The Republican journal., 1879-11-27
Getting Ready for Thanksgiving.

Amanda. pldintiVely, as She threw her
dmncr-baSket and books in corner and
prepared to eat the supper. which She
found neatly spread tor her, on her return
from the school-houSc two long miles
away.
"What possesses YOU 10 think about
Thanksgiving in May I" said Jake 9con-
fully. "lou might as We'll talk about
Fourth Of July when the pond is al lrol-
en up and the ground covered with
snow"
"~o would. il it would make me
warm TO think OF it" said the little GIRL
looking out over the broad meadow land
and green ~Walcs, which lay between her
little brown home. and the black. Jagged
mountain ridge. which had bounded the
horizon Of her whole life Onlv one bou,t.
lay between her and the mountain, a
long low. farmhouse, where dWclt her
companion. cynthia, With whom She dai-
~ walked those long two miles to school
These We're in the other direction. where
halt hidden IN clump OF trees stood
the white church, the block school house.
the store. and the five houses, composing
"thc jlldGc. Not another human hab-
tation was in sight, and, though there
were other houses scattered here and
there III solitary spots, even the Thought
M this scattered population, did not tend
Io make one feel .croWded"
1T $50 duiI, pursued Amanda; there
never anything to do, but to go to school,
nor anybody ~ see, nor anything to hear
about. except when the folks come home
for thanksgiving. Just wish We could
or getting ready for il all the Time.
''No "r c1n, llitIe daughtcr Naid a gen-
tlc. lIred voice. a. the worm iudetl-louN-
mL lalmel 5 wife. placed upon tiny table,
the smoking hot porn. potatoes. corn
breadand tea which had only awaited tho
ARRIVAL oI the Ilttlc school 1n. ENrIY
daN "f niN il}r> may We made Il prrIara-
lion ior J thanksgiving, bN counting aI
our ncltlc~. and thanking the Lord IW
theul. a~ We 20 along.
"ISlaW ~aid Amanda. u d,dn'l
mean thdt WAY; meant dolng some
thllG. 'ts always So gay 3uH ltelN.
when Iou'rr chopplng apples, and making
p.ts. .tld alI that; but Wett 4pt to MATT
Sl> whole mouths for that uud it's ~u
duLl."
"~uppo>r We begin to-d&y NJuiy
.''ti' N-I' lt'' iI' 4I' tNtN 81 = l'tt' Ftt
Tho table. ",tmd lou;ld Jake >tund guUr
spare 'lmc aIl SUMMERS Getting rrldN Ior
thanksgiving: that ls. ot course. when
lessons are over.
Wondering looks crossed The Table. hui
uo more was said for the farmer Wa~
lust ready to SHY grace, and after that.
The business ot the hour absorbed every
one attention.
" hen tea WAS oyrr, and the Id.n lay
III the shadow oi Jhc great mountain,
while slant yellow luNS nt sunlight still
rested ON the village, and further down
the valley, The farmer unioldcd his plan.
ana tile first preparation for ThauksgN-
in. WAS made b} the children's goin4 ont
into the .ardcn-patch, and iii the center
Of a great open space. dropping three
sluaSh-sceds intoan open hole in the top
ol a little hili 1t was small beginning.
but Amanda lit once began To take au in-
tcrcst i'll garden-Work, which She h;ld
never experienced before. The next day
was Saturday. and her mother called her
into the barnvalu, and presented her With
two setting hens. Il brood OF doNnv little
chickens, and flock Of Young turkeys
"Thesc are all 10 he Yours, daughter,
as long as you feed them regularlN and
take care of them. All the turkey, and
chicken, you can raise. ana all Tie eros
You can store will be for THANKSGIVING"
Meanwhile. Jake went with the farm
bands tO plant corn, and undertook to
drive the cow4 to ana from the pasture
every night, ana to learn tt milk. that he
might hcm to make the golden lutter.
which wouId be needed bv and ~. to
spread THANKSGIVING bread and 10 make
Thanksgil ing pip-crust.
no one heard the children complain Of
dullucss now. forth" poultry and the COWS
took up great deal of the lone, Hghl
evenings, ana the shouts of delight With
which Amanda announced the discovery
Of shining white cgys. were only euualeJ
by their joy at the sioht OF the little green
sCluash-yiues that in time. peeprd m
above the dark brown EARTH Then
lake brggrG for another bt Of land. in
which to plant little purple p0tato-cvcs:
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