The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-11-20
cellanenns.
A Thanksgiving Party.
BY LANTA WILSON SMITH.

1t was neat, comfortable kitchen, though
wholly lacking in ornament. The floor was
as white as soap and sand and willing hands
could make it, and was well matched by the
angular wooden chairs, which had become
almost CHASTITY from repeated scrubbings.
The brass knobs on the dresser, and even
the pendulum of the loud. ticking old clock
shone like FURNISHED gold, rejecting the
beams of freight which frightened the dusky
room.
The tea kettle sang merrily, and Aunt Els.
ther passed to and fro, preparing the evening
meal, and watching for the return of her hus.
band from the woodlot.
A little girl stood by the western window
trying to read by the fast fading light. Her
delicate face, long, shining curls and dainty
apparel, formed bright contrast to the plain
room.
"What are you looking forin The almanac
my child? You'll injure your eyes"
I'm trying to find when Thanksgiving is
but can't see any longer"
you'll be more apt to find it in the last
paper, Lucy; but can tell you; it is week
from next Thursday"
ooh goody SO soon? Well have one OF
those big turkeys, and jolly time, won't
WEI"
I'm afraid not, dear; what put that into
your little head?"
came that those turkeys were for Thanks.
giving. I've thought of it ever since"
"Oh, yes, did tell you so, Lucy, but |
meant that we raise them to sell for Thanks
giving. We have not kept the day since we
were first married; your uncle doesn't care
for such things. | missed it sadly at first,
for we always kept the holidays when was
girl at home, but I've got used to it now,
after all these years"
II don't think l could" venlured the child
looking solemnly through the twilight at the
turkeys, comfortably settled for the night on
the bare limbs of the old apple tree.
"Well, don't shed any tears yet, Lucy; if
you can't get Uncle Jerry to consent, I'll do
my part. Better not speak of it till after
supper" she added in whisper, as she heard
her husbands footsteps at the door.
So, with what patience she could conf
mand, Lucy waited till the supper was clear
ed away, and they were gathered around the
cracking wood,fire, Aunt Esther with her
knitting and Uncle Jerry with his paper.
Lucy was his only sisters child. She was
spending several months with him, while her
parents travelled in the South, hoping to ben
eft her mothers health. Two brothers and
their Christmas holidays at the farmhouse
This was the first time Lucy had been so long
from home, and occasionally she suffered
from inconsistencies and now with the fear
that the loved holiday was to be sighted an
attack of that dread malady was certainly I'M
minent She felt her courage ebbing away,
and hopelessly sat very still, looking straight
into the fire, till all the curling, writhing
flames melted into one broad sheet of bright
mistiness, and then-theIe were two big tears
on her rosy cheeks.
Uncle Jerry, who underneath his hard ex-
terror, had really kind heart, was watching
her over his paper, and saw the tears, the
sly, quick brush of two little white hands and
brave effort to keep back sob which was
struggling to escape "Homesick !" he
thought; land no wonder, with two dull old
folks like u.s. and for moment he wanted
to take her in his arms and soothe her as her
own father would; but he had so long re-
pressed all tender ways, that he could not
manifest his sympathy. But something must
be done. Rising abruptly, he took pan
from the dresser and started for the cellar,
saying ESTHER, hold the light for me; |
want some O. them fall apples; they won't
keep long"
BY the time share of the fruit had dsap.
peared, Lucy had regained her good spirits,
and. with new courage, exclaimed: uncle
Jerry, can't we have Thanksgiving this year
I'd like to-"
Nonsense, child. What would it amount
tor"
why, we'd have a jolly time. We always
did at home"
Eyes; a big dinner one day and the doctor
the next"
ut never made me sick-never in the
world"
But what's the good, anyhow ?"
mamma thinks it's good, and she's always
right. Just last year papa thought we'd bet
ter not have dinner, for mamma wasn't
strong, and we were so disappOinted-I was,
anyway-and mamma put her arm round me
and said: "We'll all help and do the best we
can, for we mustn't miss keeping holiday.
When my boys and girls have left home and
gone out into tie world, want them to have
the remembrance of a happy childhood and a
pleasant home to help them over the hard
places they will find. 1t will make them
better men and women, I'm sure; so order
the turkey, papa. remember it all, Uncle
Jerry, cause thought mamma was going to
cry, her voice trembled so, and believe |
should have cried myself if she hadn't said
turkey"
"She never had many good times to re-
member" said Uncle Jerry, thinking of their
hard, orphaned life.
Perhaps that is why she wanted her chill
dren to be always happy" suggested Aunt
Esther
Yes, she said so once" continued Lucy
picking appleseeds out of core; land |
think, Uncle Jerry, if you had some little
boys and girls, you'd feel different about it,