Ned Wilding's Disappearance; or, The Darewell Chums in the City — John Shaqi
Ned Wilding's Disappearance; or, The Darewell Chums in the CityChapman, Allen
General
Ned Wilding's Disappearance; or, The Darewell Chums in the City
Chapman, Allen
Adventure stories; Boys -- Juvenile fiction; High school students -- Juvenile fiction; New York (N.Y.) -- Juvenile fiction
"My name is Perry," the woman said. "I live here with my two daughters.
The town of Kirkville supports us. The poormaster brought some food last
week but he hasn't been here this week, and we are afraid he can not
come because of the storm. Otherwise I could offer you something to
eat," and she turned aside her head to hide her tears.
"Don't cry, mother," exclaimed the child who had been sitting near the
fire. "We're not very hungry, and maybe the snow will stop. We had a
nice Thanksgiving last year--and--and--"
"I'm afraid we'll have a poor one to-morrow," Mrs. Perry replied. "But
boys, come closer to the fire. You must be cold. At least we have plenty
of wood. That is free, and my daughters gathered a lot the other day in
the woods."
"Mrs. Perry--ahem, ma'am--that is--er--I mean--Oh, hang it! Ain't any of
you going to help a fellow out!" exclaimed Ned, clearing his throat with
unnecessary violence. "What I mean is we've got a lot of things to eat,
on our sled. We'd be glad to have you--Oh, here! Boys come on out and
bring in some of the things!" and before the astonished woman knew what
was happening Ned and his chums were out in the snow fairly tearing the
things off the sled. In they trooped again, bearing turkeys, rabbits, and
a lot of the camp food they had not eaten.
"Oh, it's just like Santa Claus!" cried the little girl. "I knew we'd
have Thanksgiving, mommey!"
But Mrs. Perry was crying, with her head down on the table.
Indeed the room did look as if it was ready for some sort of holiday
feast. It was fairly crowded with the things the boys had brought in.
"I don't--don't know what to say," Mrs. Perry exclaimed, as she dried
her eyes. "Are you sure you can spare so much?"
"Spare it? Say we've eaten so much lately we'll be sick!" broke in Bart,
with a laugh. "Now we'll make a better fire, and if you'll get some of
these turkeys and rabbits ready you can have a dinner. There's some
other things,--canned stuff, you know."
By this time the older girl, whose name, the boys learned, was Jane,
was placing some of the things aside. Her mother helped her, while Mary,
the younger daughter, seemed, from mere astonishment, unable to stir.
She sat gazing at the pile of good things as if they might suddenly
vanish.
The boys brought in more wood and began to help with the meal. In a
little while they had a good one ready, using some of the camp food,
while the turkeys and rabbits were put away for the next day.
The boys told something of themselves, and, in turn, Mrs. Perry related
how her husband had died a few years before, leaving her with a small
farm, and three children, a boy and the two girls. The farm, she said,
had been taken because they could not pay the interest on the mortgage,
and there had been nothing left for them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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