Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-11-21
n,s RIGHT arm. and the trace Of a smils

on his face, which. in repose, looked
pjnched 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
tiptoeing out of the room, when he
opened his eyes and said. Mother"
and soon he was smuggling her in his
strong young arms. After she lac eN-
tricatcd herself. she said: w are GO
ing to have our Thanksgiving dinner
TODAY. lust as early as l can get IT. 1t
win take most of the day. l am so
totally u~nprepared. l want to have our
friends and yours to it, John for | 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
and clderberry creations were browning
when tn, turk Y Went in.
From the left over pie crust she made
tarts. which We're 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 We're shattered With
sugar and soon stewing. How she
turned off the work. assisted by Beth
any. the hired girl. Things appeared
almost Ny magic WItl SIZE NdNeQ tlc
wand of domestic utility.
She had hardly time to comb her
hair and change her dress before the
guests began To arrive. Seven We're
widows whose husbands a been
killed i'm the service. There was d
sprinkling of young folk, including the
district school ma'am for whom John
had an especial liking. and it was
whispered that the coming head of the
Hawkins homestead was to be again
selected from the ranks of educators
of the young.
its full length. and the long dining
room was lighted by flaming candles.
There We're the hen turkeys Drowned
to d turn and so tender that no knife
was necessary to separate the mouth
fuls: grave that looked the color of a
cranberries the red glow of a sunset:
Ia small roast pig, garnished With
parsley, for those who preferred spare
rib; mashed potatoes that looked like
feecy clouds; mashed rutabaga the
color of gold; jelly, both crab and red
pickles: spiced peaches. hickory nuts
and butter nuts; pumpkin. mince and
elderberry pie-all three if you wanted
them: coffee with Holstein 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. j.
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. If no 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 "helpin's' as
their capacity would allow. everybody
moved 1nstinctively to the great hall
fire place. where there were apples
suffering in a row-Northern Spies.
Baldwins and Tompkin County Kings;
bright pans of buttered pop corn re-
fecting the freight. with jugs of sweet
cider 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 fieeting snow
flakes fingered tenderly against warmer
windows, and were sacrificed. An
within was as merry as happy hearts
and generous hospitality could make it.
When ]. Hawkins returned from the
cellar. where he had r%eplenished the
cider jugs. he said: Where's mother?.
She went into the parlor bed room a
} will go and get her."
John found her standing tallow dip
IN hand. in front of a framed tintype
under which hung a bunch of ever
lasting. looking at a picture of two
young boys in union uniform, one Sit
} ting on a camp stool. the other stand
ing with hand on his brothers should
er. which she had brought into the
World and the cruel war had taken
them from her.
John put his arm around her waist.
she brushed away her tears and. With
a smile. rejoined the circle aho,,t tba
! fire place. 'o1 stN