The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-11-19
LITTLE BUSTERS THANKSGIVING.
a Thanksgiving story for the Little Folks.

L do not think WE were regarding our
blessings or feeling very thankful that
morning. j remember grandma looked
up from her knitting and said, "To NOR
rev will be Thanksgiving" and sighed
and looked sad. / suppose you are think
ing of those other festal days OF long ago
and of the loved and lost.
Then mamma said, "Yes, Thanksgiv-
ing," and she sighed and did not look IN
the least thankful; and l was bad that
day, and remarked, ~ 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 Thanksgiv-
ing.
"Well, / said, this seems an uncom-
monty grateful household; perhaps to-
morrow had better be set apart to fast
ing and lamentation.
Just then q 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, | asked,
"have you anything to be thankful forI"
He studied q little, then said, "Why,
yes, my red top boots aud my tandy
gar-and-and-my new trumpet.
"All good things" l said; "behold one
member of this interesting family
least, if not last-who counts Lis bless
ings and is grateful therefor. Anything
more, dear!"
He ran to his mamma, and looking
sweetly into her face, said, land you,
mamma, dear, and you, Drama.
Grandma looked over her spectacles
with loving tears i'll her eyes, and stroked
his curly head. / caught him up and
snuggled 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
boy!" 1t is true we thought every day
of our lives that he would make ltlnatics
of us with his mischief and racket but
we knew very well there was not III the
county such another well grown, active,
handsome boy of three years old. From
morning till night it was constant ques-
what will 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, not
withstanding his beautiful thankfulness,
he was Just dreadful that day before
Thanksgiving. His pranks were end
less. Banished from the sitting-room
for his noise, he took refuge in the
kitchen, and soon the cook came in per-
fectly exasperated, bringing the young
man. He had followed her into the
store room, and the first she knew he
was prancing up and down the garden
path playing horse, dragging at his heels
a huge turkey-his lines tied to its legs.
/ thought the cook would never get over
it. She forbid him the kitchen for the
day, and she actually called him
"Spalpeen." Well, you would say that
was enough for one day, but the worst is
to come.
In the afternoon Mrs. Lofty and her
daughter from the city called upon
mamma. As 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 amazement upon going into the par
lors 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 la
dies, their beautiful dresses tucked up
TO keep them out of it. What could it
mean / suggested Buster. He came
in smiling and cheerful, in the very best
of spirits, his little seaside bucket on his
arm nearly empty, while he looked like
a small miller, completely covered with
-four. He did look so comical and SO
sweet and innocent that before a word
was said every one began shouting with
laughter, Mrs. Lofty as much as any one.
He had crept down to the kitchen and
filed his bucket from one of cooks pans
when she was not looking. He WAS only
playing the poor little girl who was car
ried off by cruel giant, and who drop
ped 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 child2 Mamma thought
he must be punished. Grandma shook
her head and was " afraid he would come
to some bad end. Oh, dear"
1t was getting near o'clock, and
papa would soon he home. Mamma
called nurse to bring Buster. Indeed,
mum, he's not with me. thought he
was here"
''He is probably with cook; go find
him." but Bridget had not seen him.
"He has gone 10 the stables with James,
said but nurse came back, and he had
not been there. 1t then occurred to
everybody that he had not been heard or
seen for an hour or more-a long time
for him to be quiet. OF course he was
around somewhere" and we all began
looking and calling for him. Some were
searching for him in the grounds; some
were calling, Needy, Neddy!" up.
stairs, and some, Buster, Buster, dear
where are you Z" down stairs. Papa came
home, and he, too, searched. Where
could he be. at is only an hour oil
two," we said, "there is no place
he could get lost. But we coulC