The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-11-30
WHERE THE CHURN WENT.
How an All Winter Mystery Was Solve
N the Snriup


in the Spring.
"Somebody's got to stay home from
church., said IIulda.
Hulda was the girl who helped in the
kitchen at grnndpa's.
''Home from. church on Thanksgiv-
ing day" exc'rimed grandpa, shaking
his head. "lIo~'s that?"
'1ps cause MIR. Roberts got to go in
the train this afternoon" said Hulda.
"Weve got to have dinner earlier"
Cant it be managed any other way?'
asked grandpa,
81 don't see how" said Hulda. 81
could put in the turkey and make big
fire, but somebody's got to be here to
open the damper just at the right time"
This was serious business. Grandpa
and grandma wanted to go because
they had never missed going on Thanks
giving rs long as they could remember.
Tony's father and mother ysFSntesd To 60
because they were at the old home on a
visit, and liked to go to the old church
and see old friends. Hulda wanted to
90 because it was Thanksgiving.
"I'll stay" said Tony.
"Oh, | don't believe you could do it.
dear" said grandma. "You are so lit
tle!"
I'm six" said Tony, proudly. 81
shall be seven next Thanksgiving.
II do believe he could pull out the
damper all right" said Hulda. Gle
always does just as he is told"
eyes, always" said grandma.
And by reason of this good character
Tony was allowed to stay home.
Now I'll make my snow man, d." said
Tony, looking with satisfaction at the
big sleigh as it drove away with its
load.
The snow had fallen foot and half
deep two or three days ago. To-day it
was thawing a little, and Jacob, the
farm boy, told him it was exactly right
for making snow man; and Tony was
afraid that if he waited till afternoon
it would be too soft.
He worked as hard as six-year-old
boy could work, remembering just at
the right time to go into the great
kitchen and pull out the damper as
Hulda had told him; and by the time
the others came from church there il
was, a splendid fellow, legs, arms, head
nose, chin and all, waiting for few
| finishing touches from Jacob.
The turkey in the oven was baking
| too, just as Thanksgiving turkey
ought to bake.
Jacob touched up the man, while
| Hulda touched up the turkey. lie made
u hat for him, difficult thing to do
and ended by putting a pipe in hi
mouth
But Tony was a Band-ofHope boy
and would not allow that.
1t froze hard that night, and in the
morning the snow man was as solid a!
a rock. He had come for the winter
| Jacob said.
you'll have to get along with the
snow man." said Tony. when grandma
was wishing him good-by; but grand
ma thought the snow man would yer.
poorly fill the place of her merry
laughing little boy,
| Whats become of the churn?' 'aSlle,
| Hulda, the day after all the Thanks
giving visitors We're gone. Its gone.
1T must be in the shed where yo,
put it." said grandma.
II should "a said so myself" SAT-
Hulda, but I've hunted high and 10y
and it isn't anywheres."
1--WE haven't churned for a week
said grandma.
No, cause the company wanted al
the milk and cream. But | want t
churn now, and where that churn ca
"a went to beats me"
II was "a most surprising mystery
Grandma and Hulda hunted throug
the whole house Jacob hunted throug
barns, stables and granaries, and the
came in declaring it couldn't be any
where except in the shed, and must b
there. But his saying so did not max
it so.
After every nook and corner of tn
place had been searched everybody do
clared the churn must have been stoler
All winter long the snow man stoo
in the front yard. Sometimes littl
thaw would come, and he host his nos