Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-11-27
SHARING THANKSGIVING DINNER.

by Mrs. Emma E. Mcguire in Electra.l
All. yes, it was hard, and what made it harder,
Was poor granny S sickness. A destitute larder-
Day here and no prospect ahead
OF Thanksgiving feast-what wonder that
Who'd learned few things in Dame Poverty's
school
Gould whistle when hungry. if that was the
What wonder his courage had quite given way,
With Granny unable to get up that day?
He sat on the steps where the sunbeams could
find him;
His jacket was thin, and the small room behind
him
Was chill, lacking fire. The poor child sat
musing.
Like wise philosophers, like them abusing
The power which TO some offers only diStresses,
While others less worthy gain fortunes caresses.
His heart grew rebellious, and Grannys good
teaching
Was fading away; Just as he was reaching
The point where blind fate takes the place OF
Gods will
To the grown, malcontent-to Ned, it was still
Just poor fo{lS bad luck-'twas just then Granny
said
"Why are you so quiet? Come here to me, Ned"
The old voice was feeble the face was serene
With patience and hope, but the boys troubled
mien
Gave pain to the kind heart "Kneel here by
my bed,
And ask the dear Father to send us some bread"
And turkey and jelly?' cried Ned hungriiy,
" All just as He pleaseS that portion must be,
But bread He has promised, that promise we
plead,
And He will feed us who the raven doth feed
Neds petition was DER, he again sought the sun,
With IA crust from the cupboard-alas the last
one.
But now a sweet fragrance pervaided the air;
fragrance unnoticed before the short prayer.
Attracted by odors that thrilrd his starved
senses,
He shifted like blood hound, then leapiog the
That shut in the farm house of rich neighbor
Moore,
Quick gained he the back yard The kitchen
wide door
Stood ajar, thus disclosing glimpse to the child
| of dinner preparing that set him half wild.
One was beating fresh eggs, one stirring white
cake,
While turkey and chicken stood ready to bake.
Pumpkin-pies, rich and spicy, were ranged side
by side,
With an odorous mass in the pudding bag tied.
While gazing and longing, behold, the Moore
geese
Had gathered around him to capture piece
OF the crust he still held He sLooed them away
| But eagerly still they returned to the fray.
| Till, how who can tell us? one goose most alert
| Had knocked down and trampied his crust III
| the dirt.
A cry of despair All the dinner he had
| IN Il moment was gone! Inc poor little lau
| Fell prone on the ground in a passion O. grief
| Too craZed to observe thai the prayed-for-reliet
| Was here at his hand, or that old farmer Moore
| Had watched the whole scene from his sitting
room door.
Hello! what's the matter? Come; get up my
| lad,
The goose stole your dinnerf Well now that's too
| bad
You don't mean to say oil the dinner you had
| Well, well, which goose was it? That one by
the fence?
He shall pay for it then; and since he's no sense
| To restore what he stole, my poor little man,
Do you just take the goose and then you can
| plan
To get back your dinner the best way you can "
He led the child wond ring before Grandma
| Moore:
This child is half starved, wife, and right al
| our door:
| Thanksgiving to us, yes. but think, can it be
\ happy Thanksgiving to poor widow Lee?'
"God forgive me, pray" the good woman said
| d" For neglecting the widow and poor little Ned
My JOY was so great that clean, ctCGn forgot
| The sorrow and hunger about me For what,
With George home from college and Nanny:
| new baby,
My hearts trimming over with thankfulness
| Maybe
It's not too late YETI
Well, before you could ask it
A happy-faced boy and a bountifu basket,
| Each flcd with the best by dear, kind Grandma
Moore:
Were helping each other toward Granny Lee
door:
Twas turkey and jelly-but what need to say
Twas more than Ned dreamed of for Thanks
giving Day.
And we all must admit that Ned was the WHINE
When he ate up the goose to get back his dinner