St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-11-27
Grains of Corn.


us that all you want at the grocer,
store, mother?" shouted Farmer Sila
Watson 10 his wife, as he slowly rea,
over the written list laid out for him ant
buttoned his overcoat.
'Yes, answered Mrs. Watson, cominl
out Of the pantry with big yellow mix
ing bowl in which she was beating eggs
Lucinda has wrote down on another
piece OF paper the other things we want
That's all to the grocery"
i've got my own summer savory and
sage for the dressing. They'll be a good
deal better than the boughten even if |
can't pound them quite so fine in the
mortar. We wouldn't need to have any
yellow sugar; only I'd rather save that
maple we've got to eat melted, and mince
pies amt nearly as good unless they have
some dark sugar in hem. Be sure and
get new rai>ins, and ask the man il the
rice was this years crop. 1t makes
difference in the cooking"
The farmer put on his hat and his wife
went back to the pantry, reappcaring in
the door o say:
And Slas, be sure to remember to
mail Lucinda's letters. They're on the
ciock-shelf And stay untilafter the mail
comes in, because this is the day to get
the Journal.
Mr.. Watson crossed the farmhouse
kitchen to get the letters, and took off his
hat to place them in it for safe keeping.
For the lands sake, mother" he
shouted, what makes em so fat? III
have to pay double postage on every one
Of en-"
Mrs. Watson came in sight again, this
time without the bowl.
ooh, only just one oiLucnda motions.
She picked it up out there at school.
There is five kernels of corn put in every
one OF them letters. That's what makes
'em so fat. 1t don't weigh much, though,
and don't believeitl II takeextra stamps
You see, it's something like this.
remember I'd read something about it.
but d forgot all about it until Lucinda
told me over again. Way back in the
early days when the Pilgrims had lust
come here you know they got awful
short OF provisions until once all they
had given out to them was FIVE kernels
OF corn. Next year things were better
and they began to have Thanksgiving.
/ think that was it. Lucinda has wrote
her invitations to Thanksgiving, and
has put in every one OF them five kernels
OF corn, as sort of a reminder of those ,
days, so that we ought to be more thank ;
fu now"
"Uhm," commented Nj. Watson, "In :
bet II have to pay extra. 1t amt much 7
though, and Lucinda is a good girl, if ,
she does 20 away to school and get some -
new'fanged ideas" :
Lucinda had been one year at WeIles.
ley She wrote her name "Lucie," but b
her father and mother were not beguiIed =,
INTO any such weakness, and always used -.
The good old name which had been her
,reat-aunts s.
Who else has she invited besides Ieho- :,
ans folks and William and her cousin
Emma Who be those two that are going
o Boston' They're both going to the
anne street and number, too"
Those are to that girl that does sew
ng for Lucinda, there in Boston, and II
Ter sister. The sister is lame and STAYS u
o home and helps about the sewing. II
lucinda had to go there, and got !"
cquainted with her. She SAYS all the "
ONE they have is one room with u
loset out OF it, and up three fights of ~
tars, at that. They do their cooking
'ith Kerosene stove and it stands to
eason that they couldn't have much of ..
thanksgiving, even if they had the =,
n'ngs to do with, which | suppose they u
'ouIdn t. Lucinda has invited them "
9th Tor the whole week. They're com. i;
lg Monday, and she's told them TO
ring any wor k they want to with them :.
he was afraid they wouldn't feel as if @,
ney could lose a whole weeks time and ~
he change will do them good even if =,
hey do work some"
"Uhm,' said the farmer again. "Ju.
nda Is a good girl. I'm glad they're y,
oming." :,
Monday afternoon of THANKSGIVING ~
EEK saw two rather shy but wholly =;
Apply Young women driven into the
yard. The next dav the sew. o,
g machine was set in one sunny kitchen -,
indow and rocking chair for the lame 80
ri IN another, Tor" said Mrs. Watson. 60
Lucinda and will be at work out here ~
ost all the time this week, and it'll be -
ore soclabIe for you than off in the r.
ting room" ia
TIL rec
Inc two visitors said it would. They A.
d not say, though, what was inst nc
ue, that to their cramped, halEstarved a.
yes those days in the farm kitchen were
experience to be looked back unon
IL 'a'Keu over for many months to -
me- The sewing was often put aside
the pleasure Of helping to pare apples wi
e.,