The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1891-11-20
WIDOW GRaY'S THANKSGIVING.

lark thanksgiving eve Z"
Yes, if it's anything new and
jolly"
"Well, I'm sure it's new, and
guess it will be jolly enough 10
some folks. S'pose we fellers give
Widow Gray a regular surprise.
party Thank giving eve. | heard
those Maitland boys Dragging to
little Tommy Gray what splendid
Thanksgiving they were going to
have, and Tom said, Il guess we
used 10 have as good time as any
body when father was alive, but
mother says We mustn't expect a
turkey nr ii mince-pie this year.
81 lay awake ever so long, last
night, and planned it all out. You
and l will go to Squire Fisk
father says he's got a big heart
and perhaps if we tell HIM how
hard Widow GRAY works to get
along and keep The boys at school,
he'll give The turkey, and then the
biggest part of it will be off our
mind"
Then | want at least six pump.
kins, and know where to get 'em
too"
"What are you talkin' about
Joe? You must think they're 60
Ing 10 live on pumpkins y
"Not bit Of there comes in
The fun-lhese surprise pumpkins
will be such pumpkins as you've
never seen, old boy, in all your
life. You just come up to our barn
tonight at Z o'cIock-and bring
your pocket knife, sharpened up,
and III show you what | mean by
surprise pumpkins Good bye ;
Z o'clock, sharp, remember"
Seven o'clock, that November
night, found as jolly and happy a
half dozen boys as you'd wish 10
see, collected in Mr.. Emery's barn.
Six of the biggest pumpkins-ohe
oval in shape-and six boys, with
SIX knives busy at work.
First The pumpkins were cut in
two parts, then both parts were
scGoped out, leaving The yellow
rind about an inch thick then a
green willow wilhe or switch was
cut the right length and pnt into
The smallest part of The divided
pumpkin (the cover) for a handle.
Then the boys put thin coat Of
varnish over their work, and left to
dry on a shelf in the barn a row OF
new fashioned, orange colored
dishes and covers!
The next three davs were busy
days, | can tell you, for the sur
prise party. Squire Fisk gave the
turkey and "fiXings,' celery and
crauberries, and Joe's mother made
a real Yankee plum.pudding, aud
Wills sister made two such pies,
as Will said-mince and squash
and other boys mothers and sis
ters made d0ug ghnuts and cookies
and all sorts of "goodies" for The
Thanksgiving lea.
Thanksgiving eve, al s p. m.,
might have seen a iorchlight pro-
cession moving across The meadow
from Mr.. Emery's farm, and along
the lane that led to Widow Gray's
cottage at lie other end of the
village.
This was the program Two
boys with Chinese lanterns two
little Cinnamon bearing on a pole
between them a real Chinese tea
chest filled with tea and sugar
wheelbarrow, alternately wheeled
by Joe Emery and Will Somerly. |
On each size of the barrow two
pumpkins containing pies, dough |
nu;s, elc. One pumpkin in front |
with celery and cranberries,
large oval pumpkin in centre, with
turkey, decorated with laurel
'prigs, and The spaces filed up
with white potatoes and sweet
;oiatoes at the head of The bar
'ow, OH pole, a little banner, "a
Greeting from the
Friends of Mrs. Gray"
Now, don't you think Joe En-
,ry's was new and jolly "pump-
Kin lark r.