The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-21


to come, only what's invited to john :,
excepting sister Susan, poor, dear, pre-.
cious child, away off there in the wilds
she'll never come home again, pre.
sumo" and Harr' ct laid her head on he,
knees and thought of the day Susan
was born and of the day when she was
married, and cried little, and ther
dropped off into nap, from which sh,
was aroused by a subdued hustle neal
the back door.
Getting up and lifting corner of til,
curtain she peeped out, and saw, by th,
light of the full moon, a wagon driving
out of the yard, a trunk-or basket.
tallish boy, a shortish girl, two NOR,
children coming up the walk, and
plump little woman, with baby in he
arms, just stepping upon the door
stone.
"Susan," gasped Harriet, quickly
unbuttoning and opening the door, ant
catching the surprised rosy little WON
an in her arms. They both cried lii
tie, but Harr' ct meanwhile put S usar
into the int-bottomed chair, took Of
her bonnet and smoothed her hair
Then she wiped her eyes, asked afte
the absent husband, kissed the children
took off their things, making a menta
calculation of how she should manag
to get them all dressed before SundaE
g knew we should find you NJ
said SNsan, looking around tthhs.4
kitchen. "Iremember how the bakp
used to drag the night before" andb
gave a little sniff. Smelling n,tlilg
suggestive of fancy cookery, sh, sid
she had managed to take a little Old
in some way. At this the chiEen,
each in turn, shifted and lookeduri-
ously at each other.
1--WE won't let anyone kno you
have come until morning." sal Har-
ret, in her decided way, "and len we
will have a general surprise abreak-
fast"
"They are all well-father al moth
er?" asked Susan, anxiously.
"Never better! Now whatyill you
have for supper?" That wasust what
had been said in their play, ! the car,
and the children pricked up 1eir ears.
go, a cup of tea for me, ld plenty
of milk and bread for the lildren,"
said the plump and rosy mama, car
rying on her part of the play ccording
to programme. But Aunt hrr' ct in
stead of asking them what thy would
like, seized upon the idea of nix, and
exclaimed:
Eyes, yes, milk for the cildren, to
be sure; of course it will b the very
best thing for them after thar journey.
You used to be fond of sanD, Susan"
81 should think Sc, 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 fist meal
at grandpa's.
You see," said Aunt Hare, as she
was preceding them up to bed just as
the clock struck eleven, % it lisa good
appetite and thankful heart that
makes aThanksgivin' supper, afer all. "
YES" agreed Johnnie, tmt's so;
but, after all, I'm glad we're going to
have the turkey, goose, duck, and
chicken fxin's tomorrow
"Beginning with stewed chicken ~
pumpkin pie for breakfast" said Mary
You see | have told them all about
it," said Susan, apologetically, as she
carried the baby up the stairs she had
last came down as bride. eff you're
crowded, Harriet, you can make up g
bed on the floor for the boys"
"There are two beds in this room
can you manage here?" replied Har.
ret, opening the door OF one of the
spick and span front chambers.
80, certainly"
"Then 90 to bed and to sleep, and
don't hurry up until | call you in the
morning;;" and, bidding the little group
a loving goodnight, she hurried down
stairs, quickly donned walking shoes
shawl and hood, slipped out the back
door, locked it securely after her, put
the key under the door sill, and started
across lots for Johns.
Its lucky haven't been baking fol
q fortnight" 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 90 proving
off after 'em. ] don't sees I've made
much"
Jane was taking her last chicken pie
out of the oven, and the clock was
striking twelve as Harriet stalked into
the kitchen.
John heard her voice and got out OF
bed and came out in his night-gown to
hear the good news, for Susan was the
youngest sister and the pet.
"rn 90 over and bring them all
around here to breakfast" said John,
eagerly. 1T don't seem as if | could
wait until morning"
/ will tell you what shall be done, "
said Johns wife. eve won't say a
word about it, but will carry our fix
ings all over home. Do you suppose
I'm going to have that dear child and
them children come half across the
continent to Thanksgiving at grand
pas, only to be sent away from the
old homestead to one of the nelghbors
BY no means"
Then, indeed, Harr' ct broke dowr
and cried in good earnest. And wbat
was a wonderful thing for her to do
put her arms round her sister-in-law'
neck and kissed her heartily.
Thanksgiving morning opened bright
and fair. When Aunt Harr' ct, in q
pretty lowered wrapper, looked in &c
awake the travellers, she found them NJ
and dressed. Grandpa and grandma
John and his wife and all the rest were
waiting to meet them at breakfast. and