The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1904-11-19
RS
URKEY 20 ~ "
A Story of Art and a Thanks
giving Dinner

ing day as it should be celebrated, with
all the proper accomplishments. But
The trouble was that Caswatter did not
know just exactly where the money
was to come from. With rare prov1-
1ence he had set apart a fve-dollar bill
from the sale of his "Prometheus," but
the coal had run out and more had to
be bought.
Never mind" said Caswatter, "Tll
take that Autumn Sunset down to
Perdigan tomorrow. I'd made up my
mind that I'd keep it If / couldn't get
800 for it, but if Perdigan wants 1t
for $50 he can AVE it,"
Mrs. Caswatter almost wept, for she
knew how much her artist husband
thought of that Autumn Sunset" He
would almost rather have parted with
his Solitude" or his Cleaning" or
mis- Achilles in His Tent" 1t was a
masterpiece. Solitude" "GlOaming"
and Achilles were also masterpieces.
There were few things that Caswatter
painted that were not masterpieces.
The great difficulty was that they
would not sell.
On the oath CaSwatter took the "Au-
tumn Sunset" under his arm and Of
fered it to Perdigan. But Perdigan de-
clined to give him the $50 for it. In
fact, he wouldn't have it at any price.
Caswatter bore his disappointment
with an air Of Indifference, but he felt
It nevertheless.
He went upstairs to his attic studio
and began to pace the floor in great
agitation. He was an artist, but he
vas also a father, and the thought OF
little Leonard's disappointment when
invited to sit down to pork chops was
m%addening, and the pork chops seemed
inevitable. AS he walked and gnawed
his beard his eye fell upon Solitude"
and he made a sudden resolve. He
would have that Thanksgiving dinner
at all costs. He wrapped the picture
carefully in the paper that he had just
taken off "An Autumn Sunset" and
started out.
Perdigan looked at it with his under
lip pushed out and said:
"Well, I'd like to make you ar offer
for it, but-you see, it isn't the sort
of thing that sells. I'll tell you, though,
if you would like to leave it here III
do the best | can with it on a commits
sion"
Il suppose you wouldn't care to ad.
vance me a little on it," said Caswat.
ter.
why, I'd like to, but you know
that's altogether against u rules"
III leave it," said Caswatter.
Caswatter went back to his studio
and did some more walking. Usually
he dismissed household cares easily
from his mind, but this dinner he had
counted on SO surely. He could see it
actually see it. He laughed savagely
and, sitting down before his easel, be-
gan to sketch the outlines of a nam
moth turkey. Then the idea took him
and he forgot his woes. Gradually the
turkey took shape and form and a eel.
cry glass topped with a fringing bou-
quet of stalks and leaves, appeared be-
side it; then a bowl and a background
of pies. He drew up his stool closer
and began to spread on the color and
worked more and more feverishly until
Tue NduIuS llSuI 1OlICu iii w OCSAoN
Early on the morning of the 25th he
arose and attacked his "Barcemide's
Feast with undiminished fury. BY II
o'clock it was finished. He took it down
into the little dining ROOM, set it on
the mantelpiece and then called Mrs
Caswatter to look at it. There's your
Thanksgiving dinner" he said. "Wel
look at that and imagine it's real"
Mrs. Caswatter was visibly i'm
pressed. What a genius you are!'
she said, ad%miringly. THAT turkey
looks as if it had just been taken from
the oven. 1 can smell it. And thu
cranberry sauce!"
At - o'clock Mrs. Caswatter tapped
at her husbands door. my DEAR" sh'
said. "I hate to disturb you, but Mr.
Tublin, the grocer, is down below. H,
said he's called for the balance of hi
account. l told him you were busy
but he said he'd like to see you, ant
he'd wait"
Caswatter groaned. "Well, I'll b.
right down, DEAR" he said.
When he went downstairs he fount
Tublin in the dining-room standing be
fore the turkey picture, open-moutheC
with admiration.
"a fine picture, that, sir" he said
with feeling.
About that balance. How much /
it?" asked the artist.
tits only $685." replied the grocer
81 was just passing and-I never seel
: a p"rettier piece of work than that. til
make a dandy thing for my window.
you look in next week som tim
: and I'll pay you" said Caswatter.
much obliged" said the grocer, at
sently. Now, that picture-I wonde
where I could buy one like it?"
you can have that for a $40 bill,
said Caswatter.
The grocer instantly produced a IA
pocketlaIok and, taking out a bill, lai
:. it en- til. table and advanced to the pi:
ture.
Here, it's wet yet" said Caswattel
$50 it is" said the grocer. well,
must handle it carefully. That's goin
to help trade this afternoon and thi
a evening. Good evening, Mr.. Caswa
tor"