The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-11-06
TopsY's THANKSGIVING.

From the Wide Awake.
Topsy was Wins kitten. She sat all
bumped up in the cellar-way, watching
the plump speckled hens, which hung
there by strings tied around their yellow
LEGS. Only yesterday she had chased
these same hens about the yard, and
Jumped at them from behind the rose
bushes. Topsy shook her little sable head.
"oh, meF said she, and then gave thanks
that she was nota fowl. $40 taas
Just then Wins mother stepped down
on the stairs and took one OF the hens.
Topsy followed and saw her lay i on
board and begin to "dress" it. Topsy
thought it more like undressing it.feath;;
ers jerked of, legs and head cut off; and
when the sharp knife began 70 cut It open
Topsy ran away mortified. "What a dread
full observance thanksgiving ISL said she.
However, the odor OF the various bak-
ings and stewings was delightful. Topsy
soent the afternoon in the kitchen rock.
ine.chair. frequently Win came in and
gave her hug and talked to her OF the
GOOD things they would eat tomorrow.
Topsy's views OF Thanksgiving were con-
siderably changed by evening; but it was
| tho evident hungriness OF the whole lam
| ly which caused her to take the step she
did.
good yiewssof Wins papa and mamma.
She seized the moment when the former
sneezed his spectacles of, and the latter
dropped the seam-stitch in her knitting.
work, to walk across into the dark corner
|by the pantry door, then, with one back
ward look and soft leap she was in.
Under the broad shelf stood the moias.
ses lug and the vinegar jug, and behind
Them Topsy snugly hid herself. She was
so black that no one could see her IN the
dark corner unless they looked very sharp
In a little while somebody said. "Well
we will turn the cat out and 60 to bed"
And then Topsy heard a soft persuasive
voice; "Kitty! kitty! kitty! kitty" But
she didn't stir.
kitty, kitty, kitty"
In vain.
"Well, l thought the cat was in here,
but guess Win turned her out before he
went to bed"
Topsy purred so 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 somebody snore, and
then crept out She knew where her fav.
orite dishes WERE, for she had watched
when they were SGT away. She sprang up
ON n shelf and smelt about, daintily until
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
souash and pumpkin pies, eating out the
jnsidcs. Then she ni6bled the crusts OF
Inc mince and apple pies, then tested the
cake, and Tapped little cream from the
milk pans. s.Ts.
another mouthiul, and she jumped down
TO tho floor, and looked around fora nice
sleepinc place. She found drawer part
Nv open, and the ironing-sheet in it made
n nice nest, and so she curled down and
went TO sleep, sure OF her Thanksgiving
dinner. s,-ssu "a
In the morning she was awakened by
some ono making tho kitchen fire. She
law still not daring to crawl out, for She
knew very well what she had done. While
she was thinking about it, Wins mama
came into the pantry, and seeing the open
drawer, shut 1t.
Topsy forgot, and was just going to NEW
10 be let out, when she heard mama OK
claim, swell, do declare"
"What's the matterT said papa from
the kitchen.
"Just look her"
papa came, and not only looked here,
but looked there; and then Topsy heard
him say, 'Where Is the little brute?"
SIN the kitchen, l presume" said mann
l'i "Just let inc find her!" said papa, threat
cningly. -.
~ could be found. When Win came down
lthey showed him the spoiled pies and
rnawed chickens, and he said he would
thrash that kitty as soon Us he could catch
hor. When Topsy heard that she was
moro than ever afraid to stir. ----T
By-and.by everybody went to church !;
and topsy pushed her way to the front OF
the drawer, but 1t was shut tight. So she
Srept buck again to her nest and tried 70
m 10 sleep, but the odor OF tho roasted
Smrkey came through the crack in tho
drawer and kept her awake; then she
heard people come back from church land
in n little while she knew by the sound
that they were drawing up to the taD!e.
After that tho table was cleared, and she
knew that delicious things were brought
III / conld only got out now!" sighed
Topsy. .,;..,. .,..,,
as Topsy knew BY tho sound. Shemewed
Int no one heard her; they were all too
merry and noisy. u,.
shut up in drawer was worse paniSnl-
ment Tor stealing than being whipped.
The whipping would have been over 50 %
much sooner
Thinking made her sleepy, and she took
n nap. When she awoke the house was
still again, everybody having. gone TO bed.
Dy this time she was terribly hungry.
she didn't care straw for the "thrawsh,;
ing" Win said he would give her, didn't
even care II she was drowned, and began,
n NEW, softly at first, and then louder and
lauder until Wins papa bounded out into
tho Kitchen to see what was the matter,
and ran against the table, and then against
tho stove and hurt his knee so badly, 1t
made him knock chair over.
Topsy heard Wins mamma call from the
4 bedroom:
And papa answered, ~ wish the stove
WI Mamma Il, laughed, and then papa said 81,
UNow where q that wretched little catY'
Topsy was afraid somewhat again, so she
said reTy softly ''ReQpp
WThcre she ISL cried papa. 5a
TWhere?" called mamma.
elbow should knowW scolded papa-
for his shins still ached from the bump on
fha hearth