Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-11-25
Kity's First Thanksgiving
BY Ida shepIer.

where thanksgiving uaWns upSA SO'o
days. and often the roads at this time
glisten with snow. But Thanksgiving
was not kept in Kitty's home. Her
father was an honest man, but very
strict and stern, and he said that he
gave thanks every hour, not just IN
day in the e
He did not believe in very much
pleasure for young people. The neigh
bors said: Just wait until thai young.
est child Of his, Kitty, grows up ana
see IL she doesn't set her will against
her fathers will in these matters. She
has such a determined way with her"
The n%eighbors were right. When
Kitty was nearly fourteen b made
her first attempt TO set. aside her
fathers VIII.
At school there was one boy named
Johnny Martin that Kitty thought very
nice. He was her brother Sans chum.
Johnny told Kitty that his had
brought him the finest new sleigh, and
that his aunt across the river was go
ing to give a party for the young folks
the night before Thanksgiving, land 1
am going TO take you and Sam to the
party In my new sleigh" said Johnny.
Kitty shook her head. n said: NO,
indeed, you won't, Johnny Martin, be-
cause papa would never, never let US
go. You will play James and maybe
lance a little, and that would never DO
for u.s."
But Kitty could not help thinking
about the party, and at last her desire
merged into a resolve to go. And
you are going with me-" she said
stoutly to her brother Sam, two years
older than herself. Yes, you are,
and don't say no! It's just awful for
us to have no fun at all. We will go
TO Nellie Browns to spend the even
ing. We haven't been at the Browns
for so long. Surely papa will not re-
fuse that request, because he thinks
the Browns ever so nice. They live
nearly across the river from Johnny's
aunt, and they are going over In the
boat to the party, so Nellie told me.
But that will be the same as tell
ing a lie, for we will not spend the
evening with the Browns" weakly pro-
tested Sam.
yes, we wili-we will spend it with
them at the party. | expect to tell
papa where we have been when / get
home again. / won't care then for
the scolding, for l will have enjoyed
the party"
1t all turned out as Kitty planned.
With Nellie Brown, her sister and
brother, Sam and Kitty rowed glee-
fully across the river, down which ice
cakes were floating, and the clock was
striking twelve before Sam, fearing his
fathers stern displeasure, could coax
Kitty to go home. THE Browns are
ready to co. he urged.
Johnny Martin wanted TO take Sam
and Kitty home in his sleigh, and while
they debated over this offer, Will Brown
and his sisters, thinking Sam and Kitty
not coming with them, went on toward
the river.
But Sam wanted to see Will about
something that night and said: III
hurry on to overtake the crowd, and
you two go on in the sleigh around
by the bridge, and drive back along
the liver road on the other side TO meet
me. I've just got to see Bill again to-
night" So Sam hurried On to the river.
When he reached the mooring place,
the Browns were nearly across the rfv-
err in their boat, and Sam would not
call to them, but looked for another
boat. There was none in sight but an
old dugout, which is simply half a por-
ton of a log, fiattened on the bottom
and scooped out like a trough. One
end of this dugout was filled with Ice,
but Sam had rowed about the river
too much TO mind that.
Picking up a long pole used for steer
ing the, dugout, he sprang into 1t and
was soon bobbing out into the middle
OF the river. Perhaps, If he had not
been in such a hurry, he might have
come safely across, but as 1t was, Nellie
Brown, looking back, saw him pushing
the boat in a reckless manner among
the floating cakes.
The night was not bright enough to
see objects plainly, but Nellie was very
sure that she saw Kitty sitting behind
Sam in the dugout.
"Oh, Willln she cried out in alarm.
"Row backi That dugout will roll
over with them!"
VIII rowed back with all the speed
possible, but before he came in clear
sight of the dugout it struck a cake
of ice fairly, and one end flying up In
the air, tumbled Sam backward, his
head striking the ice In the boat before
he rolled out of it into the river.
He was clinging to the dugout,
dazed and speeches. with the blow
+ anu the snock from the cold plunge,
and the young people bore him to
their home unconscious.
Johnny and Kitty, almost flying along
the river road, wondered why they did
not meet Sam. They pulled out of the
road to let a galloping horse go by.
Its rider, an older son of the Browns,
was going for the doctor for Sam. and
to tell Elder Blair that Kitty was in
the river. He did not recognize Johnny
or Kitty, but called back: Sam BIair's
boat turned overt"
Then Kitty went almost wild with
grief and remorse.
She dared not go home for fear OF
what her father would say, Johnny
could do nothing better han take hel
to his mother, his own refuge when ir
trouble, and for hours the kind woman
tried to comfort the little mourner.
Near morning she said: Hitch ur
the pony, Johnny. n go tell Elder
Blair tina Kitty is with u.s.
AS Johnny went driving out of thu
II gate, a neighbor passed and called te
him: That's dreadful about Kitty
Blair, isn't it?"
sam, you mean. corrected Johnny
mo, Kitty. Sam will be all righi
in an hour or so more, the doctor says
1t is for Kitty that Elder Blair grieves
as never man grieved for daughter be
fore, surely"
Over his son Elder Blair bent, listen
Ing 10 him mutter for Kitty to hurry
hurryl AS In a daze, he saw Kit,
push between himself and the bed
bend over and kiss her brother, the
turning, brow herself In his arms. cry,
ing. Forgive me. forgIveme, papa, ant
never, never again win I deceive youi'
Folding Kitty In his arms, those neal
saw d look Of glory spread over TIL,
stern face heard hum mutter
Dear Lord. we all come short In TIL,
sight. Forgive me and accept m,
thanks for this blessed T~hanksgivin,
dawn, which / will ever keep la mem,
ory of Thy mercy to me-