The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-12-23
MABEL CAYANAUGH'S THANKSGIV.
ING.

MABEL CAyANAUGH'S THANKSGIV
ING.
From Chicago Interior
II hope you won't do anything about
Thanksgiving, this year, mother" said Ma.
bel Cavenaugh, as she came into tho kitch.
en- the morning before Thanksgiving day
II don't know what we have to be thankful
for"
! Mabel, am very sorry you speak so,
the mother replied ~ she looked up from
the steak she was broiling for breakfast
IL think We have great many things to be
thankful for. have planned to do some
thing to honor the day, although l can,
do much"
II wish could be under the influence OF
an anodyne," said Mabel, as she put the
knives and forks around the plates on the
table. II would like to be oblivious tC
everything that day. OF all the sad days
holidays are the saddest, when people are
away from oil their friends and in such O
lonesome place as this is"
II know, my DEAR" replied tho mother,
that the day will BIO very lonely for us,
but We must be as happy as We can, and
she wiped away the tear that had gathered
in her eyes and which she did not want her
daughter to see.
The breakfast was ready and the family
gathered around the table. "How many
chickens do you want for tomorrow?
asked MIR. Cavanaugh, in o cheerful tone OF
voice. ave must keep Thanksgiving: in
our new home, and We must have a turkey
too"
Two chickens will be enough for the
chicken pic this year" his wife replied
"there are so few of u.s."
Let's have grand Thanksgiving, said
| Tad, tho younger member Of the family.
IF We are away out west. want q good
Thanksgiving dinner. Didn't We have fun
| the last year. he continued, when We were
all at aunt Martha's! Don't you remember
Bob Whitlock was there. Mabel, and how
along with you when he took you home in
tho evening. bought q store kite with that
ten cents, but the first time let her up she
got caught In a tree and was torn all to
pieces"
Mother, should not think you would
allow Tad to talk with his mouth so full"
said Mabel. rising from the table with the
contents Of her plate left untasted. Leav-
ing the room, she went up stairs to her own
chamber, and, throwing herself upon the
bed, gave full vent to her tears.
u don't know what ever possessed father
to bring us all out here in this lonely place,
away from oil our friends" she said, when
her mother, few minutes later, sought her
place Of retreat.
my dear child, says Mrs. Cayanaugh,
don't let your father see how discontinued
and unhappy you are this morning You
know he has had a great deal Of trouble. It
is our duty to help him bear his burden Of
disappointment and care, instead Of adding
to it by showing an unhappy spirit. know
it is very hard fer you to be separated from
all your young companions ut your old
home. II is also hard for me to make new
friends and form new ties. but try to bear
with patience and cheerfulness the trials
and disappointments God has seen fit to
call me to pass through"
81 was so very happy in Mapledale,"
said Mabel, amid a torrent of tears, land !
can't SEQ why my father should have got
into such business troubles and subjected
US to such humiliations.
Il am very sorry to soc my dear daughter
look at our financial troubles in such light.
Unforeseen circumstances often place peo-
pie in distressing positions. Your father
has been the hndest and best of fathers to
his children, and no one regrets more than
he the selling of tho old home and the break
ing up OF old ties. Come my child, she con-
tinued, kissing the fearful face of her daugh-
ter, ''let us sacrifice our own feelings and
make ourselves happy by getting mp good
dinner for father and the children, and
showing a true spirit of thankfulness for the
many blessings our Father in heaven has
given u.s."
my heart is in my throat and 7 know /
can'ts wallow one mouthful to- morrow" said
Mabel, without it's choking me-" But the
usually obedient daughter followed her
mother into the kitchen and Mrs. Cava-
naugh, knowing employment to be the best
panacea for heart troubles, kept Mabel very
busy stoning raisins, filling the pies, and
preparing the etceteras that make up
Thanksgiving dinner.
Only one year before Mr.. Cayanaugh had
been, as people supposed, o prosperous
business man. He owned beautiful home
in delightful New England town. A large
circle of relatives and friends lived within O
short distance Of them. For twenty years
or more the family had been reunited on
Thanksgiving day; oil the different branches
of the family meeting together at the house
Of some one Of them. But unforeseen,
adverse circumstances came upon them.
Mr.. Cavanaugh's finances became involved.
They were obliged to sell their home and
bcI)hI1tte tueilSSiNeb IrONl tuOSb near aJlu
dear to them and start life anew in the far
west among strangers. About the time Of
Mr.. Cavanaugh's failure. Robert Whitlock,
o son OF prominent man In tho town where
they lived, had become very attractive to
Mabel, and she had every reason TO believe
that his interest in her was more than that
Of simple friendship. Almost unaware to
herself she allowed him TO take the seat of
honor in her heart, and since her arrival in
her new home, found that she truly loved
him. But no reminder Of the old time and
acquaintance had come TO her home. As
she sat, busily stoning raisens in the west
elm kitchen. her thoughts were travelling
back again to the old scenes and old days.
II wonder il shall have a letter from
any Of the girls to-day" she said. II would
so much like to know what Is going on at
home. Don't you think it strange, mother.
that Robert has never written me, even
once, since we left Mapledale?"
1T is rather strange" her mother re-
piled, "butpereaps he has some good reason
For not doing So"