The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-11-26


their lips.
81 am very glal to see YOU. You
are looking very well, Father; very
fresh and young" spoke Grandma,
presently.
81 am very old man, D." he answered,
| in n gru1, yet not unpleasant tone.
THAT is, Ma'am, counting by years,
/ But, you see, | only live one day in
each, and this odd world of yours
does rot get much chance to wrinkle
me. | am very glad to see you, Ma am.
| You are one of the few who keep the
good customs as they should be kept;
| butt
The old man paused. Something
very like a scowl dawned on his hand
some face.
:" do not wish to complain, Ma am"
| he added, after a minute; "but was n
| bit disappointed as | stood out on the
/ step. l heard talking very pretty
| talking; but it was all of turkeys. and
| ducks, and pumpkin-pies. All perfect
| ly proper, OF course; but did hope to
hear a word of the great institution of
which am the genius; of its origin, its
| history, its establishment in the land.
| But | see. Ma anu, you are like the rest
of the world. You regard the day only
as n stutting. day. In fact Ma am-"
and the old man gave jump that sent
| the children flying back toward the
funny grown folks" in fact, | believe
these little creatures think Thanksgiv-
ing means turNev and pumpkin pie"
The old man was really very much
excited. He stamped on Grandma's
pretty carpet and eyed her threaten
ingly.
Grandma face assumed a very meek
expression. She crossed her hands
humbly over her knee.
% am afraid YOU are right, Father"
she replied. Il am afraid many of the
grown folks have come almost to think
ing Thanksgiving a turkey. SO what
can we expect OF the little ones? But
| am very sorry; and, if you will call
again next year, Father, | promise, in
the meantime"
Next vear' interrupted the old
man, crispiy. 81 will wait till next
year. think. Come herem he added,
catching at the nearest skirt, which
CHANGED to be little Sues Come
here, and tell me what Thanksgiving is,
my dear"
Susie was not at all afraid In fact
none of the children were. They were
too much amazed, too curious to feel
any other emotion; and, involuntarilv,
with Susie, they all drew close to him.
81 never thought it was a turkey"
she said, looking triumphantly up into
the Old mans eyes 1T time the
time whom
"Good!' interrupted Father Thanks.
giving, delightedly. 1.-The time when
what. my dear?'
1.-The time when turkeys get ripe, >
continued Susie, solemnly; 1.-THE time
to pick EN-. and roast 'em, and eat EN-;
the time when Aunt Joe SAYS pumpkin ms
just ache to 60 into pies; a time just
made for eatin'; when you can eat, and
eat, and eat"
But Susie did not finish The old
man was scOwling again, and the funny
grown folks seemed suddenly to find
this an appropriate time to take their
handkerchiefs from their lips and scream
uproariously.
You see! You seer' cried the old
man, impatiently, to Grandma Then
he fixed his eyes on famous Jem. "You
boy there" he said "you look like the
oldest What have you to say about it?
Is she right, sir, do you Think"
Yes" replied Jem, with an empha-
sis that brought fresh bursts of laugh
ter from the funny folks by the wall.
"Then pray, boy, why is this called
Thanksgiving DayP
"Why, because we give thanks"
continued Jem, regarding the old man
even more amazedly than before; "be-
cause we give thanks for all the turkeys,
and pumpkins and good things that
we have. The big folks 90 to church
and have prayers and a-preachin'; but
l can't see why at all. think Thanks
givin' means givin' thanks; and givin'
thanks, eatin on Thanksgiyin' Day.
Eatin' lots and lots! So that is how |
do"
Grandma looked a bit shocked at
Jemmy's logic. She would have gladly
put in word of protest; but the old
man gave no chance.
1t is sometimes better to give thanks
by acts than by words, boy," he an
swered, right good humoredly, "as l
hope you will fully understand some
time. But come, now, do you know
anything about this great Thanksgiving
Day, outside of giving thanksP Aught
of its origin, its historyp Did you ever
hear, for instance, that one of the first
Thanksgivngs of which we have any
record in old New England was in
tended for a fast day, and was only
changed to Thanksgiving day the
night before?"
"No,' replied Jenny, quite aghast,
for his thoughts were on the final words.
And "No" echoed all the blue eyes,
and brown eyes, and black eyes, down
to little Sues.
Very well, then listen, all of you,
and see that you do not forget To be-
| Uin with I think Won ora oil a hit OuriouS