The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-11-24
A Frontier Thanksgiving,

hut as she spoke her glance took IN
! the desOlate outdoor vlew, ana sue
sighed. The prairie village looked more
chilly and huddlod than ever since the
Istuntcd trees had lost their foliage, ana
| the trnck of the last cruel cyclone was
"No, il isn't Thanksgiving here,
| Elsie declared, Good let the cyclone
come and destroy our harvest, aud we
haven I ANYTHING nice TO eat or wear,
| Everybody S poor and ! say say =
| The blue eyes were full of tears and
no more words could come from the
swelling throat as Elsie turned to the
window,
Mrs. Holmes looked at her dear 10.
Iyear.old daughter in her scant gown and
Matched shoes. and her heart ached.
1 "Ncyer mind, dearie, she said con
solingly, "think how your father mas
| helped our poor people and how they
/ love him Luther is growing so strong
and helpful, too, and Baby is well ana
good.
playing with spools, hearing ms iamll.
[ lar name, turned and with gurgles OF
delight paddled across the floor to wei
coming arms. Then the outer door new
opcn and Luther, his arms full OF tree
branches, his checks Redeemed by the
cold air, came in. am
:" Look a that. Mall he cried; call
that wood for nothing, an lots more II
. | bring IL, and | will. II 5 from OTTO
I Bergen S trees way over -
/ "Why, MY dear! did you bring that
+ from the ravine ~ ,
/ Luther nodded. al m g0Nag to ill the
stable. All YOU have to do is 10 get your
back bent just right aud then Keep walk
? I'laia1 t'FFlUH4 -
Before the mother could answer Elsie
turned. Eyes, l am, and it's because
we re so poor-so poor We can I nave
the least bit Of Thanksgiving tomor'
row, not even a pudding with ralslns IN
it!3
Luther sat down on the woodbox,
pulled OH his cap and smiled reminls'
Gently as he said:
| "i can remember a Thanksgiving din
ner at Gran pa 5. Wash I ! four years
old2 We We been here seven years ana
| m leyen, so of course IheTe was \
big turkey and. one leg fell oil on tine
ta6leeloth, and they gave me the wish
"My bones are all wishboges this
minute. because m wishing so Tor
civilized Thanksgiving, Elsie inter
mptcd. her words husky with the UNI
she'd tears behind them.
I Luther looked at her reprovingly,
But | should think you d be asham'
ed to say so when you know II can be
helped" he said, with the bluntness OF
youth rs he drew on his cap ana started
for another load of wood.
Mrs. Holmes looked around thought
fully. Elsie, suppose we slarmish
once more and see if we can find some
thing to be thankful for an.
The girl began to laugh even while
tears we're running over her cheeks.
"Oh. | took an inventory this morn.
inc. Marmee, and there 5 about n quart
of flour, a few potatoes, teeny, plt OF
oatmeal aud--yes, few crackers l
think the cyclone left some turnlps IN
the garden and that 5 all.
We'll, there 4 the Christmas boxI
wonder ii we took out everything.
Laughing stll almost Historically,
Elsie helped lift the cushion stuffed with
hay from the Christmas box, which had
been utilized for a seat, and her mothef
thrust in an exploring hand.
..Why. yes. here is a can of tongue!
[ remember now that | saved IT Tor a
time of need. And here IS the beautiful
Itablecloth your Uncle Bradford sent.
Wasn t it lust like a man to spend i've
ar six dollars for this when | had moth
ing TO match it! But we II use it now,
and make our table look as fine as pos
sible. | have never had courage to even
unfold it. ~,
Elsie took hold of one end of the shin
ing linen and then gave glad cry;
IL Mother! Motheree! what is thisf
For there, pinned to an inner fold was
A crisp bill. Her eager fingers released
it as She exclaimed: ''Ten dollars! Ten
dollarsl
Mrs. Holmes sat down, and the baby
10 al with huhX <
quick suspicion that something had hap
pened. His mother hid her face on his
curly head while Elsie sobbed: con, It
makes me feel so meant Here it was all
tbe time while ! was complaining. 1t S
almost 5 O'Clock, and father II soon
come. Oh, how can | wait to tell him1 -
At dusk she saw the tired father com
ing across the windswept field and hur-
ried out, little checked shawl over her
head, and with eloquent eyes ana hlps
told the story of the wonderful dis
coveTy.
Hidden in tablecloth instead, OF
a napkin this time, WASH { lti Well,
bless the Lord, o my soul, and forget
not all his benefits! - he exclaimed,
and perhaps no one who has not waited
for weeks for Home Board remittance
can fully realize what that meant:
And now little supper for Luther
and me; then ! II borrow Deacon True S
horse and start for town.
ooh, not tonight" his wife urged
''Wait till morning.
{" No. no, we must have that turkey
tonight and wagonload of good things
to carry out in the morning to our poor
people. Tired? that ten dollar bill has
rested me more than a good night S
sleep. Come Elsie, help us into our
overcoats and we can eat on the way,
1t was four miles to town, and the
deacon s horse was not swift, but there
was no thought of time or distance as
the missionary. in his old blue overcoat,
With the precious bill carefully tucked
into an inside pocket, drove away.
Luther looked back to call to Elsie,
who was wildly waving her handker-
chief, "Say! don t you wish now that
Won d been thankful when you didn
have ANYTHING to be thankful for
We need not tell what came from
town that night to make a "civilized
! Than ksgiving' in the little brown
bone. There were other good things
a turkey-smail. but plump and juicy,
and once more Luther had wishbone.
There were other good things to 90 with
lit, and quantities of knobby packages
to be distributed among the needy.
When the family gathered around the
table covered with the lovely shining
damask. their faces shone with graft.
tude, and Luther said:
"Nobody that looks at us needs
Thanksgiving proclamation to tell him
what day it is. Lucy Jameson Scott,
in the Congregationalis and Christian
| World