Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-11-09
A THANKFUL
THANKSGIVING

| 'rbanksyivin'." said Mrs. Joel Ms
q hett. looking down into the basket OF
glossy. red checked Spitzenbergs as II II
were a family vault and taking up an
annie as if it had been a skull; no, l
don't
Then, Sarepta," observed her nus
band. who had just thrown huge log
ON the open fire, you don't disam Moth
in TO be thankful for. It's as harnsome
turkey as ever Tapped, and | don't
know of year when I've had nicer
pumpkins on that ar corn lot.
''roint turkey or pumpkin pies or
cranberry sass as makes Thanksglvln,
sighed Mrs. Nsbett
What is it. then? Ef it's cold wealth
or should ha' thought the last frost
would ha' done the business for you
pretty fairly. Them artemlslas py tne
front door is scorched black, and the ola
maple is losin' its leaves as il they was
rainin' down. Parson Jarvis is comm
all the way from Sloatesville to preach
tomorrow, and the quire's larned bran
new anthem just a-purpose, about pelh
thankful for harvest and all that sort OF
thing. I'm sure l don't know what else
you'd have"
Mrs. Nisbett only answered by sign.
81 wonder if faint possible Stephe IL
be hum tonight" she said after pause
"He writ not He thought he'd drop
in arly tomorrow mOrnin' If he caught
the train he expected. Only think, old
woman; it's five years since Stephe was
hum to THANKSGIVING
Old Nisbett rubbed his horny hands,
with chuckle, adding:
"And l spose, if all accounts is true
he's gettin' to be a great man out IN
that western country. 1t was KIND OF
hard pull when he went of ana e1t u.s.
bu. maybe the boy was in the right
YES" said Mrs. Nisbett dolorously'
"but somehow | can't get reconcied to
the idea of his marryn' a strange gal
out there"
Joel scratched his head. This was n
phase of the subject that he scarcely
felt competent to discuss.
Maybe you'll like her. Stephen says
she's nice gal
"Stephen says. AS if man over head
and ears in love wouldn't say anything
II wish he'd told us who she was.
Mrs. \isbett gronned again. Joel went
out to the woodpile. the everyday shrine
whence he generally derived what little
of philosophic inspiration he had
"Mrs Nisbett.'
1t was soft little voice. and the old
lady's face relaxed instinctively as 1t
sounded on her ears.
why, Ida Trmane-'tain't YOU
at is. I've done everything that Aunt
Constance wanted. and now We just run
over to see if you don't need bit OF
help"
She stood in the doorway, fair little
apparition. all flushed and rosy with the
November wind while her blue eyes
sparkled as if they were twin sapphres
hidden away under her long. dark lasheS.
She was neither blond nor brunette. but
fresh checked girl. with nut brown
hair. skin like the leaf of a damask roSe,
straight, refined nose and lips as ripe
as red crabapple, though by no means
so sour. Generally she had demure
sort of gravity lingering about her face
but when she did laugh a dimple came
out upon her cheek and row of pearly
teeth glmmcred instantaneously
In one hand she carried u bunch of
!, late autumn flowers.
, See" she cried holding them up. II
ransacked Aunt Constance's garden for
these. | knew that big vase on the man
tel needed something, and, with branch
] or so of scarlet leaves, I'll have a royal
bouquet TO help you keep Thanksgiving. y
Mrs. Nisbett took the fair oval face
between her two hands and kissed the
fresh little mouth.
"Set down. Ida" she said. II wasn't
a-calculatin' TO have no sech fixin's up,
but you've sech way, child, l can't
: never say no to you"
"I:ut you're going TO keep Thanksgiv-
ing," cried Ida. throwing off her outer
wrappings and dancing up to the looking
glass like a lttlc gale of wind. because
Won invited Aunt Constance and me 10
dinner and because your son is coming
: home"
Yes. child yes" said Mrs. Nisbett
subsiding once more into the mournful
key from which Lidas sudden appear
ance had momentarily aroused her
",Toers got the turkey shut up in a coop
and the bakin's done, and I'm just a-hx
c in them apples. and"
I "Oh, ON cried Ida, who had nut
tered to the window, what glorious red
leaves speckled over with little drops OF
J. gold, May | make some wreaths for the
G wall: Oh, please say yes
Mrs. Nisbett said "ycs"-it would have