Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-11-27
WHAT Oracle DID.


did ono Thanksgiving Day, when she
was five years old? She had gone with
mamma to meet auntles and uncles and
little cousins at grandpa's farm, a few
miles out of the city. And such q merry
dinner as they had! Oracle had eaten
her fill of the nice things grandma had
put upon her table in honor of the day,
and felt in very gracious state Of mind,
as most people do, you know, after a
comfortable dinner. But presently the
older children went off 10 the hill for q
game of romps, which poor little tiny
Oracle was hardly equal to. So she wan
dered out to the barn, in search Of Rover,
the big dog. The chickens we're scratch
ing for their Thanksgiving dinner; and
Gracic suddenly felt great compassion
for the poor barn-yard pets, which had
not dl2ed as sumptuously in honor of the
day as she had, and a benevolent plan
entered her head which was instantly
put into execution.
She ran to the kitchen, which just at
this moment was empty of cook and wal
ter, and filed plate with pieces Of this,
that and the other kinds Of food which
had been brought out from the dining ia
bic. She didn't forget the jelly, either,
and added also some delicate slices of
grandma's white bread. Then out to the
barn went Oracle, to set a Thanksgiving
table for her poor pets-her hungry,
scratching, barking, mewing and cack-
ling pets of the barnyard.
On the floor was spread large dinner
IN
fashion, were the Thanksgiving dainties
and the meat, which, because she could
not divide it in pieces, she laid whole in
the center of her impromptu table. Then,
in imi alton Of the decoration of grand
mas table, she arranged little scraps OF
green leaves and flowers here and there
about the dishes, until, in her opinion,
everything was exceedingly stylish and
wonderful, my poor Wovcr" she said,
leading the dog to the barn and shutting
him in a small closet until she could col
lect her guests together. "My poor Wo-
ver!" You sail have Sanksgivin' dinner,
JUS like ozzer folkses."
Then she brought the cat in and shut he1
up with Rover; and, by dlnt of much ex-
crtion, succeeded finally in driving a
number Of hens and chickenk-all OF
which she had not frightened. beyond he1
reach with her little waving arms and
shrill cry-into the barn, and then she
went in and pushed the great doors to.
gether The closet door was opened and
the antagonistic cat and dog came out
while Oracle stood in the midst of hel
guests, ringing bell as loudly as she
could. This frightened the hens and
chickens, and they flew wildly about the
barn-aoor and up to the hayloft, while
the cat and dog quarreled over the one
piece of meat and trampled into the rest
of the food. The noise and the ringing
OF the bell attracted the attention of the
grown folks in the parlor, and out they
rushed to the barn. Just as soon as the
doors were opened, out flew the cackllng
hens in wild amaze, and fairly clearing
the ground with their flying feet
Puss, her fur covered with jelly
and her legs smeared with fragments O
bread and butter, followed next, pursued
by Rover, who was growing with rage
over the meat, which poor Puss had Sc
curely in her mouth. Poor little Oracle
almost scared to death herself at this I'm
expected and very disappointing resul
of her efforts in behalf of her pets, stood
clinging to ladder, half way up to tn
hay-loft, and turned her frightened fac
very gladly toward the people who ap
peared upon the scene.
Dear little girl! She couldn't get owe
the slight put upon her Thanksgiving
dinner for long time; and, although
she is manly years older now, she canno
forget that particular day in her lite, ane
probably never will forget it. How sh
was laughed at and how grandma pettct
her for her loving, tender lite heart, ,sh
can tell you better than I. And sine
then she has decided to let barnyart
'.people' arrange their own Thanksgiving
dinners.