Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-12-11
TOMS FAIRY.
A Sure-Enough Thanksgiving, and Where
1t Came From.

A Sure-Enough Thanksgiving, and Where
1t Came From.
1t was only Aunt Mamie after all,
though Tom would have you believe it
was a real fairy with wings of silver
gauze and II wand-like the one in his
story book Of Jack and the Beanstalk.
1t was only Aunt Mamie, but when
I say that l say a great deal, and l feel
like going back to cross out that word
only, for fear it may seem to take. from
her power.
If you could see her you would laugh
at the word power in connection with
her. She was such q little woman.
She looked as if you could carry her in
one hand; but indeed one must needs
have a high hand to carry her. In all
disputed points she carried herself so
we'll that she generally carried the
day." too.
Well Aunt Mamie was planning a
dinner party for next day. She had
invited Mr.. and Mrs. Stay-at-home, Mr..
Grower and Miss Nobody's-own to
thanksgiving dinner.
She would have out her very best
china and silver, her snowiest cloth,
her prettiest crystal and then such a
good dinner as she would prepare!
Her mouth fairly watered as she
thought over the dainties she would
give to these less favored friends. For
Aunt Mamie just loved to see people
happy about her, and her kindliness
went further than that, she loved to
make them happy by her own effort.
Many a weary night her trail little
body knew, from having given too
much strength in the day to the care of
others.
What a little body sho was, to be
sure! just a patch Of goodness, if I
may call her so, but a patch that
mendcd many q torn life and made
whole many a rent in pocket-book CT
beart-strings.
Somebody laughingly called her ''the
little straight up and down woman
because her soft, black dress chung SO
closely to her slim figure, and it was
not q bad name for her either, for, in
matters of right and wrong, she was
the most decided character I ever
knew.
Well, she was this morning in one
of her happy moods and when the
door opened and Mrs. Williams, her
friend from up town, came in, Aunt
Mamie rose to meet her with u bright
welcome.
Mrs. Williams had many things to
tell and to ask.
How much cream did she use in
Charlotte Russo for eight persons?: did
she clear her wine-jelly with eggshells?
was Mrs. Proudiit coming to her din
ner:? and did she know that the Smiths
had invited the new doctor to their
horse? and Ella Just home from abroad.
Wouldn't there be a grand display in
that dinner.
Well, it wasn't for her to criticise, but
she did think if they would care for
their own relations, the Brownwells, ii
would look better. They were so poor,
the Brownwells. and since Mr.. BIS ac-
cident at the mill, he had never been
able to resume his business life.
eff they were as near me in the mat
ter OF relationship as they are in the
matter OF houses, | should feel that
ought to help them, but they are nothing
to me except rs far us common human
ity is concerned, even if they do live
next door,"
So said Mrs. Williams as she chat,
tered on this topic and that, and when
she rose to 90 it was with CHEEKY kind
ness in her pretty face aud Il heart
overlooking with good will, so long as
that kindness ana good will did not cost
her any particular effort. After the
door closed upon her visitor Aunt Nan
ME stood thoughtful for 4 few moments
and then began to busy herself once
more about the dinner preparations TO.
the next day.
But she moved very slowly this time,
and there were two words ringing il
her ears: Common humanity!!' Was
it true then that ones next door neigh.
Dor was no more than that?
VOLS in their happier days, when the
father vas a successful merchant. She
and Mrs. Brownwell had often beer
thrown together in hospital work and
in their flower mission. The children
Mt the Brownwell house learned to love
the sweet, pure face of mammals
friend, and called her a~tfectionately
'.Aunt Nannie," rs if to claim some
relationship to n so good and kind
| so that Tom was not unknown to her
as she stood thinking of him among
the rest, this cold morning, and plan
ming how to bring warmth and chce'
into that home Of theirs.
Their lives had only drifted apart
somewhat on account CT Mrs. Brown
wells active home life and her owl
failing health, neither being freet to joi1
in the work for the public good a
heretofore.
''Well," said Aunt Mamie, a length
shaking her pretty head in a decided
way, sit shall be a real Thanksgivin,
dinner in the Brownweu house. even j