The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-12-08
COUSIN CAIEB'S THANKSGIVING,

:" don't want to coos, oouted Dolly,
swinging her little slipptred loot tulklly
to and fro from the heights of toe long
legged, oldfashioned wooden "settle !"
In the chimney corner, land l aiu't
going to learn. neither. 'fain't nice to
cook. :"
'''S mighty useful-long as mortals
will eat, returned Aunt Della, rs with
an undignIfied dive under the tall-legged
table she rolled forth bouncing pump
kin, a golden marvel of symmetry and
richness, reserved for the browning glory
of Thanksgiving dinner-pumpkin
pies. "Gsls t can't cook amt good for
much, ID my opinion. Ell you mad
little grain of sense hit nd come mighty
handy jest now Yonder's Thanks
givin', not two days of, all Jeemss folks
scomin' from the Caney Fork, an COUSIN
Jul'anny and her FIVE gals, an Adline
Pike, an may be Caleb, an all. Couldn't
no one person cook for EN-, an do
ev'thing else too. How you reckon it's
golu' 10 git done, Dolly Martin ?" Dol
ly drew up her feet, doubled her arm on
the back of the settle, and dropped her
head peacefully thereon.
81 don't RECKON" she answered lazily
dOu't low to coOk-never. Cousin
Caieb'5 coming for shore, aud | amt
agoIng to tool round in the kitchen aud
get all red and tumbled up. bis wife
won't never have to COOK, cause he's
rich now. And he's nice, too"
- ou amt his wife, air you ?" asked
Amt Della with exasperated sarcasm.
nnn'f 1Y1aar Ja 90
answered Dolly, with imperturable pert
ness. Why don't you send for Cousin
Cindy to help you? She can cook"
You're too trifin' to live, Dolly"
asserted Aunt Della, Indignantly, as
she carried the pump kin cut to the kItcb
en-. "Looks nike I'll hev To send fo
Clndy-Dolly's such varm!nt.
you'll go | reckon, Cindy ?"
Mrs. Sol. Crane paused Ii her occu-
patton of chopping sausage meat, au4
turn d par of round, ioquisitive black
eyes uI o her eister-in-law VINO stood IL
the kitchen doorway, looking out across
the lawn, sparkling white with the first
heavy November frost.
Ya-es, the young lady spoke a lit
tie hesltatlngly, / suppose ="
9 But you ortn't suppose" interrupt
ed Mrs Crane, with sudden brisk chop
OF the knife that made the able creak
g You orto know. I'd think you'd b
glad of the char ce. Reckon they'll nav
you something ef they air kin-tolkz,
seem they re goin' to heY SIGH a gang:
an you KIN buy you them shoes you've
been awlntin', an Sol won't hev to.
We AR ktAd OF skinny you know, Gu
dy, with all the young ones ueedin' d
new dress an hat apiece, an me a bon
net with yeller flowers like Delily Mar
tins. Reckon you kin patch up Won,
Newports to do TIL arter Ihanksgivin'
heyP"
every weR" Cindy shut the doc,
rather abruptly, ano began to wash tn
dishes, stacked IN psn ON the kltcbet
table. She had done the work of a biz
girl for her brothers family for years.
merely for boar and clothes, neither
asking nor receiving wages. But she
was too proud to 10 ,utluu ne fact now
I'D hit gcaln IA Der not 9,
there" she said, deep rose color gloA
ing suddenly IN her cheeks; "still-"
The mercy sskeJ, Whs q demande
Mrs. Sol SHARPLY. "YJu amt gooss
enon0h to mind Ca Ise that there Calel
Plke's acomlpg back, air you2 "
needn't, arter all this long time. He
forgot you long ago, I'll Ineure you
Reckon he's engaged before nos; u
you're pretty Lear old ma d, all
your"
Cindy might have been held excus
able, perhaps. for not answering tbl
rather personal remark. But Mrs. So
was one of those agreeable, tactless PEG
pie who dwell longest on the least edifv
ing topics.
rwenty-nine, amt you?" she per
sisted 10 her rasping distinct voice.
Twenty-eight, corrected Cindy
briefly.
b ess the world commented he1
slster-in-law. 81 was married and beC
four children when [ was tWenty-eight
But folks is diff Mt; YOU amt one of tb,
takln' kind. l reckon. / s'pose YOU
could hey Deacon Spermint an his min.
eff You was mind to. dono who else
the Is ="
"You needn't worrit, Selmit," SAID
Clndy quietly 81 don't low TO pine
away rignt of, nor yet TO set IN the sun.
Ike little Satlle Water, Vpepin' an cry
III Ter youog man. So dm't shortel
your days by any oneasiness on my &c
count.
The square iow-ceiIed kitchen of the
substantial farm house was all in trim
for Thanksgiving preparations. With it,
glowing wood stove, hospltable cup
boards aud closets stretched wide and a
iulI assortment of pots and pans, knead
ing trays and molding boards. cutters
ana crimpers, graters and egg beaters
marshaled Tor service: while freshly-op
ened cans and Jars of fruits filed the air
win the combined fragrance of simmer
ana autumn, to which the half busbel
basket OF October pippins contributed
materially. A two gallon Gro k fuU If
boarded eggs-big cream. colored bnfi
cochin eggs-stood before the favore 4
pumpkin on the window sill and N
broad. splint bottomed arm chair 70
posed the mighty form of the bronzs
gobbler, decspitated aud curIed mn IN
the biggest dish pan.
now, honey, just go ahead sale
aunt Della, bustling around with her
apron on crooked and her hair In
state OF one sideduess. as Cindy. enveI
oped IN a bingham spron. with sleeves
rolled above her rosy elbows. stood
ready for business. "You be chief
cook, I've got. mess of other things TO
tend to-.
Aunt Della, said Clndy. "I'm go
ing 70 take away the fire board and clear
ont 1he Old fireplace. There's uotbing
ilAe fireplace to roast guinea chickens
~ ~ 'front.' OF, nor hot Goals to bake COB.
blers in. '''No 6oO-
!, 10 what you like" said Aunt Deli
~ n't used to smoke so whenever n
the wind got in the east, hits been sbut
T Up 20 long, folks has forgot it's there.
oat you KIN open it eff You want to"
% Glndy removed the light fire-board
revealing the gaping cavity, all sooty
anu coo-Weohy, with dreary heap of
aspes between its brass headed sndirons
now desolately different j, looked from
'i'0 iAs' l'tne she had seen it, lighted by