Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-11-23

purchased the garments cut out anu
some young ladies offered to make
them up.
Poor Peggy looked sorrowful at
the happy faces of her schoolmates
during the week, thinking it was the
anticipated enjoyment OF the coming
Thanksgiving that made them SO
gleeful, and she wondered why they
became so silent when she ap-
preached a group of them chatting
away in the corner.
Thanksgiving morning dawned
clear and cold. Mrs. Grant and
Peggy ate their frugal breakfast, and
with a sigh the elder lady put away
the remnants, thinking of the many
happy circles chat would assemble
around festive boards, and she could
not afford an extra article of food
that day. When the church bell
sounded she laid aside her knitting,
! donned her old, rusty, bombazine
dress and Grape bonnet, that had
served her many a year, and taking
| Peggy's hand set out for church;
first covering the fire to save the lit
tie fuel in the stove until their re-
turn. The air was keen, and pene.
trated their thin garments, but the
church would be warm-they could
take seats near the stove-and as
Parson Harveys sermons were
/ lengthy. they would have two good
hours of warmth.
A. hOnnnf nQCCQ6
on it's way, it was watched by score
of bright eyes; and as it disappeared
! through the church door, there was
a general dorLing of hoods and
cloaks, and a bevy of young girls
came out of the different houses
bearing baskets, pals and bundles
and took their way to the dilapidated
howell
A load of wood. that had beer
waiting on the outskirts of the vii
lage, was driven to the door and un
! loaded. and half a dozen young mer
with saws and axes began to demol
! ish it, while a corps of little boys
packed it neatly under tumble-dowr
shed in the rear.
Meanwhile within doors, the girls
were busy Transforming the cherries
apartmen into one of comfort. The
bare floor was partly covered with
some strips of half-worn carpet
two or three cheap prints in rustic
frames. with some wreaths of ever
green, gave the dingy walls home
like look. Opposite the door the word
Thanksgiving, in evergreen, was
placed A bright fire was burning
] in the little stove, and the teakettle
! singing away as if it entered into
| the spirit of the occasion. The olo
table was drawn into the middle OF
the room. covered with a snowy cloth
and the widows scanty array of crock
cry arranged to the best advantage
upon it, while baskets, pals and
bundles gave up their store of goodies
| to fill it.
AS the time for the close of service
drew near, they finished their work
and left for their respective homes.
watching with dancing eyes, Mrs
Grant and Peggy as they trudged de.
murely homeward.
AS they reached their little domi.
Gle and opened the door of the kitch-
en-. both uttered an exclamation of
establishment. The old lady sank into
a chair and rubbed her eyes thinking
they were playing her some tricf
while Peggy cried:
"Oh, granny, the fairy folks have
been here!"
The table was set for two. A roas
/ turkey occupied the place of honor,
flanked by chicken pie and a dish
of scalloped oysters, while vegetables,
bread and butter, pies and cakes of
various kinds. and dishes of fruit
filled the board, and pot of coffee
bubbling on the stove sent forth 9
delicious odor.
"Oh. granny, is it all a dream, anu
shall l wake up soOn?" asked Pegg2',
her eyes swimming with tears.
Il don't know, dearie, what it al.
means but here's note" and taking
a folded paper from the table, she
read:
"a Thanksgiving dinner for Mrs
Grant and Peggy, from their numer
our friends"
THANK the Lord for such friends
who remember the widow and or.
| phan," said Mrs. Grant, wiping her
eyes.
ooh, granny, see here!" shouted
Peggy, pointing to the bureau, on
which was arranged an assortment Of
toys and picture-books, crimson
merino dress, sack and hood, with a
neat pair Of CATERS. A card, with
this inscription, lay by their side:
Peggy Grant, from her school
mates''
We must not dwell upon the pleas.
ures of that day; it was the richest
in Peggy's existence, and in after
years, when she moved in the best
circles in society, she looked back
with warm feeling at her heart to