The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-11-30
Well, then, when may we expect the


Why, what is the matter2 Zilda asked,
with pretended innocence.
You know what the matter is. You
and your mother, TOO, know we'll enough.
You are trying to trap me into this
Thanksgiving toolishness, that's what
you are trying to do i; but it won't work,
l can tell you that.
But, Major, said his wife, the white
gobbler is done now.'
Makes no difference, l will not eat a
bite of it. l won't come to the table.
Won't lave anything to do with it.
Won't give it countenance. I'll take a
piece of bread and piece of hog meat
and 60 off down into the woods. If
you and Zilda want to make Round
heads of yourselves, all right.
He sat down with thump and began
to humble over Ivanhoe. The ladies,
paying no attention to him, proceeded
with their preparations for dinner. As
the weather was fine the table was set
on the long gallery. When everything
was ready-when the great turkey had
been placed on the table-the Major,
putting his book aside, stretched him.
self yawningly and remarked:
Sarah, have you got any bacon7
No, l didn't cook any.
You've got some beef, haven't you
No, / have not.
Well, hang it what sort of meat have
you?
Turkey.
But l told you l wouldn't eat any Of
it.
Well, you needn't.
But what am I going to take down
into the woods with me1
There's some corn bread and cold
biscuit in the boiler.
Do you reckon l want to eat bread
and nothing else1
There's some dried venison in the
smokehouse.
l hate dried venlson.
Well, believe there is small piece
of sausage hanging up IN the loft.
1 despise sausage. Cut me off {
slice or two of that turkey and let me
take it along.
No; if you want any you must 81
down to the table and eat it.
Look here, Sarah, what do you NEAR
by debating to me this way7
l mean just what l say. You sale
that you were rot going to have any.
thing to do with this turkey and yor
shall not unless you surrender com
pletely.
I'll show you about that.
he sat down on the steps of the gal
lery. Zllda stood at the gate looking
down the road.
Who is she looking for7 the Majo
asked.
l don't know exactly. Youder come:
some one.
A young man rode up and dismount
ed at the gate. He shook hands with
Zilda, and then she, taking his arm
conducted him to the house. A mis-
chlevous light shone in her eyes.
Mr.. Howard, said the girl, let mt
present you to my father and mother
When they had shaken hands Mrs
Carter remarked: You are just II
time, MIR. Howard, for dinner IS ready
Major, please take seat at the turkey
end of the table. MIR. Howard, you
sit over here.
The Major, after hesitating a mo.
ment, sat down and began to carve the
white gobbler.
You have quite pretty place here
said the young man.
Yes, the Major answered. You are {
stranger here, presume; and, by the
way, do not wish to be impertinent
but will you please tell me where yor
got acquainted with my daughter1
| am stranger, having never beer
in this neighborhood until to- day, but
for some time l have owned the blast
furnace and rolling mills over at Boltor
and
What the Major exclaimed, drop.
ping his knife and fork, you are moi
Howard, the millionarea
We'll, | am sometimes referred to in
that way. | met your daughter at a
Thanksgiving dinner in Co lnecticuI
last year and since that time we have
been corresponding with each other.
Why, bless my soul exclaimed the
Major.
And, said Zilda, we had agreed to
eat Thanksgiving dinner together this
year.
l may add, said MIR. Howard, tha1
your daughter and are engaged to be
married.
That afternoon the Maj n, after a
long silence during which he seemed to
be struggling with some deep convlc-
ton, looked up and said:
It's all right, l reckon. The romance
of the affair takes away its fanaticism
Well have another white gobbler this
time next year.-Opie p. Read.