The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1905-11-23
/ A Confused Thanksgiving

The week before Thanksgiving Mr..
and Mrs. Bennett were obliged to
leave home suddenly on business. The
last ming Mrs. Bennett said to Janet
was:
Invite some girls to take dinner
with you on Thanksgiving day. Any
mother will spare her daughter under
the circumstances" And poor. Janet,
under her heartache, took comfort.
Then there was brother Jack, aged
10. Janet had him to consider; some.
how they must have a happy day in
spite of. all. So Janet set t work
to choose her guests.
Now in Janet's heart there was a
wrong ranking. Her best friend had
accepted an invitation some time be-
fore-an invitation that had not been
extended to her! Janet had hoped
her friend would decline because of
loyalty to her, but no., she had gone
to the party, had a good time and
Janet resented it.
Il will leave Helen out" thought
Janet with a hardening of her heart,
land I'll invite some fashionable girls.
just to show her that l can form a
circle outside our own. 1t may teach
her a lesson"
1t was odd how heavy hearted Janet
was after this decision, but with a
grim setting of the lips she went to
work at the desk.
Jack sat by the window munching
candy. He was going to play foot
ball later on; he had an appointment
with, his chum and he held his big
silver watch in his hand.
"AIi DONE" cried Janet, suddenly,
''but not a stamp. Here, Jack, mail
these for me at the corner. There's
a quarter; you may keep the change
for sodas. I've invited the three mic
est girls in town to dinner on Thanks
giving day and will ask Ted for you.
How's that?"
Jacks eyes glistened. He snatched
the dainty white notes and the money,
then rushed from the room, shouting,
Thanks, Janet; you're all right"
At the corner drug store Jack came
in violent contact with a sturdy body
that nearly knocked him down. 1t
proved to be his chum, Ted, red in
the face and painting with anger and
exertion.
Games off, he screamed In Jacks
face. "Moguls are cutters. Wouldn't
1t jar you?"
Something had Jared Jack, so he
sat down on the store step to con-
slider.
They're scared" he said, gloom
lily; scared to death. They're
meanies."
With that Jack arose slowly, went
to the letter box on the lamp post and
dropped in the invitations; then he
resumed his seat by Ted and began
more observations regarding the Mo-
guls, while he tipped the shining
quarter deity. Suddenly a look of
horror spread over his freckled face.
Great guns" he exclaimed.
Whats up?" asked Ted, sympathet-
ically.
"Pve put those letters in without
stamps!"
"Gee!" whistled Ted.
Then Jack thought of Janet's gen.
erosity and faith in him, and a great
wave Of remorse swept over his soul.
"They were invitations to dinner"
he sighed.
"Who to-" questioned Ted, q CLEAN
Of hope rising.
"I'm blessed If I know-but they're
the three incest girls. Mother said
Janet could invite them, and she's
going to ask you. too"
At this Ted's interest heightened,
but his hope faltered.
IF you only knew their Names" he
sighed, I'VE could go and ask them
and beg them not to tell, but wen
Just have to guess"
.'Guess?" faltered Jack.
"Yep! I didn't know there were
three nice girls in town. I only know
two. Most Of them are-well, you
know! There's Janet and-and Bar.
bara Dale; do you know any others?"
This was a problem, and the con-
spirators on the stone step looked des-
perate.