The Brookhaven leader., 1883-11-22
THANKSGIVING DINNER THAT
FLEW AWAY.

"Aunt, what makes you keep that
gander, year after yearp" said |, one
evening, as we were sitting on the lawn
before the door. rs it because he is Il
kind of a Watchdog, and keeps trouble
some people away?"
No. child, no; Go not wish to keep
most PEOPLE away, not well-bchaved
people. nor to distress nor annoy any
one. The fact is, there is a story about
that gander that | do not like to speak
of to every one-something that makes
me feel tender toward him: so that if
he n eds a whipping, I would ratt er do
il. He knows something that no one
else knows. You have heard me speak
Of Nathaniel, my oldest boy?"
Yes"
That is his picture in my room, you
know. loved Nathaniel-you can not
think low much Lived Nathan el. 1t
was on my account that he went away.
The farm did not produce en- ugh
for us all. One year-that was ten
years ago-we were sued for our taxes.
Nathaniel sad |, Il will take
boardnrs.'
Then he looked up to me and said
pearcd to meD:
Mother, | will 90 to sea-
Wherep' asked |, in surprise.
"'In coaster
"You and John can manage the
lhce, he continued. 'One of the yes
Is al next weck-Uncle Aaron S; he
offers to take me-
. 1t seemed best, and he made prepa-
rations to go.
The spring before, Skipper Ben
you have met Skipper Ben-had given
me some goose eggs; he had brought
them from Canada, and said that they
were wild-gooSe eggs.
II set them under hens. In four
weeks had three gosiings, and one of
those goslings is that gander.
skipper Ben came over to see me
the day before Nathaniel was to sail
Aaron came with him.
9 said to Aaron:
What can l give to Nathaniel to
carry to sea with him to make him
think of home? Cake, preserves, ap-
pies? haven't got much; have done
all | can for him, poor boy
9 Brother looked at me curiously,
and said:
Give him one of those wild geese,
ana we will fatten it on shipboard and
ner.'
What brother Aaron said pleased
me. The young gander was a noble
bird, the handsomest of the lot; and |
resolved to keep the geese to kill for
my own use and to give him to Nathan.
"The'next morning-it was late in
STeptember-I took leave of Nathaniel.
! llled to be calm and cheerful and
Iope1ul. l watched him as he went
Gown the walk with the gander strug-
silng under his arms. A stranger
would have laughed, but did not feel
IKE laughing, although the boys who
went coasting were usually gone but a
iew months and came home hardy and
happy.
u saw him go over the hill. On the
i!GGp ne stopped and held up the gander.
lie disappeared; yes, my own Nathan
lei disappeared. l think of him now as
one who disappeared.
November came-it was a terrible
- ehO Sodob bHdt ytdI' DCOIlu
followed storm; the sea-faring people
1alked constantly of wrecks and losses.
l could not sleep on the nights of those
inlSh winds. l used to lie awake think
ing over ali the happy hours had lived
with Nathaniel.
Thanksgiving week came.
1t was full of an Indian-summer
brightness after the long storms. The
nights were frosty, bright and calm.
could sleep on those calm nights.
"one morning thought 1 heard a
strange sound in the woodland pasture.
II was like wild goose. listened; it
was repeated. l was lying in bed. l
ing. g.
"on the night before Thanksgiving
TE went to bed early, being very tired.
a ne moon was fun; the air was calm
anu anu sui. was thinking of Nathaniel,
and wondered if he would, indeed,