American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-12-05
DELAYS THANKSGIVING DAY.

DELAYS THANKSGIVING DAY.
IT was cold, frosty, November morn
ing; and Della looked from her bedroom
window with a flown on her brow and
an ugly pout on her lips. She had slipped
her clothes on, but not fastened them
her hair was still in q tangle, her face
and hands unwashed; there was no fire
in her bedroom, she was uncomfortable
and shivering with cold. The tall clock
on the hall stairs struck seven; the pray
er-bell would ring in few moments;
her father had requested her to be down
early; she promised she would, but she
was only half dressed and did not hurry,
though she knew her mother in the
nursery with the four younger children
would need her help.
Della fiattened her cold nose on the
colder glass pane; then she breathed on
it and made figures and letters on the
damp spot, and wrote her name, "Deiia
Brown" and under that, Thanksgiving
Day." though she was not feeling thank
full for anything that morning.
"Delial Delia' Her mothers voice
sounded weak and tired, though the day
was just commenced.
My dear, come here, if you are
dressed"
Eyes, ma'am, in a minute" answered
Della, standing before the glass, as she
began to brush her tangled hair; it was
thick, but not pretty; it was not curly
like Jenny Martins, but stiff as a poker,
not a twist nor turn in it; oh, if it was
golden, like Ada Spencer's, she might
crimp it and let it float down about her
shoulders; then she thought of Ada's
blue eyes, as she glanced at her own
gray or greenish color, as some of the
schoolgirls called them; she was not at
all like Ada, her glass told her the plain
truth; how hard it was that some girls
should be SO pretty that ev erybody liked
them as soon as they saw them; no per-
son ever turned around in the street
when she passed to get a second look at
her face; no visitor at the school ever
said of Della, "Who is that lovely
creature?" as they often asked of Ada;
she was not beauty, and, dreadful
thought, perhaps she would never be-
come one; she was not fair, and she had
no roses on her cheeks. and her express
sion-the telltale index of the heart -
was not lovely or pleasant.
perhaps when l get to be young
lady, and frizz my hair this way or turn
it back that way, or wear earrings, L
may be better-looking," thought Della,
turning and twisting her hair as she
stood before the glass.
"If my mouth was only this shape
she puckered it up into a sort of knob
land my eyes as large as they are now
when l have them wide open, l would
certainly be prettier."
"Delia, my dear, are you cOming?"
She started rs she heard her mother
calling the second time, and washing her
face and hands in great hurry she en-
tered her mothers room with very
cross look on her face.
be down early this morning." said her
mother, gently.
We'll, would have been if had not
been frozen almost stiff while l was
dressing l do wish had fire in my
room; every girl | know sleeps and
dresses in warm place"
Delia's tone of voice was as unplaS-
ant as the expression of her featuSes as
she answered her mother, who said, with
a sigh:
You can come in here, my daughter
where it is much warmer"
Della made no reply. She did no,
want to dress in d room where there was
no glass; for, although she was moi
pretty, she liked to look at herself, and
was always hoping some people might
consider her beauty.
She pulled her little brother Harry
toward her very roughly, AS she buttonet
his dress, and brushed his hair the wrong
way. He WINGED and drew back, anC
said that she hurt him; and Della was
only more ungentle. At last she stopped
down to lace his boots-the most dis
agreeable duty of all-and Harry crieC
out:
"Oh! sister, you pinch mel"
Her mother said, reprOachfully
do try and be more gentle, Della"
Her face flushed as she glanced at he
mother, who, pale and worn, and fatigue(
with anxiety and nursing the sick baby
was trying to get the children ready to
prayers, and succeeded in having then
all in the dining room soon after the bel
rang. Della did not hear the lesson hel
father read from the Bible. Her eye.
were fixed upon blue spot in the Car
pet; the color made her think of Ada
Spencer's new silk dress; she wished she
could have one almost like it, though she
thought she would rather have it made
with two pinked rutfies around the bot
tom and u longer ovcrskirt. Her mine
wandered away entirely from the presen
| scene and she could not have told, tt
save her life, if her father had beer
reading about Saul or Solomon. David o.
Daniel.
Her father remembered and CAV,
thanks for all the blessings and mercie'
of the past year in his prayer. Deli;
| forgot that she had received any ~oot
| from the hand of God she never though
of being. grateful for the ordinary bless
ings of life, for health, food and raiment
| and a hundred other gifts bestowed by
| the Father of Mercies;" and perhaps
| if her eyes had been beautiful, her hai
golden and her body clothed in the rich
est garments, she would not have beer
more grateful, for the spirit of discon
| tent and dissatisfaction had stolen int
her heart; they had found lodging
place and it is harder to put such feel
| ings out than to let them in; and us the
| day went on these restless spirits she
had chosen as companions gave her more
| uneasiness and discomfort.
"Oh, myr she thought, with a deeI
| sigh, as her eyes wandered over the new
hats and bonnets in church. how
mean the girls will think | look! My
hat is older and shabbier than any one S
| do wish papa was as rich as MIR. Mar
ten; how nice l could dress"
She gazed with admiration on the Mar
! tens new hats, worn for the first time OF
that Thanksgiving Day She thought tn,
blue plumes and black velvet more ele
CANT than anything she saw in church
and sighed still more deeply as sh'
looked at her plain merino dress, he
dark gloves, and thought of her felt hat
which had been worn enc season alread,
Other people might be thankful, anC