Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-11-27
THANKSGIVING DAY AT MIR.
BROWNLOW'S.
BY WILLIS BOYD ALLEN.


The short November day was drawing
to a close, lights were beginning to
twinkle at the street corners and IN shop
windows, particularly at the grocery and
prOvision-stores, when a short and rather
stout gentleman, with a beaming face
and immense market basket, paused be-
fore the western entrance Of Faneuel
Hall Market, and looked about him with
great satisfaction.
''Ciarissa," he said, turning to a little
woman whose face was likewise round
and beaming, ''Clarissa, shall we take a
Whisk around the outside stalls before
We go in2"
'eThat's a good plan" replied Mrs.
BroWnloW, not seeing anything IN the
least degree comicaI in the idea Of her
husband ''Whisking'' anywhere; especial
" with that basket. ave can look at
the fruit and pick up a few vegetables,
perhaps. We'd better get the tongue
and poultry inside"
The unconscious tone Of exultatiOn
with which that small woman said
poultry" it would have done your heart
good to hear 1t was the evening be-
fore Thanksgiving, and after vast deal
OF anticipation, and not little pinching
and saving on the part Of each member
OF the family, Mr.. and Mrs. BrCwnlOW
were fairly started on the marketing
trip. They could have gone earlier, 1
suppose, but it seemed so much nicer to
get the things while everybody was in
the spirit Of It; the markets and ada
cent sidewalks, being, as Mr.. Brownlow
said, quite as good as play at the
Museum.
They had stopped at a large grocery
establishment on ScOllay Square, and
purchased various small but apPetizing
packages of sage, crackers, Jelly, nuts
and raisins, and the like, Mrs. BrOWnlOW
keeping her memorandum before her on
the counter as they were dropped by
handfuls into the ghstening BRASS scales,
poured into cracking brown paper bags
with their corners turned under), and
tied up with astonishing rapidity by the
smart clerk with a pencil over his ear
That had been a delightful part Of the
shopping. Things are so cheap, when
Won only get a little bit at a time; il
takes such a surprising amount Of crack
ers, for instance, to make ten cents
worth. And then the spicy, bOxy, rails
my odor Of the whole place was so de-
hcious and wholesome makes one
fairly hungry to think Of it.
The result Of these subtle influences
was when the two emerged from the
door, and turned down toward DOcl
SQUARE they found they had consider
ably exceeded that portion OF the funds
which tn ~ had allowed for this depart
ment OF the morroW's dinner.
srNever mind" Mrs. BrOwnloW haC
said, in her CHEEKY way 1--WE can take
found of the turkey and chicken, and
skimp lust q little on the tongue, an'
that viii more than make up the differ
ence," she concluded triumphantly.
"Sure enough" assented her hus
band, ST never thought OF that. Sever
pounds was rather large for nice, ten
der turkey, now, wasn't 1t p
There was no doubt about 1t Whatever
and CONTEMPLATING themselves on Ihel
own extravaganza, which had proved al
for the best, they had kept On down tn
hi1, trotting briskly over the crossings
and pausing now and then at some par
ticularly attractive window.
In due time, as we have seen, the.
had reached the front porch Of the mar
ket, and were now busily engaged Il
adding to their stock Of provisions Whlel
were slowed away, as fast as purchased
either In Mr.. BrOWnlOW's basket or IN
large, old-fashioned carpet bag, Whlcl
his wife carried, and which nearly touch
ed the ground as she walked by his side
or made little slirmishes upon a neigh
boring stall to examine with critical ey
some specially fine lot Of sweet potato o
apples.
Upon the right and left as they enter
ed. the stalls were provided with marbl
tables upon which lay rows OF cod had
dock. and various other sorts or hsh, to
!zsther with q seemingly unlimited sup
Div OF lobsters and CLAIMS. The dealers
with their long white aprons, were BUS
lily supplying customers but It was eVl
dent that the great attractions Wer
further on.
Such heaps Of many colored Vegeta
bles as came in vieWl such deeP-re'
beets, and golden carrots and white par
ships; such russet-sided potatoes an
glossy green PepPersi such Jolly, sun
shiny pumpkins, which you could no
look at without smiling back Ia return
Mrs. BroWnloW was in her element max
ing her way il and out among the good
natured. clustering crowd now ahght
ing on this treasure, now On that, Keep
inc her husband in a constant state O
disbursement while ne was at her side
and anxiety whenever she disappears
from view. Upon three distinct coca
aions he addressed strangers whose BACK
and oarpst-bags bore a distinct resern
blanoe to those OF Mrs BroWnioW, an'
shrank back in dlsmay, when hs diseoV
cred his mistake. In proportion as "a
basket and bag grew heavier the ol'
laatnaln HGilat grew lighter.
sroa Eslal pIela OF corae4 D