New Ulm review., 1901-11-27

good long spell to hang. They're heaps
better so than they be to fly into the
oven. An then tomorrow you can git
Silas an go arter your load of wood
Mebby you can git two
AS John Blake drove his lumber wag-
on along the road the next morning on
his way to the wood lot he noticed that
an indolent atmosphere seemed to per-
wade the few farmhouses which he
passed, but it only impressed him as
a rather early sign Of the coming holi-
/ day.
He found Silas Day cutting firewood
/ at his door, looking somewhat surpris-
ed at his appearance and more so at
i the request to go to the woods
why, yes, I s'pose can go an help
you a spell,' he answered, carter cut
Phebe speck more wood. She'll want
consid' able today
"Yes, gettin' ready so for Thanks
givin.' Betsy is, too; busy as a bee
in tar barrel
Presently they were jolting over the
rough byroad, too much shaken for
comfortable conversation until they
came to halt in the quiet Of the bare
November woods.
II don't hardly see how you come to
put off gittin' your wood till today"
said Silas, looking up through the net
ted branches at the climbing sun
well, | had a lot of things to tend
to an couldn't get roun' to it. l s'pose
l might ha' waited till arter Thanks
givin', but thought l might as we'll git
it afore."
Silas stared at him and muttered,
"Runnin' pretty clus -: the wind, I
should think"
! After they had piled their axes
awhile John stuck his into a log and,
going to his coat. drew a package from
/ pocket.
81 always did relish yictuals in the
woods, an SO l fetched along some
bread an meat. Let's set down an take
a bite"
"Well, can most always eat,'' Silas
assented as he took his allotted share
and sat down beside his companion,
munching the bread and meat and let
ting his eyes rove about as people are
apt to do when eating out of doors.
A company of chickadees were busy
| gathering their slender fare on low
branch before him, and on higher
one a red squirrel began rasping a but
ternut.
"Eatin' their Thanksgivin dinner,''
Silas said, nodding at the little BAN
queters.
1 "Make 'em tolerable long meal If
they keep it up till tomorrow arter-
noon. Hush! What be they ringin'
the meetin' house bell for?'' John asked
/ excitedly as the mellow tones Of a
church bell were waited to their ears.
"Why, don't they always" Silas
asked, glaring curiously at his COM
| paniOn.
"Why, Silas, you know they don't
never, only Sundays an fast days an
Thanksgivin', except funerals, an there
amt nobody dead, not as know Of"
| 'Look a-here, John Blake" said ST.
! las, ''be you crazy or be you foolin'?
| You act all the time as if you was
maxim b'lieve this want Thanksgivin'
/ day, sot by the gov'nor an bein' KEEP
| by every body but you an I. Now, quit
! your nonsense an let's hurry up, for I
want to git home. We hain't got no tur-
! key, but Phebe had three as neat chick
ems as ever you see all ready to go into
the oven when / come away, an the
children's all goin' to be there, an
want to be on hand to rights
Johns face grew blank. His eyes
| stared, unseeing, into space
"Good gracious, Peter! If Betsy an
me hain't done it!'' Then, springing to
his feet: Hurry up! I should say! Most
noon Thanksgivin' day, Betsy's father
an mother an sister a-comin' an the
turkey a-hangin' up in the cellar, if
she's KEEP a-dreamin' as long as have.
! 1t all came of that plaguey ole wash
b'iler springin' leak Monday, so she
couldn't wash till Tuesday, an we
| counted from that. Never mind the tar
nal wood. Onhitch the hoses an let's
/ scoot."
Five minutes later the team was tear
ing down the road, the bounding wagon
sending far and wide it's laundering
echoes that brought forth alarmed in
maLeS- IIOM luduy ldfluSIedQ, Wnlle
Silas hung on for dear life, as disjoint-
ed pleas and protests were jolted from
him, all unheeded by the reckless
/ driver.
Deacon Adams in his Sunday suit,
less the coat, was standing in the midst
! of his Sunday dressed household with
an open letter in his hand and disap-
/ pointment on his face that was repeat
/ ed in various degrees in the faces of his
family. Hearing the unwonted din, the
deacon rushed forth to ascertain the
/ cause.
stop, stop! Hold on!' he cried, run
ming out into the road, and John, impa-
4 tient of delay. drew rein.
What on this liyin' airth, John, is
| the matter? Is somebody sick or have
! you bin takin' more'n you'd ought tor
mo; there hain't nobody sick, an /
hain't bin a-drinkin'," said John, and
| he rapidly set forth the awkward situa-
/ ton.
You Wait a minute and I'll fxsyo,1s