The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-23

service while the Groves women were out with his mother driving. In tnls way the coast would be left clear TOT Grandma Perrin and his sisters 10 TX the surprise in the Groves house. When he had given George the price or Loo. ball ticket he had said in an oIhano @ way: You needn't make any extra pro vision for Thanksgiving, for mama ai1 ha3 some cake and other truck which she II bring over or send to your mother. you know. Mama likes to do those thlngs for her friends. But you needn Hiell- tion it to your mother or sisters Just speak of it to you so you can use ine s money in any other way you may wlsn l to-" So, George put Il most ro1,,,np oa npe fund fund which was to be used in payment TOT medical treatment for his mother.
 Mrs. Perrin had been obliged to name an early hour for the drive in order 10 not interfere with her own home ar, engagements; for the Perrin guests would arrive at two o'clock promptly anu rr ele ne and his friends to get to the football game It was scarcely Il o'clock when her carriage drove up at the Groves door, with Tom on the seat peslae ner: n Before getting down Tom said in low tone: q told grandma l would manage it so that the front door would pc leIt unlocked. She seemed unwilling 10 try the back window" laughing put, II there is no catch on the lock so that l ma slip it and leave the bolt to turn from the outside. I'll give you the wink, and you suggest that the key oS Se caor9e rsss 9e and the family not returning al the same time.
 Then Tom sprang to the ground just as the door opened, and George ,1. ana mother to the carriage. Lucy brought out pillows for the invalid. leaving the door open behind her. saying as she dld you: I think it is unlatchedi please put the key under the step in its place; we may return before you do; Inen she was in the front seat beside Mrs. Perrin who handled the reins, while Mrs. Groves and Bertha occupied the back seat. As the carriage dashed down the street Tom said to George: I've fixed the door: here's the key Then the two boys started toward the, park for their walk. After a few minutes Tom. as if suddenly thinking of 1t, said: "Oh. must run by home to give Grandma message intrusted to me for her. Will you just wait on the pave ment? I won't be a minute"
 The message to Grandma was from Tom. through Tom, to the effect that the front door at No. 1T West F. street was unlocked, and that after she had completed her arrangements there she would better see that the door was locked. as the key was Tn hiding out side for the family
 Grandma Perrin was radiantly happy, her dear old face beaming with smiles as she marshaled two stalwarts, with baskets almost dS large dS litHsclNeS, out through the gate and in the direc- tion of the Groves home. Gertrude and Anna May bore her company, carrying in their arms numerous boxes and paper parcels. Perhaps the neighbors-if they watched from their windows-wondered what 1t meant to see this heavily-laden band of people entering the deserted Grove house; but Grandma was too busy to bother herself about the curiosity of others; she had .uch lot to do. and so little time to do 1t in.
 It took but minute for grandma to locate the dining room, and in another minute she had the table in place and over it Anna May and Gertrude spread a snowy cloth, taken from one Of their parcels. Then from box Gertrude lift ed a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers and fixed them in a tall glass vase which she had brought, and which Anna May had filled with water from the kitchen sink Grandma found the plain dishes in the poor little kitchen cupboard and the three set the table with great deal of care, the vase of rich-colored blos- somS in the center and the fine damask cover lending an air of elegance.
 From the baskets there came great brown turkey, stuffed to bursting with oyster dressing and still smoking hot from his recent imprisonment in a roast ing oven. big bowl of lobster salad, a tureen of creamed potatoes, loaf of snow-white bread, a frozen ball of but ter. a head of crisp celery, a dish of grandma's favorite mixed pickles, quince