The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-12-22
Thanksgiving in Danbury.

try for Thanksgiving dinner as it is
to have light. A 'Danbury couple
named Brigham were going to have
poultry for their dinner. Mr.. Brigham
said to his wife the day before the
event:
~ saw some splendid chickens in
front Of Merrill's store to-day, and
guess I'll get one of them this afternoon
for tomorrow"
~ am going to tend to that myself"
said Mrs. Brigham quickly.
"But can get it just as well; Pm
going right by there"
II don't want you to get it" she as
serted. "When l eat chicken want
something I can put my teeth in."--
And hard look came to her face.
He colored up at once.
"What do you mean by that"
"Just what I say" she explained,
setting her teeth together.
"Do you mean to say do not know
how to pick out a chickenf" he angrily
demanded.
II do"
"Well, I can just tell you, Mary Ann
Brigham, that l know more about
chickens in one minute than you could
ever find out in life time. And fur
thermore, I am going to buy that chick
en- if one is bought at all in this
house," And he struck the table with
his fist.
"Aud I tell you, John Joyce Brig
ham" she cried "that you don't know
any more how to pick out a good
chicken than an unweaned mud turtle;
and if you bring chicken into this
house it will go out again quicker'n it
came in. And you can put that in yer
pipe an smoke it as soon as you want
tor
"Whose house is this, want to
knowf', he fiercely demanded.
She frankly replied at once:
~ suppose it belongs to fiat head
ed idiot with wart on his nose; but o
woman who knows a spring chicken
from hump-back camel is running the
establishment, and so long as she does
he can't bring no patent leather hens
to be cooked"
"You'll see what I'll d." he yelled
and he pulled his coat on and damned
his hat on over his head with the fore
piece over his left ear.
"You bring o chicken here if you
think best, Mister Brigham" she re-
piled.
"You. see if I don't" he growled, as
he passed out and slammed the door
behind him.
That evening there was a nice, fine
chicken ir the pantry, but he didn't
bring it: perhaps he forgot to get his.
Dinner came the next day. Mr..
Brigham took his seat at the table, as
usual, but it was evident that he inten-
ded mischief. Mrs. Brigham filled
plate with chicken, mashed potatoes
and boiled onions. It was tempting
dish, emitting delicious aroma. She
passed it to Mr.. Brigham. He did not
look toward it.
Brigham" said she, "llere's your
plate"
II don't want any chicken" he
said, looking nervously around the
room.
care you going to eat that chicken r.
she demanded, in Il voice of low in
tensity.
"No, l ain't-wooh! ouch! ooh!
She had sprung to her feet like
flash, reached over the table, caught
him by the hair, and lad his face bur-
rowing in the dish of hot onions. It
was done so quick that he had no time
to save himself, and barely time to
give utterance to the agonized excla-
nations which followed upon his decla-
ration.
care you going to eat that chicken3 y"
she hoarsely demanded.
"Lemme up!" he screamed.
She raised his head from the dish
and jammed it OH the table.
"John Joyce Brigham" she Kissed
between her set teeth, "this is day
set apart by the Nation for thanksgiv-
ing and praise. got that chicken to
celebrate this day, and l amt going to
have my gratitude and devotion upset
by such runt as you are. Now, I
want to know if you are going to eat
that chicken like o Christian, or if you
are going to cut up like cantankerous
heathenq Answer me at once, OF I'll
jam your old skull into a jelly"
"I-I'll eat it," he moaned.
Then she let him up, and he took his