The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1915-11-19

Susan, just once more. Here you
an | are vergin' onto eighty, an we
halnt had our folks all together for
goln' on ten year now. Here's this
great house, dinin' room fit to seat
thirty, an this room to spill over
INTO for as many more, and countin'
Sister Judy an Brother Ben, all the
sister an brother we've got left, bless
m!-except Betty, an she's tied to
the house by her broken hip, an al
ways will be, it's likely-allsput to-
gether they only count up forty-one,
but we can't get 'em together.
"Well," he unused on, well try to
get dozen or so of EN- an call it
family party, but you an an Rhody,
an the help are strong an hearty, an
could take care of 'em all, if they
would only come. But | don't see any
way"
mo, there isn't any way" sighed
his good wife, "but you hadn't ought
er complain, Silas. Ye've got a
sight O. blessin's, an we'd oughter
think O. those we've got an not
banker after those we can't have"
Which was, good doctrine, though it
could not quite stop the deacon's
grumbling.
Miss Rhoda Phipps was quite equal
to the task of taking care of the old
people. A strong woman helped her
in the kitchen, and there were neigh
bors near by who were ready to do
extra work. Job, the good middle
aged man who had taken care of the
horses for many year, was no
mean hand at household as well as
stable service, and at this special
Thanksgiving season Miss Rhoda
kept them all busy until the pantries
were piled thick, with dainties. Mrs.
Phipps thought that there was too
much food prepared.
"Why, Rhoda, what do we want
with twenty apple pies and six tur-
keys and ten chicken pies and a gal
lon of cranberry sauce?" she cried.
1--WE never in the world can eat them
up before they spoil AS near as |
An Automobile Thanksgiving ------
can make out, there are only about
ten coming, anyway" /
But Miss Rhoady said she would
risk it." and laughed her mother back
to her post beside the fire.
By ten o'clock Thanksgiving morn
ing the whole farmhouse was in
speckless order, Aunt Judy and I'm
Gle Ben had promised to come early
and so had son John and his family
Deacon Phipps was restleSsly peer /
ing up the road, long before the prop /
err time, and Mrs. Phipps was almost
as impatient as he. ~
Presently over the brow of the hill
came great touring car. The dea-
con scowled, but as he heard first the
sweet Gabriel horn, and then the
rough roar of the KlaXOn, his face
relaxed a little. Who were in the
car? 1t was not the family Of son
John. Surely it was Thomas and
his minister brother, with several
members of their families, and Mrs.
Phipps fairly cried with joy as she
saw them.
There is another load just behind
us" they shouted, as they drew up
before the door.
"Another load" There were half
dozen loads before the final toll was
taken. and when two strong, big
Phipps sons lifted out from one of
the cushioned limousines poor, lame
old Aunt Betty, who could not have
dreamed of coming in anything eX-
cent such softly padded vehicle,
the +ears were dropping all over Moth
ar Phipps' best white lace jabot.
Such Thanksgiving! Every sin,
ole one of the Phipps children and
Grandchildren was there! The good
ieacon's voice trembled with joy as
he asked the blessing, and poured out
his thanks before God.
But you know, father" said Tho
mas Phipps, slyly, "there are several
If lie who couldn't possibly have come
if it hadn't been for those automo-
biles that you hate So"
The deacon ahemmed, and brlstled
q little, but in the face of the loud
yoerriment which greeted this perfect
Iv true reminder, his few rather growl-
mo remarks could not be heard.
aYou know there really isn't much
danger from automobiles nowadays,
e. tberr proceeded Thomas Phipps
"The chauffeurs are
better taught than they used to be,
tbe machines can be stopped more
easily-oh, in every way they are i'm
proved" -,