The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-05


meant it only seemed to me that couldn't
stand this mystery one single minute
longer. And walked straight up to my
Aunt Jane, and said:
"Aunt Jane, what are you going to do
with those pumpkins ?"
How jollily her laugh rang out
=" Why. I'm going to give thanks with
them, my DEAR" she answered, turning
toward the clock. "Ah it's seven, sharp,
! see, 30 will begin to show you how"
Here Aunt Jane touched the pumpkins,
one by one, each of which, to our great
surprise. separated; the upper, small part
lifting off like cover, the lower part
anding on the table followed out like
bowl. "There she continued, amid
cries of surprise and admiration (for the
cousins were now swarming into the
kitchen, tumbling one over the other to
see)-" Farmer Jones did that part for
me; he is wonderful man. Aud now"
She opened the table-drawer and took
out six little sheets of scalloped paper,
brighty-blue as the sky. These she
smoothed down, one in each pumpkin
bowl, after which she brought forth
numerous tiny squares of pound and fruit
cake, and packed them deity in around
the sides; then six beautiful round
oranges, six little tied.up cups OF custard,
six little tied-up glasses of lilly, all of
which she tucked in, in threes; after
which, ak deep little pumpkin pies, which
she steadied in on top; then nuts and
raisins by handfuls, which she dropped in
the vacant corners; and, finally, brightly.
blue candy notices, with which she made
wreath around the top of each. Then,
then, my dears, she clapped on the covers,
and, taking some brightly. blue ribbons
from the drawer, tied them in through
holes had not noticed, leaving bow on
either side. This done, she lifted the
pumpkins and laid them tenderly in the
box on the sled.
"Now," she said, al will tell you what
all this means. In this town are six little
children-six poor little children, who,
though they have enough plain food to
eat, have no one to do anything pretty or
graceful or pleasant for them at such
times as these. Their mother is hard
working widow, and doesn't have time,
poor soul I've been thinking for
month past what I could do for them in
the way of a surprise, something to make
their cheeks glow and their dear hearts
laugh merrily little while. And one
day it came to me to send them each
Thanksgiving pumpkin, and let them
search out its mysteries. thought it
would be inst what they would like, and
just the incest way of giving thanks
And now, my dears-"
Such a round of cheers as the cousins
sent up here Potiphar and I shouted
louder than any of them; we were so glad
to find our Aunt Jane was not heather.
"And now" continued Aunt Jane, as
soon as she could get the chance, Z" 1 want
half dozen of you-all of you if you like
to put on your hats and comfortables
and draw this sled over to Widow Mays.
Give the turkey and things to her; tell
her Aunt Jane is giving thanks to-day.
Give pumpkin to each of the dear chill
dren tell them Aunt Jane is giving thanks
to-day. And then run home as fast as
you can, for breakfast must be hurried
off,"
Well, there wasn't one that didn't 90,
you may be sure of that, my dears-and
such a good time as we had We went
over slowly, carefully, on account of our
precious load we gave the turkey and
things to Widow May, and the pumpkins
to the wondering children; we stayed
we couldn't help it'll they got deep
into the mysteries, and then, with the
light from their sunny faces warming our
little hearts, we whirled out over the door
sill, and raced homeward, pelting each
other with snowballs, quite ready to cry
with j,y.
did cry, remember; and I Rugged
Potiphar, and Potiphar Rugged me, while
he whispered:
"Oh, Poll, Poll to think we thought
che was heather -
Grandma paused, took off her specta-
cles, polished them on her apron, and put
them back again. 1t was the old, old
way we knew 30 web. "Once upon
time" was done.
wasn't that splendid I" cried Bob, af-
ter little minute.
"Oh, wasn't it !" echoed Beth. "Don't
wish I'd been horned thenl"
CAT wath bufui," said the story.loving
baby.-ROsd Graham, in Christian Union.