The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-12-04
A THANKSGIVING SURPRISE.
BY AMY RANDOLPH

shirt factory where the sewing machines
hummed like bin full of humble bees.
and the steam shook the floor and for all
daily bread
Il know just how it looks there" said
Adelaide to herself. "If shut nv ewes
can see the great old kitchen fire, and
the tins all shining on the shelves and
can see dear old grandma in her black
stuff dress and silver spcctacles, and little
lame Benny whiting out wooden toys.
| Oh, If | could only go But Mr.. Secor
eau spare girl out Of the factory just
now, aud 0 dear, may wish and wish in
vain. But girls, she spoke these last
two words out loud, with merry sparkle
| through the tears that filled her eyes, to
the room full of girls around-I"I've
such an idea in my head Well get up
Thanksgiving dinner for old Mr. Dallas "
Old Mr.. Dallas, be it promised. was
rheumatic Old bachelor who had the top
room in Mrs Duumore's cheap board
| ing house, and found" himself-nostly
in bread and cheese and cold water
Some OF the gay girls who boarded there
called him miser; some called him an
eccentric ginus but all agreed in the
primary fact that he was very poor, very
rheumatic, and very solitary.
1T isn't as if he were young man,
you know, said she I'VE can steal into
his room ard lay the fable in little
while, and it will be so nice TO surprise
him Wen subscribe little all around
and buy small turkey, and can cook
it on Mrs. Dunmore's kitchen fire and
| know splendid receipt for pumpkin
pie; and-and you know. girls, if we
| can 90 home aud have good old fash
ioned THAI ksgiving, all by ourselves. we
can at least help to make somebody else
happy. Why, don't suppose Mr.. DAl
las has had real Thanksgiving dinner
for ten years.
Aud so Adelaide Kent busted her kind
lit;le heart and fertile brain in cOntriv-
ing a pleasant surprise for the solitary
old bachelor in the upper floor. who sat
in his overcnat to save tring and ate dry
bread with cheese. when he could get it,
and when he could ut, do without.
How she trotted about in the gray
| twill. Of Thanksgiving eve. with scar
let hoo J. tied over her chestnut brown
brads, and her cheeks and lips rivaIing
its veruil:On hue, while on her arm she
carried a huge covered basket-Mrs
/ Dnnsuor.s market basket. IN truth and
in fact-and when she came home, the
whole sw rrm Of girls gathered about her
10 investigate its conteuts.
Aud to hear the knot of pretty young
conspirators whispering and buzzing to
| gether, you would have thought the whole
world would penetrate their mystery be-
fore the hour for its frutiou was ripe,
except old Miles Dallas, who sat up in
his room, shivering in the frosty air, with
only the reflection of the street lamps
against the walls to light the dreary
hours.
1.-The world is getting too hard for
me" thought the poor old man. "There
don't seem to be any place for me-and
perhaps I'd he better out of it that ln."
But Mrs Dunmore the landlady, came
up in a great hurry the next day.
81 hope you'll excuse me, Mr. Dallas,
I'm sure" she said, dropping furrled
courtesy, for the old man had stately
sort of air with him when he pleased,
''but-but Iittle Mixes goue home to
spend Thanksgiving, aud I've no mortal
soul to send this basket of provisions to
poor Mrs ThistIegalie by, and if it
wouldn't be troubling you too much. Mr..
Dallas. may be the walk would do you
good. ="
And Miles Dallas, willing to be the
bearer Of good news to one perhaps older
Slu
up, and went on Mrs. Dunmorcs kindly
mission.
But no sooner had the door closed be
hind his hating footsteps. than the swarm
Of merry damsels hattered in, with Addle
Kent at their head cheerful fire OF
anthracite coal glowed aud cracked 10
the crate the room was swept and gar.
nished with brilliant autumn leaves, and
the table spread with spotless damask
cloth, while 10 the centre stood the month
y rose.
That will do for the present. ;. said
Addie "Now girls, shut the door and
let the room get warm, and III just run
down and see to the turkey aud pumpkin
pie 3"
1t was quite dusk, and showing softly
without when Louie Holland came danc
iug down into the kitchen OF the board
ipg house where Addie was busy at work
dishing the turkey, with her sleeves roll
ed up above the elbows, and big bid
apron of striped ticking enveiopinS her
trim little figure.
"Oh, Addie,'' she cried, hes come
back y
..Who has come back z" Addie asked d,
drenchiug the little brown carcass OF the
bird with a shower of unctuous gravy
from tiu spoon.
"Mr Dallas
"What did he say Z"
"Why, didu't see him when he came
10 but there he sits 10y the fire. as com
posed as If FIRE was an every day thing
"IEow dees he look Surprised 2.