The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-12-15

dously. She was just about to run away,
when a woman with black eyes, and yell |
low handkerchief round her head, came |
out of the tent and called the dog Of
"Well, my little lady" she said, what
can the poor people do for you?"
Mischief was so pleased at being called
"My little lady," that instead of running
away, as she had at first intended, she
drew nearer.
ooh. don't know" she answered Il
just thought I'd come and look at your
fire. Are you going to boil your dinner
outdoors?"
1--WE haven't any dinner" whined the
children, while the woman put her apron
to one eye, and watched Mischief with the
other.
NO dinner'' cried Mischief. Gut you
must have dinner, cause the Governor
said so, you know, and it's Thanksgiving
oh, my lady," said the woman, pre-
tending to cry, we're too poor for the
like of that Not bit nor sup has
crossed our lips since the day before yes
terday."
But what is that in your pot which
smells so goOd?" asked Mischief, looking
about her
=
That's my husbands shirt I'm boiling"
she said. I'VE try to be clean, even if we
are poor. But we're cold, we're hungry"
and again she put the apron to her eyes
while the children walled in chorus. Mis-
chief almost cried too.
How mizzaple things isr said she.
But my grandma won't let you go hun
CRY, poor woman, for she's real good
Come along with me, and she'll give you
all the turkey and cranberry and pie you
want! | know she will, cause I'll ask
her"
o my little lady, how good you are ~
said the gypsy land she winked to her hus-
band, who rose up AID with her followed
Mischief as she proudly led the way to the
farm house.
1t was not till fairly at the door that she
recOllected the misfortunes ofthe morning,
and that she had left, so to speak, in dis
grace. But there was 10 retreating-the
gypsy and his wife were close behind her
so she kept on down the entry till they
reached the dining-roOm, where was the
table nicely set for dinner, but no Grand
ma, for, as it happened, the old lady was
upstairs at that moment putting on clean
cap.
Just sit down there" Mischief said, po-
litely, land I'll call Mehitable"
But Mehitable was not in the kitchen
The buttery door stood open, however, and
there on the shelves, in long rows, were
the nice things she had been making
cakes and pies and custards.
a bright thought struck Mischief
Grandma is always good to poor folks"
she said to herself, land these are real
poor! know she'd like to give them
something good only | can't find her." So
without more ado, she lifted pumpkin
pie in both fat hands, and turned. There
stood the gypsy, just behind. He had fol
lowed her in.
ooh, what a good little lady" he said,
stufling the pie into a big bag. Can the
little lady spare another to the POOR man?
and he held out his hand.
So Mischief gave another, and then, a
little frightened, another, and the gypsy
unlocked pair of chickens from over
head and dropped them in; and so it went
on till the pantry was half cleared, ard Me
hitable's footsteps were heard coming in
from the wood house. Then the gypsy
seized his bag and went away very quick
", while Mischief began to realize what
she had DONE and that at least half of the
nice dinner was gone with him.
Mehitabe came in very good humorcd
Her hurry was over, and she had begun to
1 feel sorry for her pet "Well, dear" she
said, "here you are again, What have you
been doing all day."
But Mischief couldn't answer. All at
once dreadful guilty feeling seized her,
and she hung her head in silence.
Heyday!" went on Ntehitable, "what' s
this? Who's been in the buttery? Mer.
cy, half my pics are gone. Mischief who
has beeu mcddling with my things
| At this moment, Grandma's voice came
| from the other room in a tone of great as
constituent. Mehitablc." she cried
come hereI
/ In they ran. There was the table all in
confusion, the neat cloth rumpled, the
! dishes tossed about, and the silver spoon
where were they?
80 dear O dear sobbed Mischief, "it's
1 all my fault o those mizzable peoples
But they looked real DOOR. Grandma and
they said they was 50 hungry! . dear! o
dear didn't mean tor
You can imagine what a confusion there
was when finally it all came out. Grandpa
hurried after the constable. Mehitable
scoldcd and fused and reset the table
while only dear Grandma had time to
think of the unhappy little cause of al
this trouble, and to take Mischief in hel
lap and comfort her. The golden head
rested wcarily on the kind breast, the
| lashes dropped over the wet eyes, the sobS
! grew less frequent. BY the time Mehi.a
bic had counted her pies and made sure
there were still enough, Mischief was fast
asleep, and when Grandpa came back, hav
ing caught the gypsies and recovered the
silver, there she still lay on the lounge tc
which AIehitable had gently lifted her.
They all stood by and watched her quiet
breathing for few moments.
after all, f" said Grandpa, as they turned
away, mischief though she may be, she
is still the chief thing in the world We
have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving
6av ~ IIeorfL and Jyo,oe