The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-01-04
her INVITATION
BY c. F. WILLIAMS.


only sounds that broke the dreury H.
lence Of sullen gray November. And
1t was Thanksgiving day.
"The boys" her two middle-ased
sons, were in the town somewhere.
They would be home to dinner and
away again. She hoped they were hav.
ing a good time.
There was a rap at the door. Grand
mas eyes were red and she would
rather not see anyone just now. "Come
in," she finally called, not knowing
what else to do.
"All aloneY" cheerIly sang ont the
visitor, the daughter Of an old-tlms
friend.
The aged woman turned her back
to her caller for m instant and fur
lively wiped her eyes.
"You haven't anything to do today,
have your" asked the visitor.
"Nothin' but git dinner" was the re-
ply. I'm gittin' a nice dinner for the
boys"
Cant the boys cook" was the alb
rupt question. Anyway" she added,
"I've come to carry you away for the
day"
Grandma's back Strengthened up just
a notch. "Where?" she painted, look
ing scared. She couldn't remember
when she had been away from home at
meal time.
"Out to sister James," wal the re.
ply. "You know mother lives with her,
and you two a talk over the times
when you were girls. We're going to
have a real old-style Thanksgiving and
/ know you'll enjoy it."
twas just what grandma had been
longing and yearning for-to be invited
out where she would be installed in a
comfortable rocking chair and visited
with as If she were still a human being
and not Just a rundown old pillow
horse.
I'D like to CO." she began, "but John
and Harry"
"Oh, don't worry about John and
Harry" interrupted the visitor. It'll
he a lark for them to get their own
dinner for II You'll 60, won't your
A guilty look crept over graDdma's
face, but she finally said: n never
done sech a thing before in my life, but
I will 60 jest this once"
"That's right" smiled the friend.
BE ready by eleven. We are going
early to help with the dinner"
Back to the kitchen grandma tot
tered. Hurriedly and n~ervously she
scrubbed herself, and smoothed her
scanty hair to the sheen Of white satin.
When she was all ready she looked at
the clock. 1t was only ten. She would
have time to begin dinner for the boys.
Soon her trembling hands were mix.
ing the pastry. But her thoughts
they we're playing truant, travelling
step by step backward over many
Thanksgivings to the time when her
good husband al alive and II chill.
dren were all at home.
At length the pumpkin was prepared
and In the crust, and grandma was
carefully putting the pies In the own,
hoping they would be good. Suddenly.
as If seized by the sharpest pain, she
cried: Oh-o-o-ol. II l hain't clean
forgot the spices! I'll hev to stir EN-
in nowl"
It was not long before the spicy
aroma began to diffuse Its fragrance
through the house. And what a differ
ence it made! 1t was like the spirit Of
Thanksgiving. The fire cracked mer-
rily. The dull varnish Oh the old chairs
and cupboard put on a brighter luster.
The tea kettle began a real anthem,
and-at last-grandma's heart warmed
up, too, and began to sing with 1t.
She was just smuggling the turkey
a fine plump y~ellow-skinned her
farmer son had sent by parcel post
when a rapping on the front door near
" caused her to drop 1t into the fire.
Near the door Of the living room
hung a picture Of the entire family
mother and father and IONS and daugh.
ters-all standing In three straight
rows. As grandma passed 1t, she no.
ticed every eye gazing at her with
keenest scrutiny.
"Are you ready7" cried her friends
voice from the weIl-flled automobile
at the curb.
II declare I can't 90. The children
would think l was crazy II I run away
on Thanksgivin'," grandma quavered
with n of her sweet smiles.
100 bad" was the rejoinder. and
the car whlzzed away, leaving the soil.
tary figure standing In the doorway,
a picture Of heroic resignation.
She started for the kitchen. As she
passed the picture she stopped. And
10! where before were only cold stares
she now saw smiles. To any eye but
hers they might not have been visible,
but to hers they were real, and she
smiled back In gladness that she was
still able to give pleasure to her chill.
dren.
IF l could only hev some Of then
around me Jest for today" she thought
with tremulous lips. 1T amt real
Th%anksgivin' when you're all alone"
BY any by, after a long. tedious &c.
ries Of processes, the turkey was ready
for the wen. Suddenly there was the
noise Of footsteps on the back porch.
The door opened, and to grandma's
great surprise in came the boys. John
drew a package from his raincoat
pocket. Here's some letters for you,
maw," he said gently. "Guess every
last Ono In the farnllu has m-,r&iA>a =