St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-12-01

Meantime, Grandma was interview
ing Grandpa about her Thanksgiving
dinner. Son John was going to drive
over in his big sleigh, with wife and six
children; and daughter Caroline would
bring her family to dinner; ''and l am
determined to cook two turkeys" said
this old lady, as fiercely as if some
body were going to oppose her.
every WE'LL" said Farmer Riley,
smiling. "YOu don't say nothin' bout
how many ears of corn DObbin gets.
two turkeys" "And that amt ALL"
continued Grandma, still defying an
imaginary OppOser. 81 want another
one killed for Widler Aldrich. Don't
you think, Father, when | asked her,
at Miss Rogers's quiltin', whether she
put chopped parsley in her turkey
gravy, she said she hadn't had a turkey
to cook for so long she most forgot.
| just made up my mind that minute
that I'd kill three turkeys, stead of
two this Thanksgiving.
"All right, old woman," said the
farmer, finishing off his breakfast with
glass of fresh buttermilk. "Better
have 'em killed fore night and hung
up. Do you hear, DanP If Granny
wants all her turkeys killed, don't you
ask no questions. just go ahead and
do it."
"And Dam" said Grandma, "don't be
too late getting at it."
Dan was busy picturing himself,
alone in his glory, flashing down Big
Spring Hill on "The Rainbow" and
trying to persuade himself that to a
fellow who had no sled an old, ricketty
trap would seem a very fine affair.
He didn't take in very clearly what
was expected of him, but contented
himself with Il vague assurance that
he was to kill all Grandma's turkeys
and ask no questions.
He thought he was beginning his
job pretty early that evening; but the
November twilight seemed very short,
and he had only killed six turkeys
when he heard the supper-bell rung
out of the window at him and knew
he must give up the job for the night.
He lugged them up to the kitchen
door, washed his hands at the pump,
and, by no means in "A gentle humOr,
went in to supper.
"Well, DAN" said Grandma, putting
an extra spoonful of sugar i'll his cup,
''did yDu get through ~
'NO'm," he said, in a very injured
tone mot half through. | only
killed six"
''!SiT ~ said Grandma Riley and set
down the cup and saucer. There was
ii blank silence, while an uncomforta-
bic suspicion began to dawn upon alb
Sent-minded Dan.
"Grandpa said | was to kill youI
turkeys, without asking any ques-
tions," he said, presently ; and then
Grandpa roared out laughing, and
laughed and laughed, until Grandma
herself had to join, and Dan. They
were still at it when PruC rushed il
with the overwhelming statement that
there were six "kilt" turkeys at til,
kitchen door.
Her chances for scOlding Dan being
spoiled by all this laughing, Grandm;
Riley took the fact of the six TURKEYS
very quietly.
"T'aint often you make me pres
ent, Mother" said the old farmer
land | want one of them turkeys 70
Jim Coales's family"
"Grandma, can't have one for TX
Paxton's mother ?" said Dan, con
scious of guilty thought that thi
might buy off his conscience abou
that cOasting business.
"Oh go long" said Grandma "bu
yOu needn't ask for t'Other, 'caus
Prue is a-goin' to fetch it to her ol
, uncle. And now come long and hel
me and Prue to pick them six turkeys
Daniel Riley"
Next afternoon Dan and DObbi
went round getting rid of those tur
keys. But giving is very spreadin
sort of thing. When Dan got to Mrs
. Paxton's he had almost forgotten hi
old broken sled, and he and Ike lai
their plans for double riding on tn
Rainbow. And the spreading did nc
} stop there. That was the gayes
Thanksgiving the Rileys had eve
known. The story of the six turkey
was told, amid shouts of happy laugh
p. ter, and, when it had quieted dow
Johns wife said:
p "Sister Caroline, while we CON
home to eat Mothers turkeys, | thin
L we might kill our own for somebOd
: that hasn't any" And they made I'll
bargain between them.
= When Grandpa Riley was cOverin
o the bedroom fire for the night, Crane
ma shook her head at him from ii
e pillows, and said, in the tone of oil
who quells an enemy:
= "YOu needn't say word, old ma
4 | mean to kill six turkeys ever
Thanksgiving as long as | live ~
= TIudenenuent