Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-11-25

4 THANKSGIVING PAETY.

The brass KNOBS on bhe ufssnstt
ana even the pendulum OF the loud
ticking old clock shone like FURNISHED
Geld, rejecting the beams OF freight
which frightened the dusky room.
The tea kettle sang merrily, and
Aunt Esther passed TO and fro, pre-.
pairing the evening meal and watching
for the return OF her husband from
the wood lot.
A little girl stood by the western
window trying TO read by TIE fast
fading light. Her delicate face, long,
shining curls and dainty apparel,
formed bright contrast to the plain
room.
"what are you looking for in the
almanac, my child7 You'll iniure your
eyes"
~ am trying TO find when Thanks
giving is; but can't see any longer"
"You will be more apt to find it in
the last paper Lucy; but ] can tell
you-it is week from next Thurs
day"
"oh, goodyi so soonR Well have
one OF those big turkeys and Jolly
time, wont we?"
II am afraid not. dear; what pot
that into your little head2"
"Why, auntie, you told me when l
FIRST came that those turkeys we're for
Thanksgiving. I've thought OF It ever
since"
"oh, yes, Ibid tell you so, Lucy, but
/ meant that we raised them TO sell
for Thanksgiving We have not kept
the day since we we're first married;
your uncle doesn't care for such
things. missed il 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 could, ventured
the child, looking solemnly through
the twilight at the turkeys, comfort
ably settled for the night on the bare
limbs Of the old apple tree. Well,
don't shed any tears yet, Lucy; II you
can get Uncle Jerry TO consent, IN DO
my part. Better not speak oil It tn
after supper, size added in whisper,
as she heard her husbands footsteps
at the door.
So, with what patience she could
command Lucy waited till the supper
was cleared away. and they were gath.
cred around the cracking wood.flre,
Aunt Esther with her knitting and
Uncle Jerry with his paper.
Lucy was his only sisters child.
Ei,a was spending several months
with him, while her parents Travelled
in the South, hoping 70 benefit her
mothers health. Two brothers and
one sister we're Mt college. and were
to spend their Christmas holidays
at the farm house. This was the
first time Lucy had been 80 long from
home, and occasionally she suffer
ed from Inconsistencies; and noR,
with the fear that the loved holiday
was to be sighted, an attack OF that
dread malady was certainly imminent.
She felt her courage ebbying away.
and bopelessiy sat very still, looking
into the fire, till all the curling. with
ing flames melted into one broad sheet
OF bright mistiness, and then-there
were two big tears on her rosy Cheeks.
Uncle Jerry, who. underneath his
hard exterior, had a really kind heart,
was watching her over mis- 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!'
L. -. d sTnr.
dull old folks like us, and for a mo-
ment he wanted to take herin his arms
and soothe her as her own father
would; but he had so long repressed
all tender ways, that he could not
manifest his sympathy. But some
thing must be done. Rising abruptly.
he took pan from the dresser and
started for tbs cellar, saying, Esther.
hold the light for me; Iwant some of
them fall apples; they won't keep
long"
BY the time share OF the fruit had
disappeared, 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 have a jolly time. We
always did at home"
"Yes; big dinner one day and the
doctor the next"
at 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 better not have a din
ner, for mamma wasn't strong, and
we were so disappolnted-I was, any
wGy-and mamma put her arm around
me and said: We'll all help and do
the best we can, for we mustn't miss
keeping q holiday. When my boys
and girls havegone out into the world, /
want themto have the remembrance OF
= happy childhood and pleasant
home to help them over the hard places
they will find. IL will make them bet
ter 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 trembied
SO, and believe | should have cried
myself II she hadn't said turkey
"She never had many good things to
remember said Uncle Jerry, thinking
OF their hard. orphaned life.
Perhaps that is why she wanted
her children to be always happy
suggested Aunt Esther.
Yes, she said so once continued
Lucy, picking apple seeds out of a
core: land | think, Uncle Jerry, II you
had some little boys and girls. you'd
feel quite different about it. But I'm
your little girl this year; won't youdo
1t for me2' She was almost frighten-
ed as she looked up and met stern,
white face.
Its your bedtime now. Lucy" in
terrupted her aunt. well think it
over till morning." And Lucy was
glai to retire to the adjoining room,
wondering what she could have said
to make Uncle jerry look 500
dreadiuln'
An hour later Jerry Winters broke
the silence, which was already recon.
ing oppressive
II suppose we must do something
or the child will be homesick."
Yes, answered his wife.
Don't see how | can stop chopin
a day, with that contract On my
hands, and Jake and Steve have both
begged off for Thanksgiving. / wish
there were no such days. suppose
nothing less than turkey will satisfy
the child?"
mo; but we can well afford n Nbo