The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-12-11
FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
Topsy's ThnnksGivlnE.

Topsy's ThnnksGivlnE.
Topsy was Wins kitten. She sat al
bumped up in the cellar-way, watching
the plump speckled hens, which hung
there by strings tied around their yel-
low legs. Only yesterday she hae
chased these same hens about the yard
and jumped at them from behind tue
rose bushes. Topsy shook her little
sable head. ooh, MY" said she, ano
then gave thanks that she was not
fowl.
Just then Wins mother stepped down
on the stairs and took one of the hens
Topsy followed and saw her lay it on 6
board and begin to "dress" " it. Topsy
thought it more like undressing it
feathers jerked off, legs and head cut off
and when the sharp knife began to cut
it open Topsy ran away horrifed,
"What q dreadful observance Thanks.
giving isl" said she.
However the odor OF the various bak.
ings and stewings was delightful.
Topsy spent the afternoon in the kitchen
rocking. chair. Frequently Win csme in
and gave her hug and talked to her oi
the good things they would eat to-mor.
row. Topsy's views of Thanksgiving
were considerably changed by evening
but it was the evident hungriness OF the
whole family, think, which caused her
to take the step she did.
Under the stove, where she lay, she
had o good view OF Wins papa and
mamma. She seized the moment when
the former sneezed his spectacles off,
and the latter dropped the seam-stitch
in her knitting. to walk across into
the dark corner by the pantry door,
then, with one backward look and a
soft leap, she was in.
Under the broad shelf stood the mo-
lasses Jug and the vinegar jug, and be-
hind them Topsy snugly hid herself.
She was so black that no one could see
her in the dark corner unless they looked
very sharply.
In o little while somebody said,
"Well, We will turn the cat out and go
to bed"
And then Topsy heard a soft, persua-
sive voice "Kitty ! kitty kitty !"
But she didn't stir.
Kitty, kitty, kitty I"
In vain.
"Wen, thought the cat was in here,
but I guess Win turned her out before
he went to bed"
Topsy purred 80 loudly-it was her
way of laughing-that she was afraid Of
being heard. But presently the light
was put out, and the house grew still.
She waited until she could hear some
body snore, and then crept out. She
knew where her favorite dishes were,
for she had watched when they were
set away. She sprang up on shelf and
smelled about daintily, till she found the
platter of roasted chickens. She tasted
the delicately Drowned wings, the
breast, and the tender side of the last
she ate heartily. Then she partook of
the squash and pumpkin pies, eating out
the insides. Then she nibbled the crusts
of the mince and apple pies, then tasted
the cake then Tapped little cream from
the milk pans.
By this time she was too full to swal-
low another mouthful, and she jumped
down to the floor and looked around for
nice sleeping-place. She found q
drawer partly open, and the ironing
sheet in it made nice nest, and so she
curled down and went to sleep, sure OF
her Thanksgiving dinner.
In the morning she was awakened by
some one making the kitchen fire. She
lay still, not daring to crawl out, tor she
knew very we'll what she had done.
While she was thinking about it, Wins
mamma came into the pantry, and see-
ing the open drawer, shut it.
Topsy forgot and YVES Just going to
new to be let out, when she heard ma
ma exclaim. -" Well, I do declare !"
"What's the matter ?" said papa from
the kitchen.
"Just look here! |"
Papa came, and not only looked here,
but looked there; and then Topsy heard
him say, "Where is the little brute ?"
SIN the kitchen, presume" said
mamma.
"Just let me find her |" said papa,
threateningly.
They looked all about, but no black
kitty could be found. When Win came
down they showed him the spoiled pics
and gnawed chickens, and he said he
would thrash that kitty as soon as he
could catch her. When Topsy heard
that she was more than ever afraid to
stir.
By.and.by everybody went to church;
and then Topsy pushed her way to the
front of the drawer, but it was shut
tight. So she crept back again to her
nest and tried to 60 to sleep, but the
ordor of the roast turkey came through
the crack of the drawer, and kept her
awake then she heard people come
back from church and in little while
she knew by the sound that they were
drawing up to the table. Aftsr that the
table was cleared, and she knew that
delicious things were brought into the
pantry.
eff could only get out now y sigh
ed Topsy.
In the evening there was little party,
as Topsy knew by the sound. She new
ed some but no one heard her they
were all too merry and noisy.
Then Topsy began to think that being
shut up in drawer was worse punish
ment for stealing than being whipped.
The whipping would have been over 80
much sooner.
Thinking made her sleepy, and she
took q nap. When she awoke the house
was still again, everybody having gone
to bed. By this time she was terribly
hungry. She didn't care straw for the
"thrashing" Win said he would give
her, didn't even care if she was drown
ed, and began to new, softly at first,
and then louder and louder, until Wins
papa bounded out into the kitchen to
see SCI what was the matter, and ran against
the table, and then against the stove,
and hurt his knee 30 badly it made him