Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1888-11-23


set well upon her, was quite attractive in
him. People called John GoodelI very
good-looking young man. He took off his
overcoat and hat; and sat down in the
kitchen with his mother. and watched her
work, and chatted with her. He had not
seen her for some six months.
He inquired after the neighbors in fur
tive fashion, as if he were stepping on de-
batable ground.
''How are all the neighbors getting
along mother?" he asked He picked up
a raisin and put it into his mouth with
careless air, and chewed it absorbedly, but
his face began to flush.
well, l guess they're gettin' along
bout as usual, his mother replied guard
edly
How are the Lords?"
Pretty well, guess. Jane was in here
this mornin'"
How are-the Emersons?"
well l dunno"
The young man tried to speak III jocu
lar way, but his face was very red.
WELL" said he, II guess I'll find out. l
think I'll 90 down and call on Fanny some
day while I'm here"
His mother was stirring some butter into
a dish of squash. She stopped short, and
surveyed him.
John, you amt goin' down there, when
you know how your father an | feel about
them Emersons"
II amt been down there for quite a
while, because knew how father and you
felt, mother"
"Ain't you goin' to keep on?"
81 don't know"
= 81,
see in that Fanny Emerson, little thin
peaked-nosed thing. There's lots of girls
| should pick out before | should her, if
was young man"
John Strengthened back his shoulders
THAT hasn't got anything to do with it,
that l can see, mother" said he; Il don't
see why she doesn't look as well as the
other girls. But we won't talk any more
about it now. It's Thanksgiving Day, and
I've come home to have good time; we
don't want to get to arguing over any
thing or anybody. Amt the turkey most
done?'
You amt goin' down there to see her,
John?"
'Itell.you, mother, L won't talk any more
about it. Here's father coming"
Mrs. Goodell dropped the subject then.
When it came to an argument with John,
she never wished for any assistance from
her husband. She had always punished
him herself when he was a little boy and
she had felt fierce at the bare idea of any
one else touching him.
Hiram Goodell had sober air when he
entered: even the meeting with his son
could not dispel it. He had walked home
from church with neighbor, and the two
men had stood talking together for quite a
little while at GOodell's gate.
Presently when John left the room for a
minute, Hiram turned to his wife. II come
up the road with Abel Bemis," said he,
"an' he says the Emersons are in pretty
bad box this time, an no mistake"
Jane Lords been in here talkin' about
it, returned Mrs Goodell.
"What did she say?o
''She thinks they amt got enough to eat
an keep 'em warm. | dunno, but it does
seem as if man might cOntrive to get
along, an have enough to eat, if he had
any judgment at all. "
Gle amt got any-FoSter Emerson never
had n mite OF judgment Well, | dunno.
When you goiu' to have dinner"
"Jest as soon as | can get it on the table.
want you to go out to the well an draw
me pail of water before you take your
boots off"
The GOodells generally despatched theil
meals quickly. They were thrifty with
time as with everything else, but to-day
they were good hour at the table. There
was plenty to eat; all the hOmely richness
ofacountry Thanksgiving feast was spread
out on the table. The turkey was very
large and brown.
After dinner, Mrs. G0odell cleared away
the table, and washed the dishes, then the
family sat down together in the sitting
room. Hiram had his religious paper,
| John city one, that he had brought with
| him. Mrs. Goodell sat quite idle. She
never sewed on Thanksgiving Day. Hell
conscience seemed TO grow abnormal eX-
crescences in some directions, and this
was one of them. From her childhood she
had held the firm belief that it was wicked
TO sew on Thanksgiving Day. She did not
talk much, the two read, and she sat
thinking. The sitting-room was scrupu-
! lousy clean, there was not q speCk of dust
anywhere. There was a fine gilt paper
on the walls, and the woodwork was very
white and glossy. The fire in the air
| tight stove cracked, the air was soft and
warm.
About four o'clock John got up and left
the room. Pretty soon he passed the VIII
| dow
II wonder where Johns goin'," said his
mother. Hiram sat near the window and
! looked out
Hes turnin' up the road, said he, II
| guess he's goin' up to see the Bemis boy.'
Il shouldn't think he'd go off Thanks,
| giving Day"
The BemiS house, low and red painted
| with smoking chimney, was visible up
the road across a wide stretch of field
Hiram turned again to his paper; his wife
| rocked, with her feet close to the stove.
| Presently Hiram also arose, and prepared
to leave the room.
where you goin', father" asked Mrs.
GOodell
Il amt goin' far
But he didn't return speedily. Mrs
GoOdell went to the window, and saw a
figure that looked like his plodding up the
| road
For the land sake, he amt goin' up to
the Bemises', Thanksgivin' Dayr' said
she, Il should think they was all struck
on the Bemises"
She looked veXed and frowuing. She
sat down again. Presently the fire got low
and she went out for more wood. On her
way, she stepped into the buttery and
looked around.
There's that other chicken pie" said
she, IAN could cut a plateful off that
turkey, an nobody'd know it, an there's
twenty mince pies, an ten apple, and eight
squash-nO there ain't-why l don't see
through it. 1 knew there was twenty
mince, an l can't count but nineteen, an
there amt but nine apple. an seven squash
for the land sake
She counted over and over again, but
she could make no more of them She
could not account for three pies.
"Wcll, there's enough, anyhow" said
she. Il could carry 'em three or four. an
piece of my plum-puddin', an not miss
it, s'poSe. Iduuno. l dunno how they'll
take it
Mrs. Goodeu stood celebrating. Then
she put stick of hard wood in the sitting
room stow packed basket full of pro-
visions, put on her thick shawl and hood
aud started. When she got to her own
gate she stopped and looked up the road
cautiously; he had put on her spectaeles.
but she could see nothing of her husband
or son. Then she braced the basket against
her hip, and went down the road to the
Emersons. The Lord sisters were at the