The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-11-13

and sleiPhs whose owners were inside
the church.
Deacon Pettingill and his wife had
driven to church on Thanksgiving morn
ing and home again for dinner for
more than thirty years. One year,
however, they had a sadder and slower
drive, for it was to follow their two lit
tie girls, Hepsey and Jane, to the grave
yard. So they always felt sad on
Thanksgiving morning. There were
no children nor grandchildren, to come
home and eat Thanksgiving dinner
with them.
"Pears like it wasn't any use cookin'
all this dinner" mother Pettingill had
said that morning, discontentedly.
"Look at oil those doughnuts and cara
way cookies, now. What's two old
people like us going to do with 'em, /
wonder? But I've made 'em every
year since 1 was born Almost, and L
guess it's too late to stop now"
"Now, mother don't getout of sorts,
said Deacon Pettingill, "tain't as if we
hadn't the good things to make 'em of.
That 'ud be worse, reckon"
81 don't know, father, said his wife,
WhOh lndhC NlCbudlS Inc 10 nave
EN- eat, that's all, and not have 'em
dry up and be good for nothin'."
While the deacon and his wife were
inside the church listening to Parson
Tuttle's Thanksgiving sermon, Nettie
and Mamie had borrowed their old
horse, Dick, hitched outside, and were
having "lovely ride" The snow was
falling very softly. Now and then
cool little flake would light on Mamie's
nose, and once, when she turned her
face up, daring big fellow settled
right on her warm, red lips, like bee
on clover. What a charming kiss it
was Mamie laughed, and tried to
show it to Nettie, but it was gone.
However, they both took to catching
snowhakes in their mouths, and old
Dick had his own way as to where he
should go. OF course he took the
straight road home, which he had trav-
eled for twenty years, and of course
he drew up beside Deacon Pettingill's
side gate where mother always got out.
When he stopped, the little girls con-
cluded to get out minute, as their
noses were little cold. They thought
there would be plenty of time to drive
back to the church, hitch up the horse
again, and then make their way back to
the institution before dinner.
As no one needed their soft little
knocks they ventured to open the
door. They found wood fire, covered
up little with ashes, and splendid,
great maltese cat blinking at it from a red
and black patchwork cushion. The cat
rose up, stretched herself, gave yawn,
and then lay down again as If to say:
"You are quite welcome make your
selves at home, but don't disturb me,
and, whatever you do, don't keep that
door open.
Old Dick, thinking his duty done
when the children had climbed out of
the sleigh, and not enjoying the snow
as much as they had, walked around to
barn, as he knew the way perfectly
well. He walked in, pulling the sleigh
after him, like the careful old Morse
that he was.
About the time Nettie and Mamie
were looking about for Dick, to ride
back, and in great CONSERVATION to find
him gone, Deacon Pettingill and his
wife came out of the church, with the
rest of the congregation to go home.
The deacon was talking earnestly with
the minister about the sermon. The
parson and deacon walked out to Dick $
hitching post before they observed that
Dick wasn't there at all
81 tell you," said the deacon, feeling
for the hitching strap while he looked
at Parson futile, that argument can't
be answered no way"
"Why, father, where's Dick ?" said
Mother Pettingill, who had followed
them. Why-ah-bless my soul,
where is he p said the deacon, looking
bewildered.
The parson helped in the search for
Dick. They all walked back to the
church where the sexton was just about
to shut the door, and all looked in earn
estly.
They didn't find him in there, how
ever, and the whole party walked back
to the sidewalk, and stood looking up
and down the street in dazed sort of a
way.
"Well, it beats my time" said the
deacon. Mother, dld l hitch Dick
this morning?"
"Why, father, you raust ave-" said
the oil / lady" ''you don't generally
forget that"
He must have got loose and gone
home" said the deacon.
Come right home with me, both OF
YOU" said the parson, land have din
ner, and then we'll find the horse,
guess.
But neither the deacon nor his wife
could think of leaving the great turkey
browning slowly in the brick oven, to
dry up and burn in the pen. They
must get home, so a horse and sleigh
were borrow wed of the deacons nephew
who lived in town, and the puzzled ole
people drove home.
OF course we know what they fount
there. Mother Pettingill found the
bright-eyed little girls, who wouldn'
answer a word she said, and the deacon
found Dick comfortably in his stall
with the sleigh drawn in carefully on
of the snow.
When he came in from the barn b.
found mother speaking as loud as he
soft voice could be raised:
"Who are you, dear and where OF
earth did you come from 2