Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-12-04

two or three hours. The meal sweled ant
swelled until the kettle was nearly fun.
81 deelar fort said she To the cat. II dom
know what possessed me TO make such a lot 81
pudden'. But if don't want 1t all myself the
hogs will; 'twOn't be wasted. and fetching a
bowl of milk from the pantry, she sat down i'm
SliPpered feet on the fOfe-piece of the stove
and proceeded to eat her supper.
Il declar fort" said she 10 the dog. who lay
on the rug at her feet, II feel exactly as If
Sumbudy was dead, or as if evrybudy was
dead, and was left on airlh alone to keep
taTyeTn. / should like little bite of Sunthin'
to Top of with, hut wouldn't own il to any-
hUdy that could talk; but YOU won't tell no
tales. m as ashamed as whipped dog. and
feel a. cheap as dirt every time think what
day ii il, and how we've been prOSpered in
every way through the year. and yet here be-
no cOmpny in the house and none likely 10
come. and nothin' cooked up. and no Thanks
givin smell about the house. and, worst of all.
father n mother sent of out from under their
own nun. HARE, you re a sour. selfish. crab
bed Cd maid, nd IN ashamed on ye. Take
the Bible and see If ye can't find Sunthin' TO
cit We inter "A better state O mind"
80 she strobe into mothers ROOM after
the family Bible, and, behold! it was gone
" They've taken il with EN- to Johns. and all
the IhankSgivin' feelin' along with it, She
took a look NJ the made-up bed. with its pieced-
up quilt, and said again. Ii seems rs if ey'ry-
body was dead, and went out and shut the
door softly behind her.
What if Sumbudy should come" she solili-
quized next taking up the cat, but there
invited To Johns, excepting Sister Susan. poor.
dear. precious child, away of there in the
WildS; she III never come home agin / pre-
sumo. and Harriet laid her head ON her knees
and thought of the day Susan was born, and
OF the day when she was married. and cried a
little; and then dropped off into nap, from
which she was aroused by a subdued hustle
near the back door.
Getting up and lifting a corner Ofthe curtain
she peeped out, and saw, by the light OF the
full moon. wagon driving our OF the yard.
trunk-Or baSket-a tallish boy, shOrtish girl.
two more children coming up the walk. and a
plump, little woman; with baby in her arms.
Just stepping upon the dOOr-Stone.
Susan" gaSped Harriet, quickly unbuttOn-
ing and opening the door, and catching the
surprised, rosy little woman in her arms. They
both cried little. but HaTr'e meanwhile put
Susan into the Splnt-bOttOmed chair, took off
her bonnet, and smOOthed her hair. Then she
wiped her eyes, asked after the absent huS
band, kissed the children, took OFF their things.
making mental calculation of how she
should manage to get them all dressed before
sunday.
Il knew we should find YOU IN. -" said Susan.
looking around the familiar kitchen. - re
member how the baking used 10 drag the night
before, and she gave a little sniff. Smelling
nothing suggestive of fancy cookery she said
she believed she had managed to take a little
cold in some way. At this the children, each
in turn, shifted and looked curiouSly at each
other.
come until morning. said Harriet, in her de-
cided way. land then we will have general
surprise at breakfast
They are all Well-father and MOTHER"
asked Susan, anXiOuSly.
Never better! Now what will You have for
supper" That was just what had been said
in their play, in the ear. and the children
pricked up their ears.
oh, a cup of tea for me. and plenty of milk
and bread for the children, said the plump
and rosy mamma. CARRYING on her part of the
play according To the programme. But Aunt
Harriet, instead of asking them what they
would like. seized upon the idea of milk, and
exclaimed;
Yes, yes. milk for the children. to be sure
of course il will be the very best thing for them
after their journey. You used To be fond of
Samp. SUSAN
II should think so, and have never seen
any since went away"
The children looked disappointed, but they
enjoyed their supper. and thought and said
they had never tasted anything so delicious as
that first meal at grandpaS.
You see said Aunt Harriet, as she was
preceding them to bed just as the clock
struck eleven. 1T Is a good appetite and "A
thankful heart hat makes a Thanksgivin'
YES" agreed Johnnie. that's so: but. af
ter all, I'm glad were going to have the tur-
Key, goose, ducks and chicken fixin's tomor-
row;
BEGINNING with stewed chicken and pump
Kin Vie for breakfast said Mary.
You see, have told them all about it, said
Susan. apOlegetically. as she carried the baby
up the stairs she had last come down as a
bride. III you're crowded. Harriet, YOU can
make up a bed Oh the floor for the boys"
There are two beds in this room: can YOU
manage here?' replied Harriet, opening the
door OF one of the spick and span front cham
berS.
"Oh. certainly"
Then go TO bed and to sleep, and don't hur-
~ up until call YOU in the morning. and
bidding the little group a loving goodnight,
she hurried down stairs. quickly dOnned walk
ing shoes. shawl and hood, slipped out the
back-doOr. licked il securely after her. put the
key under the door-sill, and started across lots
for Johns.
Its lucky haven't been baking for fort
night, she said, and then she continued, If
had, the folks would all be at home. where
they'd Orter be, and / shouldn't have ter go
prOwling OF after EN- don't sees I've made
much"
Jane was taking her last chicken pie out of
the oven. and the clock was striking Il as Har-
riet stalked into the kitchen.
John heard her voice and got out Of bed and
came out III his nlght-gOwn To hear the good
news. for Susan was the younger sister and the
pet.
IN go over and bring them all around here
to breakfast" said John eagerly. 1T don't
seem as if i could wait until morning.
1o,n., Will i, tell You what shall be done" said
but will carry our fxings all over home. Do
You suppose I'm going 10 have that dear child
and them children come half across the cont
nent TO Thanksgiving at grandpa's only TO he
sent away from the old homestead 10 one of the
ntlghbOrs? BY no means"
Then, indeed Harriet broke down and cried
In good earnest. And what was a wonderful
Thing Tor her TO do, put her arms around her
slster-in-lawS neck and kissed her heartily
THANKSGIVING morning opened bright and
falr. When Aunt HART. i'm a pretty Powered
wrapper, looked in TO awake the travellers. she
found them up and dressed. GRANDPA and
grandma John and his wife and all the rest
were waiting to meet them at breakfast and
everything went ON just as it was set down in
the .'play."
There are Thanksgiving smells enough
this morning, said Mary;'I guess We did all
have colds last night
But all kept their own counsel. and the
plump little mother has not yet ceased won
dering how il happened that Harriet should
have been making that immense samp pudding
on Thanksgiving eye.-lSprinGfeld RepubE
can.
Mr. WATTERsON's LECTURE on SOUTHERN
HUMOR takes very well with his northern
hearers. and perhaps especially i'm its graver
passages concerning the southern character.
which he declares has radically changed. His
-: