The Advocate and news., 1898-11-30

it is. And the big folks weren't slow
about showing their appreciation OF
good thing when they saw 1t, either
They sat at the table for exactly two
hours, not eating all that time; oh, my
no; they would nibble awhile, even after
they were all through, then stop and
listen to the pleasant anecdotes OF travel
which Harry's papa told to them In such
an entertaining manner, and Toms papa
told many funny stories which made
them laugh until they couldn't laugh
any longer, for he was really a very
witty man. In fact, each one added in
some way to the enjoyment Of that ever
memorable Thanksgiving dinner.
And when they retired to the parlor
and had been entertained still more by
the songs Of the guests; yes, such was
the sweet temper Of those lovely guests
that 1t never entered their heads that 1t
was "toO soon after dinner to sing"
There were love songs, funny songs, pa
thetic songs; yes, and college songs;
and when they had tired Of singing,
Harry brought out the phonograph his
papa had brought him all the way from
New York, and then they listened to
band music, orchestra, and whatever else
they wished to hear. After all that the
boys said that it was their turn to be
especially entertained, and that they
should have a story told to them. OF
course no one could refuse any one any
thing on Thanksgiving day, so Toms
papa offered himself as ready sacrifice
to the desire Of the children and put his
ready brain to thinking up something
that would interest "those youngsters"
And seated in a big armchair in front
of the large old-fashioned fireplace (the
one Old-fashiOned thing in the house,
with boy on each arm of the chair and
one at his feet, the happy guests forming
semi-Circle around them( for they were
to hear the story tOo), Toms papa be-
gan:
"This is not to be story Of hero"
ooh, please, Mr.. Walker, do make 1t
story with a hero, do so like a story
where the hero does wonderful things
they're always so interesting" said
Harry from his position on the fOotstool
"Now, boys, you really mustn't inter
rupt me, or there is grave danger OF
your spelling the weave of the story,
answered that worthy gentleman, trying
to look sober, while he winked at the
Others
"As I was on the point Of saying, this
is not to be a story of one hero, but OF
three. Being heroes they were boys mot
girls), and of course they had names;
let me see, one was named Dick, another
Harry (here the boys nudged each other)
and the other was named Tom"
"Oh, pshaw, now, papa, don't tell us
that kind Of a story, please, we want a
sure enough story, not girls story, do
we, boys"
Young man, you really must allow
me to tell the kind Of a story | wish, for
really do not know another"
For the third time, and it proved to be
the charm, for the boys remained spell
bound until the end of the chapter, Mr..
Walker began: "These three boys | am
telling you about were really fine boys,
| know them well, and really ought TO
know. They had known each other for
many, many years at the time my story
opens, and they had always been close,
warm friends. Their acquaintance be-
gan when they were mere boys. They
belonged to a club of three members, a
club for the study of social economics
yes, you may think it strange that chill
dren so young should be interested in a
subject so deep, but 1t is even true In
their little club they solved the prob
lem Of the unemployed, the silver Ques-
tlon, prohibition, woman suffrage, every
thing but the race question. And through
their club study they became interested
In the poorer classes and never left an