The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-02-03
A Thankful
THANKSGIVING

looking down into the basket of glossy
red-cheeked Spitzenbergs as if it were
a family vault and taking up an apple
as II 1T had been a skull; mo, I don't
Then, S~arapeta," observed her hus.
band, who had just thrown a huge log
on the ope fire, you don't disarr
nothin' to be thankful for! It's as
~harnSo1ne q turkey as ever tapped,
II l don't know of a year when I've
had nicer pumpkins on that ar, corr
lott"
Tain't turkey or pumpkin pies or
cranberry sass as makes T~hanksgiv-
in" sighed Mrs. Nisbett.
What is it, then? Eff it's cold wealth
er, l shouldn't ha' thought the last frost
would ma done the business for you
pretty fairly. Them artemisias by the
front door is scorched black, and the
old maple is losin' its leaves as if they
was rainin' down. Parson Jarvis is
comm all the way from Sloatesvilie to
preach tomorrow, and the quire's
larned a bran new anthem just a-pur-
pose, about bein' thankful for harvest
and all that sort OF thing. I'm sure I
don't know what else you'd have"
MRS. NiSbett only answered by a sigh,
7 wonder if faint possible Stephe
II be hum tonight She said after a
pause.
He writ not. He thought he'd drop
IN arly tomorrow mornin' if he caught
the train he expected. Only think, old
woman, it's five years since Stephe was
hum to Thanksgiving"
Old Nisbett rubbed his horny hands,
with a chuckle. adding;
And l s'pose, IL all accounts is true,
he's gettin' to be a great man out In
that western country. 1t was kin of
a hard pull when he went off and left
US, but maybe the boy was in the
right"
Yes" said Mrs. Nisbett dolorously,
'1T5 cnTNNnlAnr. I -, ~A+ l.
the idea of his maryin' a strange gal
out there
Joel scratched his head. This was a
phase of the subject that he scarcely
felt competent to discuss.
Maybe you'll like her. Stephen saws
she's a nice gal"
stephen says! As If a man over
head and ears in owe wouldn't say
anything"
Il wish he'd told us who she was"
Mrs. Nisbett groaned again: Joel
went out to the w%oodpile, the everyday
what little of philosophic inspiration he
had.
Mrs. Nisbett!"
1t was q soft little voice, and the
old lady's face relaxed instinctively as
it ounde on her ears.
Why, Ida Tremaine-'tain't you!"
1T is. I've lone everything that Aunt
Constance wanted, and now I've just |
run over to see if you don't need a bit
of help"
She stood in the doorway, a fair lit
tie apparition, all flushed and rosy |
with the November wind. while her
blue eyes sparkled as if they were twin
~sapphires hidden away under her long.
dark lashes. She was neither blonde nor
brunette, but a fresh checked girl, with
nut brown hair, skin like the leaf of a
dainask rose, a straight, refined nose
and lnS as finG 81 a y,aI nro he -
though by no means SO Jul Generally
she had a demure sort OF gravity lin
gering about her face, but when she
did laugh a dimple came out upon her
cheek and a row of pearly teeth glim-
mered ins~tantaneously.
In one hand she carried a bunch of
late autumn flowers.
'See." she cried, holding them I'D.
Il ransacked Aun Constance's garden
for these. I knew that big vase on the
Inantel needed something. and, with a
branc or so of scarlet leaves, Til have
a royal bouquet to help you keep
Thanksgiving"
Mrs. Nisbett took the fair oval face
between her two hands and kissed the
fresh little mouth.
Set down, Ida" she said. II wasn't
n-calculatin' to have no sech fixin's up,
but you've sech a way, child, l can't
never say no to you"
But you're going to keep Thanks
giving" cried Ida. throwing off her
outer wrappings and dancing up to the
looking glass like a little gale Of wind.
because you invited III Constance
and me to Inner and because your
son is coming home"
Yes, child" said Mrs. Nisbett, sub
siding once more into the mournful key
from which Lida's sudden appearance |
had m~omentarily aroused her. ''Joers
got the turkey shut UP in a coop. and
the Xxi done, and I'm just a-fxin'
them apples. and
"Oh. OH" cried Ida, who had fut- |
tered to the window, what glorious
red leaves speckled over with little
wreaths for the wall? Oh, please. say
yes!" 80
Mrs. Nisbett said "yes,--it would
have beer hard work to say mo, to
Lida-and the girl soon came in. her
apron full of sprigs of the old maple
window yelled with cool shadows
through the glaring summer days and
showered fading gold upon the dead
grass hen h autumn came.
Mrs. Nisbett looked with tenderness
upon the graceful little figure seated
on the hearth rug. when the shine Of
the high heaped logs lost itself in her
bright hair and made sparkles in her
eyes, as The wreaths and trails of au-
tumn leaves grew rapidly beneath her
deft fingers.
Ida" she said softly. Ida. nv
dear!" Ida looked up.
i saw your Aunt Constance yester-
day. but there's something reserved
about her, and l didn't like to ask about
you-whether o had decided to go,
Y as q governess or not; because my
lear, Joel n I were talkin' last night.
ana we both thought what a comfort
It would be to have you here"
II ave me here?"
We're old and we're alone and some
how We've both took a fancy to Won.
my child. So when your Aunt Con-
stance goes back to the city, if YOU
choose to come here
burst into tears.
We had a little girl once. my dear.
and IL she'd lived she would ha, been
nigh about your age"
Ida let the leaves drop down on the
floor as she sprang up and threw both
arms round the cid woraan,s neck