Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1882-11-30
Thanksgiving without Papa.
BY FANNY PERc1vAL.

|
BY FANNY PERC1vAL.
My Papa went to Heaven to live,
About a month ago.
| wish GOD hadn't taken him,
Because we miss him 50. r.
1 thought perhaps we shouldn't keep
Thanksgiving when it came;
Because, with Papa gone away,
1t wouldn't seem the same. --.-" '-'-
Sc l asked Mamma what she thought,
When Twas going to bed,
Last night. The tears came to her eyes
Then she smiled, and said:
WAS Papa all we thanked God for,
My darling child, hast year? :.
Have we not many blessings still I-'
We had when he was here ?" -.'f
And then she said :-"You shall: decide
What we had better do. I'-{ .7-.1f'
Tomorrow morning, try to think 500
Ofall things, old and new, T. - b'f.
"That we have now or we have had
Within the present year, e .-- f--
To bless US and to make us glad; r;l.
And then decide, my dear,
"lf there's enough to make it seem ;
Betting every way hs-
That we with very grateful hearts ios
Should keep Thanksgiving Day.:
And so this morning l began rae
TO do as she had said; -- -t. tis
And OIL how fast thanksgiving things
Did come into my head.
wondered | had never Thought err
oOf all of them before; as =. f,..s1.
l don't believe j ever could 2. -aa fr,
Forget them any more. "a lis. lss5,
There's Mamma-Papa's gone away, 50.
But. Mammals with US still;
And there is darling sister May
And little brother PAiis
And little baby brother, too. ..0
He's worth his weight in gold; ,T
And there is Grandma-I don't think
She ever will grow old. ..l-s.
And there is Aunty. and, besides, .r-:i
The other folks l love; y. "
I'm thankfu that no more of them IT,.
Have gone to Heaven above.
Then am glad that we can see;
I've heard my Mamma say -.
That there are children who are blind.
I'm glad we're not that way.
And / am very thankful, too,
That we are we'll and strong;
My Mamma knew a lady once
Was sick the whole year long.
And have heard of children, too.
Who could not run or walk;
And Mamma says that there are some
Who cannot hear or talk.
And then / thought. through all the year,
What pleasant times we've had,
And how so many things have come
To make us very glad.
And all the Summer, everywhere +
Such lovely things to see;
And trees and birds and flowers, THAT look
So beautiful to me.
Dear Papa always loved the flowers
So much when he was here;
Pm sure I'll always think Of him
Whenever they are near. ya
But Mamma says that in Heaven
They have more lovely flowers,
aAnd that they bloom there all the time,
And do not die, like ours
L am so glad, for Papall be
So happy then, l know; sEI 3. " -.t-
I'd like to thank God just for that, 'a
And told Mamma 81. =.
1 told her, too, of all the things
I'd thought about so long, .',i.-..f- ?,
And that it seemed, because Of them,
1t would be almost wrong. ri--l
If we didn't keep Thanksgiving Day.
p And that, if Papa knew, W 4.ss
He'd like it better if we did ~ .a
She said she thought so, too. 4k
And then she cried little bit, .,,
Then wiped her eyes and smiled ;,,s >.
(She looks so lovely when she smiles)
And then she said: Dear child,
"Y You've helped me more than you can
. know. r ..-.
1t shall be as you say;
Though Papa is away from us,,aE ~.
Well keep Thanksgiving Day"
And then she took me in her arms,
And held me very tight,
And kissed me very fondly twice,
Just as she does at night.
IN. Y. Independent.