Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-11-23

''Oh, Auntie Nell, tell us really and
truly true story about Thanksgiving
when you were a little girl" And lit
tie Beulah climbed into my lap, while
l have Moore and Johnny clustered
about my chair.
"A really and truly true story of
Thanksgiving when l was a little girl"
/ repeated I'm not sure, children,
that Thanksgiving then was very much
different than it is now to you little
men and women"
'Oh, yes, auntie, I'm quite sure 1t
must have BEEN" began Moore, in the
dear little important way of his. You
see you lived in the country on farm.
while we"-with note of regret in his
tone-"have always lived in the city"
And farm is so much nicerI" add
AA Una.
"All right. my dears. then here goes
for a story of how we spent Thanks
giving on the farm. For more than
week before Thanksgiving the house
took on the most delicious odors, and
we children-you know there were
seven of us-went shifting around and
peering into every mysteriously cover
ed pot and pan. There was stewing
of pumpkin and chopping of mince
meat, boiling of cider, and l don't
know what all, noe to mention huge
fruit cake already baked and stored
away in big crock in the cellar. At
las, after oh! such long time of wait
ing, came the day. For you see. chill
dren. not only did it bring us such
feast of good things to eat; but host
0f off
little folks. just like you. Just think
of the fun we would havei"
"Oho, how l wish we had cousins
living on a farm" said Johnny, re-
gretfully.
We'll, as soon as breakfast was over
out we would tumble into the snow, for
1t seems to me l can scarcely remem-
Der Thanksgiving without snow"
Then your grandpa would harness
the horses and drive to the station for
the company. How anxiously we
watched the road for their return. and
what a shout from both sides when
they drove in sight.
Then the chatter and frolic COM
menced and was kept up until the din
ner bell rang. In great big kitchen
was a long table set"
In the kitchen" interrupted lima.
with amazement in her blue eyes, who
ever heard of eating a Thanksgiving
dinner in the kitchen?"
Yes, indeed, Miss Dainty. in the
Kitchen"
Farm houses then were not always
built with dining rooms. but the kitch-
en- was very large and bright.
ssrThara aNtapHinT "a xxb..lH lav, 9th
stood the table literally loaded. And
piece2'
"Pwetty flowers" lsped Beulah.
- pile of fruit" shouted Johnny.
I shook my head.
Neither" said |. but the tiniest
'squealer' / expect YOU children ever
saw"
The look of blank amazement which
greeted this announcement caused me
to burst into a hearty laugh.
You ignorant little things" I ex-
claimed. don't you know what
'squealer' is? Why. a pig to be sure.
There in the center of TIE table was
little roasted pig. with bright red APP
pie in its mouth"
The children gave a scream of de-
light
''oh-oh- How cute it must have
been"
But didn't YOU have no turkey"
broke in Johnnie. who had never stud
led grammar.
"of course we had turkey. and Gran
berries. and
~Thweet potatoes?'' inquired Beulah.
anxiously.
Yes sweet potatoes. and pudding
and pie. until we imagined we would
not want anything more to eat until
Christmas"
What did you do them
well then came the best part Of
ALI We children were allowed to so
up into the garrett. There. with a big
fire blazing in an old chunk stove. we
ronlped and played without fear OF
disturbing the older ones We played
hide and seek among the old chests.
we swung in a rope swing hanging
from one of the rafters. Ne rumaged
through boxes filed with old-fashion-
ed garments and dressed up in them
and played keeping house and COM
pany. Then as the shadows began 20
gather in the corners of the garnet
and the freight peeped through crew
ices and danced upon the floor we
gathered around the fire and told
ghost stories until the younger ones
shiversd with fright and gladly wei
coined mothers voice calling from the
foot OF the stairs. Bedtime. little folks.
and a tired little regiment marched
down the stairs. donned white uni
forms ami was Of to the land Of