The Mount Holly news., 1916-11-28
|TheChandlerS'
Thanksgiving
They Had Reason to
Be Grateful.
By CLARISSA. MACKIE


square in the eye.
1--WE will come to church as usual
Thanksgiving morning." he said grim
~, "but we can't be expected to give
thanks for what we haven't receivedp'
Mr.. Linton looked very grave indeed.
II am sorry, Mr.. Chandler, but your
heart must be full of bitterness to die
tate rebellion after your prosperous
year. Your crops have been generous,
and you yourself told me that it has
been the best year you have ever
known"
'"That's all very well, but you forget
that l have lost my only son." remind
ed Asa.
The minister made an impatient ges-
ture. "Not lost, only estranged be-
cause you are disappointed In the girl
he married. If you only knew Rose
Lee as we know her.
Asa turned abruptly away.
"Dick disappointed u.s." he said
moodily. Mother and had planned
he was to marry Emma Hoops, his sec
ond cousin. Emma's property adjoins
ours, and all of it would have made
grand farm for Dick some day. EN-
ma was willing, but Dick married that
pretty fyaway thing from Preston, and
mother and | just shut the door in
their faces No, sir, there won't be
any Thanksgiving in our house-just
plain everyday victualsv'
Asa trudged up the village street to
the postoffice, where his horses were
tied.
In the comfortable white farmhouse
his wife was watching for him at the
front window. Geraniums bloomed be-
hind the white curtains, and fire
glowed In the great square iron stove.
1t was very warm and comfortable
and cozy there, but in the atmosphere
something was lacking.
Emma Hoops came over at sundown
and found the Chambers eating sup
per. She was a small, fair woman,
several years older than Dick Chan
dler and with very decided, independ-
| ent manner.
Its going to be colder, folks" she
said breezily as she accepted a cupful
of tea and a cooky from Mrs Chan
dler. "Can't persuade you to change
your minds and come and have dinner
with me tomorrow
"We couldn't, Emma" protested Mrs.
Chandler. 'You know why" she add
ed significantly.
"Cat's footl'' shifted Miss Hoops con-
temptuously. "You can't revenge your
self on the Lord by not observing
Thanksgiving! You can't do itr'
"Who is trying tor" demanded Asa
.sternly. you're blasphemous, Emma
It's a mockery for us to observe
Thanksgiving day, and mother and
amt going to, so therer'
you're a pair of obstinate old
geesew declared Emma angrily. eff
you're setting out to enjoy yourselves
being as miserable as you can, why,
go aheadl I'm going to accept Cousin
Anne's invitation to eat dinner with
theml Goodbyw She lounced out Of
the house and hurried home, where
she scolded her cat, cried a little and
then packed basket of good things
] to take with her.
| Thanksgiving morning dawned gray
and cold, with a streak in the north
that presaged snow.
"Going to church, mother2" asked
Asa as he arose from the breakfast
table.
"Of course, Asa" said his wife,
whose eyes looked red with silent
weeping.
''It's kind ofscold. You better dress
warm" he warned as he went out to
harness a horse to the buggy.
The church bells had hardly stopped
pealing before a small red automobile
ran nimbly up the road and turned
into the Chandler yard Dick Chan
dler got out and helped his pretty wife,
who carried a big bundle wrapped in
shawls.
Looks as though no one was home"
muttered Dick as they went around to
the side door,
There was no response to their rap
ping, and Dick performed a trick Of
his boyhood. by entering the pantry
window and coming through the house
to open the door.
Welcome, darling" he said cheerily
as he kissed his wife. Father and
mother have gone to church, think.
Let me see Emma's telegram once
more"
Rose placed her bundle carefully on
the sofa and took out crumpled mes
sage which had reached them the
night before in their city home. With
a smile Dick read the characteristic
command:
For heavens sake come home and spend
the day with your folks. They say they
have nothing to be thankful for. Prove
to them that they haveI
COUSIN EMMA.
"She must be dear thing" said
Rose over her husbands shoulder.
''She is." said Dick with queer, re-
morseful feeling that Emma Hoops
would have derided. Rose, dear, it
doesn't seem bit like Thanksgiving.
Mother always made so many prepara-
tions for the day, and there isn't a
thing in the pantry save a boiled din
ner and dried apple pier
perhaps they can't afford it, Dick"
balQ Rose SOperly.
Nonsense; they can! Emma SAYS
they have nothing to be thankful for
and
As by one accord their eyes wander
ed to the couch where the bundle was
wriggling.
my precious lambkinr' cried Rose
and. rushing to the sofa, she removed
the shawls and a white furry cloak
and a white cashmere cloak and
white hood, and, behold, wonderful
little baby, pink and white and CUR
glingl
my high chair is In the garrett" said
Dick, and away he went to the top of
the house to bring down the polished
maple chair, which he placed in a sun
ny window near the blooming gerani-
ums and the singing canary. "There-
sonw he said as the baby was strap
ped safely in.
Dick faced his wife. Rose, let's get
Thanksgiving dinner ready for IA
ther and mother. Then when they see
little Asa, why. they can't help being
thankful, eh?"
"Of course, notI" agreed Rose
"Dick, where does your mother keep
her aprons?'
''In the middle drawer in the pantry
dresser" cried Dick in a fash, and
they laughed together at his accuracy.
'T'm going out to kill something for
dinner-ohicken, turkey, duck or
goose" threatened Dick.
Rose, investigating pantry and eel
lar shelves, discovered jar Of mince-
meat and pots Of pickles and pre-
serves.