Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-12-03
CHAPTER III.

i am ashamed 70 confess That Wncp, the
aext Sunday, Hepzibah Brown gave me the
heads Of this story, briefly, as we left the
church together, was carnal enough to say:
"Well, suppose silas Bracket was glad
to take off your hands all the turkeys you
could not USE"
Now silas Bracket kept the "provision
store" az we Yankees calia small meat mar
ket at the corner.
81 dare say" said Hepzibah, as proudly as
Juno; "but he had no turkeys of mine to
ell"
And was thoroughly shamed when she
added:
81 knew plenty of poor people that had no
Thanksgiving dinner"
The emphasis on poor was superb. For
once Hepsy had had the satisfaction dis
pensing charity; and no Mrs. Cradock, or
Officer Fosdck, or Maria Jennings OF them
all would discharge that Office more grandly
nor more kindly than she.
She told me nothing about it, but there
was little which passed in Lucas street, or
Carney place, or Orange lane in these days
which was not reported before the week was
over to one or other of the saints who were
at work in our sewing-room, and without
much difficulty was able to patch out the
story now tell you.
Hepsy and her mother slept late on Thanks
giving morning. There was no days work"
TO be grateful for, at which one must report
at seven o'clock, breakfast already eaten.
Hepsy took the good Of her bed, for once, and
then made a fire lavishly. She had weeks
provant In the house, and that was very long
forelook for her. A sumptuous breakfast she
and Mrs. Brown made; and then Hepsy as
sumed the Lady Bountiful as il she had been
born to the position.
81 hate to leave you, mother; but it's
Thanksgiving Day, and / think, before
meeting, I'll just step round into Orange
lane and see how those poor Flannagans
get on. / hadn't any time to go and see them
yesterday. We shan't want to put our turkey
in the oven before eleven. III just stuff him
and get him ready now, and then I'll be back
In time to put him in. Perhaps you would
not mind pounding the cracker"
All this without the slightest allusion to the
theory of Yesterday mornings breakfast, that
the roasting of the turkey would be useless
bother
SO they quickly got the great fowl ready,
and then Hepsy arrayed herself in her Sun
days best for her visit TO the Fannagans.
All, mel That was what the philanthropists
are apt to say is mot a good case" Indeed,
1t was not good case. Hepsy went in cor
daily, but with a consciousness Of her dignity
and position, and Of the distinction which
must be preserved between the classes of
society. Mrs. Flanagan, careworn and
wretched, welcomed her and wiped the seat OF
the only chair with her apron. Hepsy in
CURED by name after the children, and then
how Mike was doing. How do you do"
means one thing, my dear Mrs. Whitehead or
my dear Mrs. Loyechild, when Fanny comes
running into your parlor and says, "How do
you doY' to you. But when you ask how
Mike Flanagan is doing the question means
simply Is he getting along without making a
beast Of himself or no. Alas! Mike was not
doing well He had assisted in turkey
rattle the night before to such purpose that he
had spent all the money which they would ad-
va i'm, az 1ay,o hot ha hah
turkey, and that he had been brought back at
one in the morning by Britt and Flinders, who
were only not quite so drunk as he was. Mrs.
Flanagan pointed sadly into the dark alcove,
on the straw on the bottom Of which Mike
was sleeping off his whisky, much as pig
might sleep In the covered part of his sty.
"Too bad" said Hepsy. "Too bad, Mary
Hanging is not good enough for them that
give him the liquor But he's well at home
now. I'll come round in the morning with
Mac, and we'll make him take the pledge be-
fore he goes out. Don't you say word to
him to-day. / come round because want
Larry for an hour or two; and II you will let
him come with me he shall bring you a nice
turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner So do
you take heart, Mary, and you shall have
good, pleasant Thanksgiving after all. You
see my turkey rattle turned cut better than
Mikes"
Poor Mary would not laugh; but she gave
with Hepsy, and Hepsy started In search Of
him among the boys who were skating on
the frozen puddle behind the stables.
Larry, as need hardly be said, was i'm
mensely excited by the commission. He
borrowed Hiram Flinders four-wheel when
he found what was In the wind; went back
with Hepsy to Lucas street, took In his
freight, and decorously accompanied her with
as much dignity as Mrs. Cradock's coach
man would have shown on the mornings ex-
petition. First, they came back to his moth
er's; and Mrs Flanagan had to take a reg
ular talking to from Lady Bountiful as to
how the turkey was to be stuffed and basted.
Let us trust that she ubeyed the iniunctions.
Then they went TO little Mrs. Serz, In the eel
lar In Castle street. Hepsy worked her way
IN with some difficulty, for the muslin skirt
Of Gertrude MacFlimsey hung across the
room from one side TO another, as 1t was dry
ing. In the window corner Mrs. Serz was
doing crimping, or duting, or clear starching,
or some deed without name.
GOOD morning, Miss Serz."
Guten Morgen, guten Morgen."
"A nice dey for Thanksgiving. Miss serz."
" Nicht uerstehe, NIGHT peYstehe."
"Glad TO see you so well. But it's shame
you have to work on Thanksgiving"
''Nicht wrstehe, aicht pevstehe."
"Thank you kindly, she's very well. We
had turkey we could not use, Mrs. Serz. and
l thought you might like It,"
Mrs Serz was little amazed by this time,
and looked for Constance, who could inter-
pref little. But Hepsy was before her, and
called In Larry.
Here's the turkey, Miss Serz. And II you
have got q little cracker you can pound IL
with sweet majorrum. We think that makes
better stufiing In our country than bread
and onions doh This last she said very loud,
from the fear that 1t might not be entirely
Ineligible.
Mrs. Serz looked with amazement at the
turkey, wiped her hands and "hefted" him,
and said:
g Ddnke, ddsske.
! "I say without onions. Onions are better
with geese But put in this little paper OF
sweet majorum. II is some brought from
Tuxbury.s This last very loud, as Mrs. Serx
seemed somewhat doubtful.
i" Darake, daake," said that lady again.
And Hepsy withdrew. Larry followed,
crestfallen. awhy did she say donkey p he
asked Miss Hepsy, meekly. But Miss Hepsy
returned no answer.
LARRY" said she, after little considera-
ton, awe must go next to Phil Regan's, and
then we will come back to Suffolk street, to
them Eyetalliansh
To Phil Regan's attic they repaired, there
fore. Phil was not at home. He was black
ing shoes at the Albany Station. But Phi's