10 The Acorn accept the sacrifice I knew they must make, until we talked it over and decided it would be best for us all. "I had heard of struggles of poor boys at college and their experiences made me stronger to face mine; and about one question I was thoroughly decided: that I owed no one an apology for my poverty and that to the people I met it would make no difference. "Even after all that has happened I still believe that the fellows didn't mean to allow it to affect them, but you see I had to be very careful with my money, and often when they arranged a theatre party or dinner I refused, because I couldn't afford to go with them and was too proud to accept anything from them. They soon left me entirely out of their plans and an estrangement from the other boys was the result. It was only natural for them to leave me out of their conversation; because I had only my lessons in common with them and very soon I found myself alone. For some time my studies were enough, but it was not long before I was longing for companionship and dreaming of home. "Things went on in this way until I could endure it no longer, and all the courage I could command was overcome by the echo always in my heart, 'It is no use, I must go home.'" "These words were on my lips when dear old Jack came to me and insisted on my spending Thanksgiving with him." The girls had listened eagerly and now they wondered why this fearless youth had not seemed so handsome and interesting to them before. He continued, "You cannot understand what your kindness has meant to me." "O yes I can," replied Mr. Nevin, "I went through about the same experience during my first college year. I never shall forget the kindness of the man who saved me. His name was John A. Brook." Bert started and said quickly, "That was my father's name." "Your father!" said Mr. Nevin, "but your name is Albert Gray." "After my father's death, my uncle made me his heir providing I took his name also, and my mother consented. That money went with the rest into the mine that did not turn out." The tears gathered in the old gentleman's eyes as he looked steadily into the face of his benefactor's son. His voice was low and gentle as he said, "I offered to return the money to your father a few years after we finished at college but he refused it with the words, 'You can pay me best by passing it on to some one who needs it more than we do,' and I reckon we'll pass it on where he would have it go." E. E. "May our eyes be no keener when we look upon the faults of others than when we survey our own." "Two-thirds of life is spent in hesitating, and the other third in repenting." "It matters not how a man dies, but how he lives." Johnson. The Acorn 11 A Country Thanksgiving All night the snow had fallen steadily in the little village and this morning Eva Mason looked out on the scene, her blue eyes shining with pleasure. How beautiful it looked in the faint gleams of the bright sunshine. Every object in view was overspread with a white diamond besprinkled blanket. Every branch and twig was bent under its heavy burden of snow. Earth had, in one night, put on her full winter dress, and it was beautiful in its new, unstained whiteness. It was by the window in a little three roomed cottage that Eva stood, admiring this scene. A little snow bird hopped merrily to and fro, as though glad that the snow had come. "Thanksgiving day," thought Eva, a slight shadow passing over her face as she glanced over the fields to the village school house. "What a glorious day it will be for the picnic and the sleigh ride we have so long looked forward to! If I could only go; but then its always this way. I never can enjoy pleasures that other girls have." Turning discontentedly from the window, she began her morning work, thinking, "What have I to be thankful for anyway? Thanksgiving is always a day of unpleasant memories and sorrow." Continued repititions of thoughts of this kind soon brought Eva to a frame of mind entirely different from her natural happy, cheerful self. Mrs. Mason was a widow, left with her two children Eva and George. At the age of eighteen, George, against his mother's wishes and entreaties, had enlisted as a volunteer, and with his regiment had gone to fight in the Spanish-American War. Five years had passed since then, and nothing except a rumor of his death had been heard of him. How the poor mother longed and sorrowed for her boy can only be imagined. Every morning she hoped that the day would bring some news of him. Her only comfort was Eva, who was usually pleasant and happy. During George's absence, Mrs. Mason had been compelled to sell their city home. With the money thus obtained she had purchased their present home in the little country village of Elton, where they could live more simply. But even here they must work constantly, in order to maintain themselves. Both were helpful and kind, and had won the love and esteem of all their neighbors. However, sorrow, hard work and worry soon showed their effects on Mrs. Mason. And now she was almost an invalid, entirely dependent on her daughter Eva, who did dressmaking and millinery for the people of the village. Thanksgiving, that long looked for holiday had now come. For days Eva, with some help from her mother, had cooked and baked, getting ready for the party to be held in the school-house. Both mother and daughter had long anticipated this event, as had all others in the town, Indeed, the