Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1885-11-25
TOPsY's THANKSGIVING.

TOPSY'S THANKSGIVING.
Topsy was Wins kitten. She sat
all bumped up in the cellar-way,
watching the plump speckled hens,
which hung there by strings tied
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.
30, me!' said she, and then gave
thanks that she was not 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 jerked of,
legs and head cut off; and when the
sharp knife began to cut it open
Topsy 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, I 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 tho 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 a little while somebody said:
"Well. we will turn the cat out and 60
to bed"
And then Topsy heard soft, persua-
sive voice: kitty! kitty! kitty!' But
she didn't stir.
kitty, kitty, kitty!'
| In vain.
"Well, I thought the cat was in here,
but guess Win turned her out before
he went to bed"
Topsy purrcd 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 a shelf
and smelt about, daintily, until she
found the platter of roasted chickens.
She tasted the deiicately 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
che 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
| kh1 RI
for nice sleeping place. She found a
drawer partly open, and the ironing
sheet in it made 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
lay still not daring to crawl out, for
she knew very we'll what she had done.
While she was thinking about IL, Wins
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-
clare!''
'What's the matter?" said papa.
from the kitchen.
! OuSt lOOA uClVi
Papa came, and not only looked
here, but looked there; and then Topsy
heard him say: "Where is the little
brute?''
'.In the kitchen, I presume, said
mamma.
"Just let me find her!' said papa.
threateningly: =,
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 60 to sleep, but the
odor of the roasting turkey came
through the crack in the drawer, and
kept her awake; theE 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. ~
i If could only get out now!" sigh
ed Topsy.
i In the evening there was q little par
ty, as Topsy knew by the sound. She
meWed some. but no one heard her;