Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-20
NO. 27o.
IN A TRUMPET.
A STORY OF THANKSGIVING.

cOYTINUED FROM YEsTERDAr.1
This was what drew the despairing
look from Phenix. and sent Miss Pam
phylia to take refuge in rejecting that
Hetty "could have the trumpet" Not
that they cared in the least on their own
account; it was only the thought Of to-
morrow, when there would be company.
They were so proud Of Hetty, and couldn't
bear to have her make herself ridiculous.
Nothing seemed less probable, as Miss
Mehitable took her seat at the table the
next day, faultlessly dressed, and smiling
benignantly upon every one, with cousin
John, a clergyman of the Methodist per-
suasion, on her right hand, and dis
tinguished professor of elocution on her
left.
"Pretty strong outposts. and Hetty al
ways does look well," thought Phenix,
with sigh of relief, as he took up the ball
she had gracefully set rolling, and cro-
quoted it among his neighbors. 1t fitted
about for while in velvety way most
soothing to his fears, when suddenly, just
as his anxiety began to subside. there was
crash at Miss Mehitable's end Of the table,
reverberating like clap ofthunder. She
had set out on q series OF "reminiscences
with Cousin John, who had just returned
after twenty years absence, and he was
inquiring at the extreme OF his pulpit
tones:
''Where is the Judge now ?''
Miss Mehitable nodded and smiled, as
she always did when she felt pretty sure,
but not quite, that "Oh yes, was the right
answer. This wouldn't do, for every one
had started at the crash and was listening;
so cousin John tried again.
1.-The Judge; where is the Judge now ?"
'Oh, standing on the very same spot"
said Miss Mehitable; 'just on the crown
OF the hill. Very windy on cold day,
and little conspicuous; but local attach
ments are strong, you know, and we have
worshiped there great many years."
''Ah," said Cousin John, looking sud :
denly into his plate, and Phenix told him it
would not be New England Thanksgiving
if he did not send it up for more turkey;
and then every one began to say what
terrible thinning there was in the rank and
file of the poultry yards to-day. Miss
Mehitable nodded and smiled SO appre-
ciatingly, that the Professor wondered how
Cousin John managed to get such trouble.
IA terrible sacrifice among the feathered
tribes" he said, addressing her.
with sudden shadowing of her face.
"I'm afraid very few of them will ever
come back. And to think the only return
we can make is to decorate their graves.
We did great many last year, and there
will be- more than ever, I'm afraid, when
this campaign is over
After this it struck Miss Mehitable that
the conversation became very general; so
mn fhofc ch l1xy xol
the opportunity to ask Cousin John as
be particularly polite to the Professor.
lightfully though she noticed the same gen.
was used to that. and would catch Cousin
John after they returned to the parlor.
But Cousin John wasn't to be caught
he was very busily engaged with some
one else whenever she passed near him,
and, indeed, every one grew very talka-
tive, and even the candles and the fire.
light seemed to Miss Mehitable gayer than
on other nights. a.
Strange ways New England people are
falling into," said Cousin Johns nearest
neighbor. Thanksgiving dinner at 'ear-
ly candle-light' is something equally new
and nice"
"Is 1t new or old? asked Phcnix, and
then came free discussion of dinner
hours in times past, present and to come
II wonder what time Abraham dincd ?''
said Miss Pamphylia. suddenly.
Cousin John said that was a tentative
question; it would be easier to say what
he dlned upon and some one answered:
"Oh, yes, that was on Mess-o-pot-amia
plain
Miss Mehitable nodded and smiled, but
the Professor thought he would make it
little more distinct for her. ...-
W. are wondering at what time ALra-
ham dined," he denunciated. coming very
close. on pretext of picking up the hand
kerchief which had slipped from her lap.
"Oh, he dined at four O'Clock; / was
intimately acquainted with him." said
Miss Mehitable, a glow of pleasant recol-
lection suftusing her gentle face. But, at
the same moment, she caught very pe-
culiar one on the Professors; she glanced
at Cousin Johns. Was it possible the
turkey had not agreed with him that he
was looking so very red? She looked at
PheniX-he was white; Pamphylia was
blue. and the rest were all looking the
other way. A sudden and dreadful sus-
picion seized Miss Mehitable. A professor
of elocution must enunciale well; il she
had misunderstood him whose fault must
il be a
cousin John I" she said. turning toward
the white necktie that had eluded her SO
many times that evening. ''who did you
understand the Professor to speak Of P"
Abraham" replied Cousin John, with
truth and distinctness united in tremen-
dous force
"Did you. Pamphylia ?"
Miss Pamphylia. and, one after another,
Phenix and all the rest. nodded assent
Two round red spots came into Miss
Mehitible's cheeks, and she dropped her
hands on the handkerchief with q gesture
of surrender. Then she looked up with
the unfailing smile.
Then, Phenix, will you have the kind
ness to bring that instrument YOU have
been keeping in your room for me P"
Phenix cast one look at Miss Pamphylia
She stood petrified, and her brown eyes
seemed leaping after him as he left the
room. Hetty had asked for the trumpet !!
But by the time he came back, Miss Pam