River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-11-26
TOPSY'S THANKSGIVING.


around their yellow legs. Only
Yesterday she had chased these same
hens about the yard and jumped at
them from behind the rose bushes.
Topsy shook her little sable head.
20, MEL said she, and then gave
thanks that she was not a fowl.
Just then Wins mother stepped
down on the stairs and took one OF
the hens. Topsy followed and saw
her lay it on board and begin to
dress" it. Topsy thought it more
like undressing it--feathers ierked off,
legs and head cut off; and when the
sharp knife began to cut it open
Topsv ran away Mortified. What a
dreadful observance Thanksgiving is!''
said she.
However, the odor of the various
bakings and stewings was delightful.
Topsy spent the afternoon in the
kitchen rocking-chair. Frequently
Win came in and gave her hug and
talked to her of the good things they
would eat tomorrow. Topsy's views
of Thanksgiving were considerably
changed by evening; but it was
evident the hungriness of the whole
family, think, which caused her to
take the step she did.
Under the stove, where she lay, she
had a good view of Wins papa and
mamma. She seized the moment
when the former sneezed his spectacles
off, and the latter dropped the seam
stitch in her knitting-work, to walk
across into the dark corner by the
pantry door, then, with one backward
look and soft leap. she was in.
Under the broad shelf stood the mo-
lasses jug and the vinegar jug, and be-
hind them Topsy snugly hid herself.
She was so black that no one could see
her in the dark corner unless they
looked very sharply.
In q little while somebody said:
"Well, we will turn the cat out and go
to bed
And then Topsy heard a soft, persua-
sive voice: Kitty! kitty! kitty" But
she didn't stir.
Kitty, kitty, kitty!"
In vain.
"Well, thought the cat was in here,
but | guess Win turned her out before
he went to bed"
Topsv purred so loudly--it was her
way of laughing-that she was afraid
of being heard. But presently the light
was put out and the house grew still.
She waited until she could hear some
body snore, and then crept out. She
knew where her favorite dishes were,
for she had watched when they were
set away. She sprang up on shelf
and smelt about, daintily, until she
found the platter of roasted chickens.
She tasted the delicately Drowned
wings, the breast, and the tender side
of the last she ate heartily. Then she
partook of the squash and pumpkin
pies, eating out of the insides. Then
She nibbled the crusts of the mince and
apple pies, then tested the cake, then
Tapped little cream from the milk
/ pans.
BY this time she was too full to swal-
! low another mouthful. and she jumped
down to the floor, and looked around
for nice sleeping place. She found a
drawer partly open, and the ironing
/ sheet in it made a nice nest, and so she
! curled down and went to sleep, sure of
her Thanksgiving dinner.
In the morning she was awakened by
some one making the kitchen fire. She
| Law still not daring to crawl out, for
! she knew very well what she had done.
While she was thinking about it, Win $
mamma came into the pantry, and,
seeing the open drawer, Shut it.
Topsy forgot and was just going to
NEW to be let out, when she heard
mamma exclaim: ''Well, do de-
elaren'
whats the matter?' said papa.
from the kitchen.
just look here!'
Papa came, and not only looked
here, but looked there; and then Topsy
heard him say: Where is the little
brute?"
.In the kitchen, l presume said
mamma.
Just let me find herr said papa,
threate.lingly.
/ They looked all about, but no black
kitty could be found. When Win
came down they showed him the
spoiled pies and gnawed chickens,
and he said he would thrash that kitty
as soon as he could catch her. When
Topsy heard that she was more than
ever afraid to stir.
By-and-by everybody went to church;
and then Topsy pushed her way to the
front of the drawer, but it was shut
tight. So she crept back again to her
nest and tried to go to sleep, but the
odor of the roasting turkey came
through the crack in the drawer, and
kept her awake; Their she heard people
come back from church; and in little
while she knew by the sound that they
were drawing up to the table. After
that the table was cleared, and she
knew that delicious things were brought
into the pantry.
IF l could only get out nowW sigh
ed Topsy.
In the evening there was little par
ty, as Topsy knew by the sound. She
mewed some, but no one heard her;
they were all too merry and noisy.
Then Topsy began to think the being
shut up in drawer was 81 worse pun
ishment for stealing than being whip
ped. The whipping would have been
over so much sooner.
Thinking made her sleepy, and she
took a nap When she awoke the
house was still again, everybody having
gone to bed. BY this time she was
terribly hungry. She didn't care a
straw for the ''threshing" Win said he
would give her, didn' even care if she
was drowned, and began to NEW, soft
ly at first, and then louder and louder
until Wins papa bounded out into the
kitchen to see what was the matter, and
ran against the table, and then against
the stove and hurt his knee so badly 1t
made him knock aehair over.
Topsy heard Wins mamma call
from the bedroom:
.'What upon earth is the matter?'
And papa answered, Il wish this
stove was IN Jericho!"
Mamma laughed. and then papa
said. Now where is that wretched little
cat?n
Topsy was afraid somewhat again,
so she said very softly, meow.
There she Isl cried papa.
"Wheree'' called mamma.
How should know?' scolded pa
pa-for his shins still ached from the
bump on the hearth.
s.Meow, Meow said Topsy.
.Sne's in the pantry again." ex-
claimed papa, and then mamma came
and lit a lamp and then went to look