The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-11-25


dalntles that had had thought OF him
nodded into each and all of them; and
for the first time in her lite the active
little housekeeper felt that getting ready
Tor thanksgiving was task rather than
pieasurable excitement whose fruits
were TO add new laurels to her own brow,
and there was weary drag to her step
as she sought the closet where her herbs
were stored; for, thanks to some grand
moInerly instruction in her childish days,
she mad never failed for years to lay in a
stock each season of herbs, both for
medicinal and cooking purposes, all
gathered, dried and labeled by her own
deft fingers, although the latter precau-
tlon seemed almost unnecessary in view
or Jne TACT that each kind had it's own
separate compartment upon its own par
tlcular shelf, and it was the boast of their
owner that she fcould put her hand
upon the one she wanted In the darkest
night that ever was, which was the rea-
son, perhaps, that she did not consider
l1gnt necessary, although the evening
shadows made every thing indistinct in
the Wlndowless closet, and her eyes were
GUNNER than usual as she fumbled among
the carefully secured and fragrant Dun-
dles Iorthe summer savory whose peculiar
mayor was to add the finishing touch to
the almost completed stufing.
"Here it is There, I've dropped the
label = as strip of paper fell to the
floor. But it's no matter, anybody
can tell summer savory without even
looking at it, and mechanically rub
bling the stiff spikes between her fingers,
she retraced her steps to the kitchen,
and by the time her father came in
ready for his supper, the turkey
was comfortably established in big
baking pan, his wings meekly folded
above his wonderfully distended breast,
and those stately legs, once the pride Of
the barnyard, now helplessly fettered by
bit OF cotton yarn.
All ready for tomorrow, Susy 60
quer1ed her father, with sidelong
glance at the unusually grave face bent
over the tea that she was pouring for
him.
eyes, sir. :"
Nothing can do to help you2"
"No, sir"
This curtness was something unusual,
and the old mans fatherly heart gave a
throb of pain as he remembered the
look, half surprised, half reproachful,
with which his proposition of having the
Toothacres to dinner on this, the great
feast day of the people, had been re-
ceived, and, disguise it as he might un-
der the names of girlish nonsense and
wilfulness, he could not help seeing the
repugnance with which Susy received
the awkward attentions of their rich,
but minded neighbor, and the
unmistakable pain in look and tone that
always followed his sighting treatment
of her old playmate and would-be sutton,
young Oakman.
ssGirls don't always know what is best
for 'em," he unused over his pipe that
evening, ssbut," with a glance at the
trim, graceful figure opposite, g do
wish, myself, that Toothacre had little
more wit to go with his money"
The tall eight-day clock in Farmer
Harris kitchen was just on the stroke OF
ten the following morning, when the
sound of steps on the piazza and a blum
dering knock at the front door announced
the arrival of the expected guests, and
in welcoming and helping the old lady
remove her wrappings, Susy managed to
escape the disagreeably familiar saluta-
ton of the delighted Ben, who was IN
high feather, evidently looking upon his
invitation to dinner as decided hint
that his matrimonial projects would be
received with favor whenever he chose to
unfold them.
"Beniie's been ready these two hours, ;"
remarked Mrs. Toothacre with little
Introductory sniggle, as she shook cut
the folds of her best black dress, that
she had worn to do honor to the occa-
sion. stBut told i'm. 'twan't best to
get here too early, before you'd got
your head combed and yer frock changed.
/ 'aint forgot when / was young an had
a beau, should a. been as mad as wet
hen if he'd a caught me III my forenoon
rig"
| Susy bridled angrily, and Ben giggled,
while Father Harris wisely essayed to
turn the conversation by opening dis
cussion upon the subject of pigs, in
which his younger neighbor took even
more interest than farmers generally,
having, as his mother feelingly remarked,
ssa soft side for all critters, pigs particu-
larly," and being, moreover, so. well
posted in the peculiarities, habits and
tastes of that interesting animal that he
could carry on conversation in that
line without any extra tax upon his very
limited supply of brain power, which
was quite consideration in his case.
Left to the tender mercies of Mrs.
Toothacre, Susy was obliged to listen,
with all the patience she could muster,
to heightened dissertation upon the
excellencies, social and domestic, of that
lady's incompatible son.
Theirs one thing about Beniie, : re-
marked the dame, lowering her voice to
a confidential undertone, and turning up
to Susys face just about as expression
less as one of her own pie plates, hes
an excellent provider, an anybody that
KEEP house knows what comfort It's to
have enough to do with; but, with an
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