The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-11-25

| The 10Th of November. ana lime was II
. Iaggard; he turned his wheel, and sen
around day and night-now with war;
sunshine and mild genial breezes. alnos
E like the month Of May-now, with col
and rain, aud frosts, and even snow
way he often takes to warn the lazy hus
. bandman 10 gather in his harvest; bu
round and round the wheel turned, no
! paused il even when il ushered in clear
cold, sparkling Tha nksgiviug morning.
1 Everything was in readiness. The bed
} stead had been taken down in grandmoth
er's room, and bright wood fire blazed
way on the old iron andirons. They were
1.-THE very same that the old lady had pur
chased when she was bride, and no lv
ling dog could have been more faithful II
attending To her comfort than were the twt
savage looking iron animals, which had 70
20 many long years presided over her lire
side. The carpet which had been made o
rags. boarded carefully for that purpose
was swept so clean that it really looked
almost handsome; and Mar,ha's duster hat
removed. again and again, the sighies
speck that had ventured to aligh. upon tht
we'll rubbed furniture.
Every invitation had been given heart
Iy, and as heartily received. Even ihe
letter 10 uncle Sam, in Boston, had not
been neglected, though its composition ant
cbirography, had cost poor Martha more
trouble and anxiety than all the other prep
arations, and 10 notice had been taken OF
it by the grand relation to whom it hac
zone. The little arrangements, like ths
wedding, and the christening had beef
kept secret between the elder member:
nfthe family. grandmother had not hear
breath fit, though she expresseda llt,l'
surprise when Besse's best white dres:
md the christening blanket were place.
before the fire to air.
i Snec the breakfast Of that morning, NJ
ward had not been seen. His mother
missed him. aud his father needed him Q
hundred times; but he was nowhere to be
found; and just as they were becoming
Idnite imp patient at his delay, there was .
soft tap a, the back door, which Martha =
listening ear Immediately caught. Il
made a good deal of commotion, tor 1t was
much earlier than any of the visitors were
eynected. and the holiday dresses were not
vet pu, on ; but quickly smoothing her al
ready smooth hair, Martha opened the
door.
There stood Edward. His cap was
thrown back, exposing 10 full view the
happiest, handsomest face bis mother
though, she had ever seen; and handsome
truly, he was, for his fine features were
lighted with that greatest Of all beautltier,
"a happy concousuess OF having succeed
ed in an n,.emptt 10 makeothers happy. Up
on his arm he carried large basket; j
was a very large one, and he stood bent
over as if he lifted it with difficulty.
No one spoke; so marching into the mid
die ofthe kitchen, he put his basket dowf
upon the table and said: "Good morning
gra ndmo,her! happy Thanksgiving te
YOU! And good morning MIR. and MIS-
Norton! Ihave come to spend the da,
with you, and for fear you might not have
dinner enough for such hungry boy as
am, have brought twelve pound turkey
with mer' So SAYING he united the paper
from that part Of the basket through which
he had kept the ssdrum sticks" with great
difficulty, from iniruding into sight, anc
drew forth as fat and fine turkey as ev
er lived and grew to grace Thanksgiving
table.
swell done, Eddy" said his father. "S'
that is the reason why you thought ou'
goose would do as well as a turkey, was III
III. for one, never suspected you."
"Nor ~ said his mother, with proue
smile, .'though have wondered about il .
good deal; and now we have everything
that heart can wish, and thanks to our good
children for great part of it,"
"No, mother" said Edward, looking a
little bsshfu. and lifting paper carefully.
from the bottom of his basket, "Mariha i
10 be, you know" A look from his moth
er checked him. swell, Martha is to be
an important parsonage, and her none,
tha, she had saved for the new dress is
gone, and so Thought 10 fix her up little
and make her look sort Of well, sort OF
,vAiteish, would bring home wreath Of
white flowers to put around her head.
Now Martha, shut your eyes. There
said he, laying the wreath as gently as it
had been of living flowers upon her head.
..don'l she look like a. LIKE mean like
a good sister, as she is?'
"She looks like bride," said the grand.
mother. taking off her spectscles and wip-
ing them. awe ain't going to have .
wedding here, are we John?" And the
did lady smiled knowing smile, and Mrs,
Norton heard her saving to herself a few
minutes after: swell, now if that don'i
beat all. dare say its Susan, poor child,
she hasn't home anywhere. And there.
shouldn't wonder if the baby was a-gona
10 be baptized, too" But grandmother KEEP
her own council. and was none the wiser
for her suspicious. Though she insisted
On knowing, "Where in the world did
the boy get the things?"
| Edward was reluctant at first. lie pre-
cred 10 surround his exploits wit h little
mystery; but he " as 100 good hearted bo,
long to resist entreaty, and the whole sto.
nv was told
He had hired himself out to Mr.. Hop
kins. rich farmer; had worked like man
Mr. Hopkins himself had said, and he had
given to pay him, the last turkey he had
and half dollar tor present; but be
i a,,h, ~ in,l, I..eaoJ ann aud al