Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1851-12-18


thus that little Robert came, To bind a
few broken ibres from her early hopes
and dreams of earth.
But we are forgetting our Thanksgiv-
ing. None OF the aun:ies forgot howev-
er; or the cousins; and by the time Faith.
er Talbot's "big sleigh" had emptied its
contents twice upon The old salt-sprink-
led stone step. all were brought home
from church, all were there.
All-except two unaccoun,able strag-
glers. ",he boys" as two s,ripplings
nearly six feet high, continued to be cali
ed, who were cul,ivating tie sciences in
a college not many miles away. And
why were they not there! So question
ed every one; and grandmamma did not
answer--only wiping her spectacles eve-
ry two minutes on her apron, and peer
ed out the southwest window.
Meanwhile the new corners were clus-
tered in the "sitling ROOM" making
merry use of the inierlude between SER
vice and dinner. There was Robert,
The Oldest son, with his romping family
and anxious looking wife. There was
Charlotie--no, nobody knew her by
that me-Lo,lie, blooming in her prime,
and managing her little ones TO charm.
There was Phillip. the "old Bachelor"
though by no means crusty one. Next
10 him sat a pale, stiff looking cousin
from the next factory village. Last bu,
not the ieast--lhough in truth she was
little--was the school ma'am," the
youngest of her fathers flock, the laugh
ing fun-losing Susie. She was not
beautiful, as Adde had been, but there
was such a world of goud nature i'm her
low broad forehead and her dimpled
cheeks, that you loved her at first sight.
| will not attempt her portrait, for | do
moi know that she ever sat still long en-.
ough 10 have il taken, except in church.
This day she was here and there and ev.
cry ywhere. among the children, kissing
one, romping with another. and tossing
up Roberts baby, To the terror of its
mumma, and the delight Of others.
"You must let me 90 To help Grand
mamma take up the turkey, indeed you
must" cried Susan, laughing, as she
pushed through the troop. One had
sprung from the top of the arm chair to
her shoulder, and sat Growing like par.
rot on his perch.
As she advanced towards the kitchen.
the outer door was thrown suddenly o.
pen, and "A Merry Thanksgiving TO
you' burst from the lips of the intruders,
amid The renewed shouts of the bolster
OTIS brood.
BLESS me, where did you drop from!"
cried The mother, dropping the ladle in
to the Goals with surprise.
'.Why, brothers. we never heard your
sleigh bells, exclaimed Susan, throwing
of her encumbrances, and heartily well
coming the young collegians.
81 daresay not, replied Edward, as
he knocked the snow from his boots
"We chartered other sort of vehicles
hey Will"
1.-The fact is.' explained WN,, .'that'
We started with the sunrise this morning,
but met with most provoking break
down by the way. So, rot to be cheat
ed out of our Thanksgiving, we footed
il through the drifts. We've los, Par
son Woods sermon, but we're in time
for mothers dinner, and assure you
walk Of eighr miles has given us pair
of appe,ites.
So they sat down to dinner a, last, all
the loving and merry ones. Grandfath-
er hushed them for a moment, while he
lifted his bronzed hands over the platter,
and invoked boun,iful Heaven in leng.
thy aud fervent "blessing." Then fol-
lowed the usual Gathering, and-but |
need no, describe it at all; you see il as
well as do.
The "wish bone," "a great prize that
fell to The share of the shyest one, little
blue eyed Nelly who carefully wrapped
itin her white apron, as sacred treas
ure.
.Coz, may break il with you!"
screamed her cousin Harry, from the 9TH
er end Of the table.
mo, | am going to break it with"
with Aunt Susie, them" said the lit
tie dove, nesting timidly by her side.
''Aunt Susie--ha! ha! Aunt Susie
would look finely breaking wish-bone."
.And why not Master Harry!" said
Susan, merrily. II assure you have
broken more than one wish bone at this
very table,"
'.And did your wishes ever come TO
pass-did they ever Aunt Susie?" cried
three voices at once.
"Yes did they ever, Aunt Susie!"
chimed in Edward, casting up from his
plate sidelong, demurc glance. that
bro. bushes and dimples to her cheeks.
Susan had seen some quiet little fir
'tations even under her fathers Argus
eye. Suddenly her face grew serious.
She caught Adelaide's expression of
eountenance, as the latter quietly arose
from the table, and made some excuse
for Withdrawing.
The wish bone was broken TO charm
swapping exactly in the middle, to the
infinite delight of the juveniles. who
had been making bets on the result
The .sbabies" went to sleep at the right
hour precisely, and were packed into