The Republican journal., 1899-12-07
Grandma's Thanktulest giving.

work-coVered cricket, Snuggled up close
against grandma's black silk afternoon
apron, tilted her close cropped head at
an angle that enabled her to watch the
glowing fire and grandma's glowing face
at the same time, and drew a long, happy
sigh. 1t was story time.
What shall it be, Poppet?' asked
grandma.
"Oh, l know just what, grandma,
without stopping to think. l thought
this morning when l was seeding raisins
and sitting sage. | want you to tell me
about the very thankfulest Thanksgiving
Day you ever had"'
Grandma smiled, and her knitting
rested in her lap for moment as she
said: "Well, there have been other times
when I've bad greater things for which
to be thankful. but | believe the thank
fullest Thanksgiving Day that | ever
had was when your grandpa and l were
first married, and went up in Aroostook
to make home. Our only near neigh
bors were the Wilkinses, half mile farther
up the river. Mrs wilkins and became
very good friends. We were about tie
same age.
''Weu, | had made great plans for
Thanksgiving Day: and SO You can i'm
agine ! was stuck all in heap when,
the day before Thanksgiving, word came
to John (your grandpa from his folks
way up in Northern Vermont. wanted
him Il come right home, for his mother
was dreadful sick. She vas one Of the
best ct women; and what with her being
50 sick, and having join away on our
first Thanksgiving Day. | could have
sat right down and CT ed. But there
wasn't time for that; for John had to
start light of, and | had enough to do
to get him ready. His mother set her
life by him, and he was Terribly afraid he
would be too late, So, as soon as might
be, got him packed off, with his saddle
bags we'll filled.
II forgot to tell you he went on horse
back
Then l did sit down and cry. Not
for long though. My little brother Slas
lived with us and felt as though ought
10 give him as good a Thank sgiving Day
as possible, even if l couldn't enjoy it
myself. 50 7 chirked up, and went to
cooking. | had a good lot of pies
pumpkin, raspberry, and apple (all dried
fruit brought from home and a big
apple caka all baking in the brick oven,
and the turkey was all prepared for roast
ing. when who should ride up to the
door but Bijah Wilkins. And whal
should he want but for John or Silas
TO come and stay all night at his place, so
that he and Almira could go home to
Thanks giving the night before Cher folks
lived in the next township instead of
waiting anG going in the morning, which
would give them such short day. OF
course, he hadn't heard of johns having
TO 90 away; and he thought if he or Sias
could come up and feed the pigs and milk
Tho and rhpT all Oiphr and
do it n tile morning, too, the stock would
do very well till they would come home
il the afternoon. Well, Slas WASH t
used to their cow and l knew |
could milk her. SO ] insisted on going
myself"
Wasn't you traid, grandma, to stay
there all alone? Queried jamie, with
dilatng eyes.
''Dear no child, nothing to be afraid
of. 1t was too civilized for Indians OF
bears what there were stayed in the
woods aud minded their own atfairs), and
twasn'r civilized enough for ramps. SO,
though BiiHh wouldn't hear Of such a
thing at inst, | overruled bis objections,
and rode back with him, promising SiIas
that L d be home in good season next
morning to set the turkey roasting. |
knew the pies and cake would be all right
in the brick oven Amira was pleased
enough to see me, | assure you: and they
set of at once, Here's fish all ready to
try on the broad Shelf, says She, and
doughnuts in the II, and pies In the
cupboard. and eggs in the bucket: and
you know about skimming the milk and
feeding the pigs. Don't be afraid of the
cream. Use ali you want. Almira was
free hearted soul as ever lived
Inst tpfat,p She went bIl+ cIp st01na5
and patted old Jabez, the mastitf they
brought from home, and said: Take care
of things, Jabez. Don't let any body
touch EN- And Jabez thumped his tail
ON the floor and opened one eye, So know
ING, | felt perfectly safe with Jabez. So
they rode away in high feather: and |
watched them out OF sight. and then
went into the front room where A mira
kept her little sewing basket Id brought
a skirt, to stitch up the seam. | was
Just going to lift it from the table, when
! heard low growl; and there stood
jabez not looking real fierce. but terrible
determined. | patted his head and talked
to him a minute. and then started to
take up the machine again. Up came
Jabez's big head open few his BIZ mouth.
and in a twinkle my wrist was between
Lis teeth, He didn't bite. Just held 1t
there TIL he was sure / knew what he
meant, and then he let it 60.
1--WE always been the best of friends,
and what to think l didn't know. All of
a sudden Almiry's words flashed into my
mind. Well, l was taken back; but |
didn't really feel afraid of him, and l
thought | might as we'll 90 and feed the
pigs. Jabez followed me to the pantry
| told him to 90 lie down; but no, in
deed He had no notion of lying down;
and, When | took UP the skinner, he
gave such growl that | was glad enough
to drop it.
''Well, what was to be done | didn't
know. The poor pigs were squeaGng
for their supper, but no supper would
they get that night. l was hungry, too;
and, as there seemed to be nothing else
for me to do, l thought that l would eat
my supper The brook trout on a large
blue platter looked exceedingly tempting;
and | was thinking how good they would
be, rolled in meal and fried. AS I reach
ed for the frying pan, Gr-r-r" Jabez was
at my side in an instant; and this time |
thoroughly understood that he, not l,
was taking care of his mistress prop
erty.
II didn't like to leave the house alone
at night, when they would of course
suppose | was there; and neither did |
relish the idea Of gong without my sup
CO tIa ,,1a az