Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-11-21
THE CHILDRENs THANKSGIVING

forgotten. lnere were tue bhrlll voices OF at
least two little girls, both talking at the same
time while once in while came certain SOL
emn, not to say doleful, tones.
Mr.. Wilmot could not help fanoying Il was
the voice Of an old man.
After a while, as the solemn speaker
paused, one of the little girls hushed her
mate, and cried out -
"Oh, forgot What did you say you
used to have for Thanksgiving dinner, Lis
ton 2"
In precisely the same tone as before, the
same short sentence was pronounced.
I'VE used to have plum pud'n."
THAT was good. And what did you have
TO go with it2"
Sass"
Following this reply came that kind Of
laugh which would have convinced Mr. Will
mot without seeing his face that poor Liston
was simple minded.
It was that kind of laugh which it is
painful to stranger to hear but the chill
dren, who evidently knew Liston we'll, laugh
ed with him healthfuly and merry.
Presently, one Of the girls spoke again.
I'VE meant, did you have roast turkey or
chickens ?"
NO But we had plum pud'n and sass on
it,"
He seemed in danger Of another laugh, but
the girls gave him time only for a chuckle.
And what did you have last yearI"
Indian meal pud'n." His voice was
pitched in a much lower key, but he raised il
to add almost gleefully, "But we had sugar
and that's good, and we'll have it again this
year. Mother says 30"
There was a pause after this answer, then
little sigh and a question.
How is your mother Liston 2"
''She lie sick, and I've got to CO."
This was said hurriedy and Mr.. Wilmot
heard door open, aud heavy steps. Then
they seemed to come back and Liston said
as If be had a vague doubt whsther the chill
dren had not received a wrong impression, -
Sugars good, and we like 1t fust rate"
The girls called Good by" after him, then
shutting the door, began talking, one at a
time. And this is the dialogue Mr.. Wilmot
heard.
Isn't it dreadful to have such dinner as
that?"
whats the use of talking? His mother
won't let anybody give them anything"
"But maybe she'd let us. Couldn't we
earn something?"
Here followed an eager discussion of ways
and means and at last it was decided that
each could knit a sock and sell the pair, but
to whom?
Aunt Mercy got quarter of dollar a
pair, besides the yarn but it would not do
W ohbA AhO ubChb " hu1 VI ueE CuhtOmbTb.
Lawyer Towne's daughters knit his, and was
there anybody else 2"
II know !" cried the voice Mr.. Wilmot es-
pecially liked. There's the minister He's
got to be good to the poor, you know, be-
cause it's in the Bible"
"Well," said the other rather proudly, 'its
no charity. Aunt Mercy says they're abund-
antly worth a quarter, be-
Just then, Deacon Payson appeared, apol-
ogizlng for having been gone SO long.
The day before Thanksgiving the minister
sat in his study, trying to finish his sermon
for next day.
1t was hard work, for his mind kept wan
dering to the little girls and poor Liston.
Had they grown weary in welldoing? Had
somebody else bought the sockG which were
such bargain Worst of all, had they
found out that be- the minister, had over
heard all their petty planning and SO would
not come to him?
He had asked Deacon Payson about Lis
ton, and learned that he was already man in
years, and that his old mother was "queer
Greater" as her neighbors put it.
Years ago, she had taken offence at
neighbours advice to throw Liston on the
| town"-in other words, to send him to the
almshouse.
Rising from her seat by the neighbors fire,
| vulsvely, though she shed no tears
Throw my child on the town because he'll
always be ohildp Never, while / have
| crust of bread"
Without listening to the explanation that
the advice was well meant, she had departed,
muttering grimly that she came Of ''respecta.
ble folks, and had never begged, and please
God she never would"
Never again did she sit by a single hearth
stone except her own in the village; nor was
any visitor welcomed to hers, not even the
minister, who bad been Mr. Wilmots prede.
cessor.
She owns her little place, and went out
washing before she was taken sick, said the
Deacon concluding his recital land the boy
| does errands, and can saw wood, if you give
him time. l don't doubt he has enough to
eat, but the women folks say that she's starv-
in herself to lay up for him"
IF any one can help her, it will be little
child, mused Mr.. Wilmot, when there came
pstter of small steps on the sidewalk, and
| tugging at the door bell. Yes, it was Jane
Payson and Sarah Hyde, just as he had
| guessed it would be.
Little girls who knit their own stockings,
and sometimes an extra pair to sell, lived not
| so long ago as to have dressed very different
| ly from girls of eleven and twelve TO- day.
Bright silk quilted hoods one cloak of
| Scotch plaid, another of dark green, panta-
let's not wholly hiding the white yarn stock
ings that showed above stout shoes, this was
their outfit, as they came shyly in, each bear
ing a small parcel.
Jane spoke first I'VE wanted to get a
plum pudding for Liston Carr, and we thought
maybe you'd give us quarter of n dollar for
these socks"
She dropped the parcel on the floor in her
/ confusion ; and, as both she and the minis
ter stopped to pick it up, Sarah burst out with
her speech. They had probably been re-
hearsing them ever since they started from
home.
"And my mother said she thought one pair
of socks would be of no use without two, for
you might catch cold wearing thinner ones
for change, and 80 we've brought another
pair for donation"
She got the last word out after severe
tussle with it, and her face was crimson with
dread and effort combined.
"You are very kind, and so are your moth
ers-"
Jane didn't mean TO be rude but her
mother had not yet received due honor at
her daughters hands, so she interrupted the
slow talk of the minister.
my mothers going to give milk and eggs
and sugar, and my Aunt Susan's going to
give a chicken, and fathers got potatoes and
|
we may have our dinner up at her house,
and we're ever so pleased"
80 am II" cried the minister with SO
much warmth as to charm his little auditors.
1t was just like the Bible, Jane thought.
1t would startle a philosopher, who has
forgotten his own childish thoughts, to learn
what very definite views children have of the
duties Christianity imposes.
The minister produced silver dollar which
he handed to Jane, saying
These nice warm sock are well worth it. P"
But the dollar was too much.
"Oh, TO-" cried the child, drawing back
her hand. "Aunt Mercy don't get but a
quarter"
''If it's for Liston's plum-pudding, mayn't
give something more for tea and bit of
jelly for poor Mrs. Carr? Please let me-"
1t sounded very strange for the minister to
say "please" to such little girls. They felt
ashamed, as il they had seemed ''stingy over
their good time, so Sarah said afterwards.
He WAS just going to add, "Besideo it's no
charity" for the socks we're very nice but
he suddenly remembered the girls might
think he had heard one of them use those
very words. l believe it's beat never to lis
ten you do feel 80 guilty afterwards, az the
good minister did before the little girls.
While he paused. Sarah remarked that Lis