Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-11-26
4 THANKSGIVING PARTY.
BY LANTA WILSON SMITH.

BY LANTA WILSON SMITH.
It was neat, comfortable kitchen,
though wholly lacking in ornament
The floor was as white as soap and sand
and willing hands could make it, and
was well matched by the angular
wooden chairs, which had become al
most CHASTITY from repeated scrub
bings
The brass knobs on the dresser, and
even the pendulum of the loud ticking
old clock shone like FURNISHED gold, re-
flecting the beams of freight which
frightened the dusky room.
The tea kettle sang merrily, and
Aunt Esther passed to and fro, prepar-
ing the evening m al, and watching for
the return of her husband from the
wood lot
A little girl stood by the western
window, trying to read by the fast
fading light. Her delicate face, long,
shining curls and dainty apparel
formed bright contrast to The plain
room.
"What are you looking for in the
almanac, my child? You'll injure your
eyes"
"I'm trying to find when Thanks
giving is; but | can't see any longer"
you'll be more apt to find it in the
last paper, Lucy; but I can tell you; it
is a week from next Thursday"
''Oh, goody so soon? Well have one
of those big turkeys, and jolly time,
won't we ?'
I'm afraid not. dear; what put that
into your little head?"
"Why, auntie, you told me when [
first came that those turkeys were for
Thanksgiving. I've thoughtof it ever
since"
ooh, yes, I did tell you SO, Lucy, but
I meant that we raise them to sell for
Thanksgiving. We have not kept the
day since we were first married; your
uncle doesn't care for such things. [
missed it sadly at first, for we always
kept the holiday when was girl at
home, but I've got used to it now, after
all these years"
IT don't think I could" ventured the
child, looking solemnly through the
twilight at the turkeys, comfortably set
the old apple tree.
"Well, dent shed any tears, yet,
Lucy; if you can get Uncle Jerry to con-
sent, I'll do my part. Better not speak
of it till after supper" she added in a
whisper. as she heard her husbands
footsteps at the door.
So, with what patience she could
command, Lucy waited till the supper
was cleared away, and they were gath
cred around the cracking wood-fre,
Aunt Esther with her knitting and
Uncle Jerry with his paper.
Lucy was his only sisters child. She
was spending several months with him,
while her parents travelled in the South,
hoping to benefit her mothers health
Two brothers and one sister were at
college, and were to spend their Christ
mas holidays at the farm house. This
was the first time Lucy had been SO
long from home, and occasionally she
suffered from homesickness; and now,
with the fear that the loved holiday was
TO be sighted, an attack of that dread
malady was certainly imminent. She
felt her courage ebbing away, and hope
lesslv sat very still, looking straight in
10 the fire, till all the curling, writhing
flames melted into one broad sheet of
bright mistiness, and then-there were
two big tears on her rosy cheeks.
Uncle Jerry, who, underneath his
hard exterior, had a really kind heart,
was watching her over his paper, and
two little white hands, and brave eff
fort to keep back sob which was strug-
Cling to escape. 'ssHomesick !" he
thought; "and no wonder, with two dull
old folks like US, and for moment he
wanted to take her in his arms and
soothe her as her own father would; but
he mad so long repressed all tender ways
that he would not manifest bis sympa-
thy. But something must be done.
Rising abruptly, he took pan from the
dresser and started for the cellar saying:
Esther, hold the light for me; | want
some of them tall apples; they won't
keep long"
By the time share of the fruit had
disappeared Lucy had regained her
good spirits Sand, and, with new courage, ex-
Thanksgiving this year? I'd like to-"
Nonsense, child. What would it
amount TOT"
why, we'd have jolly time. We
always did at home"