The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-11-21
FOR THE LITTLE FOLKS.
Maud's Thanksgiving.
CHAPTER I.


sudden and unaccountable freaks that
so often afllict those important person
ages, AMI inconsiderately walked of on
the day but one before the great national
feast. Mrs. Ashton groaned over the
situation of things but grooming never
yet stuffed turkeys, nor nodded pastry,
nor pared and cooked pumpkin and
is never likely to do either.
CT don't see but that we shall have to
eat snack to morrow, off the top of
the kitchen dresser" she said, in
doleful tone, to Mr.. Ashton, on the day
before the feast, as he was going out OF
the front door.
"Why, what has happened to the
tables % asked Mr.. Ashton, with merry
twinkle in his eye. "Cant we just as
well eat our smack sitting around
table, comfortably, as to eat it standing,
and stretching up to dresser uncom-
fortably?'
Like the children of Israel eating
the Passover, suggested Maud.
Mrs. Ashton laughed at the compari-
son and her husband, pleased to see
the sunshine on his wife's face again,
promised to send up Thanksgiving
dinner for the morrow from restaurant.
"Pd rather eat stalk of celery and a
soup-lunch, off the top Of the house, If
need be, than to see your pretty face all
drawn down to such dismal lengths, on
account of the best of dinners" said he;
and Maud, who seemed to be overflow
ing with Scripture texts, added
"Yes, indeed. The Bible says, Bet
ter is dinner of herbs where love is,
than a stalled OK and hatred Herewith ;
and 6 1t is better to dwell in q corner of
the house-top, than with Drawing
woman and in wide house.
Whereat Mrs. Ashton laughed so mer-
rily, and Mr.. Ashton frowned so omin-
ously upon the little maiden, that Maud,
sagely concluding that she had said
somewhat either more or less than she
had intended, or than was altogether
appreciated, discreetly retired.
At that moment Mr.. George refined
up his sorrel mares before the gate, to
leave an invitation from his mother for
Mr.. Ashton's family to come to Robin
Forest with him, and remain over night,
so as to be with them the entire feast
day. How gladly Mrs. Ashton accepted
the opportune invitation, 1 could not tell
you. Even Maud was not more pleased
with this unlooked-for arrangement OF
things than was her perplexed, invalid
mamma, who was not long in preparing
for the visit, securing the house, and
dispatching a..neighbor's boy with the
turkey, oysters and celery, to widow
Goodson, whom she never failed to re-
member in a substantial manner at al
holiday times.
The maple trees, that had made Octo
Der so brilliant with glowing color, were
now quite bare, and tossed their slender
branches on the chill November breez,
with q gentle sound of signing, as fol
the summer gone. The brown leaves
from the oaks whirled in eddies to the
ground with every fresh gust of wind
and Maud could hear the sound of fall
ing nuts and acorns, as they drove along
the forest road. Persimmons and wild
grapes yet hung on some of the trees
and vines and the late birds and squir
rels were keeping their Thanksgiving
already in the autumn woods. The fal
winds blew keenly, and Mrs. Ashton
Rugged her wraps around her /; ant
Cousin George prophesided snow
storm for the morning and the SORE
mares trotted briskly into Robin Forest
and drew up before the piazza, with
full stop that was the very expression
of equine satisfaction. How cheerful,
the great logs in the open fireplace
glowedl How delightfully."- warm an,
comfortable the atmosphere OF the coz
sitting-room
"Bress de honey" exclaimed Aun
Phoebe, as Maud bounded into he
kitchen, from which issued most appe
thing smells 81 here We is. Dem we
BOYS o de min ster's, has made NOR
arnds dan few, ober dis way, ter fin
out eff Mars George dun got back wit
y all yit. Denis peart young uns o d
min 'ster's. Dey invited here long Wi
all de res Aunt Phebe's dun laid her
self out ter be pestered wild chillens di
we're two blessid days. Want ter pee
inter de pantry? See dem yer goodies
Now look at desc yer wings fur breshi
up de harf wild Want one ter tax
home Muffin like a tukky wing fu
breshin harris. An jes behole dis We
tail Ebber see more splen'd tukk
tail Won't Aunt Phoebe flourish di
yer fan, eff de Lord spares her ter g
ter meetin' mex summer Take keer |!
she exclaimed, as Maud proceeded I
test the power of the fan in her mos
vigorous style. " De gummin ain
none too dry yit. Now, hyar's de POI
per, an hyar's de Gavin. Sit We dow
dar in de harf cawner, an pop yer cawl
while 1 takes yer ma cup o tea. to S,
'er up like TO dinner. Miss Alice
'vited out to-day, n. she won't be hon
TO bedtime, I spec SO, if dem yel
boys comes over dis way agin, We ca
tell: 'em to stay an play wild We a leetl
rs baked a. whole passed. O. doughnu
an turn-overs, specially for y alls' use
an der s any mount o good nuts in
loft yander.
"Talk bout de angels !" chuckle
Phoebe, can y II hear der wings. ID,
dem boys dis blessid minute. 'Stonisl
in how chillens nebber does furgit nu
fin -
Such merry time as those childre
had popping corn, cracking nuts, swim
ing in the barn, huntin hens nests, an
lastly, planning amusements for to-mo
raw afternoon Tom informed Mat
that he had new fiddle, and that
could play the Arkansas Traveller
almost as well as Uncle Caesar, h
fathers hired man, who worked on Il
- l. Jox, and ,olovad 1ivalv tunps ,