Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-11-27

off; too near, decidedly, for the youth
and maiden had determined to bring the
family ieud to an end on that day, and
as vet could devise no method.
"That turkey helped make us ac-
quainted; it certainly ought to have
hand in this some way" said jamie.
"Cook and eat it all round" suggested
the young man.
"But they wouldn't come, " said jamie.
IT have it, though, if we only can make
it work, and forthwith she proceeded to
explain.
It was a perilous plan, and would
never have succeeded or met with the
least approval from the heads of the
families, only that each was so fond of
their one child that they would do any
thing to please them.
| So Mr.. and Mrs. Snow consented to
be invited to o Thanksgiving dinner
without knowing who invited or where
they were going; and Mr.. and Mrs.
| Browne consented to asking company
and preparing dinner with no knowledge
as to whom they were inviting, jamie
and Raymond arranging it all, and as
Suring their respective parents that the
guests and hosts would be equally de-
/ lighted to meet. AS / said before, 1t
could never have been arranged, mad
not the parents had such loving trust in
their children.
Thanksgiving dawned fine and clear,
and in the Browne house preparations
we're being made for asumptuous dinner,
the turkey and trio of ducks having
been slain the night before. And at the
SHOWS jamie was repeatedly assuring her
father and mother of the warm welcome
they would receive.
At eleven they all started for church.
and all the Brownies came out OF the
gate lust as the Shows did and walked
behind them to the vestibule door. The
minister spoke of thankful hearts and
peaceful lives as he had never spoken
before: of thousands who were rich and
PROSPEROUS. am. .ne thousands who weIe
homeless and poor. OF the many who
cherished hard feelings against Others,
and of the Joy and gladness that would
come with kindly thoughts and reconcn,
iation; and prayed that all bitterness and
wrath and anger and clamor and e IL
speaking might be put away from them,
so that they might desire to be kindly
alfectionate one to another, tender
hearted, forgiving one another. The
hymn was sung, the benediction pro-
nounced, and then they went home; Mr.,
and Mrs. Snow thinking that they were
willing enough to make up with the
Brownies, only they did not want to be-
gin it, and Mr.. and Mrs. Browne decld-
ing that they were willing to be friends
if only they did not have to make the
move.
In the Browne house everything was
ready for the dinner and the dinner
ready for the guests; and In the other
house jamie was explaining that they
must ask no questions but follow her into
the garden where they would find their
hosts 1t had been so long that they had
forgotten about the wicket in the fence,
and had no thought of where they were
going when jamie led them up to 1t, and
opening it disclosed Mr.. and Mrs. Browne
standing on the other side; and Ray
mond stepping up, said
1T was all % silly and wrong, and we
think it SO much better to be friendly
and peaceful. Father, mother, this is
my friend jamie Snow"
Then Janie said:
"You must forgive us, but we knew
you would be glad. Fa.her, mother,
this is my friend Raymond Browne; you
older people know each other now"
It was only second of silence, and
then the Shows stepped forward and the
Brownies met them. and all the bitterness
oftwelye years was forgotten and bridged
over by the hearty hand-shaking and
kissing that followed.
Then they went in to dinner. Such a
dinner as it was. The turkey in state at
one end Of the table, and the kitten alive
but asleep at the other md. The meats
and cranberries were excellent, the pies
uneaualed and the cakes and fruit deli
cious. The merry speeches were \ cry
merry, and the tears that came to their
eyes once in while were very rea, lor
they came direct from their hearts, ard
no one enjoyed it more than the youth
and maiden They are all alive vet, and
this year are to have the dinner at the
Shows. The fence between the lawns i:
taken down, and there is path to the
wicket in both gardens that looks well
trodden.
All the differences have been settled,
anu AIb. cnoW says sllc uOcS uOt HltuN
how many letters Mrs. Browne adds tC
her name; and Mrs. Browne says she
will not add any but have it simpy
Brown; and jamie arrived at such a state
Of peace and felicity that she remarked
one day that she ''would rather change
her name altogether than have quar-
rel over it," A remark which occasional
so much JOY in the heart Of the youth
that he made bold to put her to the test
on the spur of the moment. And
think she must have said the right thing,
for Mr.. Browne is putting up a large
store across the street for Raymond, and
be and MIR. Snow together are planning
house that is to be built on the otheI
side of the Shows; so alter all the years
OF sullen silence the two families enjoy
zach others society again.