Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-11-19
OUR THANKSGIVING.

algnCu anu lOOhCu Sdu. 1SuppOSS Sne was
of those other festal days of long
ago. and of the loved and lost
Then mamma said "Yes, Thanksgiv-
ing" and sighed and did not look in the
least thankful; and was bad that day,
and remarked: 81 would like to know
what have TO be thankful for" which
was very wicked indeed, as l found out
before long. Bridget, the cook, was vexed
on account of extra work, and evidently
thought she had nothing to be thankful
for. And nurse complained because she
could not visit her cousin the morrow, but
must stop in, all along of that fuss about
"Well," said, "this seems an uncom-
monty grateful household perhaps to.mor-
row had better be set apart to fasting and
Just then "Buster" came stamping in
our dear, noisy, sturdy boy, whose other
name is Neddy-looking' so rosy and
jolly, his cheeks red as apples, his great,
black eyes full of mirth and fun.
"Well, young gentleman" l asked,
"have you anything to be thankful for?'
He studied little, and then said: "Why,
yes, my red-top boots and my tandy cigar
new trumpet" "All
good things" l said "behold one men,
Der of this interesting family-least, if not
last-who counts his blessings and is
grateful therefor. Anythingmore, dear ?"
He ran to his mamma, and, looking
sweetly into her face, said: "And you,
mamma, dear, and you, dramma."
Grandma looked over her spectacles
with loving tears in her eyes, and stroked
his curly head. l caught him up and
spuggled him, and said: "Our greatest
blessing is this precious nuisance-the
one thing every soul in this house is most
thankful for is this little scrap of boyW
1t is true we thought every day of our
lives that he would make iunatics of us
with his mischief and racket; but we
knew very we'll there was not in the
county such another well-grown, active,
handsome boy of four years old. From
morning until night it was constant
question: "What is Buster doing now,
or what a1tW Buster do neXt?' There was
no feeling Of safety or peace in the house
until it was said: Buster is asleep"
Full of life and beauty from the top of
his sunny head to the tips of those red
topped boots how dear he was in spite of
all the care he gave us But, notwith-
stanNing his beautiful thankfulness, he
was Just dreadful that day before Thanks
giving His pranks were endless. Ban
ished from the sitting groom for his noise,
he TOOK refuge in the kitchen, and soon
cook c&me in perfectly exasperated, bring
ing th9 young man. He had followed her
into tile store room, and the first she knew
he waY prancing up and down the garden
path playing horse, dragging at his heels
huge turkey-his lines tied to its legs.
thokght the cook never would get over
it. She forbade him the kitchen for the
day Sand she actually called him "Spal-
peeR" Well, you would say that was
enoVgh for one day, but the worst is to
COME.
III the afternoon Mrs. Lofty and her
daughter from the city called upon mamma.
KS she was going down the stairs she
noticed on every step a streak or splotch
of flour; she did not stop to inquire how
it came there, and what was her amaze
ment upon going into the parlors to find
up and down, criss-crOss and ZigZag, all
over the handsome carpets the same.
Back parlor, front parlor, halls, pOrches,
steps, all covered. How mamma felt.
There sat the strange ladies, their beauti-
full dresses tucked up to keep them out of
it, What could it mean? l suggested
Buster. He came in smiling and cheer
full, in the very best of spirits, his little
,
while he looked like a small miller, com
pletely covered with -four. He did look
so comical and so sweet and innocent that
before word was said everyone began
shouting with laughter, Mrs. Lofty as
much as anyone. He had crept down 10
the kitchen and filled his bucket from one
of cooks pans when she was not looking.
He was only playing the poor little girl
who was carried off by cruel giant, and
who dropped ashes all the way so her
friends followed and found her.
After that he was in great disgrace, and
we consulted, asking what should we do
with such child? Mamma thought he
must be punished. Grandma shook her
head and was "aftaid he would come to
some bad end. Oh, dearr'
1t was getting near five o'clock, and
papa would soon be home. Mamma called
nurse to bring Buster Indeed, mum
he's not with me. l Ithoughthe was here.
" He is probably with cook; go fine
him;" but Bridget had not seen him
He has gone to the stables with James,
/ said; but nurse came back and he had
not been there. 1t then occurred to every
body that he not been heard or seen for ar
hour or more, long time for him to be
quiet. OF course he was around some
where" and we all began looking anC
calling for him. Some were searching fol
him IN the grounds; some wer'
calling: "Neddy, Neddyp upstairs
and some, Buster, Buster, dear
where are your" downstairs. Papa came
home, and he, too, searched. Whert
could he be? 1t is only an hour or two,
we said; "there is no place he could ge
lost" But we could not find him. Still
we searched, up in the attic, down cellar
in every closet, under beds, through th
gardens and stables; all were running
hither and thither. "Oh, where was tn
baby?" Papa said: He'll turn up; h
has hid somewhere" but when it &c
quite dark he did not say it so bravely
and mamma looked pale and agitated
Grandma walked up and down, with he
| glasses pushed up over her cap-bordel
and felt as though stone was IN m
heart. Papa and James went to the neigh
bors. Soon all the neighborhood wa
aroused, and men were going here an
there, shouting; and, OH OH some ha
gone to the dark, cold river, not far away
We kept saying: ave shall find him in
few minutes: he is all right" but we sal
it with white, scared faces. The Ion
hours went creeping by. 1t was certai
he was nowhere about the hous
or grounds, yet we kept going
the same places a dozen times, a
tremulous and crying. "Ohw sal
nurse, breaking out into sobs, ="
think / called that blessed hangel m
life's torment this very morning." an
Bridget prayed Heaven to forgive her fC
saying he was a "spalpeen." Grandm
thought we "might haze knOion he was to
lovely and precious to be spared to us
and I had called him nuisance! bl
mamma only moaned; "Ol my baby, m
babyr' Papa and the men went in diffe
ent directions extending the search.
was ten O'Clock. The women were alon
Grandma's dear, wrinkled hands WEI
clasped in prayer. Mamma paced IL
house with wild eyes and white lip
Bridget and l were sobbing and prayin
by turns. OH was that dear Ii
tie body whirling in the deep, daI
watersY Had some ueacherous hole sws
lowed him upg Had some wretch take
him away forever from our sightY WI
our dear baby, our chief blessing, ours 1
moref Father in heavenl how much OF