Norwich bulletin., 1911-11-28
FROM GLOOM TO SUNSHINE
 A THANKSGIVING STORY
By Mrs. Annie A. Preston

The sheep shears, hanging upon nail nearby. having nowadays no thick f1eeces to try their edges upon, were opening and shutting with anxiety to cut the dead, Ieafiess vines away from outside the windows. and now click ed:
 Don't be always anxious to con- tradict. l am not very sharp, put l am sharp enough to know that noth- ing has been said about the Bible"
 The little girl who lived in the kitch- en turned as red as a daInask rose at that and resolved never to be anxious to raise her voice in opposition again, lest the habit might grow upon her
 The vines that had been looking in att the windows trembling from fear of the big shears, reached out their arms to the passing wind and were stripped away so that the sun shone in and winlsed knowingly at the saucepan as much as to say. See how much good you have accomplished already, and the breeze whispered cheerfuliy, ITO let in the sunshine is one lovely part of your mission of usefulness.
 The little girl heard it and said aloud:
 Why. I can smile and I can sing. that may be the lovely part of my mis- sion. and I can dust. and can scrub. don't suppose Grandma would mo- tice, but the good God would know that I am helping the saucepan to make the home bright and that will help to make Thanksgiving every day..
 
 stood with parted lips and shining eyes, having forgotten her work for the moment, so intent was she upon the story.
 Grandma Jones glanced at her eager face also and snapped out, but not quite so sharply as usual:
 For my part, l do not believe in telling children tales that are not true"
 Neither do I, unless perchance they may be helpful tales,' said Aunt Jane. T very much object to frightening children or to telling them anything that will make them nervous or timid,' and she looked so hard at the old gar ments that Grandma Jones grabbed them down from their pegs and carry ing them to the chip yard where poor suffering Jonas was saving wood to keep the kitchen fire going, she gave them to him without more ado.
 Jonas. who had to sing to keep from stuttering, began now in his great surprise and gratitude. for he needed the garments sadly. to sing in time to his woodsaw:
 -.oh, ceary me. how thankful I be. This makes Thanksgiving enough for me-"
 T never supposed Thanksgiving could be made so easy" aaid Grandma Jones coming in and forgetting to snap. 'I wish somebody would make Thanksgiving for me. That is just why I am here said Aunt Jane, catching down the turkey wing and beginning to dust. Come. Edith, dear, -et us go to work and hep the new saucepan to make the home bright
 That was the beginning. but it was not the end. for one change made way fer another and as the really pretty, comfortable house was made tidy and sunny, Grandma Jones grew cheerful and pleasant, until she was almost as lice as my grandma or yours, and Edith was so delighted with the change thaL she sms.ed and sang as sweetiy as any bright little girl in any sunny farmhouse among the beautiful green fields
 One day Grandma Jones said: why can't We have Thanksgiving and invite in fCme of cur neirhhoTs; there are things enough to eat. goodness knows, when you come to think about it, there generally is farm. and we need new-chiclSen wing and turkey wing dusters if we are going to keep you really set yourself about 1t 'lhanl1sgiving isn't so very hard to make, after ail.'
 Everything shines this morning in- doors and out" said Aunt Jane as she was about leaving the eastern country for the country in the west, and as she hit the saucepan with the handle of her silk uIl breila it rang ut such a cheerful echo of her words that Grandma Jores joined heartily in Ediths laugh end tEe neiGnbors, who had been invited to join in the Thanks giving dinner and who had come in to lid goodbye and Godspeed to the cheerfuI little lady who had wrought such perfectly wonderful cnanges, nod ded at each other and said:
 We all have learned a lesson. There :s no place, however humble, where tbcre may not be sunshine, neatneSs, chCelfulness ant neighsyDrltness. a~G we will never again neglect to thank the good Heavenly Father for His great kindness to every one of His children"