The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1916-01-21
A Thanksgiving
Family Party
By DONALD cHAMBERLlN

The most delightful part of my life
was that age when boys and girls free
~ mingle with each other as friends.
half boy and girl. half man and wom-
an. ..
There was one Thanksgiving when
the head of our large family invited
every member that could be reached to
spend q week in his large country
house, including Thanksgiving day.
There were brothers and sisters, ous
ms, second cousins and third cousins.
Many Of my relatives l had never
seen.
Those Of us Of my generation went
in for a good time together. The girls
were Of that age when a taste for mis-
chief predominates. Nothing seemed
to please them so well as to perpetrate
some innocent practical joke on US
boys. A third cousin Of mine, Becky
Aldrich, n morning while watering
some plants with a sprayer sprinkled
the back of my neck. Though she was
behind me she failed to escape before
/ saw who she was.
One night when I was getting ready
for bed I found the legs Of my paja-
mas sewed up. When l had ripped
the sewing, got them on and tumbled
into bed I found the sheets scratched.
l uttered one exclamation and heard q
giggle at my door. l had turned of
the light, so, springing out Of bed, l
tiptoed hastily to the door, opened 1t
and was in time to grab the last Of a
flock Of girls who ran away in the
darkness, for they had taken the pre-
caution to turn of the lights in the
hall.
Throwing my arms around my cap
tive, I gave her a smack, she strug-
Cling to be free, then let her go. Slip
ping back into my room, l turned on
a light, and there sticking on to the
breast Of my pajamas was an elon-
gated pin Of chased gold set In the
center with a single sapphire.
The problem was to identify the girl
I had kissed by discovering the owner
of the pin. Had it been a cheap article
I would have had little chance of do
ing SO, for the girls would all stick to-
| gether to keep the secret. I consulted
with my men cousins, and it was de-
cided that 1 should put the article up
at auction at the Thanksgiving dinner,
bids to be accepted only from the
men.
Accordingly when the nuts and COT
fee came on I took the pin out Of my
vest pocket and, holding it up before
the company, said:
Il found this article recently and
would be happy to return it to the
owner II she will claim It and prove
ownership"
swept the board with my glance,
but saw no sign Of a giveaway on any
girls face.
None Of them claimed the find. Then
I continued:
"Since there Is no claimant for the
article 1 will put it up at auction, re
serving the right to bid to the men
present of my own generation. the
proceeds of the sale to go to char.
ity."
The girls looked at one another curl
ously, not knowing what was coming.
I called for bids. and one of my cousins,
Jack Somers, bid 25 cents. There was
an exclamation Of disapprobation for
such an offer, and when another Of my
confederates bid so cents It was re-
peated. The gem alone could not have
been worth less than $25. When every
man who was permitted to bid had
done SO $2.75 was the highest offer re-
| ceived.
I knocked the article down to the sue
cessful man, Jim Atwood, and he hand
ed me the money. While pretending
to be interested in the payment I was
Keeping eye on the girls, hoping to
see some sign Of protest against her
property being sold out in this way
before her face. Had 1t not been for
Jim's assistance I should not have been
successful in my game.
What luck!' he exclaimed, holding
the pin before him admiringly. 1--WE
wanted something ike this for a
gift to my fiancee. and now l have
| found it."
The fact Of another girl possessing
her jewelry was too much for its own
er. Becky Aldrich showed by her ex-
preston that she was at, least to he
suspected. l took the pin from Jim
| and tossed It to her. A telltale blush
confirmed my suspicion. and, the eyes
of all the company being concentrated
on Becky, 1t deepened into scarlet.
! Then there was a burst Of laughter, in
which every. one Joined heartily but
Becky.
This. It seemed to me. was a famous
victory, but there Is a saying HE who
laughs last laughs best" Becky pre-.
tended to be very much offended With
me for the course I had taken. This
caused me to feel uncomfortable. and
endeavored to placate her. Placat-
ing a girl Is a dangerous business.
| Becky for . long while refused to he
~appeased.
l tried. presenting flowers, but they
were accepted coldly. Then I suggest
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