The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1893-11-30
THE DELAYED DINNER

Thanksgiving day had come. Lawyer
Jackson did not 90 to his office that
morning, but sat down after breakfast
to read the governors proclamation He
was on intimate terms with the gov
ernor and considered his proclamatio1
an unusually excellent one.
Thanksgiving day was a holiday for
Jimmie jackson as well as for his father.
What 12yearold boy does not rejoice
over the coming Of any day that bolts
the schoolroom doors?
What do you think the governor
told me the other day, Jimmie said the
lawyer as he folded up the elegant official
document and tucked it into the large
envelope that bore the coat of arms of
the state.
II hope he told you that he would get
me place in the legislature as a mes
senger boy" said Jimmie. Il want It.
go there dreadfully next winter"
"Well, he didn't tell me that, and be.
sides you are too young for such posi-
ton. He said he always pardoned
some poor criminal ON Thanksgiving
day. and so gave at least one family
something to be thankful for"
That's very nice of the governor,
said Jimmie.
Nov, my dear boy said Mr.. Jack
son, 81 hope you will follow our kind
hearted governors example. Try to
make somebody happy today, even if You
have to give up something that you
would enjoy"
Here Mrs. Jackson began to laugh and
said, Poor self denying husband of
mine, what wonderful sacrifice do you
expect to make today
Il was not speaking of my own sacri-
fees, my dear. never sound trumpet
before me to let people know how much
good | am doing, | really do want jim
ME to learn how to make people happy,
especially the poor and the suffering.
He may be governor yet, and it will do
him good to begin a benevolent life
young"
About 10 o'clock it occurred to Law
yer jackson that he was expecting a let
ter. He always expects letter. 1t is
said of a rich mans son that he was born
with silver spoon III his mouth, and it
was said of Lawyer jackson that he was
born with letter III the postofiice Even
on Sunday morning he thinks there may
be something in his box, but he does not
go there to see, for he thinks it wrong to
keep the Office open on Sunday.
Nov, Jimmie" said he, "the Office
will be open today Just one hour. Please
step down and see if there is anything in
our box but be sure TO get back in time
to go to church with Us. want our
family all together today"
"All right, said Jimmie, and started
1t was beautiful November day
The Indian summer had fingered long
and lovingly, as if unwilling to let the
dreamy haze that made the sky so beau
tiful give place to leaden clouds. Jack
Frost's oinnpresont fingers had opened
the shucks of the walnuts. and hounti-
full Thanksgiving dinner lay ON the
ground for the squirrels. They had not
heard of the governors proclamation,
but each squirrel chartered out one Of
his own.
Jimmie's father was fond of hunting,
and the day but one before Thanksgiy
ing day had driven ont into the country
and had shot fine wild turkey This
wonderful bird, with pair of ducks,
pie. with nobody knows how many chick
ems in it, and three cartridges, shot soon
after the wild turkey fell TO the ground,
were to grace the table on that JOYOUS
day.
The minister and his family, and
couple of law students from Mr., Jack
sons office were to be his guests, Pleased
with himself and everybody else, he sal
down before a cheerful fire in the fire
place, and with his feet ON the fender
glanced over the papers of the week.
What is that" said he suddenly
starting up to listen why, Mrs. Jack
son, the bell is ringing for church, and
that boy is not here yet. What makes
him delay 50? It's the strangest thing
in the world Where do you suppose
he is? He ought to know better
Don't be distressed said Mrs. Jack
son. Whenever anything disturbs
your peace of mind, You know it is al
ways the strangest thing in the world,
Jimmie, presume, will meet us at the
church, if no does not come before we
start"
WAS no dressed for church,
II declare don't know was the a.
swer. But | think we shall have to
start without him, for it is high time
llat we We're going"
All through the long prayer, the read
ing of the proclamation and the sermon,
Lawyer Jackson was very uneasy.
What could Jimmie mean by such I'M
usual conduct
At last the services were over. Mrs.
jackson kept but one domestic, a widow
named Mrs. Jones. This excellent
woman reached the house little in ad
vance of the Jacksons and their guests.
and as soon as Mrs. jackson catered the
house she called her into the kitchen.
"Do you see that window said She
Sure enough, window had been
raised during their absence, and on the
floor there were footprints, evidently