Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-11-10
A STRANGER AT THE BOARD.

1t showed the night before Thanks
giving that year. Through the evening
there was n half-defned mist in the
gray ar that seemed like the all per-
vading chilliness taking form, and
everybody who was going away, or
who was TO have company fand that
took in nearly all of New England),
went to bed with dim foreboding of
disappointment on the morrow.
There is four inches OF snow, at
Least" said Farmer Draper on Thanks
giving morning, rs he anne in from the
big barn, stamping his feet vigorously
upon the stone floor of the back porch
'' -Four inches. at least, and that isn't
the worst of ". it is covered with n
crust as thin and sharp, almost, as win
dow glass. ] declare here is hole in
one of my rubber boots n ready"
81 don't know what to do about
cooking the turkey said Mother
Draper, setting a large platter of steam
ing stewed chicken upon the breakfast
table. 81 don't see how Aunt Gather
inc and the girls are to get down hero
TO day; or Frank and his wife, or the
boys. either, for that matter"
1T is bad morning for horses to
travel TO be sure" said William, COM
ing in from the barn just then, =. but
thanksgiving is never postponed on ac-
count OF the weather, so | will tell you
what propose to do VIII tackle up
the steers, all four yoke, and hitch
them to the long woodsled and 90 for
the company. 1t will be great fun, be-
sides showing my good disposition by
breaking n track for my neighbors.
You can go, too, sis. if you have mind
to; we will start right away after break
fast"
ut will be pretty cold" said her
mother
.'And that amt the worst of it," put
in her father, 81 expect she will be
needed he about the chicken fixens.n
mother will get along until Aunt
Catherine gets here; she is whole
team and horse to let. So put on
your waterproof, old maid, and come
down and help me ia kle. You need
not be afra OF your beau getting here
before you return. Tor certainly, II he
has to walk, he can't make great head
way this morning.
Jennie, bright, handsome, trim
little body. being the Oldest of the
Draper children, was always teasingly
called 1.-THE old maid' by her four
brothers, who delighted in Joking her
about an expected lover who never
came. 'Jennie's beau was sort of
mythical scape-goat in the family to
whom all imaginable, absurd blundors
and mishaps Were attributed.
So now she made some laughing re-
sponse, and when her brother marshaled
his team, consisting of alternate yokes
OF red and white steers, two yokes of
each, she took her place upon bundle
OF straw in the center of the huge sled.
There. sis,' said William, taking his
seat unon the neap of the sled and
brandishing his long whip. "you look
like the genius of Thanksgiving going
round on tour ,of inspection among
the brick ovens. and your team is al
most as fanciiul as the reindeers of St
Nicholas"
IL grew more and more fanciful
momentarlly, for 1t soon began to rain,
and as the fine pelting drops froze as
they fell, the whole turnout was trans
formed into an hibition of ice newly
frozen for the occasion from the Arctic
region. After having been round the
square and picked up all the Draper
blood in the township they retraced
their steps, stopping at nearly every
house for merry interchange Of greet
ings. just TO break the gloom that the
storm had cast over every thing"
William said. But at every house 1t was
noticeable that he threw out few suQ.
gestiye words to the boys that set them
thinking there WAS no fun quite so do
siiab.e for Thanksgiving day as breaking
steers.
The meiriment OF the morning was
kept up through the day by the young
people. while Mother Draper and Aunt
Catherine moved mysteriously about
and compared notes over dripping
pans. sauce-pans and pipkins In the
kitchen.
Dinner was 10 be early. so that the
Two Draper boys who were employed
npon the railroad that cut in twain the
b.oad acres OF theirfa!hers farm could
ho back at the station at train time In
tbe afternoon,