The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-11-19

was. Where shall leave emp
Bring them into the Kitchen" cried
| Miss Debbv, in a transwort of Joy.
The basket, which was a very large
one, was soon emptied, and the kitchen
table heaped nigh with the parcels.
The boy drove off in his wagon, and
Miss Keziah picked up a receipted bill
which had iluttered to the floor.
Eighteen dollars and fifty-seven
cents, Debby" she exclaimed with a
gasp of astonishment. 40, to think of
the injustice we did him! He is not so
! hard-hearted after ALL How generous!
How kind" I... ...
"How glad l am l spoke to him."
said Miss Debby, her eyes shining with
happy tears. 81 thought he meant to
refuse me! And he went straight to
Dugby's and bought all these things for
usp'
81 bought that half-pound of tea in
Dugby yesterday" said Miss Keziah.
=" He has been open only week, but
he seemed to be doing a pretty good
business. | wonder if Cousin Kane
means to take his custom away from
Pavson."
Payson was grocer who had done
y
and he had laughed scornfully when q
young fellow named Dugby had an
nounced his intention of opening a RI
val store. He thought himself on too
sure foundation to be shaken by any
new enterprise.
AS the sisters talked they opened the
packages with swift, but trembling
fingers. Their eyes sparkled as lemons,
sugar, spices, raisins, apples, coffee, tea,
bulter, rice, eggs, pickles, cranberries,
dried fruit, and other things too numer-
Gus to mention, were disclosed to view.
1--WE only need the turkey now to
have a complete dinner cried Miss
DebbY. "And, Keziah, that three dol
lars we were saving"
"We'll use it, of course" interrupted
Miss Keziah," and get the biggest tur-
key we can find in Harcote. While l
put on my bonnet and shawl, Debby,
you write to Lavina, and while I'm gone
you can be stoning raisns for the cake,
and measuring for the pies"
Miss Debby fastened away to write
her letter of invitation, which Miss Ke-
ziah duly put into the post-oltice before
she began her search for the turkey.
How busy the two old ladies were all
that day and the next! And what de-
licious pies, cakes and other dainties
were made by their skillful fingers, and
the aid of their mothers old-fashioned
recipe-book!
Early Thursday morning John Drew s
big wagon, containing his wife and
their eleven children, who ranged in
age from sixteen years to sixteen
months, stopped at the gate of the cot
tage; and then what happy meeting
took place! Such laughter, such kiss
es and lively chatter. Miss Debby
could hardly "hear herself think as
she said the next day to Miss KeMah.
1t was merry party that gathered
about the Thanksgiving dinner in the
cottage. Miss Keziah had been obliged
to put three of her largest tables togeth-
er in order to make one large enough to
accommodate all, and chairs were Dor
rowed from every room in the house.
The turkey was roasted to turn, the
cranberries a solid, red jelly, and the
big plum pudding was eaten down to
the last crumb. Cousin Kane's gener-
osity was praised songs were sung and
pretty. simple pieces of poetry recited
by the children when dinner was over.
Everybody was happy, and when the
big wagon drove away with its load just
before dark the sisters declared to each
other that they had never spent more
delightful day,
land we owe it all to Cousin Kane, -
Miss Debby remembered to say: land
we must thank him the first chance we
get"
So one morning about a week after
Thanksgiving, when Miss Debby saw
the Squire come striding down the road,
she ran out to meet him.
THANK you, cousin, for the Thanks
giving dinner you gave u.s." she called
out pleasantly.
The Squire had got just past the gate
when the words reached him. He
turned abruptly and faced Miss Debby,
curious look on his grim face.
You are pleased to be sarcastic"
he said, and without another word re.
sumed his walk.
Just like him." murmured Miss
Debby, as she went back into the
house. He always was just so queer.
l suppose he didn't want to be
thanked"
The Squire had long kept an &C,
count at Mr.. Payson's grocery store
which he settled every three months.
One morning, the last day of January,
he came into the room where his wife
sat, in spasm of rage.
"What do you mean by telling me tc
order things, and then ordering then
yourself?" he asked, angrily. II won't
supply this house from two stores
Here Payson has charged me for over
twenty dollars worth of groceries fol
Thanksgiving"
"Well,' said Mrs. Allen, very quiet
". "That is all right. but as they did