The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-12-11
Selected Storp.
The Glassfords' Thanksgiving.

WHO ike lne OTlnOuOA lnlDg LOT L DdukS-
giving it would do. Have you bought
your turkey yet, Mrs Glassford?"
"Not yet" said Mary, blushing.
"Then you may take this to Johnny,
from Grandpa Hunter"
" | thank you very much" said
Mary.
"And how are you off for winter
vegetables? We've got a sight of
squash-Hubbards and Boston-marrow
turned out wonderful this year; just as
well spare you some as not"
=" You are too kind" said Mary.
"Well, now, maybe ! shan't keep
another Thanksgiving; but your pretty
certain to stay, and maybe you'll think
of me then, if you have reason enough
to remember me Thursday"
con, | hope you'll keep a great many
THANKSGIVING, my good old friend"
"Time goes so fast. Why, it doesn't
seem any time at all since your husband
and my Tom were SCHOOL, boys together;
and now Tom is a great, thriving fell
low, bringing city wife home to us
Tomorrow
Elias" called his wife, sharply. He
went into see her, and retreated from
the house by another door.
Just like a man!' the dear old lady
said to Helen after Mary had gone
home. " A body would almost think
he held a grudge against Mary for
choosing John Glassford and breaking
Toms heart for month o. Sundays.
But, lal Toms got over it, and | love
Mary as well as loved her mother"
1t was Mr.. Hunter who took Mary
home; and when she walked out, with
Helen's arm around her waist, and
Helen talking as fast as she could in
her ear, there was long box-wagon in
waiting, instead of the carriage which
had brought her
Garden-sass wouldn't go in that lit
tie buggy, Mary" said Mr.. Hunter, as
he CALAMITY helped her to the spring
seat :" But guess the RIG and the
load and the driver are pretty well
matched. Go long, jerry" and away
they went
The children had come home from
school, and opened the door quickly
when the wagon reached the gate.
Mary dismounted and carefully car
ried in the precious can of mince-meat.
Going out again, she met Johnny
bringipg in the turkey, with a trium-
phant toss of his beautiful head. Its
come" he said.
Tom was Juggling a basket. Mr.. Hun
ter came and went, back and forth.
several times, and Mary's heart grew
fuller as, with apologies, he set down
each armful of good things.
"Don't know as you care for buck
wheat, but / was down to mill yester-
day, so fetched you little -four for
the youngsters pancakes. Now don't
say anything against this yellow meal;
it is yellow as gold, and sweeter than
white meal, think. Oh! that's only
sample of our honey, to 60 with the
johnnycake and buckwheats. Now,
there's those squashes good for pies,
good to bake, hearty as meat. Well,
declare if mother hasn't sent some lard
And this? Why, this is only little
tenderloin. We killed pig last week"
Mary followed him to the wagon
With difficulty she made out to say, as
he seated himself and gathered up the
reins: " Mr.. Hunter, do you know /
think this is the end of conspiracy.
Did Helen really need me to help her
to-day?"
"She was wonderin' last night how
you was fixed for Thanksgivin'. But
you go right in the house, Mary; you'll
ketch your death of cold. Go long,
Jerry"
"Verily thou shalt be fed" came to
Mary's mind as she turned back to her
humble door, wiping away tears she
did not wish the happy children to see.
The best breakfast of the season was
ready for those children the next morn
ing when they awoke, and the contents
of their dinner-pail did not reproach
the poor mother that day.
She sang as she mixed the pie-crust:
she sang while she stuffed the turkey
she was almost tired of singing when
she finished her work and stopped to
look at the ample provision for the
Thanksgiving dinner
The children found her in very play
full mood; but that evening she talked
with them seriously about the duty of
giving thanks, attuning their young
hearts to the proper spirit of Thanks
giving
At church, next morning, she saw
Mr.. Hunter come in with his sons wife
and Helen, followed by two gentlemen.
1t was so long time since she had
seen his son she must look a second
time to make sure which really was her
schoolmate.
She did not look in that direction a
third time, and succeeded indifferently
in keeping her thoughts apon the SER
mon, dropping a smile upon Johnny at
her right hand and upon Tom at her
left, who sat by the door of the pew,
looking quite manly.
The Thanksgiving dinner was COM
plete; or at least the Glassford family
felt that it lacked nothing.
The feast lasted long time-ohl
ten times as long as their usual din
ners, because it gave them so much to
talk about
An hour after it had been cleared
away and the dish-washing forgotten
the three were enjoying story when a
carriage stopped at the gate.
ooh, it's the strange gentleman that
came with Grandpa Hunter to church )"
exclaimed Johnny, who had been first
to catch the unwonted sound of visitors
voices.