The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1889-11-30

clared. You know that our family has
ever turned cold countenance upon
every patriarchal institution. The cold
blooded fanatic tried to destroy our
Christmas, ami yet you, member of the
high minded class that holds Christmas
in endearment, make confession, as it
were, of a fagitious error by giving
countenance to Thanksgiving Day. l
am ashamed of you, and never again
can repose full confidence in you.
Why, Major! said Mrs. Carter, a
weak but sometimes assertive little wo-
man, "the President of our common
country sets aside the day, and instead
of frowning upon an observance of 1t
think that 1t is our duty not only to the
Lord but as good citizens to the Presi
dent to
To do what7 the Major struck in.
To observe the day.
You think so2 SAID the Major, plac-
ing both hands on table as though he
had his wrath DOWN and was deter
mined to hold it, you think we ought
to burn old women, don't you3
No, don't think that.
Oh, yes, Sarah, come out now and
acknowledge that you do think it.
Stand right up now and declare yolr
principles. Admit that you would like
to see old Sue Blackney tied out there
to the horse block and burned up. II
you want to take up contribution to
raise money enough to hire somebody
to tie the old woman, I'll throw in. /
will not have it said that | have ever
stood as an obstruction to any enter
prise gotten up by wife. Zllda, get the
clotnes-lne ready. Yonder comes a
man down the road. May be can hire
him. We can assure him that the old
woman is not very strong, as she has
suffered with rheumatism for number
of years. What, you don't want to burn
her3 Then your first lesson hasn't
wholly converted you. Humph you'd
better take another.
The Major hastened out into the
garden, slamming the gate after him
and Mrs. Carter, turning to ZIlda, re-
marked "It is said that every person
is insane on his hobby. Ordinarily he
is, as you we'll know, the gentlest oi
men ; and not only that, he is, aside
from mis- hobby, liberal minded man.
don't know and moreover don't
care any thing about the cavaliers. y
Zilda answered. | am a thorough
American and like every thing that is
American. | have never enjoyed my
self more than | did at that Thanksglv,
ing dinner, and next Thanksgiving Day
which will be only two weeks from now
| am going TO have a Thanksgiving
| dinner here at home.
Your father will not hear to it, my
child.
But he must hear to it. If he is sc
avowed an Englishman, why does he
vote in this country Why did he rur
for the Legislature year before last
He ought to know that his foolishness
beat him at the polls and by this time
l should think that he ought to know
that the people are not IN sympathy
with his silly romanticism. | don't like
to speak thus of my father, but can't
help it. Why, Thanksgiving Day is
quite as popular here now as it is i'll the
East. Nearly all our neighbors observe
it.
What has caused you to changs so
Zilly2 Was it your visit to the East
| Hitherto you have been different with
regard to the day.
My Eastern trip, of course, has had
something to do with it, but how much
and in what manner | shall not say
I've got my eye on that big gobbler out
there, and unless his death warrant be
signed by the master OF this household
| shall resort TO mob violence.
Well, there is no use in speaking to
your father about it.
Pm going to speak to him, any way
He will be angry.
can't help it; but can we not con.
vince him of his tooishness1
No, l fear not.
Is there not some way by which we
may prove to him that he is insane?
No; he is stubborn.
Well, but are we to be slaves to his
stubbornuess1 | love my father, under.
stand, but he should not expect me to
embrace so silly a prejudice. l think
that you have been altogether toe
weak. You ought to have cured him
of his foolishness long ago.
Zilda said nothing more with regard
to the subject. Two days before Thanks
giving, while Zlda and her mother were
sitting in the big room, as the negroes
termed 1t, the Major entered. He had
been hunting, and placing his gun in a
corner, he took up one Of Scott's novels
and was soon following the nodding
plumes of the Black Knight. Zilda
took up the gun and went TO the win,
dow. She was acquainted with the use
of fire arms. She placed the gun on
the window sill and sat looking out into
the yard.
Don't cock that gun, said the Major.
1t might go off.
Again he was following the noddlng
plumes of the Back Knight. He had
begun TO smack his lips, as though he
were eating venison pasty with Friar
Tuck, when BANG went the gun. Mrs.