Daily Republican., 1885-02-13
| Thanksgiving Dinner,
BY BERTHA BERTON.

BY BERTHA BERToN.
There'll be- no Thanksgiving for u
this year, mother" Faymer Deniso
said to his wife, as she sat by the sii
ting-rOom window aud looked out ii
the great yard that enoircled the farm
house.
I" No Thanksgiving" he repeated, q
his gaze wandered beyond the var,
TO the sear fields and meadows, an,
to the great barn with its well-fille,
mows of hay and crowded bins O
grain.
1t WAS a Novem Der day, with a cold
dripping rain, with the wind coming II
iittul gusts and tossing wantonly th,
brown leaves In the yard, breaking th,
naked branches of the old elms agains
the windows, and whistling a mournfu
refrain about the chimneys-a day
when the comfort of a shelter and
blazing fire Is best appreciated bu
Farmer Denison was in 10 mood to en-
JOY present blessings, and as he sat
there an extra twinRe in his lame ankl Il
made hiu groan nervOusly.
Why, father, can't feel like civ
ing up the good old New England Gus
tom of making pumpkin pies and
stewiDg cranberry sauce and roasting 8
turkey. 1t seems AZ though 'twould b,
a sin not tO express our thankfulnesl
for the II ercles we have received, ant
though we have trouble, may be tits al
for the / est !" and Mrs, Denison W ipeC
her plump hands and went to her hus
bands side and softly smoothed bill
grizzled locks.
She was portly matron, fair ant
rosy. Time had touched her CHEEKY
face very lightly, and somehow hel
heart had preserved the blitheness o.
b or girlLo0d.
She leaned over the old armchair
and pressed kiss upon her husband,
brow.
Well, Mollie," John Denison re
piled, sadly, "have 1t your own way
1t can't make any difference, only litti.
May won't be- here" and yielding tc
the impulse of his aching heart, ht
bowed his head upon his hands and
wept long and bitterly.
There, there, father" Mollie Deni.
son said, III she would have hushed q
sobbiDg child, don't take on no, may
be she'll come back yeti" and she went
back to her ironing.
Last Thanksgiving-day May was
there, the only dang ter, the pride and
JOY OF their hearts, a bonny. gleeful
III alden, who filed the old house with
music and sunshine but now where
was she ? That question repeated it
self continually In the farmers mind;
1t was the burden of his thoughts by
night and day, for John Denison had
turned his daughter out of doors, aad
she had never returned.
Thanksgiving day had been very
cheerful and peasant Mrs. Denison
had made preparations IA elaborate az
though they were to have hOuseful Of
guests. She took pride and pleasure in
the observance of the ancient custom
that had been handed down by success
sive generations.
The amber.hued pumpkin pies, az
we'll as those of meat and apples. were
marvels of the culinary art the roasted
turkey, with its indispensable accom-
pauilnents OF vegetables, the snowy
bread the tarts and buildings and cakes
and cranberry jelley, all gave proof
OF the housewifely skill OF Mrs. Deni-
son
May had assisted In the compound
Ing OF The table d-licacieh, and she had
gone about the house, up stairs and
down, from attic to cellar, caroling like
. Joyous bird.
Thanksgiving comes but once a
year." she said, as they were gathering
about the beautifully spread board.
That's SO, little May" Farmer
Denison responded, as he stopped to
press kiss upon her fair brow. and
fLty had Iartakfn CT the sumptuous
meal with the enjoyment OF a happy
AMI united family
Alas! that life cannot be a perpetual
but
"Ssme days must be dark and dreary,"
and the morrow brought change.
Little May, AZ her father al~ avs call
Ell her, Cleared away the remains OF tn,
Thanksgiving feast. sho washed tue
h'shos, siio put every thing III perfect
'i"-r, ana tu-n with her kniJt,Ux.w work
size tusieu hersoii by b, r moth. 70 side.
WINE ntf Ihiher aelebu-u W nls hOrset
aun catt.e Tnen, When Inc chores
"-re all dome aui be came back 10 the
"'zy slitihR-rouu, IL WAS nttIe NAV
d" no brought his sli pors ana found his
"ptc,"c'o~ and u-sties, ioviusly down.
uP''h tuu opi man kut6.
her dark eyes gieaui,d like stars,
tD",e were loses glowing in her cheeks.
here Was tender cesieuco In her
voice.
- An, little May, what now ?" her
father questioned, when At bedtime she
gave her parents the usual good. night
KISS aud hen said ooaxingiy." Wait,
waht 10 tel you something !" anu they
sat down and listened TO the lutte tale.
whlie surprise, linen wrath. gathered
upon the iarner's bror zsl features.
May hal lover Sine had met him
nr-t when abseD' GU visit " u Iri-ud.
men the had c.nresponded, and their
lett RI Lad flow n back snn form nr
ior The prorecung shelter of her
TRENDS baIne.
she had promised to marry him; he
WAS good and noble, and every thing 10
La desired III ~ lover, and he was COM
ing on ina morrow To ask their consent.
Would they See him ? and little May,
with her great love glowing in her
violet eyes, looked earnestly in the
Iaces OF her parents for an answer
and IL came, when John Den ison oou la
speak, Tor he was nearly choked with