The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1885-11-28


the folks are gettin' out. Who can
they beP"
Grandpa hurried out to see, but be-
fore they had reached the door Grandma
recognized her son. After the first sal
utations were over, and the two older
children, almost young ladies, critically
examined through spectacles to see
whom they favored" poor Grandma
could conceal her anxiety no longer.
II do wish you'd written, Eliza. l
didn't expect anybody and we haint got
much of a Thanksgiving dinner l can
get more vegetables ready, to be sure,
but guess one chicken will seem rather
small for eight of us, but l haint time
to-"
"Never mind, mother" replied Mrs.
Ashton sweetly, knowing more than she
wanted to tell, 1--WE came more to see
you than to eat fine dinner"
q A loud laugh from the children at the
window and clapping of hands
"a load from that way; see Anna,
see!'
Yes, and see, one from that way too;
both got to the gate at once!''
Grandma was bewildered as they
came trooping in dressed in furs and
heavy cloaks, for all had taken a long
ride. Worse and worse! that poor
chicken peacefully roasting in the oven
wouldn't furnish q mouthful apiece.
How could they be so thoughtless
thought poor Grandma.
"It's a surprise" shouted little Mabel
Ayres, rogue of ten summers, "and
surprisers always bring baskets, and
we've got four packed full Of"
There child!' CALCULATED Grandma,
dropping into her chair with sigh of
relief, ''that's the most comfortin' thing
I've heard to-day. / was afraid you'd
most starve. Do, father, see if the
other room amt gittin' warm; we shall
swarm here in minnit'"
Mrs. Ayres, an energetic, stirring,
handsome matron of forty, took the
helm of affairs in hand at once.
go right into the parlor, mother,
and don't give another thought to the
dinner. What isn't here already will be
when Liddy gets here. expect them
mere every moment.
/ shall not describe that dinner, and
I hope nobody will be disappointed
thereby, only l must say that it is doubt
full if such roast turkeys, or chicken
pies or plum buildings were seen on
many tables that day. A half hour in
a good hot oven made them forget their
late journey, and they tickled the palates
of the ten elders and twelve youngsters
in the most approved fashion.
After the older people had eaten their
dinner and returned to the little parlor,
Mrs. Ayres tarried to superintend that
of the children.
"Now," said she briskly to her two
blooming daughters of fourteen and
sixteen, II leave things in your hands.
Don't get noisy nor run into the parlor;
we don't want to be disturbed" Then
she went to her fathers side, and draw
ing up chair, sat down, and in her
sensible way alluded TO the debt on the
old farm, Spoke OF, -uaeirH sympathy and
desire to help him, and before the dear
old man had thought of such thing,
the four hundred dollars lay in crisp
new bills in his hand.
There was moments silence.
Grandpa tried to speak but something
choked him.
'I've little gift for Grandma" said
Mrs. Abram, in her pretty, graceful
way, coming forward and placing in
Grandma's lap dress pattern of black
cashmere with a fifty dollar bank note
pinned to it,
swell, so have |, now that think of
it," said Mrs. Ayres. "Hu sband do
run out to the shed and get that roll out
of the big sleigh"
Husband" walked sedately out and
brought in two comfortablcs, bright and
new, while sister Lydia proudly pro.
duced a pair of soft, white, flannel
blankets, spun and woven by her own
hands. Mrs. Ezra modestly laid her
gift of two caps of fine lawn, with beau
tiful hemstitched ruffles, on Grandma S
knee.
All in all it was too much for poor
Grandma. She burst into tears, and
could hardly keep from confessing that
she had cried twice the day before be.
cause she feared their children had for.
gotten how old and poor and sad they
were.
"Come, come, mother" said Mrs
Lydia, kissing the withered cheek
Don't let the children see tear, please
they couldn't understand it at all, and
they are going to just about swamp
you both with their little gifts pretty
soon. Teddy has brought four quarts
of his cherished store of butternuts, 8
little bag of beachnuts, and big bag o.
popcorn"
"And Linnie," added Mrs. Eliza
''insisted on bringing Grandma anC
drandpa some tandy. So you will have
gumdrops and caramels enough to las
you all winter"
Grandma wiped away the last teal
before the children came trooping in
bringing pin cushions, chair cushions,
needle books, crotcheted slippers, ,
shoulder shawl, handsome W0rk-5ol
and knitting basket, besides dozens o
other useful things.
By-and-by Grandpa hushed the chat
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