Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-12-31
A THANKSGIVING DINNER.
Something for Which the JawIsins Chill
dren Did Give Thanks.

dren bid 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 to go at all,
and the boy had to stay at home, though
he wanted to 60 Things sometimes
happen So.
Papa and mamma lad 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 We're gone, he felt very
solitary, so he thought he would 90 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 hings they
used 10 eat were all with nd gone.
Here is your Thanksgi, ing dinner,
snails" he said, gravely. "You are
thieves, you know. because you used to
eat the peas and the celery, but sup
pose you get hungry just the same
The snais 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. ont in the
street, and presently the bigger boy
got il away from the smaller one, and
the smaller one cried, "Herei hi" said
the boy to the one who had lost the
apple. wait minute 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 our
boy.
The other nodded. salt fish and
tatersp' he said
Our boy looked very serious. NO
turkey" lac asked.
"Weu, guess not!' said the other
whose name was Jimmy Jawbius.
Thank YET he added gruf1ly .I'm
goin' to give it to Sis. She can't eat
salt fish
And he went off, rubbing the apple on
the sleeve Of his grimy jacket
The boy looked after him with a
troubled face He knew that this boy
lived in little yellow cottage down the
Green lane, and that he had five broth
ers and sisters, and that the mother was
very poor but he had never spoken to
him before lie was still thinking
about them when tile 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 more
soeiable.
When Mary bought in the turkey, it
looked almost big enough TO carry her
instead. 1t was a brown mountain, all
smoking hot, and smelling, oh! so
good And it pulled out its breast, and
held its arms and legs close to it's sides,
and looked as proud as if il were still
strutting about the barnyare
Cousin Sarah carved it, aud gave the
boy the drumstieks, which he liked
best herself, but that seemed to make
very little impression on the great
turkey.
The boy was silent for awhile. for
he was hungry, and the drumsticks
were very good Presently, however
he said: Cousin Sarah "
yes, dear - said She.
Must people give thanks when they
haven't anything to give thanks for p
why, what do You mean, dear boy?
Everyone has some'dtHg to be thankful
for, and YOU have Il very great deal
Yes. / know I have" said the boy.
Il have papa and mamma, and you and
-" here he ran his eyes over the table
turkey and cranberry sauce, and
mashed potatoes, and rice, and gravy,
and celery, and what we are going to
have for dessert and my guinea-pigs.
but must people be thankful for salt
fish and potatoes. where they haven't
anything else at aN2''
Cousin Sarah thought they must, be-
cause salt fish was very great deal
better than nothing, and the boy re-
turned to his drumshcks, finished the
first and began on the second
Presently he said. win you have
some more turkey, Cousin Sarah?'
NO, dear, thank you! / have had
quite enough"