Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-11-15
|TheChandlerS'
Thanksgiving
They Had Reason to
Be Grateful.
By CLARISSA MACKIE

1 We VIII come TO cnurcn as usual
Thanksgiving morning." he said grim
ly. but we can't be expected to give
thanks for what we haven't received!
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 1t has
been the best year you have ever
known"
That's all very well, but you forget
that 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. II you only knew Rose
Lee as we know her.
Asa turned abruptly away.
"Dick disappointed u.s. he said
modify. Mother and I had planned
he was to marry Emma Hoops, his sec
ond cousin. Emmas property adjoins
i ours, and all Of 1t would have made
! a grand farm for Dick some day. EN-
ma was willing. but Dick married that
pretty fiyaway thing from Preston. and
mother and l just shut the door in
their faces. No. sir. there won't be
any Thanksgiving in our house-just
plain everyday victuals.'
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 coy there, but in the atmosphere
something was lacking.
| Emma Hoops came over at shutdown
and found the Chambers eating sup
! per. She was small. fair woman.
several years older than Dick Chan
| tller and with very decided independ-
ent manner.
| Its going to be colder, folks" she
said breezily as she accepted cupful
| Of tea and a cooky from Mrs. Chan
dler. Cant persuade you to change
| YOUR ulIus ana Cuthc uuh isafC biuhCA
with me tomorrow:
I'VE couldn't Emma" protested Mrs.
1 Chandler. You know why" she add
| ed significantly.
| Cats footr' shifted Miss Hoops con-
temptuously. You can't revenge your
self on the Lord by not observing
| Thanksgiving. You cant do IT,
/ no ;s, f,-t-tp Ina "a 80 lar oh q
ternly You're blasphemous, Emma.
It's mockery for us to observe
Thanksgiving day ana mother and
amt going to, so there
You're pair of obstinate old
geese declared Emma angrily. IF
you're setting out to enjoy yourselves
being as miserable as you can, why,
go ahead. I'm going to accept Cousin
Anne's invitation Ia eat dinner with
them. Goodbyr' She fiounced out Of
the house and hurried home, where
she scoltied her cat, cried little and
then packed basket of good things
to take with her.
Thanksgiving morning dawned gray
and cold, with streak in the north
that presaged snow.
'Going to church. mother?" asked
Asa as he arose from the brea kfast
table.
"Of course, Asa" said his wife,
whose eyes looked red with silent
weeping.
| Its kind of cold. You better dress
warm" he warned as he went out to
harness horse to the buggy.
The church bells had hardly stopped
pealing before small red automobile
ran nimbly up the road and turned
into the Chandler yard. Dick Chan
ller got out and helped his pretty wife,
who carried big bundle wrapped in
shawls.
Looks as though no one was home
muttered Dick as they went around to
I 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. l think
Let me see Emma's telegram once
more"
Il 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
smile Dick read the characteristics
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 have.
COUSIN EMMA.
"She must be a dear thing" said
REe over her husbands shoulder.
She u.s." said Dick with a queer, re
morseful feeling that Emma Hoops
would have derided. Rose, dear, l,
n n. IA ia nm.