Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-11-21
A THANKFUL
THANKSGIVING

~e~~cS~~~s~~~~
q DON'T feel as IL I should enjoy this
Thanksgivin'," said Mrs. joel MIS-
q bett, looking down into the baske; Of
glossy, red checked Spitzenbergs M II 1t
wero a family vault and taking up an
apple as II II had been u skull; mo,
DON'T"
"Then, Sarcpta." observed her hus-
band, who had just thrown huge log
on the open fire. you don't disarn Moth
In TO be thankful for! It's Us harnsonle
q turkey as ever Tapped. aud ! don't
know Of year when I've had nicer
pumpkins on that mr. corn lott"
""rain't turkey or pumpkin pies or
cranberry sass IN makes Thanksgivin,
signed Mrs. Nisbett.
"What In 1t. thenY IF tie cold wealth.
o., I should ha' thought the last frost
would ha' done the business for you
pretty fairly. Them artemisias by the
front door Il scorched black, and the old
maple Il lOsin' Its leaves as II they was
rainin' down. parson Jarvis y comm
oil the way from Sloatesville to preach
tomorrow, and the quires larned bran
new anthem just n-purpOse. about bein'
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 sigh.
IL wonder II 'tain't possible Stephe1l
b hum tonight" shc said after pause.
"lie writ not. lie thought he'd drop
In arly tomorrow mornin' II he caught
the train he expected. Only think, old
woman; it's five years since Stephe was
hum TO Thanksgivin'w
Old Nisbctt rubbed his horny hands,
with a chuckle. adding:
"And / s'pOsc. " all accounts 10 true.
he's gcttin' to he great man out ~
that western country. II was kind OF
hari null when he went of and left us,
bu: maybe the boy was In the right"
EYES," said Mrs. Nisbett dolorously,
''but somehow l can't get reconciled to
tho idea Of his Margin strange gal
out there"
Joel scratched his head. This was
phase Of the subject that he scarcely
felt competent 10 discuss.
"Maybe you'll like her. Stephen says
she's u nice gal"
'.Stephen says! A II man over head
and ears In love wouldn't say anything"
II wish he'd told IN who she was"
Mrs. Nisbett groaned again. Joel went
out to the woodpile, the everyday shrine
whence he generally derived what little
OF philosophic inspiration he had.
"AIrs. Nisbettv'
1t was soft little voice. and the old
iady's face relaxed instinctively A. II
sounded ON her ears.
"Why, Ida TNmaine-'tain't your
ut In. I've done everything that Aunt
Constance wanted, and now I've just run
over to see II you don't need bit Of
help"
Rhe stood In the doorway. a fair little
apparition. all flushed and rosy with the
November wind. while her blue eyes
spaPkled ~ II they were twin sapphires
hidden away under her long. dark lashes
Sne was neither blond nor brunette. but
q freAh checked girl, with nut brown
hair, skin like the leaf Of dRmask rose,
q straight, refined nose and lips 40 ripe
a. red crabapple. though by no means
20 sour. Generally she had demure
sort Of gravity lingering about her face.
but when she did laugh dimple came
out upon her cheek and row Of pearly
teeth glimmcred instantaneously.
In one hand she carried \ bunch Of
late autumn flowers.
"Scew 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 a branch
or 30 Of scarlet leaves, III have a royal
bouquet to help you keep Thanksgiving"
Mrs. Nisbctt 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' 10 have no sech hxin's up,
but you've sech II way, child, | can't
never say no to yOu."
hut you're going to keep Thanksgiv-
Ing" cried Ida. throwing of her outer
wrapp.ngs and dancing up to the looking
glass like u little gale of wind. "because
You invited Aunt Constance and me to
dinner and because your son Is coming
home"
Yes, child, yes" said Mrs. Nisbett,
suhsiding once more into the mOurnful
Key from which Lida's sudden appear
ancc had mOmcntarily aroused her.
"Joel's got the turkey shut up In a coop,
and the bakins done. and I'm Just a-fix-
in' them apples. and"
"Oh, OH" cried Ida. who had Out.
tered to the window. 'what glorious red
leaves speckled over with little drops Of
gold! May I make some wreaths for the
wall? oh. please say yes"
Mrs. Nisbett said ''yes"-it would have
been hard work to cay mo" to Ida
and the girl soon came In. her apron full
Of the spriss Of The old maple tsss.
whose shadowy boushs kept the window
yelled With cool shadows through the
giaring summer days and howsssd fsd-
ins sold Upon the dead srass when the
autumn came.
Mrs. Nisbstt looked with tenderness
upon ne graceful little asuss seated on
the hearth rug. when the shine Of the
high hsaped logs leN itself In hss. bright
hall and made sDarklss To- her syss, "a
ne wPeaths and trails Of autumn lsavss
grew rapidly beneath Der deft An0su.
"Lida," che saN softly, Ida, ~
dsayw la looked Up.
u ssw yeus Aunt Constases ysstss6sy