Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-11-24

| wanted him to bring in to Miss Hettie, u
and with hearty laugh he added
''She said she did not doubt but that
| Hettie Brown would have some poor
| old soul to join her Thanksgiving din.
ner. So here is turkey for the sake
| of the old days. You are a good woman,
Hettie.'' he added, and disappeared in
the darkness. on his way to town to sup.
ply his customers.
So Hettie, fervently thanking the
Lord, who put this kind thought in
Mrs. Jackson's heart, out of her abun-
had thought would be her own dinner,
to Grandma Leigh, who was very poor
and nearly blind.
Hettie often went to read to her or
sit and chat. She was greatly sur
prised and pleased at the generous gift.
And the old dressmaker went home,
feeling she had made one poor crea.
ture thankful, and would enjoy her
own dinner the more, thinking she had
given a recompense. the best she had.
to some more unfortunate fellow crea-
ture.
It was with a very grateful spirit
that Miss Hettie looked in her pantry
late that afternoon; tho turkey was
stuffed. ready for roasting, there were
faky apple pie, pan of doughnuts
and a few punches of grapes.
She sat knitting in the twilight, and
thinking how kind Miss Dale, a new
conner from the distant town, had been
to her. how much work she had given
her and procured for her from her
friends
She sighed, wishing she could do
something to show her gratitude to this
kind friend. And suddenly the thought
of her butter came to her. What
sweet, delicious butter she did make
from Dollie's milk!
She rose and hastily cutting few
pounds from her scantily- filled jar, and.
DOMINIC her old shawl and bonnet, she
started on her GRAND. She stopped
half dismayed at the brilliantly-lighted
house, but finally went on and knocked
at the rear door.
To the servant who answered It she
gave her plate of butter, asking humbly
if Miss Dale would accept the little gift
for Thanksgiving. .''She was SO very
thankful to her for her kindness"
And Miss Hettie welcome plate of
delicious butter graced Miss Dale's
beautiful Thanksgiving dinner.
On Thanksgiving morning Kettle
went to the early church service, and
heard a beautiful, practical sermon on
''Thanks.''
And she was home again in time to
cook her dinner. How inviting the
table looked, though it was laid in the
kitchen.
Farmer Jackson's generous gift, the
turkey, was deliciously Drowned, and
the potatoes, the squash, the pie and
the doughnuts and the grapes were all
placed on the table at once in the good;
old-fashioned way. And 'Miss Het-
tie" as the villagers, young and old, all
called her, was a bountiful hostess.
''Then she didn't dine a1one?'
Oh, no! She had chosen for her
guests those of her acquaintance who
had the least to be thankful for. There
were four happy faces gathered around
her table, happy for that day at least
aud many days to come, in remem-
brance of this Thanksgiving dinner to
which Miss Hettie had so kindly in
vited them.
Little Tommie Smith was there, Be-
sides being lame and obliged to go on
clutches poor Tommie had drunken
father and wretched and disordered
home. Very pleased and happy did he
look as he sat at Miss Hettie's right
hand, and how he did enjoy this boun-
tiful dinner. It was the first time he |
ever knew what Thanksgiving day"
could be.
And more than the wholesome, de-
ligl,tful food were Miss Hettie's bright |
smile and the restful, thankful spirit |
which pervaded the little house and the
hearts of its inmates.
BESIDES Tommie, Mr.. Mott, a poor,
old, forlorn, rheumaticky man (poor in |
friends, mean. who lived across the |
lane, had hobbled in, and, for the time
his pain, was basking in the |
warmth and glow of this |
dinner gathering. Polly
Moore, a laundress. an old friend Of |
Miss Hottie, with her little niece, also |
shared the festivities.
You can hardly imagine how sur
prised all these four people were when /
hey were SO unexpectedly invited by
Miss Hettie" to join her Thanksgiving
1innsr. some Of then scarcely knew ]