Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-11-25
JACKS RELATIONS.
A Thanksgiving Story
By Mabel B. Clapp.

Jack Dunstan was wondering aimlessly
about the cornfield with his hands thrust
deep in his dirainutire pockets and his
cap pulled over his ears. 1t wasn't ex-
actly cheerful place, that corntield, III
the chill dusk of November day, with
rhe wind rustling drearily through the
todder-corn still standing in the lower
corner of the field, and moaning and
signing in the twisted branches Of the
old apple tree but then, Jack wasn't
cheerful either, and that made a differ
ence.
Thanksgiving WAS coming and already
the children in the district school had
begun to talk about and plan for the
great event. That very day Jacks own
particular chum, Tommy Sprague, HAD
shouted to him as he was coming home
after school:
L say, Jack, what are you going to
have at your house to dinner Thanks
giving day? We're going to have grand
pa and grandma, and Uncle Joe, and
Aunt Mary. and Molly and Ted, and
L say, Ja-a-ckr'
But Jack sped on as fast as his sturdy
legs would carry him, for there was u
big lump in his throat and a suspicious
molstureS In his eyes, although, of course,
he didn't feel like crying. Of course not
he, big boy almost years old! Only
he didn't want to talk to Tommy Just
then-that was ALL SO he climbed over
the stone wall into the cOrnfeld, with
never a word for Tower who came rae
ing across the field to meet him. and
there he had been ever since. too detected
even to whistle; and when Jack couldn't
whistle. matters must have been very
bad. indeed.
down ON big stone, and putting both
arms around the dogs neck. 81 do wish
| had some 'lations.'
Tower looked deep into the wistful
blue eyes so near his own and gave
low whine, as much as to say, why,
what do you call me?'
Il know it, old fellow" with a little
hug; but | mean some 'lations to come
to my house Thanksgiving day like what
Tommy Sprague has. Why, I'd rather
have grandma, or a grandpa, Or cou-
sin, or somebody, than-than to have
skates for Christmas, really and truly l
would Tower"
1t did seem hard when that turkey was
so fat-Jack knew just how fat he was,
for hadn't he been feeding him two or
three times Il day for more than two
weeks?-and when his mother could
make the best pumpkin pies in the whole
neigh5orhood, that only Jack and his
father and mother, and perhaps the min
ister and his wife, should sit down to
the table on Thanksgiving day
Jack knew just how it would be- The
minister would ask a long blessing. and
then Farmer Dunstan would cut the tur-
key. and, oh. how good it would smell!
lack frightened little at the thought
Of it-but afterwards they would all go
into the front room. and the minister's
wife would ask Jack how he was getting
along in school. and if he liked his teach
er; and the minister would pat him On
the head and say he hoped he was
good boy and went to Sunday school,
and then when it began to grow dark,
haps Jack and his father would pop
corn by the big open fire in the kitchen.
and that would be good fun. but-and
Jack ended as he had begun-'I do wish
[ had some 'lations.'
Just then a big snowflake fell on Tow
Zer'S shaggy coat, followed by another
and another. and Jack, forgetting all else
In his delight. jumped UP shouting. "Hur-
rah. It's going to snow, and We'll have
some coasting for Thanksgiving after all.
Come on Tower, let's race for home!"
and off they went, dog and boy, pellmell
towards the house.
It was supper time before he thought
Of Thanksgiving day again. and then he
said suddenly: "Muvver''-.Jack never
could remember his "ths'' when he was
very much in earnest-"why don't I have
some 'lations?'
We'll! wellr' laughed Farmer Duns-
tan. What Go you call your mother
and lne?'
''Oh, I don't mean that kind, farver
mean 'lations that come to dinner on
Thanksgiving day, an laugh, an play
games, an sing songs, an go driving off
after dark, shouting goodbye all the
way down the road. That's the kind |
m upr hot
has Why didn't [ have some, muvver?''
Well, you see, my dear" replied his
mother, Grandpa and Grandma Duns-
tan died when father was little boy.
and you were too young to remember my
own father and mother, and
$50 yen see Jack" broke in his ia
Their, hastily, you'll have to put up with
your mother and me. But I tell You
what You ask Tommy to come over
here the day after Thanksgiving and I'll
take you two boys and the double-runner
up to Cops Ridge. How will that do?''
-Oh. iollyr' shouted Jack, clapping his
hands and running to the window to see
haw fast the snow was making.
Late that night Jack overheard his
father and mother talking in On adjoin-
ing room.
II suppose it's foolish, John. but Jacks
question has troubled ne ill the evening.
! can't help thinking about your sister
ton, and we only sixty miles away. She's
the only relation the child has, john
Jack pricked I'D his ears at the sound Of
the word relation '-"and it does seem
rs though she ought to be with us on
Thanksgiving day"
Il know it, wife. I Know it; but what
can | do? Sister Susan vowed she'd new
er step foot inside this house till I'd take
back those words / said about Ned
Brewster before she married him-that
he was in the devils own business run
ming that big wholesale liquor store in
Boston, and that no good would ever
come to him or his from it. He's been
dead and gone these ten years, poor fell
low, but | amt seer my way clear to
taking back those words and Sister Su-
sans terrible set. She won't answer my
letters, and"
Here his father shut the door and Jack
heard no more; but before he went to
sleep again he knew what he was going
10 do with the 5-cent piece in his own
little purse.
1t was the week before Thanksgiving.
and Mrs. Edwin Brewster was listlessiy