The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-12-15
Bobbie's Thanksgiving,

I'm glad l live in this old house where |
was born and bred,
I'm glad my hair is curly, and 1 don't care
If it's red;
1t serves its purpose just as well rs twould
Or green or yellow blue or gray, or black
as popsys ink
I'm glad that Johns our hired man; that
Norah Is the maid;
That Bridget does the cooking: though
sometimes she makes me 'fruid
BY telling me queer stories bout that busy
body Jake.
Who fell into the batter-bowl and got
cooked in the cake.
pie Is simply pie
l see two lovely mince ones from the corner
of my eye
I'm glad todays Thanksgiving, and there's
plenty here to eat.
With some to spare for some poor boy
who's waiting in the street.
In fact. I'm thankful as can be- more than
Id hope to say
If l kept on a-talkng for the balance of
the day.
Because things are just as they arc, and not
No, not the Slightest little bit, like what
John Kentlrick Bangs
How Unc:e Henry Stuff.d the Turkey.
1T does seem dreadful-drcadful"
sighed little Mrs. Barlow.
She tried to drink a cup of coffee, while
she stroked little Henry's hair with one
hand, and wiped her eyes with the other
She used her bonnet strings for the pur-
pose and never noticed it.
Don't fret, mother; We'll get along
comforted May'an. May'an was IS, tall
and self-possessed. She had helped ill
the tailoring business for Il year.
Yes, dear, you'll do your best-you
and jessie but she's awfully undependa
BILE. meant to buy turkey with this
money tomorrow; and to have to use it
for poor Uncle Henry lying there with his
leg broke!'
Aren't you glad you've got it," alb
| ruptly asked Jessie.
Yes, yes, child. Kiss me, | must go.
There's the whistle! Be careful of fires;
don't let little Henry go out without his
scarf and be sure-' but her last warll-
ing died on the frosty air, as Mrs. Bar
low ran down the road to the depot.
May'an got the children off to school,
cleared up the room, and sat down to
| finish little Harrison Turner's trousers.
| They We're to be delivered, sure, that af-
| ternoon, and their unfinished state was
one cause of Mrs. Barlow's tears. There
| were plenty Of other causes. On his way
home, Henry ketcham had broken his
| leg and sent forty miles for his sister to
| come and get him back safely. Henry
was always Il ne'er-do-well. 1t was not
| likely this visit meant more than a starr
on some fresh adventure; and she was
just beginning to pay up old bills. No
wonder her tears flowed.
! May'an sewed steadily until II o'clock,
! nplv S.tO tn ,nt ~ n
| her irons night be ready for pressing.
The last buttonhole was made in Harrl-
| sons trousers, and she was marking the
crease down the front of the leg with a
hot iron when the children came in from
| school.
I'm hungry. May'an! How soon will
mother get homer shouted little Henry,
| leaving the door open as he rushed
through.
shut the door, Henry. I'll give you
your dinner presently. Mother won't
be home for two or three days-not then.
unless Uncle Henry is we'll enough to
come with her.
And won't We have Thanksgiving to-
mcrrow?'' demanded little Henry III dis
may.
"Certainly. A good piece of corncd
beef and potatoes for dinner Wen go
out tonight and buy green's for fathers
| picture.'
Jessie came in softly, shut the door
| which Henry left open, and asked no
| questions. She knew why there was no
| turkey and why her shoes were patched
! so many times.
A comfortable dinner of beef and pota>
| toes lacked sentiment, but satisfied little
| Henry's appetite Mr.. Turner, the
butchers wife, paid for work promptly
| and had a generous heart as well.
EFF we've got any small turkeys left
| day aft moorer, Burton, ye might give
| them girls one," she said to her portly
spouse Mrs. Barlow's q. member
and them pants is more work'n la do
myself for 50 cents!!'
The day after Thanksgiving the butch
er remembered her suggestion. He took
! down a skinny turkey that he hadn't
| been able to sell, and gave it, with a
benevolent smile, to little Henry, when
! he came for half a pound of bacon.
It'll keep till yer ma gets back, and We
can have a Thanksgiving dinner then,'
he explained.
Little Henry smiled delightedly into
Mr.. Turner's broad red face, and con-
! cealed the turkey under his overcoat
while he dashed home. He was SO rat
| that when his overcoat was buttoncd up
| the turkey couldn't fall out if it tried.
"Hooray! We're going to have Thanks
giving when mother gets home: We got
a turkey he cried, throwing the bird on
the table before May'an. t,-doubt
| fully-'I don t believe you know no" tc
w Il don't think ever did cook one
May'an laughed at the turkey and at
Henrys excitement. but it can't be
harder than anything else. Wen have
| it the night mother gets hone.'
May'an wrapped the turkey IN paper
and hung it in the woodshed. There was
no danger it wouldn't Keep. The wealth.
or was bitterly cold, the coal vanished
| with alarming rapidity.
| eve must keep warm today, if we
starve tomorrow thought May'an. She
needed the fire: she sewed every minute
faithfully. There was 10 lack of work.
Mrs. Barlow made clothes for all the
small male inhabitants of Chester. Some
customers paid promptly and some didn't.
: People wanted so much money for Christ
mas presents.
-Four days later came letter from
Mrs. Barlow. Henrys broken leg was
next week and they would get home
Wednesday afternoon. She hoped they
were good children and that little Henry
had not had another attack of bronchitis:
| N1ay'an handed the letter to Jessie and
went back to her work.
1--WE can stuff the turkey "Wednesday
| morning." thoughtfully observed Jessie.
putting the letter into it's envelope and
clasping her hands over her knees before
| the fire. $..%
II think I can do it," said May'a,l,
picking q row Of holes in the, table with
| her needle. "There's all kinds of spices.
in the hox---we haven't used any in six:
months" ~ ~
Put plenty of nutmeg and ginger"
| exclaimed Henry.
II think it should be parsley and sage
and thyme and-onions and cracker
l NtL st.,1
| ed Jessie. T. =:
May'an looked doubtful. 81 might ask
| Mrs. James, IL. -.e...r
"Don't ask her, May an! Don't. ask