The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-11-21
THE TWINS DINNER.
Concerning Bright idea. and How lt Was
Carried Out.

V"UVVS 0SsVsveUs
Concerning Bright Idca. and How IL Was
Carried Out.
Chris and / 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 minute.
Then he's got such lungs. Papa says
he'll make good brakeman when he
grows big.
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 VIC are
most afraid sometimes that We shan't
raise him.
Papa got hurt ever and ever 50 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 he tended.
And mamma sewed for cross Miss Brown.
who does dressmaking; and it made
papa most discouraged to have her sew
so 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 50, too. guess.
Chris and did most all the work, 50
as to help. and We didn't break single
thing, 'cept one cup that was cracked,
and bowl that wasn't.
Mamma used to call us ''hcr little
comforts" and we did try ever 50 hard
not to fret about any thing: but some
times It did seem as II we couldn't help
II, we were so tired OF oatmeal and baked
potatoes.
Papa had nice thihgs, Of course, but I
s'pose re 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 1t was most Thanksgiving,
and then We should have every thing
nice-chicken and pie, and p'raps cram
berry sauce!
After that We had to tell him all about
it over and over every day, SO as to keep
him from making fuss and worrying
mamma.
But one day something dreadful hap
pened. was washing dishes. and |
heard papa 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 we'll give
them q treat"
Iran out under the apple tree and
told Chris, and we cried and cried till
all the grass was wet with tears. It
seemed as il We couldn't stand oatmeal
another single day. But we didn't dare
10 let Bob know, as we couldn't trouble
mamma, so VIC had TO bear it.
After long time we thought of some-
thing. We got some paper and pencil,
and wrote letter. and this was what
was in IL:
Mr.. PREsIDESI.--Our papa worked on the
cars, and got all smashed up-he wasn't one
bit careless, but twas trying TO save an Irisll
boy from being killed. Sometimes he gets
pretty blue, mamma says, but re think he lie
real scAise, and We arc too poor to have any
Thanksgiving, and II seems ~ Il our hearts
will break, else you can help rs, VIC are so
sick of oatmeal; but II you can't. may be God
will. CHRISTINE AND CORA.
p. 6. Our papa's name Is Arthur Cordes.
Then we put the letter in an envelope
and carried it to the post-of6ce. The
man looked At 1t and asked US who twas
for. Chris told him. THE Railroad
President"
lie was SO kind and asked US ever SC
many questions, and before knew II,
We had told him all about it. He had
such cold he had to keep using his
handkerchief most all the time. Then
lac wrote something on tho 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
fcl, 50 We couldn't eat mouthful Of
Observation-Disclosures We made be-
iievc to.
hut Bob and Carl kept talking all the
time about the nice things they should
have tomorrow for dinner.
Just then Chris pulled my dress undo,
the table, and looked at papa and he
was slyly putting all of his nice toast
and dropped egg on Carl's and Bob's
plates.
Even mamma looked sober when the
rent-man came that night for the money
and when she had counted 1t out there
was only little silver left; but, then
she smiled just the same as ever and
said God would take care OF us.
When Chris and I went to bed tina
night we had another spell Of crying
but we kept our faces in the pillow, y
nobody would hear us, and we both sale
we could not sleep mite all night.
But it was so funny, tho very frs
thing we knew, 1t was morning, and
there was such pounding at the out
side door! We jumped out OF bed an,
peeped through the door-in our night
| dresses.
Mamma opened the door and-wha
do you think? 1t was the grocery man
and he began rolling in things into tn
hall. Such piles and piles of them!
whole bazrel OF flour, sweet potatoes,
big turkey and-ecery thing
We just danced around the room W
were SO glad, and Bob almost made u
crazy.
But papa and mamma did act SO queel
Papa just put his arm around mamma
neck, and do believe they both criet
/ ka0,o mamma did.
The man said the things were sent b
the railroad hands. We never knew b,
fore that 1t had any hands, and We don
see how it can send things, If it has.
But something beautifnllcr still cam
after that-the post-man brought i
Twas letter, and when papa opened
ne found . paper in 1t that gave hi
pay for all the time since he was hur
i. On, 1t was just splendid! MANN
never sewed speck all day. And +
sure it was the best Thanksgiving tn