The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-11-30
A THANKSGIVING SKETCH.
BY MARY J. CAPRON.


Mr.. John Applebee walked leisurely
down the church-steps, handed his wife
into the phaeton, tossed n his name
sake-a small nephew from the city
settled himself comfortably in the spare
corner, and, gathering up the reins,
started his spirited bays in the direction
of the Applebee homestead, upon whose
time-worn hearthstone the Thanksgiv-
ing holocaust was still offered.
"Forty-two thankful people out of a
congregation of some four hundred!"
he remarked, as the bays subsidized from
their first furious onset against time
and space into n square, determined
trot. "Clearly waste of fuel on the
part of both sexton and minister. Peo-
pie evidently prefer the Jewish proc
lamation: Eat the fat and drink the
sweet, and send portions u 10 them for
whom nothing is preparPd.'n
"There is your opportunity" re-
turned his wife, pointing to a solitary
pedestrian, upon whom they were rap
idly gaining. ''Miss Burke must be 60
ing to her brothers., and has had no
easy conveyance prepared
"But our portion is certainly pre-
occupied"
"Oh! there's plenty of room. can
take Johnny in my lap and the seat is
wide"
ats bad getting out, the horses are
so uneasy"
"What would you do if you had a
note to collect?" And Mrs. Applebee
quietly began her share of the arrange
ment.
This very practical way of looking at
things was no new experience to Mr..
Applebee, and, with good-natured
shrug of his shoulder, he brought the
phaeton to a stand-still, just against the
portionless female aforesaid, who
floundered into its depths with cheer
full alacrity. The gentleman followed,
hitting the carriage-top with his hat
and Miss Burke's bonnet with his elbow
in his efforts to fasten himself perma-
nently upon the small triangle of
cushion left at his disposal.
"Yes'm, a v-e-e-ry nice day." gasp
ed Miss Burke, in response to Mrs. APP
plebee's greeting, righting her bonnet
with one hand and clutching at a small
basket with the other.
You were at church, l believe, -
continued Mrs. Applebee.
"Yes ma'am," said Miss Burke, sit
ing very erect.
"Rather thin house." ventured Mr..
Applebee, not to be outdone in efforts
to put the newcomer at ease.
There was a long-drawn sigh, and
then: GAS usual. Such sin and
shame, after all our country's been en-
joying of health and prosperity, in this
land of our forefathers, letting alone
our own town, where, excepting the
measles and whoopin'-cough, there's
been nothing prevailing, unless tits in
iquity-there's enough of that, the
Lord knows; and how we can expect Il
have our blessings, such as they are
morning and evening, right along con
tinuous, with just forty-two solitary in
dividuals-I counted 'em twice over
sitting and shivering in that great
empty Westinghouse, the only wit
nesses. TO a thankful and contenteC
spirit, is more than know"
Miss Burke paused for breath, anC
Mr.. Applebee remarked, parenthetical
ly:
"The ladies have their cares, sup
pose"
Perhaps it takes four women to turn
and haste one turkey. There wasn't
soul with Squire Hayes but his brother
in-law. And Mrs. Lane, suppose, lief
her husband 10 look after their tire
grown-up girls. Mr.. and Mrs. HUI
managed to get there about sermon
time, what with her two maids and
hired-man; and Mis- Tuttle's auu
dropped in half an hour later. O
course, Mr.. and Mrs--Iuttle couldn'
both of them manage an the fix n S
And there was that Carson pew. VIVA
would old Grandpa Carson have said
One forlorn man in it, and he none re
lated. / studied much as half an hou
who he could be, and made out at last
He's been here before It's theIDeacon'
wife's sisters son by her first husband
Only think of the Deacon's letting
tranger bring his tithes into the store
house; and he looking over his &C
counts, most likely. noticed the stor
shutters n little ways open. An
I met Brother Tumset talin
his family out in their new b.
rooSh. DR.. Carr, too. They WEI
going to her mothers, over in Herrin