Newport weekly independent., 1901-11-22

NS\SVITY II h.
 N"N nounced, early in the autumn, that this year she would accept no ones invitation for Thanks giving dinner, but would pay few of her social debts. Not that she could not afford to entertain the whole vil- lage if she cared to; but her tiny din- ing-room was a tight fit for six per sons, and her parlor and sitting-rooms equally diminutive.
 Five years before, when her father and mother died, Miss Hester had left the big farm and moved to the vil- lage, because 1t was so lonely at the old home. Here she led busy, hap py life with her books and flowers, a blessing to the whole neighborhood In sickness and sorrow, Miss Hester was always first to offer assistance, and no social gathering was complete without her. Consequently she never lack sd invitations and, during her five years of town life, had eaten Thanks giving dinner in five different homes.
 Mrs. Gray and Mrs. Blake talked the matter over on the way home from Pl aytl lICCtInS. dlQ edCll IdQN pA- pressed the fear that her family might be the elected one. q don't know what I should do,' said Mrs. Blake in despair, eff Miss Hester invites us. My boys simply cannot keep still one minute, and they would be sure to do something dreadful. MT. Blake and I take turns keeping them, while the otN fo oh1 Who+ l>o come of Miss Hester's precious china in that small dining-room?"
 'Your boys are not a bit worse than my three girls" said Mrs. Gray "If she asks us, I'll get sister Nellie to come over and keep house for me that day; but I hope she has invited some one else"
 Not only these two ladies, but many more who delighted to entertain Miss Hester made plans to dispose of live ly children on that eventful day in case they should be invited; but when the evening of the 18th of November came, a general sigh of relief went up from the anxious mothers, for to- morrow would be Thanksgiving, and as yet no one had been bidden to the feast.
 For surely there was feast in store for some one. Callers at Miss Hester's could not fail to notice the spicy fra grance that penetrated the whole house, and the unusual activity of the mistress and her neat maid. The grocery wagon was seen to rattle up to the back door three asknes in one day, and the man from her farm brought in mysterious parcels in abundance.
 Thanksgiving day dawned clear and crisp. The light breeze fiuttered mil lions of red and yellow leaves under the big maple trees. The windows of Miss Hester's kitchen were open. and church-goers caught glimpses of her and Mary in plain dresses, hurrying to and fro. For the first time in many weeks, her seat in the church was va cant, and the congre gation concluded that company from the city must be expected at the cottage, for no slight thing kept Miss Hester from services.
 ''I think the very last person has gone to church, said Miss Hester, briskly. ''It will be safe to start now, Mary"
 ''All right. I'll run and tell Rob to bring the wagon around" said Mary, giving the turkeys final basting.
 Rob carefully packed the smoking hot viands into the wagon, and when he had finished there was barely room for the three passengers.
 Hand me that cake," commanded Mary from her perch among the jars and baskets. So Rob lifted up the wonderful white and pink loaf, and tucked the box of roses that were to ornament it by Mary's feet. Then he turned to Miss Hester, who was anX- iously counting baskets and bundles: "What can I do for you?'
 ''I am sure we have forgotten some thing" answered that lady. "Did you get the pies, Mary?"
 'They are right under the front seat" said Mary, taking IS complete a survey of the load as her burden per mitted. "Every thing is here except the lemon tarts, and you told me not to get them."
 ''The turkeys are still in the oven!'' exclaimed Miss Hester. 'Help me out, Rob. Whoever heard of a Thanksgiv- ing dinner without turkey?"
 After more packing and planning, the wagon started, and just as the town clock struck Il they drove into the beautiful yard surrounding a