The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1893-11-22

no snow Indeed it did not
look quite like November at all We, the
younger ones, had been beech nutting and
butter nutting every day for a week, but
my mother said, Nov, Mary, you cannot
be spared today nor tomorrow for these
wild fights that you enjoy so much, for we
shall all be needed to get ready the Thanks
giving dinner"
My father was q New Highlander Of the
old pattern, very genuine, very strict, but
very gentle 1t was a wonderful couple
She was tho talker, and her tongue could
be very sharp on occasions, but she carried
lot Of blue sky in her eyes, and when her
hair grew gray it seemed to be only like
lambs wool and not at all like snow. But
he was quiet-impressively quiet-that ia.
you felt good deal with him. Some peo-
pie don't need to talk to explain them
selves; some do But father liked fun, and
he liked a Thanksgiving dinner Of the big
gest proportions. They were agreed in the
ology, in politics, in social affairs, in family
government partly, and both believed with
all their souls in New England cooking
The conference was not long, because AZ
to the programme my father never med
died. My mother, to be sure, made point
of consulting him, and he made "A point OF
appearing to be consulted, but he never
suggested a change-not the slightest. II
he hadl Well-but he was a wise man.
For days my mother went about planning
and not talking. Her head was arranging
the whole programme At last the picture
was done. The time had come to exhibit
it, 1t was after the chores were done at
night and supper was cleared away, and
we all sat in the big room. She smoothed
down her apron, then heavcd big sigh.
then got up and opened the oven door,
looked in, shut it again, sat down and
smoOthed her apron once more.
Mary" said she, take your pencil and
write it down on the big slate 1t is to be
this way. We are to invite Aunt Betsy
and Uncle johnson and his two boys. Then
there will be the side table for Mrs. Schoon-
son and her daughters and Mrs. Howard
and her two little fellows. Then Parson
Eliot and his wife must be here, but they'll
have to eat another dinner down to Deacon
Hopkins, and SO we must have them either
at IL or at 3, and we'll fix accordingly.
Have you got that down, my girl?" "Yes,
mother, it's II folks, as make out" And
father said, But, mother, that'll take the
biggest shoat in the pen.'
Very we'll" said she, "let it take the
biggest It'll take lots more. Then therel
be two turkeys and a duck and three chick
ems for the pie. Got that down, MaryT
"Yes, mother"
\ "Then we shall have pumpkin pie and
mince pie and apple pie-three kinds Then
we shall have potatoes and squash and
onions and turrips and beets and cabbage.
We shall have biscuit and honey and
doughnuts and Lafayette cake and Wash
ington cake and jefferson cake. For pud-
ding we must have some of your butter
nuts, Mary; nothing SO fine as butternuts
to make rich pudding-better than al
monds twice over. Then we must have
elderberry tarts and damsons and vergalien
pear preserves"
| At this she hesitated for moment, and
father ventured to add, Mother, you did
not say anything of cider and apples and
baked pears and baked ounces"
Now. if my father had any weakness it
was for baked or boiled ounces. Cook
soft. then split them open while hot and
set on the table to be eaten with butter and
sugar"
| My mother did not say anything to this,
Tor she did not wish to appear to be die
tated to in her own dominion, but she got
up and went once more to the oven and
looked in. | think she saw the ghost OF
that dinner Why should there not be
ghost before body well as afterf 1t is
my opinion that there u.s. and that it is such
ghost that often gets into our heads and
sets us at many job. At any rate that
dinner was ~ certain because it was in nv
mothers head as if it were already on the
table.
Then she closed the oven doors very soft
~ and came back to her char and father
said Mother, am glad it is done What
famous cook you arel There is not an
other such in 10 Counties"
/ Then he closed his eyes, laid his head
back in his chair with peaceful smile all
over it and looked to be asleep. But do
not think he was asleep. l think he was
saying to himself, YES, she is a famous
qhelpmeet, and she is herself better than
10000 dinners"
! But if one be giving thanks he may as
we'll think of his good wife occasionally.
Then his eyes peeped open at me across tho
room. and there was a big tenderness in
them. There was no more use for my pen
Gil, so hung up the slate and went over
and shampooed his head for him and 90
casionally kissed the bald spot that peeked
out from his nice brown hair. If YOU want
to be really thankful. have father such a
mine waA