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

size, the largest and incest anywhere to
be found"
"Wbat do the size matter for pies,
ma'am 2" asked Joe, in the bold way we
were so familiar with.
"Oh, these will not be for PIES" re.
piled Aunt Jane, with soft little chuckle |;
81 am going to give thanks with them,
and want them exactly as 1 say, Joe; ex-
acty as I say"
Well, it was funny. For the minute
forgot Potiphar in staring at her, and
wondering what she could mean. As
for Joe, he took up his hat, and went out
without another word, but with look
which said plainly that the finding of
those especial pumpkins was a task that
would have to be accomplished, and he
might as well 60 about it at once.
That same day, at evening, he appeared
with them-six of the hsndsomest pump.
kins I ever saw, 80 near alike l could not
have told them apart. That same even
ing they disappeared, and the next saw
of them-three days after--they stood on
the top shelf of the kitchen closet, tucked
almost out of sight. Whatever was she
going to do with them l asked myself,
wonderingly. "Going to give thanks"
she had said to Joe. Whatever could that
mean p? Had Aunt Jane become heather,
and WAS she going to worship them ? as
had read of heathens worshipipg funnier
things yet than pumpkins. Or was she
intending to sacrifice them on an altar, on
Thanksgiving day, like
But it would take me some time to tell
you the strange thoughts had concern.
ing Aunt Jane that eventful week. You
may be sure, my dears, there wasn't 3
day passed that didn't steal in to take
peep at the pumpkins, each time to won.
der all the more. Meanwhile the slowing
in began, the roasting and the baking !;
the delicious odors from the turkey and
pie and pudding began making their way
through the old house; and one day, at
the height of it, the great csrryall drove
up to the gate, and uDcles and aunts and
cousins came noisily pouring in.
Potiphar came straight to me.
"Did You ?" he asked, sternly.
eyes. l couldn't help it; 30 did"
GAN right" he said, and walked away.
Potiphar kept his word; he would not
speak again at all to me. And, since he
would not speak, the days, despite the
other cousins, were all dull days to me !;
and if you could know what jolly times
we two used to have, you would not be
surprised, my dears.
/ did my best to conciliate Potiphar,
but it was no use at all he would not
speak to me. One day, looking up at the
pumpkins, remembered how much he en-.
joyed mystery, and thought perhaps if
he would give me chance to tell him,
we might make it all up again. Luckily,
at this very moment, Potiphar came
bounding into the kitchen.
"Pottie-Pottie dear |" called eagerly
from the closet, "come in here quick,
and III tell you most the strangest thing
you ever heard in all your life u
To my great y he forgot himself.
What, Poll 7" he cried, and hurried
to me.
Delightfully."- l showed him the pump
kins, and told him about them, and what
Aunt Jane had said, and everything
had thought and fancied about her since.
And Potiphsr did think it most the
strsngest thing he had ever heard in all
his life; and for telling him he forgave
me quite for snuffiug, and we came ont of
the closet better friends than ever, both
determined to watch our Aunt Jane
closely, especially to be up early Thanks
giving morning to see what she would be
about
Good times, indeed, Pottie and l had
then; but we never once forgot Aunt
Jane and the pumpkins and our engage
ment for that Thursday morning was al.
ways uppermost in our minds. Well,
Thanksgiving eve came at last, ard we
were all starting off for bed, when sud-
denly Aunt Jane said:
l want some girls and boys in the
kitchen at seven, sharp, tomorrow. You
can all come If you want to, but am 60.
ing to give my thanks, and want at least
six of the older ones to help me-"
Potiphsr and l exchanged chances; the
others could only stare wonderingly at
Aunt Jane. You may guess they were
all up early; but you may be sure zoe were
up before them, creeping softly down the
stairs. Breathlessly we paused on the
lower step. For, sure enough, at the
kitchen table stood Aunt Jane, with hands
crossed over her apron, gazing down upon
the ak pretty pumpkins with bright,
quite ecstatic face. Potiphar and |
turned toward each other with wide-open
mouths, and scared look in our eyes.
POLL" he whispered, "she certainly
| is q heather p
"She certainly Is" gasped.
My loud voice aroused Aunt Jane from
her-devotions, we firmly beloved; she
turned quickly and espied us.
Come in u she cried merrily, "come
in I'll be ready right away"
With eyes on the pumpkins, we stepped
into the kitchen, aud presently stumbled
over the big box-sled midway in the room.
Looking down, saw in it big, big tur-
key, pair of chickens, mixture of
potatoes. turDips, onions, rosy-cheeked ap-
pies, and nuts. In one end was large,
! empty box.