The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-23
Grandfather'S Thanksgiving
Minnie Reid French in the Peoples
Home Journal


1 husband, you know 1 can't have grand
/ pa at the ia ble tomorrow with all them
/ young folks that Matildy has invited,
/ to say nothin' of the minister an his
/ wife, an her so stylish An what 5
i more. he never does come to the nrst
l table when we have company, an
| wouldn't want to. He's worse'n any
| baby about his eatin', and his hand
| shakes so t my tablecloth would be a
| sight before the meal was half over.
well ma jest made the suggestion
| You know Thanksgivin' amt like other
days. and this is the first one sence
mother died an he come to live with US.
| But have your own way about 1t;
| don't s'pose he'll mind anyhow When
people gifts as old as he is, they dom
| care fer much besides eatin' an sleepin',
| an guess it don't make much differ
ence to 'em how they git it,
'Of course, it don't. an it would be
all foolishness to spoil everything an
make him feel awk'ard besides Mrs.
| Willard dismissed that part of the sub
| ject promptly.
Il want to have things proper when
they're all here she said; because che
minister jest bein' from college, an
both of 'em used to city ways, they'll
be awful critical. She's fixy an stuck
up lookin' fer a preachers wife-hain
got that meek an lowly way that you
allus expect to see in a woman of her
place in the neighborhood But she act
Thanksgivin' dinner with us. an when
1 says: It's pas birthday an we want
to do the day double honor, she jest
says as hearty as you ever heard, w ny,
yes, Mrs. Willard, you may be sure We'll
be still more glad to come an pay our
respects to him. 3"
I'D most forgot it was my birthday.
Well, jest fix up all you please, but
don't fergit that the men are haulin' up
the corn today, an be shore an give
them enough to eat"
He STROBE out of the kitchen and busy
Mrs. Willard at once began to make
preparation for dinner. and also to lay
the foundation for the THANKSGIVING
feast As she did so, unconsciouSly her
thoughts reverted to the many Thanks
givings she had spent at her husbands
old home, and when she looked at her
cakes and pies, put away in tempting
rows in the pantry shelves, it was to
remember those that Grandmother Will
lard used to bake. Her cranberry jelly
sparkled in the tall carved gobletS,
which for years were the old lady's
special pride, and grandmother best
dishes were in the cupboard and her
tablecloths folded away in the dresser
drawers.
Mrs. Willard could not help thinking
of the old lady this morning, surround
ed as she was by so many things which
had once belonged to her; and natural
ly she began to think of grandfather,
too. and to reflect upon his possible
feelings in regard to the day. 1t had
been almost year since grandmother
was buried, and they had brought him
home with them. She remembered
when they were ready to start they
found him standing by his wife's empty
chair in the big old-fashioned sitting
room, looking so lost and helpless, and
not seeming to understand the change.
He had grown more feeble and childish
every day since then, and it was a great
burden to have him: but Mrs. Willard
4&l
and said, perhaps, he was no more
trouble than most old people. She was
annoyed this morning to find herself
feeling uncomfortable in regard to the
old man. She knew he would not mind
waiting until the others finished their
Thanksgiving dinner, and she felt sure
he would not remember that it was
his sons birthday. OF course, old peo-
pie did not remember anniversaries un-
less it was Christmas, or-maybe
Thanksgiving.
Ma, do 1 have to wait tomorrow ?''
asked Johnny Willard, who was watch
Ing her active preparations with the
expectant longing of a healthy boy of
eight
Why. of course, you do" returned his
mother, sharply. What are you think
Because I am too young to eat with
grownup folks?''
Now, Johnny. how you do go on,
Yes, that's why
An grandpa has to wait because
he's too old .
''Merciful heavens. if you keep on I'll
never get anything done. Here, take
these cookies an run out an play"
Johnny went out on the back norch
at the far end of which he knew he
should find grandfather sitting in the
autumn sunshine. Mr.. and Mrs Will
lard had not thought for a moment of
giving up their ROOM with its wide
fireplace, to the old man. so he occu-
pied the small bedroom which was emf
OH at one end of the back porch. 1t
was sufficiently comfortable but so
much smaller than that to which
grandfather had been accustomed. that
he sat outside most of the time and
usually seemed to be asleep, or his eyes
would be fixed on something far in the
distance He appeared more dreamy
than usual today, but he accepted one
OF the cookies with a pleased childish
smile, and patted Johnny's head.
Grandpa, you ought to see how mas
nxln' up fer Thanksgivin'. They's lots
to eat, tell youi"
Is there, sonny?"
Yes, an she's lookin' fer the preacher
an. his wife an lot of other folks"
Johnny remained silent for a few mo-
ments, then suddenly inquired:
Grandpa, did my pa have to wait
when he was little boy?'
Yes, sonny, sometimes when they
wa n [ room fer him at the table But all
tne rest of the time he set in his little
nigh cheer right close by me SOS T
could feed him out o. nv plate some Ha
used to say my vittles tasted better'n
hiS'n. $1,000 =
Don't it seem strange to you. grand
pa, to think he used to be so little? He's
SO pig now, lots bigger'n you. viii I
De Dlggern him some day?''
Maybe. sonny. Yes it does saan,
strange. 1 was jest settin' here thinkin'
OF 1t. How strange it is that he's a big.
Strong man, an I'm almost like a child
1t don't appear more'n yestiddy sence he
wa, wa no higher'n you, an patted his
head jest like I pat yourn."
Johnny, need youl" called his sister
from the front ROOM Come help me
move the organ"