Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-12-01
Mrs. Parker's Thanksgiving.

To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER.
.T amt got no place to go Thanksgivin';
oh dear! wish had" sighed Mrs. Par
ker, as she put on her shabby old cloak
and tied the strings of her faded old hood
under her chin. ~ should love to go way
somewheres Thanksgivin'; it would be 30
nice. It's awful lonesome to live alone"
She had been hard at work all day. She
had swept and busted and cleaned. She
had stuffed the mammoth turkey and put
it away in the cool pantry to be in readi-
ness for the morrow. She had prepared
the chickens for the great pie, which is
very essential element in a genuine New
England Thanksgiving dinner. She had
pared apples and seeded raisins for the
English plum pudding; doing hundred
other things besides, for this was a busy
day in the Huntley household, and Mrs.
Huntley was one of those energetic house
keepers who believe In being beforehand
with their work.
Mrs Parker fingered awhile in the hot
kitchen, after putting on her hood and
cloak, waiting for the money for her days
hard labor. 1t was quite too months now
since she had been paid, and abe had been
hoping all day long that she might get a
part, at least, of the money due her.
Presently Mrs. Huntley hustled in. ooh,
Mrs. Parker, you haven't gone yet. 1
don't happen to have any change for you
tonight, but don't suppose it will make
| much difference with you; will It'll" she
queried as Mrs. Parker made no reply.
"No, I don't spose twill" said Mrs.
Parker. "Good night" and she went
meekly out of the door.
But 1t did make a difference, and 1t add
ed to the loneliness of the poor little wo-
| man.
Mrs. Huntley was a kind hearted lady,
but she was thoughtIess. She belonged to
several charitable organizations and did a
great deal for the poor. In her unthink-
ing way she said, "If don't pay her eve.
~ week, why she will have all the more
money when / do. She needn't worry
about it, for she knows 1t is safe enough
| here"
There are many ladies who are not in
tentionslly cruel, or hard, who neglect, as
she did. paying for work as soon as 1t is
done; forgetting, or ignoring the fact
thst a dollar in hand is worth more than
that amount of credit.
IF Mrs. Huntley could have seen Mrs
Parker's sad face as she turned away and
went out into the darkness am very sur,
she would have called her back and paid
her all the money she owed.
1t was quite dark. and as Mrs. Parker
lived in the outskirts of the city she had |
long distance to walk. The gas lamp
shone dimly through the gray mist, ant
the clouds were thick overhead. Tn
easterly wind brought with it q chill
dampness from the ses, which made peo
pie shiver and turn up coat collars as the.
hurried along with arms full of bundles
accessories Of the morrow's feast.
There was Thanksgiving suggestion Il
the very air; the streets were full of II
She was sure abe would have known tha
it was Thanksgiving eve by the holida
: look of the hurrying crowd.
3 The wind, coming from that direction
brought the sound of the car whistles
q her. She could hear them distinctly, an
{ also the rumbling of the cars. She sur
posed they were full of happy people g
j. ing somewhere TO spend Thsnksgivin
I with their friends; and the thought mad
her lonelier than ever. Again she said
"I wish was goin' away to make visi
I'd like to go a good ways off SOS to rid
y on the cars. When folks has money an
It friends it's wicked eff they amt happy
= Mrs. Parker had relatives who lived
little way ont In the country, but the
g were poorer even than herself. She eoul