Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-11-27
A Thanksgiving story.


"This must be the house. No, 2S
B. Court. Let me be sure Where
the letter? Here it is in my coat pocket
of course; now for gas-light
Yes, aS7."
The queer little man folded the lettel
as he spoke, replaced it in his pocket
AID knocked at the door of 2S7. 1t wa.
after dark, on dull evening in Novem
Der, but the gas light, under who's,
friendly glare the letter had been con
suited, shone upon the figure now stand
ing at the door, and showed him to b.
a very odd figure indeed. His heaC
was so many sizes too large for his body
that it made him look top-heavy, ant
this effect was certainly not diminished
by the fact that he wore his hair long
thick, and curling, and beard that fell
almost to his waist. His clothes were
coarse and Ill made, but warm, and in
good repair. His slight figure, small
hands and feet, and quick movements,
made the great head and wide-brimmed
hat almost grotesque in their dispro-
portionate size Getting impatient, he
gave second knock at the door of the
small house, and this time so long and
loud that the door few open before he
had taken his hand from the knocker.
A little girl stood in the entry, cycling
him with an expression that seemed to
argue debate IN the mind whether to
remain, and let the visitor come in, OF
to shut the door and run away.
You take good while to come to
the door, ma'am," he said, and at once
decided the question in the mind of the
little girl. A voice and a smile like
that could never belong to cruel ogre
who ate up little girls without salt or
pepper however big his head.
rietta %
"Who is Aunt Henrietta q
"Miss Mosely. The lady who owns
the house, and lets US board here.
"Ohl Yes, / want to see her."
"H you will walk in the parlor, she'll
be in presently; she's gone to market, u
and musical little gleeful laugh fol.
lowed this announcement.
"Gone to market?"
eyes, and Cora's gone too" here the
delight could not be suppressed.
"They've gone to buy a turkey fer to-
morrow, and I'm taking care of the
house and Eddy till they come back"
Gone to buy turkey for to-mor-
row."
eyes, it's Thanksgiving, you know 2
We are 10 have treat. Aunt Henrietta
promised 1T a week ago, and she never
forgets, aeuer ~
"She must be famous aunt"
"Well, and here the little girl came
close to her odd visitor and took a seat
beside him, on the sofa, ''she amt ou1
aunt really, YOU know; not our very,
very own. But she's just as good to
Cora aud Eddy and me-"
"Who is Cora? ?"
"Cora is my grown-up sister; she's
ever, ever so old, almost nineteen. I'm
ten, and Eddy is two and half. Cora
gives music lessons, and she is out al
most all day, and Aunt Henrietta makes
flowers, and / help her. Eddy plays.
"But where are your papa and
mamma %
"Papa died when Eddy was a wee
baby, and We came here then to board
with Miss Mosely. Mamma sewed all
day, and Cora practiced. Then mamms
died too, but Aun. Henrietta said we
must stay, and manage the board some.
how, for she would not let Cora go away
to take care of us all alone. You SEE
this amt very good house for board.
ers," and the little face looked very
wise," and the front room has beer
empty long time"
"Then Miss Mosely takes boarders p
eyes, indeed. We have the third
story front, and Mrs. Manners, she goes
out nursing and amt here much, she
has the third story back; Aunt Hen
rietta sleeps down here in the back par
lor, so there is nobody at all in the
second story. That was the reason
Aunt Henrietta sent away the servant
and makes flowers for the milliners
stores. 1t takes SO much money to feei
us all, and buy our dresses and boots.
But, my dear child, have you nc
uncles or aunts, nobody to help Sister
Cora ?"
"No! Uncle James Reed is in Cali.
fornia, and of course he can't come
Cora wrote to him, but guess he didn,
get the letter. Anyhow he didn't an
swer it. !"
did you ever see him ?"
"No, indeed He went away whel
Cora was baby and never came back
but he often sent money In letter t.
mamma"
A knock at the door Interrupted her
"There they come I'll tell Aun
Henrietta you are here" and away sh,
ran, and was in another moment heart
making anxious inquiry regarding the
size and tenderness of the turkey.
A lady's voice answered her.
"There's q gentleman wants to SCI
you, auntie, said the child. '11l hell
Cora take the basket to the kitchen"
Miss Mosely at once went to to thu
parlor, and her odd-looking visitor ros.
to meet her. If he had expected to SCI