Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-01-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
His Dinner Flew Away


His Dinner Flew Away
''Arnt, what makes you keep tEat
gander year after year," said one
evening us we were sitting on the
lawn before the door. s'Is it because
he is kind of Il watch dog, and keeps
troublesome people away!'
NO, child, no; LIDO not wish to
keep most people away, not we'll
behaved people, nor to distress nor
annoy any one. The fact is, there
is a story about that gandcr that L do
not like to speak of to every one
something that makes nc fee, tender
toward him; sothat- if he needs a
whipping,I would rather DO it. lie
knows something that no one disc
knows. You have heard me speak of
Nathaniel, my oldest boy"
''Hes. ~. -.- ~
''This is his picture sin my room,
you know L loved Nathaniel-you
cannot think how much loved Ma
thaniel. It was on my account that
he went away.
1"Thc farm didnotproduce enough
for us all. One ycar-that Was ten
years ago-we were, sued for our
taxes.
F" Nathaniel said I. I will take
boardcrs.' -..- - - -. -.-F-f
ssThen he looked cup to me and
said con, how noble and handsome
he appeared to me J:
,OJCt1,n,, 7 ,r-iIl CrS> IL 60, ~
&c 'Whcrc?' asked I, in surprise.
'''In q coaster 8. -Av So z----S-
"'You and John can mnnugc the
place. he continued. One. of. the
vessels sails next wcck-Unclc
Aaron's; he offers to take me.
cit seemed best, and he made pre-
parations to go. 20
The spring before Skipper Ben
you have met Skipper Ben-had given
me some goose eggs; he had brought
them from Canada, and saidthcy were
wild-goosc eggs.
g set them under hens. In four
weeks l had three goslings. and one
of those gOslings is that gandcr.
Skipper Ben came over to see me
the day before Nathaniel was to sail.
Aaron came with him.
4" said to Aaron:
"E'What can 1 give to Nathaniel to
carry to sea with him to make him
think OF home? Cake, preserves, APP
pies? 1 haven't got much; have done
all l can for him, poor boy
s Brother looked at me curicusly,
and said:
"'Give him one Of those wild geese
and we will fatten it on shipboard
and will have it for our Thanksgiving
dinner
I" What brother Aaron said pleased
me. The young gandcf WAS noble
bird, the handsomest of the lot; and
L resolved to keep the geese to kill for
my own use and give him to Ma
thanicl.
* The next morning-it was late in
Septcmbcr-It took leave of Nathaniel.
tried to be calm and cheerful and
hopeful. 1 watched him as lie went
down the walk with the gander strug-
Cling under his arms. A stranger
would have laughed, but l did not
feel like laughing; although the boys
who went cOasting were usually gone
but few months and came home
hardy and happy.
g saw him go over the hill. On
the top he stopped and held up the
gandcr. lie disappeared; yes my
own Nathaniel disappeared. 1 think
of him now as one who disappeared.
% November camc-it was terri
bic month on the coast that year.
Storm followed storm; the scafaring
people talked constantly OF wrecks
and losses. / could not sleep on the
nights of those high winds. l used
to lie awake thinking over all the
happy hours had lived in Nathaniel.
Thanksgiving week came.
% 1t was full OF an Indian summer
brightness after the long storms.
The nights were frosty, bright and
calm.
q could sleep on those calm
nights.
. One morning L thought I heard
strange sound in the woodland
pasture. It was like a wild goose.
listened IL was repeated. L was
lying in bed. 1 started up-I
thought 1 had been dreaming.
'' On the night before Thanksgiv-
ing went to bed early, being very
tired. The moon was full; the air
was calm and still. I was thinking
of Nathaniel, and wondered if he
would indeed have the gander for his
Thanksgiving dinner; if it would be
cooked as well as I would have
cooked it, and if he would think OF
me that day.
''I was just going to sleep, when
suddenly I heard sound that made
me start up and hold my breath.
% sHonE!'
81 thought it vas a dream fol-
lowed by nervous shock.
'' .HOnkt HomE %
J There it was again, in the yard.