Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-11-21

''I'vE CHOSEN THANKSGIVING DAY TO END
FAMILY FEUD.
had "bit off bigger end than he could
chew" He kept his nerve, however,
which, considering his youth. was no
more than he should have DONE
Then came season in which the
crops on the Bickford farm were
larger than they had ever been be-
fore 1t happened that there was a
foreign war. and the price of grain
was advanced enormously. When the
years profit was cleaned up the farmer
found himself in possession of two
average years income instead of one.
The sale of Johns chicken farm was
coming on. and Mrs. Bickford hoped
that, considering her husbands good for
tune. he would pay off the mortgage.
He did not, and the property was sold.
"Wife." said Farmer Bickford one
day in November, "what you going to
do about Thanksgiving"
Nothing. Nobody but you has any
thing to be thankful for"
"Well," said the farmer, unruffied,
"John and Mandy have had a hard
time of it this year. Pm not so mean
as to grudge 'em dinner and a good
One. l expect they need 1t. Invite 'em
here for Thanksgiving and get up the
best dinner money will buy"
Suppose they won't conner
They'll miss the dinner"
t,Mrs. Bickford and her daughter felt
stingy a husband ard father. jonn
urged them to accept, and when ne
found their resolution fixed not to do
80 declared that he would dine with
his father-ln-law without them. Mrs.
Bickford prepared the dinner and then
went over to her daughter, who was
still on the chicken farm, the two In
tending to have dinner by themselves.
"Tell him." said Mrs. Bickford to
John. "that as all our daughter can af-
ford Is tea and toast l shall share IT
with her."
John set off to his father-in-law's.
He had not been there long before he
returned to his house and protested
earnestly that his mother-in-law and
his wife were acting unwisely and un-
naturally.
John was head of his family, and his
wife succumbed and consented to go
with him. AS Mrs. Bickford did not
care to remain away alone both went
TO the Bickford farm and all sat down
to table.
"I've chosen Thanksgiving day." said
the farmer, "to end family feud.
Johns exploit has ended just where l
believed it would and has been fall
ure. Nevertheless from the time he
was married I resolved to save what
money he would sink, for ! knew he
would need it in the end. I got to-
gether half the amount needed to pay
cash for the farm before this last crop
was marketed, and now l have the
whole. intended to buy the farm for
you, Mandy; but, seeing your husband
learns faster than you, I've bought II
for him."
He threw on the table a deed to the
chicken farm made out to John VIII
liams.
"Why, thought Lawyer Groat bought
the chicken farm" exclaimed Mrs.
Bickford.
$50 he did-for me-"
Mandy sprang into her fathers arms
'It wasn't Johns fault that he fall
ed" the farmer went on. 1T was the
fault of his inexperience. l admired
his pluck, but determined to let hin
benefit by the experience. The har
vesting of this last crop has been too
much for an old man like me, and Tn
going to turn over the details of it
management to him. But, as / believ'
no house is big enough for two fam
lilies, you children are to remain at tn
chicken farm, using it for home ant
nothing more. Does thai suit yor
John?"
John grasped the farmers han(
while Mandy clung to his neck. Mrs
Blckford scarcely found room to Civ
her husband kiss. Then, after mol
NAL condition was attained, they b.
gan to discuss the best dinner ths
money could buy.
Visitors in that region are puzzled {
the name Chicken Farm" given to on
of the prettiest places there, since it
nothing like farm, and there are Z
. chickens on 1t. Occasionally an Il
. quirer gets the story of how 1t game
its singular name.