The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-20
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Almost before the morning dawned on
Thanksgiving day Johnny Warner was
awake. He was. glad to see that the sun
was shining, for the day was an important
one. He was invited to dine at Miss
Rhoda's in the great house across the
square, and it was the first social event of
his life. All morning he importuned his
mother with questions. us it time to go?"
when will 1t be timer" "What does the
clock say now?"
stop fostering me-" said his mother, the
while she smiled at his eagerness. "Go get
your little wagon and rake up the chips and
I'll bring up the tub from the cellar and
heat the water for your BATH
I'm real pleased that Miss Rhoda asked
him to dinner, said Mrs. Warner to her
sister. as they watched Johnny through the
kitchen window. The sister was slightly
lame and leaned on a crutch. 81 don't know
as the child ever sat down to a real
Thanksgiving dinner, and it'll be treat to
him. Bless his little hearth
The two women were widows who eked
out living by plain sewing. They were
always happy and cheerful They laughed
now in the fullness of their content Their
own dinner was to consist of slices of fried
pork and baked potatoes. I'll call him in
now and get him dressed said the mother.
The dressing was painstaking process,
which required much combing and scrub
hing and adjusting of little clothes. Johnny
stood it as we'll as the average six-year-old
boy. However, he squirmed that his
mother could with difficulty fasten the rhu-
merous buttons at his chubby waist-line.
Il declare, Johnny, you've pulled button
clear off. I'll have to get needle and
thread and sew IL on
''oh, mother" said Johnny. fretting at
the delay. cant you drive a tack in some
way?' The mother and aunt laughed up
roarously. "Aint you the great boy
though said the aunt, proddng him in his
plump back. Here, let's tie your new red
necktie real pretty.
Now, johnny said his mother impress
sively, II do hope you're going to be a
good boy. L don't want for you to do any
know that you've been brought up real nice
and genteel. You eat just what is set be-
fore you and don't ask for anything twice"
do have to eat squash, mother? You
know l don't like it,
II don't want that you should be so
chojcy about what you like and don't like
JUS. eat what they give you and don't
whine. / expect most likely they'll have
ice cream. 1 don't care if he does get sick
to her sister. He will enjoy this nice din
ner so much. Now you look just as sweet
as a peach, don't he auntie?' Johnny was,
in fact, a beautiful child with serious,
cherub-like face and innocent blue eyes
He was the sun which made the light and
cheer in the little house and around him
the lives Oh the TWO plain little women
volved. He started off In high feather.
Miss Rhoda met him at the door. She was
a slight, tall woman with gray curls, and
her slightly austere appearance was soft
ened by the gown of gray satin and white
lace which she wore. She lived alone with
her father In the beautiful big house
across the park from the Warmers tiny
cottage. Sarah Warner and her sister
are good, industrious women" Miss Rhoda
was in the habit of saying. and she had
| been pleased to invite little Johnny to
Thanksgiving dinner. Johnny was happy.
The cheerful oak-paneled DINING room
with the dancing fire in the wide fireplace.
! the Offering array of polished silver and
| glass and the profusion of yellow crysan-
| themums pleased his childish eyes. More
over, there was delicious fragrance of
roasted turkey and mince meat and cof-
fee in the air. He shifted the aroma
pleasantly. as he was seated at the table,
propped up. by the big dictionary. Miss
and red jelly for him. At the side of his
plate was a dish of squash. Mindful of
| his mothers warnings he hastily decided
that since he must eat the squash he
would dispose of it Immediately and get
| it out of the way. He would then be at
| liberty to enjoy the remainder of the un-
| accostumed good things. The plate of
| squash disappeared in a twinkling. Give
| Johnny some more squash, father" said
Miss Rhoda. Johnny demurred timidly.
but he was faced with another dish of
| squash to dispose of. 1t likewise disap-
| peared before you could say "Booh." why
| that boys dreadful fond Of squash, amt
another and then another dish of squash
| was forced upon the child. A boy with
fondness for squash might as we'll be sat
| isfed. Miss Rhoda meanwhile occupied
| behind her tall silver coffee service did
not accurately observe what was happen
ing. Human nature could stand no more.
into tears: why, what ever ails the
child?" said Miss Rhoda. She was very
little used to the ways of boys. Does
your stomach ache. Johnny? Oh come
now, eat some of this nice turkey and
| jelly and breastings'' Dressings was a
long unused baby word for dressing) But
boy cannot eat anything more even though
| he would. II want to go home.'' he walled.
| There was nothing to do but to let him go
| home. Miss Rhoda buttoned his overcoat
and pressed an orange into his pocket.
| He wiped away the tears as he ran home
| through the frosty air, but as he threw
again into sobs. why Johnny. what's the
matter, what has happened?" said his
mother. No answer. Johnny Warner, do
being a bad boy?' Emphatic shakings OF
the head denied this. What did you have
for dinner"
Little by little she drew the story from
him. so you ct the squash and they
thought you liked 1t and kept filling up
your plate so you couldn't eat anything
else? Well. 1 never! I've good mind to
| shake you.'
"Oh. sister," said Johnny's aunt, you
whether he liked 1t or not: besides. he's
| only six Come to auntie, Johnny, and
| she'll fix this nice orange for you" But
| Johnny was too full of squash for utter
| ance. He only sat on his mothers lap and
| cried, with little quivering sobs. Never
mind. honey" she said soothingly; ''mebbe
come Christmas I'll get you a turkey of
your own. There dear, never mind"
Late that afternoon Miss Rhoda threw
| her fur cape over her shoulders. I'm
| going over to Sarah Warmers, father" she
said, "and see if can find out what allied
| that boy" She found Johnny and his
mother playing jackstraaws in front OF the
| stove And you mean to say he thought
| he had 10 eat all that squash?" inquired
Miss Rhoda helplessly, when the situation
had been alphabetically explained TO her.
Her expression plainly showed that she
was thankful heaven had blessed her with
| the single life, and that she was not called
| upon TO unravel the vagaries of a small
boys mind Now. / want TO know il you
ever heard anything to equal that?'
| Johnny's mother confessed that she never
| had-"And all that nice turkey, too" At
the mention of turkey two big tears stole
| into Johnny's lovely eyes. ''Ill tell you
| what" said Miss Rhoda gayly, with a
touch OF girlish enthusiasm which set well
upon her, II want you and your mother
and your aunt to come TO my house to
dinner next Sunday. Well have another
| and bigger turkey and you can begin
| with the Ice cream II you want TO. But
she added, as she kissed Johnny's apple
pink cheek. you can't eat any squash.
In fact, III spank you IL you do"