The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1899-11-24
Thanksgiving Jars.
BY MANDA L. CROCKER.


Lena turned back to the dresser
where Aunt Marcia was deep In the
sweet mysteries OF fruit cake. "Can't
a person be thankful any other way
than to pile up wonderful dishes until
the very tables groan. auntie? 1t just
looks to ME like an Offering to appe-
tite.
Child" exclaimed Mrs. Marcia
Stevenson. pausing with one floury
hand half way in the currant bag,
'wh0 could have Thanksgiving
without fine dinner? Besides,
there's the Sermon" and she looked
rather quizzically at her progressive
neice.
"Oh, yes; l know there's devo-
tiOnal frontispiece."
There was a queer little vein OF sar-
casm in the girls reply, which auger-
ed anything but ease Of conscience for
the insincere.
The floury hand was slowly with
drawn from the fruit bag, Overtlowing
with the sugary contents, and a half
puzzled look crossed the face of the
cake baker, but no response was forth
coming.
In the silence which followed Lena
went softly upstairs, the spicy appe-
tizing odors OF Thanksgiving prepara-
tions following her, as II to sanction
her convictions.
II don't care; believe am right"
she said, supplementing the conversa.
tion OF the kitchen to suit herself.
"Now, there's Aunt Marcia, for in.
stance" and she waved her hand TO-
ward the stairway as II to call the at.
tention OF invisible auditors, "she
always makes such great parade Of
her dainties on Thanksgiving and
never mentions the sermon unless it
be, indeed, to hope that the minister
will get through before the turkey is
overdone.' And then" giving a know
ing nod to the face In the mirror Op-
pOsite, "theres her annual jar Of ex-
ira favored mincemeat expressly for
Thanksgiving pies," remembering the
blue jar on the back OF the dresser.
"There's no devotion in that; Of
course not; but l notice that every
matron in the neighborhood is made
aware OF the delicious fact in way
which would kill a Thanksgiving spir-
it stone stead. Every lady in Orne is
familiar with even the label, My
Thanksgiving Jar;' but never heard
her say she was thankful to one OF
them"
Then her tone changed to one OF
loving caress, and she took from the
mantel a beautiful blue china rose jar
and peeped into it with glad. beaming
eyes. II don't know how many slips
OF paper l have 10 it," meditatively,
"but do know that on each one !
noted some blessing received this year
for which l am very thankful. Aunt
Marcia would call you 'trasll,'" but ]
am going to count you all out next
Thursday and be thankful all Ovel
again."
Thanksgiving at Orne was to be eel
, ebrated by the usual sermon In the
little brown church and a sumptuOus
, dinner In the town hall. And II any
body desired to finish up the overflow
of thankfulness by tripping the fee
3 to rhythm Of Uncle Jake's violin
8 while the tables would be cleared II
: season and preparations made.
In due time the day set apart by tn
9 President Of the United States ant
the people Of Orne arrived. The con
I ventional "sift of snow" was punctu
ally on hand. Nature had doubled OF
her former efforts and the merry jing
), ling of sleighbells gave IAN extra" T.
the occasion.
Everybody was hilariously glad
even Aunt Marcia smiled religiousl
!, and hummed "Pralse God from Whom
' all blessings fow," as she amble'
i from pantry to kitchen and from
kitchen to dining.room, overseein'
}. the packing Of baskets and disnes 10
|. the hall.
. "She's humming the doxology,
4 commented Lena to her usual tnvisi
/ BILE audience. II would not DO sur
prIsed II she went TO services"
: But Aunt Marcia did not go u
= church. 'sThings had to be looked al
J. !. ter at the hall and she'd just as lie
! do Il 40 not"
ITS oil right" she said to Lena
|"I'll keep % eye on the victuals.