River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-11-19

I'm taIkin' bout. Three live horses
is good deal more count than one dead
one. I'm thankful we've got three
good, live horses 'sted of two or one or
not any tail, same's some folks. An
we've got seven milk cows, an twelve
slick little baby pigs, an twenty-three
Just awful big turkeys"
Here this grateful minister halted in
dead silence for an instant. as if a
change of feeling had suddenly crossed
his spirits. And as he looked out over
his listeners, the benign expression
that emanates from a heart filled with
gratitude fled from his countenance,
and a look of unministerial defiance
came over his face.
An | tell you, my frien's,' lie con-
tinued with new animation, Il don't
care one cent if half of them turkeys
die OF hog cholera, same's Uncle Johns
hogs did. No, don't care cent"
'Why. Davy," cried Kate. Its dread
ful wicked for you TO say that. Not
care If our turkeys diet"
NO, il amt wicked, Katie. You don't
like turkey goods do, or you wouldn't
can't have JUS one turkey when we've
got %. An we've got our farm to be
thankful for. An it's all our own farm
an IL amt nobody else's. An we oil
love it so good we wouldn't want no
other farm in the world. an we kidses
have such nice times here. An we've
got Cousin Myra an her children to be
thankful for. An Cousin Myra is a wild
der an amt got not one turkey. An
'twould be awful nice If we could have
her an the kids come 10 ThanksgIviD',
so we kids could have some kids to play
with"
Here the orator paused. KATIE he
said. lis there anything else we've got
10 be thankful for?"
"Dere's our baby kitties.' piped in lit
tie Susie.
"Oh. yes. l forgot the kitties," re-
turned the informal preacher.
AN Uncle Johns little new baby"
suggested Susie.
"Yes, forgot the baby, too"
AN our cellar full of apples an good
things" said Helen.
Yes. Goodnessl ought to =
thought of them. An now what is there
we amt thankful for?"
why. Romy an the cow died, you
' now" said Katie.
Yes, but that amt but two things.
an we've got as many as 10 to be thank
full for. know what's the worst thing
we amt got TO be thankful for That's
cause we amt goin' TO have any really
truly Thanksgiyin'. But now well
take our play Thauksgivin' dinner over
10 Miss Katie Hoven's house."
The minister bounced down from the
chair and the appreciativc audience re
paired TO dinner.
The parents had been attracted to the
play from the first. and had listened IN
tently 10 every word of the sermon.
The mother still stood looking ous the
window. The father sat by tine Gre.
and occasionally a broad smile wound
pass over his face as the sermon pro
gressed At its conclusion he turned TO
his wife aEi said:
''Mary. what do you think of that SIR
mon?"
Il think she returned, her face IL
Iumined with both laughter and tears.
shat il is true "a little child shall lead
them You and ! have been enveloped
in a cloud of late. We've been living in
the morbid delusion that our Affections
are greater than our blessings. Put
DaSy has shown us that they are not
In thinking of the animals that died we
completely lost sight Of those we have
left And bemoaning the low prices
this year we have forgotten the macy
comforts and blessings We already
have. What do you say. shall we have
. Thanksgiving, Jsek7"