Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-12-09
Giving Thanks.

II shall not go to church tomorrow, that's
sure"
Why" inquired Melissa, stirring the
pumpkin on the stove.
just because there's nothing to thank
for
"Pemelia :" and the small cook at the stove
barely escaped burning her new gingham
apron standing so near the stove, quite still
with aStonishment.
"Y You can Pcmelia if YOU like, but !
don't know what there is to thank for The
red cows dead, and spcckle-hen, and Daisy's
calf there is not a bit Of an egg getting
laid, and Bundle, the dog. has a lame leg
Then. didn't father say the pumpkins and
beans and cabbages weren't so big or so
many as most years I've been saying them
all over to myself, and it's plain there's no
use in going to meeting
There's a sight gone wrong when you
count it all up; but, Pemela, don't you
think that more has gone right z"
d" No; not a bit Of it."
IAN the little scraps Of chickens have
grown big and Cooshy and Crumple and
Mooly are well; and the pigs didn't get sick
like Frederick Peters pigs"
Yes. but We have only seventeen and he
had twenty"
Bat I'd rather have ours, because they
are alive"
'' Yes
Don't You think it would be best to be
thankful for what We hare and not think
about the rest Z"
No; I'd Just be thinking all the time
other peoples cows didn't die and every
body's pumpkins and cabbages are big but
ours and everybody's calves are alive"
Yes but that don't matter Cooshy's
calf didn't die, and the barn is full Of things
alive and things to eat, and the cellars got
lots Of apples and everything in it too and
And mothers got the rheumatism, |
suppose | must thank for that -
mo" said Melissa, laying the wooden
spoon, with which she had been stirring, on
the table, and looking thoughtful, off through
the window, past the barn and the haystacks
and the farm fencing, to the sky hung with
its fleeing Of pure clouds and Its calm,
beautiful blue.
There are a great many very beautiful
things" She said, half aloud.
Il don't know if there are never get to
see any Of them, nor you either"
"Oh, yes, sister the sky and the moun-
tain and the fields"
81 don't get much time to see any sky,
and the mountains mighty steep when We
90 to Milford, and as to the fields, never
saw anything about them but the work
that's to do on them"
Melissa stood for a moment. half wishing
her sister could see, and half thinking of the
IS beautiful things" but she only said, "TO-
morrow ! shall think of the sky and the
fields and give thanks for them with all the
rest when the prayers are said
Pemelia would have treated her sister to
merry laugh, but knock at the door
checked her just as her lips We're parting.
It's Lucy Mayhew," she exclaimed
Come in and Lucy, in her cotton frock
and scrap Of a shawl, came running in with
her rosy cheeks and her little cold hands
glad to find cosy kitchen with its red
topped stove and its splitting pumpkin, the
picture in every way of plenty and OF com
fort.
How nice to have such a roasting fire =
she said, as she held her hands over it.
Everybody has 10 have a roasting fire to
day, | think, with all this cold
Most everybody, | suppose
What are You going to do tomorrow 2
inquired Pemeha, polishing dish to stanc
away.
f,o IN meetinr that's all"
WI .',, ,,,;,'r, -, ,,,eo,;,,, forg"
.It,s Tbantegi,ing m @ Won know and we u,
., ,,ro,. anS 10 tba59t
fiIS iIIS,,m ",, 3 ,aiJ psn,e,;a co,;,,o oyer h,
tho 1tora and standinc, With her hands q,
bnr @ tV.' hins "''' '''''''9 "' ~ ''
- f,.ish Tbo,l,s,,;y;r, CANA oftener
5o,,', w., N,d,;sDaSe of conr.o overvhod,
- iha'l,s aji tbe t;n,s bnt il i q III,
leS, sald Meissa' InlHAihg' ~ i'uo.