The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-12-02
"SALT FISH AND TATERS."

Brooklyn Eagle.
"sALr FISH AND TATERs."
Something for which the Jswkins Chill
dren Did Give Thanks.
1t was Thanksgiving Day. and the
boy was standing in the doorway,
watching papa and mamma get into the
carriage. They were going away,
though they did not want 70 go at all,
and the boy had to stay at home, though
he wanted to 60 Things sometimes
happen so!
Papa and mamma had to dine with
Aunt Briggs, because she was ninety
years old and all alone, and Aunt Briggs
did not like little boys. So papa and
mamma looked very sad as they kissed
their hands for good-by, and when the
boy saw that. he tried TO look as If he
liked to be left behind, and smiled and
kissed his hand to them very cheerfully.
But after they were gone, he felt very
solitary, so he thought he would go and
feed his guinea-pigs. He took them
some cabbage-leaves, and they ate till
their eyes stood out, so the boy thought
they ought not to have any more, and
took away the rest of the leaves, which
made them squeak just as pitifully as
If they were starving. Guinea-pigs are
like that!
He gave the rest of the cabbage
leaves to the snails that lived down by
the fence; he was sure they must be
very hungry, because the things they
used to eat were all withered and gone.
"Here is your Thanksgiving dinner,
snails" he said, gravely. "You are
thieves. you know, because you used to
eat the peas and the celery, but I sup
pose you get hungry just the same ="
The snails said nothing, but perhaps
they were grateful.
Then the boy went and looked over
the fence for little while. Two boys
were fighting for an apple, out in the
street, and presently the bigger boy
got it away from the smaller one, and
the smaller one cried. Here! hill" said
the boy, to the one who had lost the
apple. swat a minutew He ran to
the kitchen, and brought back great
round, rosy apple, three times as big
as the one for which the boys had been
fighting.
"Take this!' he said to the little boy.
"Are you hungrv?"
Eyes, be!' said the boy, who was
very ragged and very dirty.
"But you will have your Thanksgiv
ing dinner soon, won't you?" asked oul
boy.
The other nodded. salt fish ani
taters" he said.
Our boy looked very serious INC
turkey?" he asked.
"Well. guess notr' said the other
whose name was Jimmy Jawkins.
"Thank YEP he added gruffly. "In
goin' to give it to Sis She can't ca
salt fish,"
And he went off, rubbing the apple OF
the sleeve of his grimy jacket.
The boy looked after him with ;
troubled face. He knew that this DO,
lived in little yellow cottage down thu
Green Jane, and that he had five broth
ers and sisters, and that the mother wa
very poor, but he had never spoken t,
him before. He was still thinking
about them when the bell rang for din
ner.
He went hand.in.hand with Cousin
Sarah. and they sat side by side, be
cause they thought it would be NOR,
sociable.
When Mary bought in the turkey, i
looked almost big enough to carry he
instead. 1t was brown mountain, al
smoking hot, and smelling, OH S,
good! And it puffed out its breast, an,
held it's arms and legs close to it's sides
and looked as proud as if it were still
strutting about the barnyard.
Cousin Sarah carved it, and gave tn
boy the drumsticks, which he like,
best herself, but that seemed to max
very little impression on the grea
turkey.
The boy was silent for awhile, TO
he was hungry, and the drumstick
were very good Presently, however
he said: cousin Sarahw
"Yes, dear"' said she.
"Must people give thanks when the
haven't anything to give thanks for ?
"Why, what do you mean, dear boy
Everyone has something to be thankfr
for. and you have very great deal"
Eyes, | know have!" said the boy
81 have papa and mamma, and you an
-" here he ran his eyes over the tabl
turkey and cranberry sauce, an
mashed potatoes and rice, and gravy
and celery, and what we are going I
have for dessert, and my guinea-pigs.
But must people be thankful for sa
fish and potatoes, where they haven
anything else at alp
Cousin Sarah thought they must b
cause salt fish was a very great de'
better than nothing, and the boy n
turned to his drumshcks, finished tt
first, and began on the second.
Presently he said: "Will you ha'
some more turkey. Cousin Sarah?"
mo. dear, thank you! ! have ia
quite enough"