The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-01-28

Mary's Thanksgiving Prociamasion.
The day before Thanksgiving, and
Mary TOliver was sick. Poor Mary!
How she had looked forward to the
annual festival. For weeks she had
cnunied the days. Grandpa and all
the rest had been invited for that day.
Aud now she was sick. She had triesi
to think she was well when her head
ached the night before. But In the
morning the little face was flushed
with fever, and there way q family
consultation. Then the doctor was
called in.
"Just q little ague," the doctor said.
Mary knew what ague was; she had
had 1t before, but never at Thanksgiv-
ing time.
Cant you get me well for to-mor-
row." she asked.
Ppm afraid not" the doctor answer
ed with q kindly smile. "You must be
quiet for O few days, and maybe you
can have your Thanksgiving next
week"
So word was sent to the relatives
not to come next day, as there would
be NJ Thanksgiving dinner at the
Toliver house. Two days after Thanks
giving the fever was all gone, and
| Mary was very quiet.
"What Is my little girl thinking of?'
Mother Tolliver asked.
~ was wondering II we would have
q Thanksgiving Day next week, as DR..
Brown said" Mary answered.
"Oh, no." she was told; mot till
next year. You know the Governor
makes what he calls q proclamation
and tells Us when TO have Thanks
giving"
But Mary was not satisfied. She
thought all day, and made her plans.
Monday morning she asked II she
might write q letter. Just my very
own" she said.
Mother TolIiver gave leave very
willingly. "But It must be Short"
she added.
1t was q short letter which Mary
handed to her mother two hours later.
This Is what she said:
Dear Governor: Please can we have
another Thanksgiving. Day, and have
It next Thursday? I was sick, and 90
grandpa and the others didn't come,
and I could not eat any turkey. I
amt very big, but ! like turkey. Please
let us have It. Your friend.
"Mary Tolliver."
won't you send Ii, mammal" she
pleaded.
Mother Tolliver thought 1t would
not hurt to send 1t, 80 the letter went
that night.
At the capital the governor was very
busy. It was near the end Of his term,
and he had q great deal to do. But he
read Mary Tolliger's letter twice, and
then called u messenger.
"Billie." he said, go down town and
buy the biggest turkey you can get, and
express 1t, with q lot Of ~cranberries
and celery, and all sorts Of Thanks
giving goodies, to this address"
Then he called his clerk, and sent
Mary q letter.
Wednesday morning Mother Toll.
yer handed her the big envelope. This
is what she spelled out:
I1aVluR Dccu luiOikAC3 tbat I4nty
Tolliver was i'll on the 18th Of Novem-
Der, and was thus prevented from join
ing in the festivities incident to
Thanksgiving Day, / therefore recon-
mend that ut q convenient hour On
Thursday, December 5, Mr.. and Mrs.
Tolliver, together with their family
and such young friends as Mary may
choose TO invite, assemble In the din.
iDgroom, and there with hearts full Of
thankfulness for country, for home,
and for the blessed influence OF chill
dren, partake Of such bounties q are
usually served ia Christian America
on the day appointed for National
Thanksgiving, and that especial atten-
ton be given that Mary shall be boun-
tifully supplied with such portions of
the national bird, and with such other
~delicacies, al are most congenial to
her."
"Just see his name at the bottom,
mamma-the governors name" shout
ed Mary. "And the letter Is all rib
bons and red wax on the back. Just
to think he did this for me-"
ayes, he did 1t for you, Mary, and
you shall have your W Thanksgiv-
ing Day. But what will you be thank
full for, q week after the timer"
"Oh! I'll be thankful Fun well again.
Will that do? Aud can't l just rs well
be thankful this week as last?"
IN ..L u