Connecticut western news., 1901-11-28

a day.
 He found Silas Day cutting firewood at his door, looking somewhat surpris- ed at his appearance and more so at the request to go to the woods.
 "Why. yes, s'pose I can go an help you a spell" he answered, "arter cut Phebe speck more wood. She'll want consid' able today"
 "Yes, gettin' ready so for Thanks givin.' Betsy Is, too; busy as 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.
 "I don't hardly see how you come to put of gittln' 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 1t. l s'pose I might ha' waited till arter Thanks givln', but thought I might as well git 1t afore."
 Silas stared at him and muttered. "Runnin' pretty clus to the wind. l 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.
 "I always did relish vietuals in the woods, an so I fetched along some bread an meat Let's set down an take q 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 a low branch before him, and on a higher one a red squirrel began rasping but ternut-
 "Eatin' their Thanksgivin' dinner" Silas said, nodding at the little ban queters.
 Make lem a tolerable long meal If they keep 1t up till tomorrow arter- noon. Hush! What be they ringin' the meetin' house bell forY' 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 ain't nobody dead. not as know of" Look a-here, John Blake." said Si- 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' kep' by everybody but you an l. Now, quit your nonsense an let's hurry up, for 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 I 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, Peterl If Betsy an me hain't done it." Then. springing to his feet: Hurry up! 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 kep' a-dreamin' as long as have. It 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 its laundering echoes that brought forth alarmed in- mates from many a farmstead. while 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 onr' he cried, run ming out into the road, and John. impa- tient of delay. drew rein.
 What on this Twin airth, John, Is the matter? Is somebody sick or have you bin takin' more'n you'd ought to?''
 "No: there hain't nobody sick, an l hain't bin a-drinkin'," said John. and he rapidly set forth the awkward situa- ton
 "You wait a minute. and I'll fix you up right as rivet," said the deacon. still restraining his impatient neighbor. "I'll lend you turkey all roasted and ready to go ont the table. I'd liveser'n not. and so would Mis- Adams. You see, we invited my brother Try and all his folks, and we'd got two rousin' big tur- keys int the oven and half roasted when there come letter from lem say in how Iry'd up and broke his leg. and they wouldn't none of lem come. don't want to be eatin' cold turkey for u week after Thanksgivin'. and it's providential 'at yourn missed fire"
 Suitable provision was made for the safe transportation of the hot turkey the short distance, and John Blake went his way with 1t relieved in spirit
 Meanwhile Betsey had spent half the
 forenoon leisurely preparing for thu morrows testivity, glad to be unembar
 rassed by the presence of men folk. and uninterrupted by any visitors unti
 a timid rap called her to the door, anC
 she opened 1t to Silas Days littl,
 daughter.
 Why, Mandy, Is this you? Is ther,
 anything the matter to your houseY
 Betsey asked In evident surprise.
 No, ma'am; yes, ma'am, I mean
 some natter" Mandy stammered. 9Th,
 cat got int the buttry an eat up
 whole punkin pie, all but the crust, an
 ma wants to know If you can't len,
 her one, cause there ain't enough lief to go round"
 "A punkin pie? Come in an SC down. Why, I hain't %. none baked