The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-11-24

y,
cause she was going to have a dinner
party. Why shouldn't we have din
ner party, too?
Il tell You what" he cried, his bright
eyes shining; Jess an me, we're goin'
| to have all those good things to eat,
an'-an' we want you to come an help
| Us eat EN-"
1t was not the polite form of invita-
| ton, but neither Sam nor Billy nor
Maggie nor Spot cared for that. They
| all stood staring for a breathless mo-
ment, then they cried in one voice.
"Oh, Larry, you don't mean it, do you?
Honest? Hope to die?"
"Honest-hope to die if I don't" he
said solerlnly. and that settled the
matter beyond doubt
When Larry had sold the last of his
papers, he fairly raced to the tene-
ment attic, where he and Jess kept
house, so eager was he to tell the news
of his dinner party. "My Lady, she's
gOin' to have one," he explained, $50
| thought we would, too"
"Why, of course" agreed Jess.
"There'll be enough for all, and
Thanksgiving Day, like Christmas,
comes but once year, so We'll have
just as good time as we can" And
then, like two children they were, they
caught each others hands and went
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, it's sides putting with oyster dress
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 new coat, Billy a
flaming tie. Maggie Tod had bound
back her brown curls with bit of
blue ribbon, while Spot, who owned
nothing more on earth than 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. ~ .~,.,s
"Weh, how glad am to see you all"
Jess cried, smiling welcome from Il
doorway and looking ''just too beauti-
full Larry told her. in q pretty blne
dress with little frilied apron and a
pink bow in her hair. 'sCome right in,
you dear children" she went on; s'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 a
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 helpings
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 . broad snile.