The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-12-27
A JOLLY LARK.

"Say, Bill, want a pumpkin lark,
Thanksgiving eve?'
"Yes, if it's anything new and jolly"
"Well, I'm sure it s neaO, and / guess
it viii be Jolly to some folks. S'pose
we fellows give Widow Gray regular
surprise-party, Thanksgiving eve. l
heard those Maitland boys Dragging to
little Tom Gray what splendid Thanks
giving they were going to have, and
Tom said: Il guess we used to have as
good q time as anybody when father
was alive; but mother says we mustn't
expect a turkey or mince pie this
year | lay awake last night ever so
long, and planned it all out. You and
I will go up to Squire Fiske-father
says he's got big heart-and l
shouldn't wonder, if we tell him how
hard Widow Gray works to get along
give the turkey, and then the biggest
thing of all will be off my mind. And
then want at least six pumpkins; and l
know where to get 'em, too"
What are you talking about, Joe?
You must think they re going to live on
pumpkins!''
mot bit of there comes in the
fun-these surprise pumpkins will be
such pumpkins as you've never seen,
old boy, in all your life. You lust come
up to our barn tonight, at seven
O'Clock, and bring your pocket knife,
sharpened up, and I'll show you what
mean by surprise pumpkins. Good
bye; seven o'clock, sharp, remember"
And seven o'clock that November
night found as jolly and happy half
dozen boys as you'd wish to see, col
lected in Mr. Emery's barn. Six of the
biggest pumpkins-one oval in shape
and six boys and six knives busy at
work on the straw-covered barn floor.
First the pumpkins were cut in two
parts, aoout two-thirds from the base;
then both parts were scooped out, leav-
inc the yellow rind about an inch in
thickness; then green willow withe or
switch was cut the right length and put
into the smallest part of the divided
pumpkin (the cover) for a handle.
Then the boys put a thin coat of varnish
over their work, and left to dry on a
shelf in the barn row of splendid.
new-fashioned, orange-colored dishes
and covers
The next three days were busy DAYS,
can tell you, for the surprise party;
but Squire Fiske gave the turkey and the
''iixings celery and cranberries and
Joe's mother madea real Yankee plum
| pudding; and Wills sister made two
Sach pies, as VIII said-mince and
squash and the other boys mothers
and sisters made doughnuts and cookies
and all sorts of ssgoodies" for the
Thanksgiving tea. And on Thanksgiving
eve, at eight p. M, might have been seen
a torch-light proces sion moving across
the meadow from Mr. Emery's barn.
and along the lane that led to Widow
Gray's cottage at the other end of the
village. And this was the programme;
Two boys with Chinese lanterns; two
little Cinnamon bearing on pole be-
tween them real Chinese tea-ehest
filed with tea. and sugar; wheelbar.
row, alternately wheeled by Joe Emery
and Will Somerby. On each side of the
barrow two pumpkins containing pies,
doughnuts, etc. One pumpkin in front
with celery and cranberries; large oval
pumpkin in the center with turkey, dec
GRATED, with laurel sprigs; spaces filled
up with white potatoes and sweet pota
toes; at the head of barrow, or pole, 9
little banner-''A Thanksgiving greet
ing from the friends of Mrs GRAY"
Now don't you think Joe Emery
was a new and jolly pumpkin lark
-Youth's Companion.