The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-11-18
Mrs. Pettingill's
Thanksgiving Dinner.
BI f. LOUISE L'DDELl..

was possible for rosv-chrrkcd dump
ling Of :: woman to look
"Tha1'S so" aSscntrd her friend =,
Mary Ann Dawson, who always tried
to agree with everybody.
PA SAYS single mislortunes never
come alone an | guess he's bout
right" continued Mrs. Pettingi'l
"Fust. he lost that little hit o money
he got for the medder-land: | told him
twant safe to put it in the bank, and
WASH t a mite surprised when the bank
fliled."
Banks is very onsartin." said Miss
Dawson shaking her head.
"Then old Brindle up an died" Mrs.
Pettingill went on; 80 we have to buy
our milk An now, Sam Higginses
young ones hev all come down with the
measles, an Sans out of job: so of
course pa can't collect rent from him.
Il expect Sam ain t very forehanded,
his wife's allus ailing, you know ven
tured Miss Dawson, apologetically.
"Four-handed.' exclaimed Mrs
Pettingill. in good-natured derision.
"Why, you wouldn't spose he was
even two-handed! We've lost the rent
of that cottage good part of the time
since the Higginses moved into it.
They're dretfu shiftless; but spose
they can't help it. Some folks is made
that way"
Seems to me Deacon Pettingill don't
worry much bout his hard luck, sug-
gcsted Miss Dawson, dscreetlv dis
missing the Higginses
La, no. He says the Lord will pro-
vide; but tell him the Lord expects
| folks to look out for themselves a lit
tie" And the good woman worked
away with redoubled energy on the
bedsprcad that she and her friend were
engaged in quilting.
The quilting frame was set up in the
front room and its mistress felt par
donable pride in the red and green
| three-plv carpet on the floor, and the
| sombrc hair-cloth furniture ranged
against the walls in uncompromising
stiffness. But wood fire swapping
aggrcssiyely in the airtight stove and
the sunshine streaming through the
small-I arcd windows impaired an ap-
pearance of warmth and checrtulness
to the room, despite its unattractive
furnishings
Il declare, Miss Pettingil, said the
spinstcr, after while; you look all
beat out. I'm 'fraid you're workin
too stiddy"
WALL, | am sorter tired" ac.lnow:-
edged Mrs. Pettingill. Il Sot up late
last night Il, tinishin' Off that r,rg; an
now I'm bound to get this quilt ont of
the way fore Lily Jane gifts back
She does fret SO bout my doin' any
thing of that kind that | ain t dared so
much as to take stitch on that quilt,
or draw in Il thread of that rug while
she was round. I'm ever SO much
obliged to YOU Miss Dawson. for help
in me.
!
La! that amt nothin'," protested
the spin ST I. But it's kinder hard on
yoa doin this cNtry work just at
Thanks .ivin inc
Mrs. Pettngill laughed. "Ef you'll
believe it. she said, Il ain t done moth
! ing for Tanks eivin.'
What, ain done no cookin'?' paspcd
! Miss Dawson, to whose New England
/ soul this breach of time honorcd OBJ
scrvance was little less than sacrileee.
Not a mite, replied Mrs Pettin9ll
who had no respect f,r the traditions.
and did not rralizn he rnormity Of the
oiiense OF which sle was guilty. Il
wasn't reckonin on doin much. times
bein so hard; then Joel took a notion
that Lily Jane must 90 to his folks for
| Thanksgivin week so Jest made up nv
mind not to worry over the cookin'.'
Dear mel. murmurcd Miss Dawson.
a terrible suspicion taking form in her
mind.
Il Lad Gale lated on roast!n' turkey
or a couple Of chickens" continued
Mrs. Pcttin"ili, but wen asked pa
which hc'd ruther hey YOU could never
in the world guess what he said
"WaIl, | don't s'pose coull." re-
turned Miss Dawson. painfully c,n
scious Of her lack Of Imagination.
lie says, Jest lcts hey some nice
goldfish with boil,d bccts and fried
pork sauce, sech rs we ulster hcv years
ago"
For the lands sake! Why, never
heard of snch Il thing-that is. for
Thanksgivin Stammarcd Mss Daw-
son.
Nor nobody else. | guess said
Mrs. Pettingill, hubbIing with laugh
ter. Blu, You see, Lizy Jane Just
dominates co,lii>Il, 50 We ain t had none
don't know when; and her pas orful