The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-11-24

.S~14T behind il on the hillside was
Vii grove of beech trees. IL
q ~ was warm November, and
no snow. Indeed it did not
look quite like November Mt all. We, the
younger ones, had been beech uniting and
butter nutting every day for week, but
my mother said, Now, Mary, you cannot
be spared today nor tomorrow for these
wild flights that you enjoy so much, for we
snail all be needed to get ready the Thanks
giving dinner"
My father was New Englander of the
old pattern, very genuine very strict, but
very gentle. 1t was wonderful couple.
She was the 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 is,
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 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 as
to the programme my father never med
died. My mother, to be sure, made point
OF consulting him, and he made point OF
appearing to be consulted, but he never
suggested change-not the slightest. IL
he had! Well-but he WAS q wise man
For days my mother went about planning
and rot talking. Her head was arranging
the whole programme. At last the picture
was done. The time had come to exhibit
1t. IL was after the chores were done ms
NIGHT ..Ja rcI
We all SAT in the big room. She smoothed
down her apron, then heaved big sigh
then got up and opened the oven door
looked IN, shut II again, sat down and
smoothcd 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 girl9" "Yes,
mother, it's II folks, as make out" And
father said, But, mother, that'll take the
biggest shoat in the pen."
very well, Salu Sic, let IL take the
biggest. tn take lots more Then theren
be two turkeys and duck and three chick
ems for the pie. Got that down, Nary"
"Ies, 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 turnips 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 havs
elderberry tarts and damsons and vergalien
pear preserves"
At this she hestated for a 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 il
was for baked or boiled ounces Cook
SOFT then split them open while hot anu
set on the table TO be eaten with butter anti
sugar"
My mother did not say anything to this,
for 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
Nullh sic SdW tUc RnOSO or
that dinner Why should there not be a
ghost before Il body as well as after? It is
my opinion that there is, and that it is such
ghost that often gets into our heads and
sets It's mt many ii job At any rate, that
dinner was as certain because it was in my
mothers head AZ If it were already on the
table
Then she closed the oven doors very soft
ly and came back to her chair, and father
said: Mother, ! am glad it is done What
2 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
overit and looked 10 be asleep. But do
not think he was asleep | think be WAS
saying to himself, Yes, she is famous
helpmeet, and she is herself better than
10000 dinners"
But If one be giving thanks he may az
well think Of his good wife occasionally.
Then his eyes peeped open at me across the
room, and there was 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 oc-
casionally kissed the bald spot that peeked
ont from his nice brown hair If you vast
to be really thankful, have father such as
mine was.