The Bossier banner., 1882-12-14
SOMETHING TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

giving day, just do"
"Why do you wish that, Regetta?"
'Just because I do. Mean old rais-
ins to pick. and things to chop and to
cut and to slice, and such time with
| cooking and dishing up'
''Is that all?'' Dotty stopped slicing
| citrOn for L.oment and stood looking
OF through the window toward the gray
clouds and the shivering trees, but was
not thinking of either Of them.
.All? Deary me! that's enough; pies
and cakes and all sorts of things to
help make. and boiling and bak NC and
fussing to do. and as to the thanking part
don't see much to thank for! always
stewng at cook-stove, or scrubbng
up floor. Christmas is different from
Thanksgiving, when people get presents
after the cooking is over: but Thanks
giving! goodness, gracious! Some peo-
pie might like it who have something
to be thankful, for, but T'-and she
tossed her saucy brown head on one
side, and threw the rails rs she had been
picking, with jerk, into the bowl wait
ing to receive them, and also over the
table and the floor, for what could be
expected but that the raisins would fly
about when they were pitched and
tossed in such fashion? tl
''Did you ever see the like of it?''
Regetta commenced again, 'even the
raisins just try to torment me; I'd like
to know what have to thank for?''
Mamma says we ought to be thank
full that we have the raisins to fix"
Hear it! Listen to it! Does she
say Peggy Hopkins ought to be thank
full for the rheumatism?'
Mamma says Peggy Hopkins is con-
tented, but l don't see what that has
to do with the matter?''
"Stupid! Peggy Hopkins rheuma-
tism keeps her lame in the leo so She
cannot sport around and enjoy herself.
What's the difference if it's raisins,
pumpkin and citron, or if it's rheuma-
tlsm that keeps you squatted in a cor
ner hanging over ire?''
"Regetta. We have the nice things
to eat after we have helped to make
them, but Peggy-oh! what pain she
has, and nothing to eat but what people
send her."
'Well she don't have to boil herself
to death cooking it: somebody else does
1t Tor her; and as to pain, / guess she's
TOO old and tough to feel much of that
and Regetta laughed at what She
thought a bit OF pleasantly, chucklino
to herself as she tossed the raisips She
mad been gathering up into the bowl.
=! shan't do much thanking, at any
"Oh, Regetta! the little girl turned
half around that the tears quiyering in
her eyes might be unseen.
"Oh. Regetta? What has Reoetta
got to be thankful for2 What does She
DO the week through but stew over the
pans, and there's nothing but misery
anyway, for fathers lost his work. and
Bllly's spasms are getting worse, and
the brlndle cows gone dry, and she
ought to be milking a plenty"
But, begun Dotty. trying to saw
some OF the things that were half shaped
In her thoughts, ''but father isn't dead
like Anstice Bruen' S, and we've got two
COWS yet to give quarts and quarts. and
don'tyou think it's nicer to helm make
good things than never to have anv To
eat? L know it's bad about Billy. bnt
mamma says that God knows
She stopped, flushed with the effort
she had made to tell her thoughts.
Ihere was low rap at the door and tho |
call, Come i'm from Regetta, BROUGHT
Q small figure, scantily clad, shiyerinp |
in at the kitchen door.
=, You've got fire hav' nj your said
the little new conner nesting up close
70 the red-hot stove, where the pots
were bubbling over. and the smell of
good things was very strong. ~-......-.,
:, "Flre? Well i'll, ever! Fire? When
Ine wind is blasting like that outside.
who wouldn't have a fire?''
Everybody has it that can sun-
pose, but you know it takes so much
wood to keep it burning all the time.
some people cannot Tim-that's INV
orother-and me got a great, monstrons
lot yesterday, but nobody wants to bnrn
It all right up in minute" 80
Don't your father get the woodp,,
said Regetta, looking up as she knelt on
one knee, giving the last poke to the
Ilog with which she was refreshino the
FIRE. o'i''nss 'he
dead - i"'her Is
Jim Stryker is good to cut and banl
wood. why don't your mother get him
70 DO it; are your woods nearp" -''
Judge Swift lets us go to his woods
or 1aggots and things; why, YOU know
"eve got no woods and as to mother
settlng anybody. why mothers got us
Gracious! Barbary Brennen-that's
Foar name. isn't it' got youy'