The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-11-27
THE TWINS DINNER.

The TWINS OtNN6H.
Concerning Bright Idea, and How 1t was
Carried Out.
Chris and l are Just eight years old
apiece. That is, because we are twins,
and we look so much alike even mamma
can hardly tell which is which, without
looking twice. =
Bob comes next. He is six, and he's
such topsy-turvy boy! When he comes
into the house, seems as II every thing
was turned bottom-side up in a minute.
Then he's got such lungs! Papa says
he'll make Q good brakeman when he
grows big. 4ao :
Carl is the youngest Of all. You ought
to see him, he is so lovely! He's got the
brownest eyes, and his hair will curl
whichever way you brush it; and every
body that sees him has to stop and kiss
him, he is so sweet.
Then he asks such grown-up questions
about God and every thing, that we are
most afraid sometimes that we shan't
raise him. 20, r.. ,..,.l. ID
Papa got hurt ever and ever so long
ago on the cars. His leg was all broke
up-not clear in two, but inside-so he
had to lie on the lounge, and be tended.
And mamma sewed for cross Miss Brown,
who does dressmaking; and it made
papa most discouraged to have her sew
90 hard, to get things for us to eat.
But when papa groaned and looked
sober, mamma laughed at him, and sang
and every thing, to cheer him up. She's
the dearest little mamma! and papa
thinks 80, too, guess.
Chris and did most all the work, so
as to help, and we didn't break single
thing, 'cept one cup that was cracked,
and q bowl that wasn't.
Mamma used to call US 'her little
comforts" and we did try ever so hard
not to fret about any thing; but some
times it did seem as If we couldn't help
1t, we were so tired of oatmeal and baked
potatoes.
Papa had nice things, Of course, but l
s'pose zoe couldn't afford any thing bet
| ter.
One day Bob cried, and said he
wouldn't eat any supper, else he could
have some pie. Chris and coaxed him
out under the apple tree in the yard,
and told him it was most Thanksgiving,
and then we should have every thing
nice-chicken and pie, and praps cram
berry sauce! ,..
After that we had to tell him all about
it over and over every day, SO as to keer
him from making fuss and worrying
mamma.
But one day something dreadful hap
pened. was washing dishes, and
heard rspa and mamma talking low to-
gether, and papa said: "Poor dears, they
won't have much Thanksgiving this
year,"
Mamma said: "Never mind. You will
soon be at work, and then Well give
them treat"
Iran out under the apple tree and
told Chris, and we cried and cried till
all the grass was wet with tears. II
seemed as if we couldn't stand oatmeal
another single day. But we didn't dare
to let Bob know, as we couldn't trouble
mamma, 80 we had to bear it.
After a long time we thought of some
thing. We got some paper and pencil
and wrote letter, and this was wha'
was in 1t: ItH
Mr.. PREsIDENT.-Our papa worked on thu
cars, and got all smashed up-he wasn't ONT
bit careless, but twas trying to save an Irisf
l 49, 1n1 nm IA
pretty blue, mamma says, but IRE think he Il
real white, and we are too poor to have any
Thanksgiving, and it seems as il our hearts
will break, else you can help us, we are sc
sick of oatmeal; but II you can't, may be Goo
will. CHRISTINE AND CORA.
1 IS. Our papa's name is Arthur Cordes
! Then we put the letter in an envelope
and carried it to the post-office. Tht
man looked at it and asked us who twas
for. Chris told him, 1.-The Railroad
President"
He was so kind and asked us ever 81
many questions, and before l knew it
we had told him all about it. He hat
such cold he had to keep using hi
handkerchief most all the time. Their
he wrote something on the envelope
and said it was all right.
And we ran home and waited until the
last day before Thanksgiving, but no
! body sent any thing, and Chris and
felt so we couldn't eat mouthful o
supper-hardly-though we made be
lieve to.
But Bob and Carl kept talking all tn
time about the nice things they SHOULD
have tomorrow for dinner.
just then Chris pulled my dress unde
the table, and looked at papa and h
was slyly putting all of his nico toas
and dropped egg on Carrs and Bob
plates.
Even mamma looked sober when tn,
> rent-man came that night for the money
8 and when she had counted it out Their
was only little silver left; but, then
8 she smiled just the same as ever an
said God would take caro- Of US.
9 When Chris and l went to bed tina
night we had another spell o: crying
but we kept our faces in the pillow, 8
nobody would hear us, and we both sal
y VIC could not sleep mite all night.
d But it was so funny, the very firs
= thing we knew, it was morning, an
there was such pounding at the gu