Norwich bulletin., 1917-11-17
MRS. SPICER'S THANKSGIVING SPIRIT

her as she delivered her errand, then said:
 Have you asked Ezra Knowles?" "Oh, 'yes!"
 An! Didn't give, did he? Mean old skinflint-wouldnt give a cent, of course"
 If his proposition is accepted" she said, the building fund will be great He made proposition, did he? By shucksi I can make one, too. Tell him that I will give as much as he"
 Ten thousand dollars" she quietly
 What. Ten thousand!' !' he excited ly exclaimed. q well, he won't give it, so my offer holds good.'' After conferring with her husband, who laughed heartily as his wife re- | la ted the conversation between the two men and herself, then said: MT. Knowles is testing our sincerity as l well as the old time custom of doing l a good deed on Thanksgiving day for | the years blessings. Let's do it, for we have much to be thankful for, and | if we do not accept these strange of | fers it will be a long time before the | church ban be built"
 Mrs. Lowell arrived in Hamilton and ! obtained board at the hotel. She had misgivings regarding the invitation be- | ing given, but she silently prayed that someone would ask her home. In family of reduced circumstances, l the rooms were fragrant with Thanks | giving scents, Mother Spicer had for l weeks economized, sacrificed and plan | ned to make this day one to be re- membered. The pantry contained a chicken for fricasee, doughnuts, cake, pies. plump chicken for dinner, | with vegetables and apple sauce, a | different dinner than these of preced- 1 ing years. Although trouble had i caused scarcity of money, she did not l turn from the old custom of having as l good a dinner as possible, and intend l nd fo eri1- +I,a some lonely stranger to dine with her. Her. oldest daughter said: Tt is a fine dinner, ma, and we un- derstand; but what will a stranger 1 think not to have turkey, pudding, | cranberry sauce and fruit?" | Why" replied her mother, i've i should be very thankful for the help l and blessings received, because of our l troubles and this dinner, although it l is not a turkey dinner, must be shared as usual, and I think that any peraon away from their family and friends -l will be grateful for our thought of 1 them"
 Thanksgiving day dawned bright and clear. Dinner was prepared and left to cook itself, while the family wenG- ed their way to church.
 l As nobody but the minister had spoken to Mrs. Lowell, her faith waver- ed, and as the thought came to he1
 that she would not receive any invita-
 tion, wave of homesickness overcan,e
 ueT anu dS Iio tears cnaSSU e2ch Ctnel down her cheeks she met Mrs. Spicer's
 glance. At the close of the service she was
 surprised to observe the lady hastenine
 to her, and more so to have Mrs Spicel
 smilingly invite her to accompany hel
 home for the day.
 The invitation was heartily accept.
 ed and it is needless to state that the
 family and guest passed happy
 Thanksgiving.
 On returning to the hotel Mrs. Lov-
 ell telephoned to MT. Knowles that she
 had just returned from dining with
 Mrs. Spicer at 61 Mt. Vernon street
 and would be at home on the follow
 ing day, and would be pleased to re-
 ceive his check for the church. She
 found it awaiting her on her arriva
 with these few lines:
 You have won. I really believed the good old custom was extinct o1
 returning thanks for the years bless
 ings.''
 The good lady notified MT. Howe al
 once that MT. Movies had sent hel
 his check and would be pleased to have
 him do the same as soon as conven- tent.
 The check was received in the even
 ing with these lines:
 You have outwitted us. for we
 would never have given such a sun
 if we had expected it would ever be
 called for. I think you should reserve
 free pewS for us in the new church ,
 The committee in charge and the
 whole community were surprised anc
 never understood how those two mer
 were ever induced to give at all a.l6
 of all things to give so senerously. i Mrs. Lowell always smiled in reply
 to their questions and said: Let's be thankful that at last we are to have new church g and tC
 herself she added: And for. Mrs
 Spicer's Thanksgiving spirit" DIANA Il N H.