, 1875-11-28

Grandpa and EraDdmH lived in g1and Old
homestead in the country. and there at ever.
Thanksgiving they gathered their grandchildren.
And what merry days they we're, to be sure. We
Joun9sters all assembled in the big nursery and
spent the two jolly evenings-Taanksgiving eve
| ard Thanksgiving evening-ln playing games
and 'shaving all sorts Of fun~ as We phrased it,
winding up the festivities by repast Of apples
and nuts, enligened perhaps with popped corn,
| which We popped ourselves with Infinite ta1ish
in the glowing stove.
| OF all the cousins, the pretaest girl WAS Amy
Lee, slender, blue-eyed creature With dainty
little Ways, aud the sweetest laugh that ever
was. We al loved her, but there was ona Of
the boys that By common consent was given the
place by hex side as being his Of right, from h.s
long established and pEe-eminent davotion to
her.
This wss Harry Allen, only , second cousin,
but his home WAS 60 near that he and his father
always came to grandma'a for the great festival
OF the year.
While we Juveniles were holding high carnival
in the nnrnery the eldest Of the family sat in
what seemed to us ssnpidly solemn stats in the
drawing room, and, OF course, Harry'a father
eat With them. And get when first remember
harry wasgrown up, might be counted q young
man.
When he Was no more than 18 he had run
away with my mothers COUSIN, Harriet Lee, aad
year. leaving him at IS the father Of this boy.
At first when he came to g1andma's he would
came in often Of Thanksgiving and play games
with us, and he seemed hardly more than
youngster himself; he had most amiablo face
with big blue eyes, and an ever ready smile, and
ho was great fayorite w1th us all.
think it WAS way back in that early time that
the story am going to tell began. One Thanks-
giving eve, when we were all playing games, Air.
Allen, or ''Cousin Tonn+'' as We atl called him,
suddenly appeared among Us, and was greeted
with shouts Of delight.
'Come and play! come and play!" was called
IN Wild chorus and Cousin Tom Was seized bY
half dozen hands and dragged into game OF
forfelts.
Presently It was Amy's turn to redeem a
pledge, and the mighty poteutate who had our
destlnies in his hands gave out the time-wosn
forfeit:
..Bow to the witttest, kneel to tho rrettiaat
and kiss the one you love best"
:. Amy stepped out and etood among. Us laugh
Ing and blutbing. She WAS about II years old 1t
the time. pretty little sylph, and IS khe stood
there In her blue dress and long lair hair she
wis as dairty picture rs QUO woulI wish to
Zee.
After moment Of bes;tat'on she made so1-
emu bow to Sam. famous as the greatest blum
derer among u.s. When the laughter had died
away after thus fit Of satire, she kneis do with
rretty gesture Of admiration before handsome |
Cousin Annie, uho MAS watching the game with |
ali the dignity. OF m acknowledged belle, and !
then made another brief pause.
K, Harry, who vas watching me- jealously, drew
b!nlseff up with look Of expectation, eyen /
holding out his hand toward her, but Amy never
noted the gesture. only after short besta-
tlon made a sudden rush to Cousin Tom. and !
flung her arms round his neck, giving him a
hearty kiss.
Tom colo1ed orer all hts fair face, md ge atI |
shouted and screamed With de1lehted aunrova1o |
her choice. -.
;. The years slipped BY and Ams grew to BE- a !
beautiful grl, While Harry turned into yery
1aat'uious beau. i" hose cravate mere ueref-end- |
Ing SUR rise. whose boots were wondexfully |
shiny, and whose trousers vera something edi- |
fv,ng to behold.
What fnn We made Of him because Of his per-
fnmery and his fpe ladr airs! How Sam 1di-
culed hin TOR pa1 ting his hair ia the middle, aad
What rough jokes The 6oys cut 1t hs expense |
:, However, there was one thing very sure-his
asvosion to Amy increased, and the d.llaakof NE