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

h llullkSyivlllg PGuCp- Muhllly !.
a gobble in gradual diminuendo greet
ed Calls ears. 1t came from beyond the
fence line, and took the direction of Aunt
Asenath's.
There he goes again. Gail exclaimed.
She tossed her apron over her head and
went down the porch steps, between the
crisp, whitening poppy stalks, to the
fence.
Gobble! gobble! gobble. gobble! grow
ing less inharmonious with the interven-
ing space. Gail laughed.
''Oh, yes, l hear your she called, in her
girls clear treble. ''You may as well
enjoy yourself while you can. Your days
are numbered, sir! Let's see"
She counted on her fingers. One hand
full, and up to the thimble finger on the
other-seven.
IN give you seven more days-a week
of grace-tO run away in, you old hum
bug. and then We'll see.
The keen November air Redeemed her
cheeks and small, up-tilted nose. She
tucked her fingers up under her basque
and danced lightly on her chilled toes.
Notwithstanding the freckles a summer S
summing had left on her face and the tint
of undeniable red in the loose lovelock
around her temples, she was good to look
Over yonder Aunt Asenath squinted
and strained her dim eyes to see the
girl; she stood in her doorway with a
pan in her hand. Gail watched her take
out the yellow corn and toss it welcomely
toward the fat, waddling turkey. 1t was
evidently just what he expected.
Il believe she's been doing that every
day That's what makes him SO fat,
Gail thought Father almost never
gives him corn. Aunt Asenath's trying
to fatten him-dear old auntie! Its all
she could think of doing for us. Poor
auntier' she added, as she went back to
the house.
The thin figure, with skinny petticoats
blowing about it, appealed to the girl S
sympathy and love-it looked so lone
almost a year, every time she thought of
Aunt Asenath.
Why was it that miserable quarrel ever
had to spoil things so? And the hopeless
ness of it-father and Uncle Gale were
both so "set." Oh, dear!
Gail had to transfer it cautiously TO an
other stew pan. She tasted it anxiously
with little testing sips.
We'll" she said aloud, sits got to do.
There isn't time to make any more"
Then, with irrelevant persistence, her
thoughts went on about Aunt Asenath
and Uncle Gale on the other side of the
fence line. That slender picketed, white
washed fence might just as well be the
great wall of China, Gail reflected, only
of it and look over. AS if that helped
much.
Thanksgiving next week, and do be-
lievc," she cried, they're too poor tC
have any! Uncle Gales been sick most
since haying, and the doctor there every
Il ~
tain there wasn't nearly as much hay on
their side as there was on ours this year
I counted the loads without skipping
hardly one. They're real poor. I wish
| dared to talk to father about it. That's
why Aunt Asenath is sewing rags fol
me she was, and for Phemy. BIinn's
grandmother. too. Sewing rags! It's q
wicked pityv'
Gail clattered the pans Indignantly
She seized knife and began to scrape
the burned sauce from the saucepan
The rasping noise accorded with her feel
ings.
Il wish those oak trees had grown ur
IN the middle of the Sahara desert insread
of in between folks that belong to each
otherP' she kept on, with emphasis al
each especially discordant rasp Of The
knife blade
Last Thanksgiving she had helped
haste the turkey in Aunt Asenath's oven
and how they had laughed over the tur-
nlps and cried over the onions! She had
made the pudding sauce herself, and been
very proud of it, too. How funny Uncle
Gale had looked tied up in Aunt Ase-
mathis apron strings, peeling potatoes
with his jack-knife! Then there was the
salad that father insisted ON making al
alone; and Calls tongue shriveled and
WINGED at the memory of it's overdosna
of mustard and cayenne. What jolly
Thanksgiving dinner it had beeni
And this year it's our turn" she
sighed. Father and I'll sit opposite
each other and eat up Sir Gobble, and
smile and be miserable. If there was
only some way out of it-but there ism
Fathers ser his foot down on my going
over there, or anything else but looking
On dear me hum!'
The door creaked open, and there was
father, accompanied by the returned
prodigal, gobbling hungrily. Gail went
fathers elbow.
isn't he fat" she said
Bouncingw father agreed, admiringly
Il don't see where he come by so much
fat l amt laid out to plump him W
much, seems there wasn't only us two tC
eat him"
NO just US two. Father Gail said
suddenly and rather wistfully, "do you
feel awful hungry
Father shrugged his broad, straight
shoulders.
We'll, | amt so hollow inside as /
have been, but / reckon I can relish a
bite of dinner. Let's us go along in and
see"
ooh, l didn't mean today. I meant
Thanksgiving, father. Do you think we
shall feel very hungry then-just us
tw0?'
There was no answer Gail stood in
the door alone. At the sink father
splashed water and soft soap about vigor-
ously. She crossed the room and got q
fresh towel and carried it to him.
1--WE been thinking over last year
father" She confirmed braVeiv though