Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-11-24

| finish the raisins and do all the Sfhel
| beautiful things, and get up just the S@st
dinner possible for her ia Their, and that's
| all there was to it.
The next day her spirits revived Il lit
| tie over the exciting preparations. Fa-
Their helped and hindered and BUSTED
around the kitchen all the morning. lie
was unwontedly merry, and kept Gail
going OFF into little unexpected giggles in
spite of her resolve to be solemn all day
long.
By night Sir Gobble lay in silent state
IN the great dripping-pan, stuffed to
bursting with savory compound that
would have delighted his epicurean soul
little while ago. Around him clustered
all the other essentials of Il generous
feast, i'll shining readiness for cooking
Gall stood looking at them with honest
pride in her eyes.
''Everything's ready, father" she said
"all that's left to do is to cook EN-
Fathers arm stole round her, and he
drew her close for u minute. He was
not much given to such demonstrations,
and the little act was awkward and con
strained. Calls cheek lay against one
OF the big. horn buttons on his coat, and
1T left its imprint deep in the soft, girlish
flesh until long after she had gone up
irs to bed.
Blessings on the little housekeepern'
father said. He stopped over and laid
an unexpected goodnight kiss on the
white parting of her hair.
Shes enough to be thankful for 36O
odd Ihanksgivings in a year! Now trot
her Oft to bed to get up plenty of steam
to be thankful for tomorrowv'
ana surely there was clear air and sun
shine enough to give thanks for, for one
thing, or two things. Gail looked out
across the apple trees, over to Aunt Ase
mathis, wistfully. A thin, lazy thread o.
smoke was meandering from the kitchen
chimney, and she followed it's qua gering
course with mechanical interest. She
wondered what Thanksgiving dinner
preparations were spread out, waiting Oh
Aunt Asenath's table.
Downstairs the fire snapped and
cracked, and Sir Gobble greeted her with
oily, plump pathos as she went into the
kitchen. How busy. she was then! A
pleasant, steamy, spicy odor presently
pervaded the atmosphere and Thankssiy,
ing day was fairly under way.
Gail burSted into the pantry and out
again unwearyingly, and back and forth
to the oven to haste and stir and season
everything was getting on finely. at l.
O'Clock dinner was ready.
Land alive! don't it smell nice? 2" Aunt
Asenath's voice said suddenly at Calls
elbow, and Aunt Asenath's thin. loving
old face looked suddenly from under Is
cap border of rusty lace.
The long-handled spoon slipped out ol
Calls fingers and lost itself in the gcavy
She caught q glimpse of father and Uncle
Caleb coming up the path between The
poppy stems. Their two faces were r2di
ant. Uncle Gale leaned heavily on farb
er's arm, and hobbled along with short
uncertain step.
ooh, Aunt Asenathr' was all Gail said
but she said it over and over happily.
Aunt Asenath smiled in speechless con
tent.
She turned up her cuffs and began t.
dish up dinner.
Gail" father said, handing across tC
her heaping plate a little while later
she wasn't such a terrible willing sacr
fee after all, Sir Gobble wasn't l haG
to boost him over the fence and poke hin
up lively. He didn't seem to banker t.
go round asking folks to his funeral.'
Gail laughed.
But he's tender-hearted enough now
father she Said.-Youth'S COMPANION.