The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-11-27
- w.ro,,. ~, n.,,oA for -,

you are. Weren't YOU named for herl
You certainly are very like the little
Say Fairlee [ used to 60 to schoo
with"
"Why, how NICE" said Say, etc
think that you used to- know mamma
when she was little girl! was named
for her; papa named me-"
There was bit of cloud on her
friends face when she named papa that
did not escape Says notice.
eff you used to know mamma once,
p'raps you'd like to know her again.
And / wish you'd come home with us, -
said she, artlcssly. ssrd like to have
you dine with us, and SO, would man.
ma, I'm sure, only''-and she hesitated
tive amt going to have airy turkey
or plum-pudding; not nice dinner at
all. We are very poor, you know,
and mamma has had to work very
hard since papa died to get any din
ners.''
"Then your papa is dead?''
Yes" said Say, sorrowfully, "he's
been dead ever since Will was a wee
bit of baby-a very long time" And
she did not approve of the gentleman
as highly as she had done, because he
really looked pleased that her papa was
dead.
II should be delighted to 90 home
with you,'' said he. I'm a stranger
in the village, and a hotel Thanksgiv-
ing dinner isn't likely to make one feel
very thankful" --'H
I'm afraid you won't like our din
ner; it's pretty bad, but then we can
have cocoanut cakes for dessert, you
bought so many"
But before they reached home her
fears on that score had entirely van
ished, and she was sure that Mr.. Marsh
he had told her what his name was
was the very incest gentleman she ever
saw, as we'll as the handsomest. She
chatted with him necessarily until she
reached the door of their house. She
confided to him all her little trials, all
her little joys, and all mammals grief
and trouble, and he listened to her
with such an interested, sympathetic
face.
"Won't mamma be s'prised?'' she
said, leading the way into the poor little
kitchen that served them as dining
room and sitting-room also. And
mamma was IS s'prised" when she saw
the tall stranger enter in such an uncer-
emonious way.
II invited some one to dinner!' ex-
planned Say triumphantly.
"YOu surely haven't forgotten me en-
tirely, Sarah?" said the stranger, ap-
preaching her and holding out his
hand.
Frank" she exclaimed; and grew
so white that Say feared she was i'll.
ment, what did Mr.. Marsh do but to
put his arms around her and kiss her!
Says sense of propriety was dreadfully
shocked, and she looked on with Sc
verify.
But things grew worse and worse.
Mamma placed her hand on his shout
der and cried, and he comforted her
with all sorts of endearing words and
tender assurances. And they talked
about things that she did not under
stand at all-something about a mis-
take and losing a letter; and all the
while they seemed to forget that there
was any one but themselves in the
world.
my dear little Say" said Mr..
Marsh, at last, after they had said
everything they had to say, ten times
over, according to Says idea. and the
forgotten dinner had grown quite cold
on the table, ''you don't know how
dear friend your mamma was to me.
Do you know she promised to marry
me long before ever she saw your
papa? Then something happened-a
mistake was made, and we were sepa-
rated. She thought 1 had ceased to
care for her, and l thought she had
ceased to care for me; and we never
found out the truth of the matter until
it was too late. And now, after have
missed her all these long years, she
promises again to be my wife; and if l
have my way, we are to be married
this very day. What do you say, Say;
will you be satisfied to have me for
father? Are you glad you invited me
to come and dine with you?'
Then Say repented of her severity,
and accepted him as herpapa very gra-
ciously.. a., -
Mamma" she whispered, full of
delight to see her so happy, q think
this is the thankfullest Thanksgiving
we ever had, after alr' And Will,
with his mouth full of the, remnants of
the candy feast, agreed with her fully.
1t was a thankful THANKSGIVING
truly; and after that there was a very
different life for Say, and her mother,
and Will. Mr.. Marsh was rich man,
and he took them away from the miser-
able little place where they lived, to
his own beautiful home in town. the
very next day. He and Mrs. Harris
were married in the morning, and Say
stood by her mothers side during the
ceremony, the most dignifed little
bridesmaid in the world. And though
she has never since then been obliged
to eat cold dinner in = smoky little
kitchen, she looks back to it as the
most delightful Thanksgiving day of
her life. And so, indeed, do Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Marsh, for it's thankfulness
has reached through all their other
Thanksgiving days. las,E
%>