The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-01-05
HOW THE LITTLE sTEADMANS HAD
A GOOD TINE.
A THANKSGIVING Story.


Rena and Carrie Steadman lived in
Cincinnati. but. they. were born in Mas
sachusetts. and loved Thanksgiving
can; and they thought of it all the year
thought OF Christmas. 1t was pleasant
to think, not only of the day itself. but
of the two or three days before it, for
then Mrs Steadman, who always heard
their lessons herself. gave them holi-
day, and went into the kitchen and
helped to make the good things for
the dinner. Rena and Carrie were al
lowed to help-tO stone raisins and
pare apples. and chop the mince; and
every one looked so happy and busy,
and there was such q baking and boil
ing and steaming and stirring, and
such q good smell in the kitchen of
spices and pastry, that Thanksgiving
Day seemed to extend from Tuesday
morning till Thursday night.
Then it was so nice, when the day
really came, to have their dear papa sit
down before the fire in his dressing
gown and slippers after breakfast, just
as he did Sundays. instead of hurrying
off to business. and the story that he
told them before church-time was al
ways a part of Thanksgiving Day.
Then the walking to church was anoth-
er treat, for then their papa would ex-
plain to them how Thanksgiving Day
came to be. or tell them of some Thanks
giving Day in his own childhood; and
in church., although they were too little
to understand very much of the sermon
they enjoyed the beautiful music, and
u \ n. l. L.. 4 g
church to thank their Heavenly Father
for all His care through the year. Then
walking from church with their uncle
and aunt and cousins (who always
dined with them Thanksgiving Day,
because they had the biggest parlors
for the after-dinner frolic). And thon
the -dinnar-tha, two big turkeys. the
eUe,ythtng SO nice. After that the
games, one coming after another, till
the winter daylight faded. and the gas
was lighted and still game after game,
papa and mamma, uncle and aunt
o'clock! That was very late for Rena
at seven o'clock on. other nights, and
after all else, the happy, sleepy un-
dressing, with mamma to kiss them
and tuck then1s In and Thanksgiving
day was over! Do you wonder that
they. loved to think Of it?
But one autumn. when Rena was ten
and Carrie eight years old. early in o.
tober their mamma became very i'll,
and for many days tho doctor thought
she could not live; but after much suf-
fering and pain she finally grew better.
and by the first of November was able
10 be bolstered up in bed and see the
little girls for while each day; and in
two weoks more, she sat in a rocking
chair, and began to move slowly about
her room. Ono evening, as tho little
girls sat in. their fathers lap. one on
each knee. he said:
II am sorry. little girls. that you will
lose your Thanksgiving frOlic and din
ner this year. OF course, you will have
to- for the new cook that has come
since mamma was sick. knows very lit
tie, and could not get dinner without
mamma, and she will not be strong
enough oAcome down stairs TO eat. or
SEQ you play. even If the cook could
get along without her; but you will
really have q better Thanksgiving than
you over had, for you will know better
than you ever did before, what a real
Thanksgiving out of your hearts is.
when you look at mamma almost well
again"
OF course Rena and Carrie felt sorry
to lose tho fun that they always had;
but they really felt. as their papa said,
SO joyful and thankful for their mamma
that they didn't mind.
But the next day. us soon as their papa
went to his business, their mamma sent
for them. They went quickly. wonder
ing what mamma could want so early,
for it was generally ten O'Clock before
they were sent for. They found her
already sitting up In her wrapper, with
paper and pencil, and her purse. She
smiled as they came in, and said:
Little girls, have a plan: l want
to surprise papa, and you must help
me. We will have real Thanksgiving
dinner up here in my room. and quiet
games after it, and you little girls shall
get the dinner! and it shall all be a So
cret and surprise papa!'
Oh. how happy Rena and Carrie
were! too happy at first to wonder what
their mamma could mean by their get
ting the dinner; but in q minute their
questions came fast enough:
'.Why, mamma, how can we get the
dinnerP" "Who will teach US to
cookf' 'sWhere will we get the
thingsl" '.HoW can we have dinner
~ Nest Ihase ia1't any taAlA" -
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