Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-11-28

When John. on his way home, ar
rived at u, the last railroad sta
ton. he met man from tho county
seat, who greeted him as IL he had been
raised from the dead. He told John Of
the memorial service to be held that
Thanksgiving morning in honor OF the
/ supposedly dead young cavalry officer.
John, not waiting for the AIRLINE stage
| which connected the railroad with the
county seat hired horse and rode
post-haste to head of the services, II
possible. Farmers along the route Of
the plank road wondered at union
cavalry officer. in full uniform, riding
at top speed. his horse fecked with
foam. "A messenger bearing important
d1spatches," some said.
| One of the biggest fires that the fire.
place had ever contained roared In the
hall that night. ]. & Almira Hawkins
sat In one chair, while John related to
them the details of his capture, how
ne saved the army train by sacrificing
himself and his command his promo-
ton to captaincy and his furlough
Are you going back?" was his moth
er,s comment after the exciting and
gallant tale was finished. ''If they send
for me-" answered John But" he
added. comfortingly, "it looks as IL tbs
war was drawing to a close. Grant il
turning Lee at every point, and it can
not be long before the backbone Of tho
| confederacy Is broken
What makes you limp. John?" his
| mother Intercepted. That's ONLY
where a reb winged me while was
making my escape. The doctor says it
will be six months before I will BIO
able to re-enter the service
AS they were going up to bed, J.
Hawkins said to his wife, "Almira, did
you ever know happier THANKSGIVING
night than this?" Her eyes filled with
gray mist as she put her head down
on his shoulder and murmured, "Only
one, DEAR
Next morning Almira Hawkins rose
at daylight to begin preparations for
put on clean Bingham dress, brushed
back her silvered locks. tied blue bow
at her throat and tripped down stairs.
There was already roaring fire in
the kitchen. where ]. Hawkins sat.
sousing in a pail OF scalding water two
OF the biggest yearling hen turkeys.
already beheaded. to properly cele-
brate the day.
He was picking the feathers dill
gently and chasing even every elusive
pinfeather to cover. She ran up to
him, and amid the cloud of steam aris-
Ing from the not very good smelling
occupation, kissed him on both cheeks.
She got quick breakfast OF the things
John liked best. and went up to his
room as she used to, to call him.
There he lay, fast asleep on his two
feather beds, his curly head resting on
his right arm, and the trace of smile
on his face, which, in repose, looked
pinched and drawn, as If he had SUI
fered. One leg stuck out from under
| the coverlet, and she saw for the first
time the ugly wound of which he had
made light. She hadn't the heart to
disturb his peaceful slumber. and was
tiptoeing out OF the room, when he
Il
and soon he was smuggling her in his
strong young arms. After she had ex-
| tricated herself, she said: I'VE are go
Ing to have our Thanksgiving dinner
today, just as early as can get it. 1t
will take most Of the day, 1 am SO
friends and yours to it, John, for I am
SO happy"
After breakfast she tucked up her
dainty sleeves and rolled out pie crust
from fine flour, delicious butter and
pure pig lard; and the pumpkin, mince
when the turk eys went in.
From the left over pie crust she made
tarts, which were spread with wild
grape jelly. which. for flavor and color,
exceeded any spread" known to the
inhabitants Of war time-or any time.
for that matter.
The cranberries were shattered with
sugar and soon stewing How she
turned off the work, assisted by Beth
any, the hired girl! Things appeared
almost by magic when she waved the
wand of domestic utility.
She had hardly time to comb her
hair and change her dress before the
guests began to arrive. Seven were
WIDOWS whose husbands had been
killed In the service. There was q
spr1nkling of young folk, including the
district school ma'am, for whom John
nj
whispered that the coming head of the
Hawkins homestead was to be again
selected from the ranks OF educators
of the young.
The table was set for "a, spread to
room was lighted by flaming candles.
There were the hen turkeys Drowned
to turn and SO tender that no knife,
was necessary to separate the MOUTH
fuls; grave that looked the color of a
roll Of brown velvet; oyster stufing:
cranberries the red glow of a sunset:
small roast pig, garnished with
parsley, Tor those who preferred spare
RIB; mashed potatoes that looked like
heecy clouds; mashed rutabaga the
color of gold; jelly, both crab and red
raspberry; cucumber and mustard
pickles; spiced peaches. hickory nuts
and butter nuts; pumpkin, mince and
eiderberry pte-all three If you wanted
them; coffee with Holste In cream.
! The two dozen guests took the places
assigned them, and over this steaming.
wonderful meal. which has had few
equals In local culinary history. ].
Hawkins breathed an audible prayer
for all the blessings OF the year and to
| the Giver OF every good and perfect
gift; at which last IL no one saw John
Hawkins press the hand Of the little
school teacher at his side. it was
| pressed, just the same
After the bountiful meal, to which
each one had as many 'lnelpin's' as
their capacity would allow, everybody
moved instinctively to the great han
fire place. where there were apples
sputtering In a row-Northern Spies.
Baldwtns and Tompkin County Kings:
bright pans of buttered pop corn re-
flecting the freight, with jugs Of sweet
Icider in close proximity.
The roar Of cracking fire logs leaned
up the wide mouthed chimney and
made further illumination unnecessary.
Famed by the eastern gale. the fire
burned merrily, while fieetirg snow
flakes fingered tenderly against warmer
windows, and were Sacrificed. All
within was as merry as happy hearts
and generous hospitality could make Il,
| When j. Hawkins returned from the