Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-28

IL now. It's thanksgiving Day. and I've
come home to have a good time: We don't
want to get to arguing over anything or
anybody. Amt the turkey most done?"
You amt goin' down there to see her.
John?"
II tell you, mother. won't talk any more
about II. Here's father coming"
Mrs. Gooden dropped the subject then.
When 1t came to an argument with John,
her husband. She had always punished him
herself when he was little boy, and she
had felt fierce at the bare idea Of any one
else touching him.
entered; even the meeting with his son could
not dispel 1t. He had walked home from
church with a neighbor, and the two men
had stood talking together for quite little
while at Goodelrs gate.
Presently. when John left the room for a
minute, Hiram turned to his wife, Il come
up the road with Abel Bemis," said he, IAN
he says the Emersons are in a pretty bad
box this time. an no mistake"
Jane Lords been in here talkin' about
it," returned Mrs. Goodell.
What did she say?'
"She thinks they amt got enough to eat
seem as If a man might contrive to get
along, an have enough to eat. If he had
any judgment at ALL
He amt got any-Foster Emerson new
er had a mite OF judgment. Well. dunno.
| When you goin' to have dinner?"
Jest as soon as / can get it on the ia
BILE. 1 want You to go out to the well en-
draw me pail of water before you take
your boots Off"
The Goodells generally dispatched their
meals quickly. They were thrifty with
| they were a good hour at the table. There
was plenty to eat; all the homely richness
Of a country Thanksgiving feast was
| spread out on the table. The turkey was
very large and brown.
After dinner, Mrs. Goodell cleared away
the table, and washed the dishes; then the
| family sat down together in the sitting
room. Hiram had his religious paper, John
| a city one that he had brought with him.
Mrs. Goodell sat quite idle. She never
sewed on Thanksgiving Day. Her con-
science seemed to grow abnormal excres-
| cences in some directions. and this was one
of them. From her childhood she had helu
| the firm belief that 1t was wicked to sew en-
Thanksgiving Day. She did not talk much:
the two read, and she sat thinking. The
sitting room was scrupulously clean; there
was not a speck of dust anywhere, There
was a fine gilt paper on the walls, and
the wood work was very white and glossy
The fire in the air-tight stove cracked, the
air was soft and warm.
About o'clock John got up and left the
room.
Pretty soon he passed the window.
Il wonder where Johns goin'," said his
mother Hiram sat near the window and
he looked out.
Hes turned up the road" said he. 81
guess he's goin' up to see the Bemis boy"
Il shouldn't think he'd go of Thanksgiv-
ing Day"
The Bemis house, low and red-painted,
with smoking chimney was visible up
the road across a wide stretch of field.
Hiram turned again to his paper: his wife
rocked, with her feet close to the stove.
Presently Hiram also arose. and prepared
to leave the room.
Where you goin'. father?" asked Mrs.
Gooden
II amt goin' far"
But he didn't return speedily. Mrs Good
ell went to the window. and saw a figure
that looked like his plodding up the road
For the land sake. he amt goin' up to
the Bemises'. Thanksgiving Day!' said she.
Bemises."
She looked vexed and frowning. She sat
| she went out for more wood. On her way,
she stepped into the buttery and looked
around
There's that other chicken e,"said she,
key. an nobody'd know it,an' there's TWEEN
~ mince pies. an ten apple. an eight
squash-no there ain't-why, don't see
through 1t. I knew there was twenty
there amt but nine apple, an seven
SQUASH. For the land sakev'
She counted over and over again. but
she could make no more Of them. She
could not account for three pies.
well, there's enough. anyhow" said she.
Il could carry 'em three or four an a
piece of my plum-puddin'. an not miss 1t,
l s'pose 1 dunno. dunno how they'd
| take it."
Mrs. Goodell stood celebrating. Then she
put stick Of hard wood in the sitting
room stove. packed basket full of pro-
visions, put on her thick shawl and hood
and started. When she got to her own
gate, she stopped and looked I'D the road
cautiously: she had put ON her spectacies,
but she could see nothing Of her husband
or son. Then she braced the basket against
her hip. and went down the road to the
Emersons'. The Lord sisters were at the
window: she saw them with a quick side
fash Of her eyes. but she did not look up.
She went straight on at good
pace; the basket was heavy. but she
was muscular. When she reached the
Emersons, she set the basket under a lilac
kept on to the side door. She stood before
It and knocked. She heard step inside
then Mrs. Emerson opened the door, She
was stout woman. with a pretty. child
like face. She flushed when she saw Mrs
Goodell, then she became quite pale
Mrs: Goodell herself was pale. and she
looked scared. but she spoke first.
Good afternoon" said she.
Good afternoon" returned the other
woman with a kind Of stiff timidity: then
she added: Won't you come IMP
Mrs. Goodell stepped in. Mrs. Emerson
led the way to the kitchen.
I'm have to take you In this way" she
said feebly; there amt any fire in the set
tin room. Fanny's in there now. Some
Douy came 70 the 'front.' door; dunno who:
I'm afraid they'll catch cold"
I'D Jest as soon go into the kitchen" re-
turned Mrs. Goodeil. with anxious affabil-
ity.
The two women sat down in the large
kitchen.
Mrs. Goodell noticed that there was no
odor Of Thanksgiving cooking in it when
she entered. Mrs. Emerson did not ask
her to lay aside her hood and shawl. Both
women Were afraid to speak, and thew
hardly looked at each other Still Mrs.
Goodell had a distinct purpose in view. and
that gave her more self-possession
ITS pretty cold day, amt 1t ?' said she
Yes; it's been pretty cold" Mrs Emer-
son admitted shyly.
Mrs. Goodell turned her eyes on the 9th.
ers face. Mrs. Emerson's hair was quite
curly over her temples; she used to wear
her hair In long curls to her waist when she
was little girl. Suddenly Mrs. GoodeIl re-
membered them and how pretty she had
thought her. They had been schoolmates
when they were girls
Seems to me you look kind of male
Nancy" said She
Mrs. Emerson looked at her; then she mt
her hands up to her face
"Oh, Lois!' she sobbed; you dunno what
I've been through lateiyv'
Mrs. Goodell sat immovable in her chair
but her eyes suddenly became red
Don't take on so, Nancy. Mebbe the
worst Of it's over" said she.
Il dunno how the worst of it's over
Foster amt got thing to do this winter
an we amt got a cent of money. Fanny,s
had to put in all her poor little money to-
ward the interest Oh. Lois IFS haa,,