The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1884-02-05
A THANK S<sIVlN(. DINNER
THAT FLEW AWAY

Aunt, what makes you keep hat gan
der year after year," said |, one evening
a we were sitting Oh the lawn before the
door. IL it because he is a kind Of
watch dog, and keeps troublesome people
away ~
No, child, no do not wish TO keep
most people away, not we'll behaved pro-
pic, nor to distress nor annoy any one.
The fact is there is a story about that
gandcr that 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 elise knows
Y"u have heard me speak of Nathaniel,
nv eldest boy %
Yes"
"That is his picture in my room, you
know. | 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
"' Nathanicl,' said |, will take
boarlcrs'
"Then he looked up to me and said
(Oh, how noble and handsome he ap-
peared to me y:
"' Mother, | will go to sea
I" Where" asked 1 in surprise.
"' In a coaster
"' You and John can manage the
place he continued Cone of the vessels
sails next week ncle Aaron's; he offers
to take me-
" 1t seemed best, and he made prcpara-
tions to 90.
"Thc 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
wildgoose eggs
81 set them under hens. In four
weeks had three gOslings, and one OF
those goslings is that gauder.
Skipper Ben came over to see me, the
dav before Nathaniel was to sail Aaron
came with him.
{" / said to Aaron:
"What can give to Nathaniel to
carry to sea with him to make him think
OF home? Cake, preserves, apples?
haven't got much; have done all | can
for him, poor boy
Brother looked at me curiously, and
said
"Give him one of those wild geese,
and we will fatten it on shipboard and
will have it for our THANKSGIVING din
ner.
"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 give him to Nathaniel.
The next morning-it was late in Sep
tember-I took leave of Nathaniel. |
tried to be calm and 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.
9" saw him 90 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 n terrible
month on the coast that year Storm
followed storm; the seafaring people
talked constantly of wrecks and losses.
could not sleep on the nights of those
high winds used to lie awake think
ing over all the happy hours | had lived
with Nathaniel
Thanksgiving week came.
"It was full of an Indian summer
brightness after the long storms. The
nights we're frosty, bright and calm.
81 could sleep on those calm nights.
Gone morning thought | heard a
strange sound in the woodland pasture.
It was like a wild goose. | listened; it
was repeated. was lying in bed. |
started up. thought | had been dream
ing m :,
"On the night before Thanksgiving
went to bed early, being very tired. The