The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-10-31
A Thanksgiving Dinner That
Flew Away.

"Aunt, what makes you keep that gan
der, year after year ?" said |, one even
ing, as we were sitting on the lawn before
the door. ais it because he is kind OF
watchdog, and keeps troublesome peo-
pie away ?"
"No, child, no; do not wish to keep
most people away, not well-behaved peo-
pie, nor to distress nor annoy any one.
The fact is, there is story about that
gander tn 1t do not like to speak of to
every one-something that makes me feel
tender toward him so that if he needs
whipping, would rather do it. He knows
something that no one else knows. You
have heard me speak of Nathaniel, my
Oldest boy ?"
eyes"
"That is his picture in my room, you
know. I loved Nathaniel-you cannot
think how much loved Nathaniel. 1t
was on my account that he went away.
"The farm did not produce enough for
us all. One year-that was ten years ago
we were sued for our taxes.
Nathaniel,' said I, Il will take
boarders.'
"Then he looked up to me and said
Ooh, how noble and handsome he ap-
peared to me y:
"'Mother, l will go to sea-
"Where p asked /, in surprise.
&c In a coaster
"You and John can manage the place.
he continued. Zone of the vessels sails
next week-Uncle Aaron's; he offers to
take me-
1t seemed best, and he made prepare.
tions to 60.
"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.
81 set them under hens. In four weeks
had three goslings, 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.
al said to Aaron
"What can give to Nathaniel to
carry to sea with him to make him think
OF home? Cake, preserves, apples l
haven't got much have done all 1 cap
for him, poor boy
Brother looked at me ouriously, and
said,
"Give him one of those wild geese, and
we will fatten it on shipboard and will
have it for our Thanksgiving dinner
"What brother Aaron said pleased me.
The young gander was noble bird, the
handsomest of the lot and resolved to
keep the geese to kill for my own use and
to give him to Nathaniel.
"The next morning-it was late in
September-I took leave of Nathaniel. l
tried to be calm aud cheerful and hopeful.
watched him as he went down the walk
with the gander struggling under his
arms. A stranger would have laughed,
but did not feel like laughing; although
the boys who went coasting were usually
gone but few months and came home
hardy and happy.
Z" / saw him 60 over the hill. On the
top he stopped and held up the gander.
He disappeared; yes, my own Nathaniel
disappeared. / think of him now as one
who disappeared.
November came-it was a terrible
month on the coast that year. Storm fol-
lowed storm; the sea-faring people talked
constantly of wrecks and losses. l could
not sleep on the nights of those high
winds. | used to lie awake thinking over
" '"O hoPPy houin uhu ilNou WIN
Nathaniel.
Thanksgiving week came.
at was full of an Indian summer
brightness after the long storms. The
nights were frosty, bright, and calm.
:" could sleep on those calm nights.
Gone morning, thought l heard a
strange sound in the woodland pasture.
1t was like a wild goose. listened
1t was repeated. / was lying in bed.
started up-.I thought had been dreaming.
"Oa the night before Thanksgiving
went to bed early, being very tired. The
moon was full the air was calm and STILL
Twas thinking of Natheniel, and won
dered if he would indeed have the gander
for his Thanksgiving dinner if it would
be cooked as we'll as would have cooked
1T, and if he would think of me that day
was just going to sleep, when sud
denly heard sound that made me start
up and hold my breath.
4" H0nkP
81 thought it was dream followed by
nervous shock.