Norwich bulletin., 1914-11-21
THE HleHHoYs THANcselvNo
 STORY.

5a .swell, now that you ask me- re- piled the Highboy in answer to- a
 question of the Old Blue Plates, ssthe
 Thanksgiving that I remember most vividly was when I lived with the Clark family, some twenty years ago
 The Clarlzs were fine people. and when first became a member of their household they were as happy and prosperous a lot as ever saw.
 There were four of them-genial MT. Clark, his sweet-faced wife, and John and Alice, both in their teens. MT. Clark had a good business, and was a splendid provider for his fam fly My, but they used to have some
 great spreads on Thanksgiving days! They always made a point of invit- ing in those less fortunate than them
 selves, or who would be alone on that day, and what feasts they gave themi My back used to fairly ache with the good things. piled upon it.
 Then, all at once, a great change
 came over these people. I didn't mo- tice it much at first. but when even the dull Chinese Platter asked me one day what was going on, I thought it was time to take notice. So ob-
 served them closely at meals. Mrs. | look cheerful; her husband scarcely 1 touched his food: even the young folks acted strangely depressed. In few days I noticed that Mary, the u1dlQ, no longer served III the QI11nS- room, but that Mrs. Clark, worn and thin, prepared the meals herself To add to these mysteries, I no longer
 more my familiar weight of tempting 1 desserts, and the meals on the table looked inferior in every way. One day Mrs. Clarke came to one of my deep drawers, and with tears in her eyes, took out the boxes of handsome ] spoons. She wrapped them up care
 fully, and soon after I heard her go out of the house What could it all mean? It was getting to be Thanksgiving time, too.
 I was curious to see if even that day would have no power to cheer up my disheartened family.
 i The night before the annual feast
 caught some scraps of conversation at l the table which proved beyond doubt | the truth of the dreadful fears that | had been gathering in my breast MT. Pierce had failedi About everything
 was lost. I heard him say that he
 feared even the house would have to l be sold.
 The next day dawned cold and clear, | regulation Thanksgiving weather
 without, the darkest, dreariest of
 weather within. Breakfast was eaten almost in silence; lunch passed off in | but little better style. The young folks went off in the afternoon to for 1 get their troubles on the ice.
 It was approaching six o'clock-the time for the former great spreads. | What a looking table for Thanksgiv- l ing! I could see that some of the old l tea pots on the shelf actually turned | up their noses at the appearance of that board. I felt far differently. ] 1 always was of a sympathetic makeup. No sumptuous lord for me tonight was as empty as the widows cup | board Nothing but cold meat and a
 few dishes of vegetables on the table;
 no places for guests; no preparations | for jollity; one thing only in plenty,
 and that was, Gloom.
 MT. and Mrs. Clark took their ac-
 customed places. John ana Alice fin-
 ally came in, apparently in the better 1 spirits for their exercise. Then I | heard a sharp ring at the doorbell. l John went, and heard some words l spoken at the door. Soon he came
 into the dining-room, bringing a neat | looking basket, addressed to MT. John Clark, ST.
 I Whats this?" asked his father. Don't know. The messenger said
 it was to come here; that's all I
 could find out.''
 You can imagine was some curi- ous! But it didn't take long to undo | that basket In it was a fine turkey, 1 all roasted, bearing this message on a | card tied round it's neck, Please put
 me in the oven a few minutes l Judge it didn't take long to com ply with the birds request. for aI- | most before I knew it that same fine turkey was repoSing in front of MT. Clarke. with the carving knife begin
 ming it's work on it.
 Whats the. matter. John? Isn't 1 the knife sharp?" asked his wife.
 You're having hard time of it." Sharp enough, but I seem to have