Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-11-23
A THANKSGIVING DINNER.

Morning paper, sir Public Ledger, on
ly two cents
An old gentleman who was about to en-
ter a second-class restaurant stopped and
looked at the lad. 1T is late in the day to
purchase morning papers, - he said. you
have only one left, l see; couldn't you fall
a cent on it?'
"That l could, sir" was the cheerful
answer. GIVE been going ever since six
o'clock, and am ready to have a Thanks
giving dinner now. Were you going in
here?n
The old gentleman hesitated and put his
hand in his pocket. Il don't know, lad"
he answered
'Ile is as poor as can be- Nat thought,
as he took hasty survey of the rusty coat
and well-worn hat. II reckon he can't
even afford a decent dinner on Thanksgiv-
ing day
"See here, sir" Nat said, as be laid a
OBTAINING hand on the old mans arm,
"come in and have dinner with me. I'm
going to treat myself, and there is nobody
to share it with me-"
The old gentleman looked startled, and
examined the boy closely. "Why, lad,
you are poor he said, land ! cannot take
advantage of your kindness"
Nat raised himself on tiptoe, snatched
OFF his dirty little cap, and thrust his hand
into his jacket pocket. Hear that money
jingle? Why, ! cleared fifty cents this
morning, and as much more yesterday
You don't call that being poor, do you?
Some Of the fellows even call me Nathaniel
Brown, the millionaire"
The old gentleman smiled encouragingly.
''But you don't spend it all, do you? There
is little good derived from money thought
lessly squandered.
The boys face fairly shone. "Well. sir,
there's one boy in our set that has kick
against Inc, and he calls me Nat Brown.
the miser. But growing confidential
and drawing nearer, I'm saving it for
mother and sister Betty. When we get
enough ahead they are coming to the city
to live; then l shall have my own home.
You are, indeed, better off than
thought, Nathaniel the gentleman said.
go in and have your dinner, lad, and en-
JOY it as you deserve
Il want you to come in, too, sir. Never
mind about the cost; I'll attend to that.
Thanksgiving day comes but once year.
and mother would say, Share your bless
ings with the needy, Natty, boyr
Come in, sir, do comet Nat continued,
as the old gentleman hesitated and was
about to turn away.
"Wel, will, since you so much wish it,
but never mind about luXuries, boy; a cup
of hot coffee would satisfy me-"
"a cup of coffee for Thanksgiving din
ner, Why, what kind of fare is that?
Here, waiter, pie enough for two, a round
slice of ham, dish of potatoes and pot of
coffee smoking hot. Anything else you
would like, sir?"
But the old gentleman shook his head.
and looked approvingly at the boy over the
rim of his steel-bowed glasses.
"This is something like a dinner, now,
amt it?' Nathaniel declared fifteen min
utes later, while in the midst of enjoying
hearty meal. do you live all alone,
sir?"
The old gentleman sighed and gave 81
lent assent.
Hes old and poor, and nobody cares
for him. thought Nat, Here, sir, you
take most Of this pie and III finish up the
potatoes. Does the coffee suit your taste?
Wasn't it lucky that We got here together9
Not much sport eating alone on a day like
this, is it? Would you mind telling me
your name, sir?'
The old gentleman took a pencil from
his vest pocket and wrote, Henry Turner,
lois Diamond st.
Drop in lad, and see me" he said
"Thank you, sir
The gentleman put his hand in his peck
ct. "I'll pay for my share of this feast,
lad"
Nathaniel eagerly demonstrated 1T
was my treat, sir, - he said Here, wait
er, l want to settle my account. This gen
tleman is my guest"
And while Nat squared his bill the old
gentleman quietly arose and left the res
taurant.
The week which followed Thanksgiving
was busy one for Nat, but he did not for
he old gentleman and his resolution to
,a. upon him soon. One day Nat sold out
lier than usual and FASTENED his steps
toward Diamond St, ''No mistake here"
he said, with the name on the door, Hen
ry Turner, Agent" Nat modestly stepped
into the Office to find his old friend busilv
engaged in counting greenbacks, while two
or three gentlemen stood by awaiting his
leisure. A pair of kindly eyes looked over
the glasses and motioned Nat TO a seat.
"Well, lad, he said, an hour later,
when they found themselves alone.
Nat thrust his hands into his ragged
pockets and looked bewildered. IL
thought
"You thought what?"
81 thought you was poor sir
$50 ! am, boy, for l have no one TO
make a home for me. Gold and silver are
poor substitutes for love and tenderness.
You have a good mother; send for her to
come and make home where ! may spend
my declining years"
Nathaniel Brown no longer cries daily
papers, hut is a pupil in the public school,
while Mrs. Brown, in the home which
Henry Turner provided, makes her bene-
factor so comfortable in the many little
ways known to women that he says he no
longer realizes the weight of his threescore
years.
But" he is fond of saying, Il never
expect to taste another dinner quite so good
as that which Nathaniel provided out of
his well-earned savings. "-SdIie 7. Du
Bots, in Christian Htelligencer.
Delaware is not densely populated state,
N 1 I'LL 4