Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-11-24

ket so soon that Johnny was rather
ashamed of having made q fuss. They
| all walked along together, Chester
| and Johnny carrying the basket be-
| tween them.
You must have lots of fun with
your ponies" Johnny remarked. Gle
never saw Chester without an envi-
GUS thought of the ponies.)
The other boy hesitated. "They
won't let me take 'em out without
I Michael" he said. For ponies they
l are pretty spirited, and fathers
| afraid of my getting hurt. Michael
won't talk very much. He isn't en-
tertaining." 1t IN ,,.i.. -E2
They reached the Norcorss cottage
before long. Bessie and Dick were
swinging the gate, and the baby in
doors was pounding on the window
to attract attention.
Chester Leighton looked on with
wistful eyes. Say" he exclaimed
suddenly, "at your home it must be
ike Thanksgiving all the year."
Johnny and Henrietta looked at
him. Johnny wondered what Ches-
ter would say If he knew there was
to be no turkey for dinner the next
Thursday. Then he found himself
listening while Chester went on with
that plaintive' sound In his voice.
you see, there's nobody at our
house for meals" he said, except
Mr.. Crittenden (he's my tutor, you
and fathers in New York. Mr.. Crit
tenden had an invitation for Thanks
giving, but he didn't accept 1t be-
cause he don't feel like leaving me
alone. I'd just as soon he had,
| though, for he keeps thinking so
much about 1t that he don't say any
thing. 1t makes you have a heavy
feeling here" said Chester, putting
his hand against his heart, "to sit at
the table with people who don't say
anything"
Johnny did not know what to say
in answer. There were generally
several talking at once at the Nor
cross table.
But Henrietta gave Chester a
glance full of sympathetic under
standing. Don't go for a minute"
she said. II want to ask mother
something" She hurried up the
walk as fast as she could with the
basket OH her arm, while Dick and
Bessie followed at her heels, begging
for an apple. Henrietta was gone
several minutes. When she again re-
appeared, she came down the walk
| with hop, skip, and jump. "Would
you like to come to our house for
your Thanksgiving dinner?" she ask
ed breathlessly. Mother said l
could ask you, but not to tease"
20 my" cried Chester Leighton.
He was pale boy, but at that mo-
ment his face was flushed. "I'd, love
It," he said. -,
But. Henrietta" Johnny inter
rupted, 81 think we ought to tell
him." He turned toward Chester,
his cheeks hot with embarrassment.
Were not going to have a turkey
for Thanksgiving" he stammered.
Ghester ns stssed asd vo Why csn that's hats
turkey any day. But l never ate
thanksgiving dinner with a lot Of
other boys and girls. 1 think it
would be the incest thing in the
world. But I'll have TO ask Mr.. Crit
tenden."
Mr.. Crittenden gave his permission
very readily. Mr.. Norcross. though
a poor man, was thoroughly re-
spected IN the town, and his children
had been well brought up. Besides,
now that Chester was disposed Of,
his tutor was at liberty to accept his
friends invitation. Everybody was
In good spirits except johnny Nor
cross. He had been plying himself
so long that it was impossible to be-
lieve that Chester Leighton, the
owner of a span Of black ponies and
any number of other things, actually
envied him.
If ever a boy enjoyed Thanks
giving dinner, that boy was Chester
Leighton. He came very early and
n ho
eta opened the door. al thought
maybe l wouldn't be in the way as
long as there's so many Others"
In the way?" said Mrs. Norcross
heartily. mot bit of it. We're
all taking hold, you see; and the
more helpers, the better" Then she
tied gingham apron around Ches-
ter's neck and set him to peeling po-
tatoes.
Chester had never peeled a potato
In his life before. He told Johnny
later that he couldn't think Of any
thing that was more fun than getting
dinner.
By the time they sat down to the
table even Johnny had forgotten to
be sorry for the lack Of turkey.
There were roast pork, baked beans,
apple sauce, and an apple pudding
that Mrs. Norcross made better than
any one else could. The wonder was
that, after the dinner was over, they
could go right to work popping corn
and eating it. too, big pans of 1t. And
later in the afternoon they made mo-
lasses candy; and each one Of the
five Norcrosses and the one leighton
We're intrusted with a brown, sticky
mass to pull into whiteness.
Chester Leighton hated to go
home. He stayed till after it was
dark, and would like to have stayed
longer. "lt'S tho niceSt MIA MI spiu-