Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-11-25
BY Bertha Esterbrooke Goodier.

| dancing round and round the little
room.
The next morning Jess was up bright
and early. preparing for the event. Lar
ry, after waiting to see the great tur-
key, its sides putting with oyster dress
ing, reposing in the oven, caught up
his cap and tramped down the stairs
-whistling as he went. He came back
again just as the great clock in the
church nearby was striking 1. This
time he headed little band and proud
ly he ushered his friends in. Each had
made some small attempt at dressing
up. Sam wore a new coat, Billy a
flaming tie. Maggie Tod had bound
back her brown curls with a bit of
blue ribbon, while Spot, who owned
nothing more on earth thar the suit
he always wore, had scrubbed his face
till it fairly shone and even borrowed
a broken comb to run through his
frowsy locks.
"Well, how glad am to see you allr'
Jess cried, smiling a welcome from til.
doorway and looking 'just too beauti-
full" Larry told her. in q pretty blue
dress with littla frilled apron and a
pink bow in her hair. "Come right in,
you dear children" she went on; din
ner's on the table, and I'm sure you'll
open your eyes when you see it,
And in truth they did. They stood
about the table and stared with wide
eyes at what they saw. A luscious
brown turkey lay there before the lit
tie hostess. 1t looked SO good that
they gasped when she took up the
carving knife and ruthlessly jabbed it
beneath the crisp skin. And Maggie
Tod wondered If it weren't wicked to
eat anything so beautiful. On one side
OF the table was pyramid of creamy
potatoes. while on the other rose
trembling mound of jelly, in whose
red depths the sunlight seemed to
glow. A feathery bunch of celery
adorned the centre of the table. Then
besides, there were mysterious covered
dishes which might be containing other
delicious things. 1t was quite as
though fairy godmother had come
out of the story book and spread them
a feast, they declared. There was not
much talking at first. Every one was
too busy with knife and fork. and Jess
just kept insisting on second heIpings
all around. At last Spot, the first keen
edge of his appetite somewhat dulled,
leaned back in his chair and regarded
the little company with a broad smile.
Say" he began. joyfully, 81 bet you
they just have turkeys in heaven"
And they all agreed that heaven with
out turkeys would be very poor
place.
Then the plum pudding, a wonderful
brown ball. topped with sprig of ever
green and all ablaze with a strange
blue fire, came in. After they lad tast-
ed, smacked their lips and tasted again,
they decided to amend their idea of fu-
ture happiness, and added plum pud-
ding to their sum of perfect bliss.
1t was very happy little group that
went away down the marrow stairs.
and 'ery happy boy and girl that sat,
side by side, before the little fire. each
living over again the beautiful dinner
party which would r1on be only a
memory. At last Larry looked up into
the sweet face above him and said:
Il wish all the poor boys and girls
could have lovely Lady like mine,
SOS they could give dinner parties.
too. But. then" with a sigh that
seemed to come from the toes of his
boots. * s'pose they amt enough to go
round. Detroit Free Press.