The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-29
EVENING STORY
Her Thanksgivin~ Invitation.

10y OUdIiCS SlQCI ="
She was alone. The impatient snap
ping of the kitchen fire and the muir
murous monotone of the rain were
the only sounds that broke the dreary
silence of sullen gray November And
it was Thanksgiving day.
1.-The boys" her two middle-aged
sons, were in the town somewhere.
They would be home to dinner and
away again. She hoped they were
having a good time.
There was rap at the door. Grand
mas eyes were red and she would
rather not see any one just now.
Come in she finally called, net
knowing what else to do.
.'All alone % cheerily sang out the
visitor, an old-time friend.
The aged woman turned her back
to her caller for an instant and fur
lively wiped her eyes. But there were
tears in her voice when she said
TREMENDOUSLY, I've been visitin' all the
mornin' with the old folks l used to
know"
The visitor looked at her keenly.
Could Grandma Burke's mind be wan
dering as the neighbors said it some
times did? But the words were not
so irrelevant as they seemed. The
friends of memory were the only com
pany she had on Thanksgiving day.
You haven't anything to do today,
have you?" asked the visitor.
4NOlllll1 OuN WdS the ie-
ply. I'm gettln' nice dinner for the
boys"
Cant the boys cook" was the
abrupt question.
They ken when they go campin'."
said Grandma, but they don't like to
cook at home
Don't like to-" the friend re-
peated with a drawl that meant many
things she didn't like to say. ANY
way" she added, I've come to carry
you away for the day"
Grandma's back Strengthened up
just notch. ''Where?" she painted,
looking scared She couldn't remem-
Der when she had been away from
home at meal time.
"Out to Sister James," was the reply.
you two can talk over the times when
you were girls. We're going to have
real old style Thanksgiving and 1
know you'll enjoy it,"
1t was just what grandma had been
longing and yearning for-to be in
vited out where she would be in
stalled in a comfortable rocking chair
and visited with as if she were still a
human being and not just a rundown
old pillow horse.
I'D like to CO." she began, but
John and Harry"
"Oh, don't worry about John and
Harry" interrupted the visitor. It'll
be a lark for them to get their own
dinner for once. Your go, won't
you?"
81 hain't got nothin' to wear" was
the next excuse. My bombazine is
so old-fashioned."
The bombazine had been most pru-
IDENTIFY provided years before by her
husband for her shroud,S but, with
equal prudence, she had worn it to
his funeral, and had continued to
wear it on the extremely rare occa-
than a cotton wrapper.
Its just the thing for an old-fash-
toned woman" comforted the tempt
er. You always look nice in its long
soft folds. Won't you go?"
A guilty look crept over grandma's
face but she finally said, Il never
done sech a thing before in my life,
but 1 will jest this once"
That's right" smiled the friend.
''Be ready by II. We are going early
to help with the dinner
Back to the kitchen grandma tot
tered. Hurriedly and nervously she
scrubbed herself, and smOothed her
scanty hair to the sheen of white satin.
The antiquated bombazine had never
made her feel very gay, and now as
she drew it on and folded a snowy
kerchief softly about her seamy neck,
she felt as if she were going to her
own funeral. She would certainly
look very sweet in her coffin. When
she was all ready she looked at the
clock. 1t was only 10. She would
have time to begin dinner for the boys.
Soon her trembling hands were mix
ing pastry. But her thoughts-they
were playing truant, travelling step by
step backward over many Thanksgiv-
ing to the time when her good hus-
and was alive and eleven children were
all at home.
At length the pumpkin was prepared
and in the crust. and grandma was
carefully putting the pies in the oven,
hoping they would be good. Suddenly,
as if seized by the sharpest pain, she
cried, "Oh-O-o-o! If hain't clean
forgot the spices! I'll hev to stir 'em
in now!"
1t was not long before the spicy
aroma began to diffuSe its fragrance
thru the house. And what a differ
ence it made! 1t was like the spirit