Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1889-11-20

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The parade duly took place, and was a
fine affair with two or three dozen boys
in the ranks, with "Jacks" of all degrees
of ugliness. Jasper hadn't been able to
keep his plan secret till after the per-
Torrance as he had intended, but had
come out with it, boy-fashion, just as
soon as he reached the place Of rendez-
vous, and all the boys were telate with
the idea. Nothing would do but they
must go through the village and down
the side street where the Gordons lived,
bringing the whole family to the win
dows by their noisy demonstrations,
when each boy waved his hat wildly, and
gave them three times three before they
moved on. The Gordons were rather puz-
zled by this proceeding. Dick indeed
thought it rather kind of his old school
mates to give him bit of their fun,
though he was no longer of them. Mrs.
Gordon wished they hadn't been so noisy
and walked ''Pa," who had just dropped
into an uneasy slumber, but boys don't
think, she added, apologetically. Ellen
sighed over the pumpkins wasted on
for pies; while the smaller fry one and
all were wild with excitement and longed
to give chase, but were relentlessly swept
off to bed by the motherly Jane, who
came next Ellen in age, and was nurse
maid in general.
Little did any of the family guess at
the plans developing in that noisy
crowd. Every boy was ready to do
something, for Dick had been favorite,
and then Jasper's artful proposal that
the things should be hung at the door,
May-basket fashion, promised unlimited
larks.
They were all country boys, with each
his own way of earning money. Some
had vegetables of their own raising,
some apples; several of them kept hens
and had eggs to sell, and though none
of them could give much, yet as one
boys gift met another's, good deal was
made up.
s'1'll give WOOD cried Tom Horton,
loudly; Give got a wood-lot this year."
"And so've l." shouted Billy Gray,
s'and I will give just as much as Tom
does!"
''I've got prime lot of nuts to SELL"
added another. "I'll give some of the
money towards bag of -four" and then
there were several dimes and quarters
offered to make it up.
cpl ask father to send a load of
COAL" said Walter Hale, at last, con-
sequentially, but the boys would have
no airs.
''That will be jolly for your father"
said John Teal; tsbut what are you
going to give yourself?''
Walter lifted his eyebrows super
ciliously. ''Isn't that enouglbe'' he said,
haughtily.
'sMore than enough for your father"
said Jasper, bluntly; ''but you don't
give it. I thought we boys were run
ming this business" and them Walter
offered his mite with the rest.
The night before Thanksgiving came,
clear, starlit evening, dark enough for
the conspirators, but not too darn. The
Gordons were all at home, Mr.. Gordon
sitting up and busted with piece Of
wood-earving. He was carpenter by
trade, and had some skill, which he
hoped to turn to triiing account during
his illness. He looked pale and anx-
ious, and there were new lines of care in
Mother Gordon's face as she bent over
he mending-basket. The younger
children were safely in bed, and Dick
and Ellen at the table, with their heads
close together, were puzzling over a
hard ':sum," for they were trying to
keep up with their classes by evening
work. Tomorrow would be a. holiday
at the mill, but there would be little
festivity at home. 1t was So hard to
earn the daily food for the family now;
there was nothing to spare for luxuries.
II wish I could get up a little some
thing extra for the Children thought
Mrs. Gordon, with weary sigh, and at
the moment came laundering rap at
the door and a sound of swift feet sour
rying away.
ssThose boys!' sighed MIR. Gordon,
half irritably, and Dick sprang up and
ran to the door.
''What is it, Dick? Don't keep the
door open," called his mother, for Dick
was looking up and down the street fol
the mysterious visitant. T.. :.
"It's box" he called back, excitedly
"a big box" and Ellen flewto help him
and between them they tugged into. the
room not only the big box, but a smaller
pasteboard one that had been hidden
behind it. And there were Rachel's
plump chickens dressed for cooking, end
looking almost good enough to be eaten
then and there; there were potatoes
turnips and onions, nicely washed and
made ready, and quart bowl o.
rudy cranberry sauce. There was 9
loaf Of bread for stufang, while thu
smaller box held two spicy mince pies
below (Which Rachel's mother had sent,
and above the pumpkin. pies she hat
promised, Of which she was Justly proud
SO glossy, 20 golden were they, witt
crisp edges Of crust delicious to see
Andif she and Jasper could have see1
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