time she waited in happy anticipation the arrival of the advance guest. Ijler eyes swept with an appreciative glance the candlesticks ahd old family plate shining with newly acquired brightness, the cut, glass decanters and the dustless mahogany furniture ready for the morrow's feast. The knocker summoned her to the door, and, throwing it open, Penelope greeted her cousin and his wife. From that time on until late evening the Semples continued to gather about tho hearthstone of the white house. The evening Was happily spent, the younger generation dancing, while their elders exchanged reminiscences, and at midnight they retired to await the dawn of Thanksgiving day. Dinner time came ffi due season next day, Miss Penelope seated^her guests, and the radiant circle was complete. Then the various dishes were placed npon the board—roasts, broiled fish, vegetables, pastries and sweetmeats, and eqcli vied with the other.in quality and toothsomeness. They crunched the celery, reveled in the browned sweet potatoes and nodded approval at the pumpkin pies. There stole over every one n sense of peace and contentment, which comes when love and kindness permeate the atmosphere. Then Dr. William Semple rose from his chair and, holding aloft a sUmder glass filled with wine of a rare vintage, ■aid in a voice of unusual richness: **My

kins people. I want you to driiikf to the health and happiness of our dear Penelope. whose unselfish love and delightful personality ace a benediction to us all.” When he ceased shaking everybody was standing, with the exception of Penelope, with glasses uplifted ready to drink, when there came a loud knock at the door. One of the younger boys answered its insistent demands and found on the threshold a yontb of .his own age. “I have come to See Penelope Semple,” he said simply, and was ushered to the lady's chair. He bowed low over her hand and kissed it, then stood tall and straight before the fragile, gray clad woman. The years rolled from her shoulders like raindrops from a window and, clasping the boy to her, she cried. “Dick, my own Dick!” "Not Dick, Aunt Penelope, but Dick’s son. He only told me of my family last month before he died and insisted that I reach here for Thanksgiving. Father described this scene so vividly that when the door opened 1 feared that it might not be real. Tell me that it isand that I am welcome.” Dr. Semple placed a chair at the left of Penelope’s for the new found mem her of the old Semple family. The arrested toast was completed and when they were all reseated Penelope arose and. placing a hand lovingly on the lad's shoulder, addressed hei guests. “I have much—very much—to Ik thankful for. My Dick has returned not as a brother, but as a son, for as such I shall love him. What a heaver my declining years will be with him tt plan for! Truly, God is good.”—Phila delphia North American.

“TELL ME THAT I AM WELCOME.”