The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-22
Thanksgiving at Legree
Z m m m o n - - -

And then. as If Legree did not already
have excitement enough over a barrel. the
teacher. Mr.. Wander. received letter
which set the mouths of Legree TO water
ing. barrel of apples was the wayi
The barrels were of so much moment the
men on the streets discussed them. the
women speculated and each child of the
village was hoping for at least one apple.
For weeks the supply teams made their
forty-mile trips to the railway station and
returned without the barrels. The postman
brought the mail twice a week. but no
word concerning the barrels. AS, Hope
deferred maketh the heart sick" so the
children of these two Families cried with
disappointment.
So the time went until Thanksgiving
week. Legree was growing doubtful but
the minister was hopeful and said he would
be thankful whenever they came, just so =
was before a blizzard. But both barrels
came in blizzard and just the day before
Thanksgiving. The drivers OF the supply
teams drove into town covered with snow
and the air was filled with fine flakes and
the north wind was piercing cold. But they
came with whoop an5 a flourish which
proclaimed to all that the long-looked-for
barrels had arrived They ratified UP to
the parsons door and rolled out huge
barrel, then springing into the wagon.
dashed on to Mr.. Vander's and unloaded
the other barrel. But, sad to relate, the
head of the apple barrel was burst in and
fully third of the precious apples missing
which smote the heart of Legree for
what individual OF all the village did not
know of the outrage before he slept
But the two families rejoicing.
What a glorious Thanksgiving! The chill
dren of the Wander family Rugged apples
in their sleep. while the children of the
minister's family could hardly be induced
| to stop trying on and go to bed at ALL
| What comfortable things in that barrel!
| Not one useless article The overcoat and
| great wooden scarf with bright ends were
so good for papa. The warm dresses and
| stockings and shoes came lust before the
nick of time" one said. And there were
| white swiss curtains for the windows. be-
| sides sheets and table linen They had
| eaten on oilcloth for more than a yearl
And to think. right on top was large
| sack Of fine candy When had they tasted
/ candy?
! The next day the little church was crowd.
ed. and for more than one reason. The
people hoped to see the minister's family
in some new clothes, and they did, What
| matter if the dresses were so long for the
| little girls that they touched the floor, or
| that the coats and trousers for the boys
must be turned up a the wrists and ankles7>
The minister's wife couldn't be expected to
make them over in one night But the
| children presented such funny appearance
that some had to smile through tears And
then. who would be invited home with the
Vanders to try those apples?
1t will never be known just how much
apples and other happy things Influenced
the sermon that day, but every one said
how finely favored, how rich, how eloquent
| the DISCOURSE!
At the close Of the meeting Mrs. Wander
invited two families home for dinner-these
mothers had been especially kind 10 her
during sickness. They FASTENED home, and
| Mrs. Wander, throwing off her wraps said:
Now. how would you like to have apples
cooked? looking from one to the other OF
her guests. Mrs. Scott said they would be
good prepared any way. But Mrs. Sendon
said that 1t seemed TO her that an apple
dumping would taste better than anything
else in the world. So they prepared for
| the dumplings. While Mrs. Wander was
| bustling about getting other things ready
Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Sendon peeled the ap-
| pies the nine children looking hungrily
and begging for the parings and the cores.
| And Mrs. Sendon said: Mrs Wander. il
you don't care I'll make these. Feelings a
little thicker. just to please the children"
And Mrs. Wander cried: "Oh, yes. do. Tho
poor dears are so hungry for apples" Then
Mrs Sendon made the parings a little
thicker than a knife blade.
Mrs. Wander sent a small basket of ap-
pies to the minister's. and so. to top on
their dinner-to which some old people had
been invited-they each had a dish of de-
l licious apple sauce.