New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1878-12-04
Il WISH I'D REMAINED AT HOME.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.

Thanksgiving?' said Mrs. Nett;ngley.
mot if I know it,"
Mrs. Nettingley was a closet sted and
calculating matron, who lived in q house
in stylish neighborhood in New York,
and was one Of those who, of her maid-ot-
all-work expressed it, would skin flee
to save the hide and taliow." Mrs. Net
t1ngly liked to make show, but she had
a deep-rooted aversion to spending
money. Aud entertaining company On
Thanksgiving day was one Of the things
that could not pe accomplished without
the latter concomltant.
Mr.. Nettingley, little, weak-minded
man. who viewed b is big vie With
spectful admiration, looked obviously at
her. But, my DEAR said he, chow are
you going to help it? They've sent word
they are coming;
I'll go to your sister Belinda's, up in
Saugatuck county,"
Mr.. Nettingley felt Of his chin.
"They haven't invited u.s." said he.
THAT is not especially"
"Oh, fiddlestick~ SAID Mrs. Netting
ley. ':Belinda's always glad to see me
and the children. And as for staying at
home to gorge Mrs. Badgerley and her
six children, and Mr. Badgerley's two SIS
tiers, I won't do it! Why, such turkey
as they would expect would cost SO, at
the very least. Get me a timetable,
Nettingley. Send word to Mrs. Badger
ley that I've gone away to spend Thanks
giving.' ~
Mr. Nettingley, who never dreamed Of
opposing his wife's will in this or any
other matter, wrote the letter accordingly,
and putt in his coat tail pocket, where
it remained. For he forgot all about it.
Mrs. Nettingley packed up her own
things and the things Of the four little
Nettingleys, and took the afternoon train
to Scrag Hollow, in Saugatuck county.
"Mamma,n said Theodore Ne,tingley
the Juvenile scions Of the house CT
J Nettingley all had high-soundiug appel
lations-"it looks ell shut up and lonely.
l don't believe any one is at home"
"Psbaw!" said Mrs. Netting'ey, "peo-
pie in the country always live IN the
back Of the house, ....
And carrying a heavy carpet-bag in her
hand she trudged around to the rear door,
followed by Theodora, Lavinia, Evange-
line and Gervase, each Juggling along a
smaller bag.
Nobody responded to her repeated vol
ley of knocks, but presently little old
woman, who had come from {. neighbour
ing cottage TO the well for water, was
made to understand what was wanted.
Mrs. Peckfield?" said the little old
womaa, in a high-pitched, shrill voice
which 80 often accompanies deafness.
"You's her cousin from the city, come
spend Thanksgiving? Well, if that al n
too bad! Mrs. Peckheld started t b
very afternoon for Ladd's depot; got so N
relations as lives there"
"That's very strange" said Mrs. Net
tingley. II telegraphed to her that was
coming.
Couldn't got the telegraph, I guess,
said the little old woman.
But Mrs. Nettingley knew better than
that, for under the corner Of the piazza
there lay torn envelope Of the Western
Union telegraph And she knew that
: Mrs. Peckfe!d had fled from her, just as
she, Mrs. Nettingley, had fled before the
Badgerley family.
s'But / III be even with her." said Mrs
Nettingley, grinding her false teeth, 'I7l]
60 to Ladds depot. What are the names
OF her relations there?''
The little old woman, after some med
itation, said that it was Jones. At least
she thought it was Jones. She wasn't
quite certain. 1t might be Smith. Or i
might be Thompson. But she believed i
was JONES' And she believed they LIVED
on Thorn street.
1t was long walk back to the railroad
depot, and the four little Nettingleys
were tired and cross, but they fortunately
- succeeded in reaching it before the las
northward train started. But it was at
express, and didn't stop at small places
like Ladd's depot, as hrs. Nettingle,
found to her cost when she paid 50 for ;
hack to take her back to LAID S depot.
On inquiry it was found that Their
were about half dozen families of tn,
name of Jones at Ladd's depot. The frs
place to which they drove, on Thorn
street, was a tenement house, where the,
all had the scarlet fever. si1
ooh, myT said Mrs. Nettingley. '.Driv,
on, quick. This isn't the place !"
The next was a clergyman's. hous'
where full7fedged prayer-meeting wa
going briskly on 1s.g
- This isn't the place, either said poo
Mrs. Nettingley, waxing more and NOR
in despair.
And the third was vinegar-faced ole
maid. who lived with her married sister
and never had heard the name of Peck
field in her life
"What shall I dos" said Mrs. Netting
! ley.
Better go to hotel, ma'am," said tn