The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-11-27
THE THANKSGIVING GUEST.


pudding and nuts and raisins and every.
thing nice for dessert; if we were going
to have lots of company, and lived in a
big house, like we used to, we should
be good deal thankfuller, shouldn't
we, mammal" said Say. with rather a
rueful face at the cold joint of meat tina,
was to serve as their Thanksgiving din.
ner. " So. .-.y.
1--WE ought to be just as thankful fol
what we have. my dear" said Mrs.
Harris. "We'll make believe that we
have just as good as anybody, and for
get all about the turkey and plum-pud.
ding. Poor folks should be just as
thankful as rich ones" She tried to
speak cheerfully, but sharp-eyed little
Say saw that her eyes were moist.
But [ do want plum-pudding.
sarnt be thankful" shouted Will, in
most unorthodox rebellion. And he
began to cry Justify. ..s,.
"Be quiet. Will" said Say, "and
I'll tell you the story mamma told me
last night while you were sleeping"
No. noH persisted Will. Il will
have
''Once there were two little brooks
born side by side up in a great noun
tain," began Say, and his tears were
STAYED with surprising suddenness.
'Now these were merry little brooks,
and they played together for long
time in little green hollow on the top
of the mountain; but when they grew
larger and older, and their voices, SO
clear and ringing, were heard far down
in the valley, their Queen thought ii
was time they should be doing some
thing in the world, and babe them set
out for the river as soon as they could.
And they were glad enough to obey
her. for they were tired of running in
one little green place"
II say want plum-pudding!" piped
Will again, the absence of giants MAX
ing the story rather tame to his critical
ears.
But Say went ON, never needing the
interruption: " So they started together
one sunshiny morning. They took
great leaps over the rocks; they strug.
gled through little fairy forests of fern.
When it was dark they sang to them.
selves to keep from being frightened
and when it was bright, they laughed
and shouted so that all the birds began
to mimic them And at last, after they
had travelled very far, they found them
selves in merry green meadow.
"'What world it isr' said one little
brook. blinking its eyes with surprise.
And what bonnie one!" said the
other, tripping blue-bel that stood in
"They found so many friends in the
meadow that they could hardly get
along for greeting this one and that one.
There were the daisies, keeping house
in little grassy tents, who sent them an
invitation to dine. The roses nodded
at them, and begged them not to hurry
SO fast. The birds pressed them to ut.
tend grand concert in the woods neal
by The buttercups -rustled their satin
dresses, and begged them to come and
sit at their feet, if only for one moment
and the bees, though they were always
SO busy, half promised to keep holiday
with them, if they would wait. Is
Let US stay said one little brook
to the other. See how dark our path
is growing before us; and it is so pleas.
ant and sunny here, and there are sucf
merry folks to keep us company. Sure
ly, we need not hurry to receive the
river; and we have travelled such a LONG
distance. Why shouldn't we have .
holiday now?'
But the other little brook said:
"'No. l have holidays enough, and
shall hasten on. The Queen said il
was time was doing good in the world,
and l long to be in the river, and help
carry the beautiful Ships
IS: Well, said the other little brook,
you can go, but shall stay here until
nightfaN. yAnd,pwhen you are in thai
dreadfallys dark wood YOU willslool
back atsme playing in the Sunshine, and
wish you had stayed with me, I'm sure.
$50 they kissed each other good-by
over the nose of . blue-bell and went
their separate ways. It was daffk and
fearful in the wood; the trees frownei
down on the little brook like tall, grim
giants, and it could not see the, sky,
But it kept heart by singing merry
song; and before it had time to grow
discouraged it reached the river. The
great wide sky, without a cloud, was
Dending over it, and all the waves were
filled with strange, beautiful voices. II
teit great sails rustic over it; it seemed
to be carried along in the arms of COO
winds, without any effort of it's own
and its heart was filled with delight i,
had never dreamed of before.
''But the little brook found it &c
pleasant in the meadows that he forpol
after while that there was any othe,
life than that; that there was anything
to do in the world but to kiss q daisv
bud and Aatter rose. When he die
get tired of it at last, and remembered
that he was on the way to the river, h.
found he had lost his path; and, after .
long and vain search for it, finally dice
of WEAKNESS in the noontide heat. AnC
nobody remAmhered mr. oarod oux,4l:.-