The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-11-26

| rdly toward the window
81 am afraid We viii have TO eat
our Thanksgiving dinner by our
selves, Father, she said. 1T looks
so stormy that none Of the children
viii venture driving ten miles out in
the country. and | cannot blame them
But, just the same it viii be the first
THANKSGIVING Day we have spent
alone for many yea:.'
It was one OF those snowy, buster,
days which visit our state so often in
late November, and the CHEEKY kit
chen of the old farmhouse presented
great contrast to the scene out
doors. Outside it was cold and
dreary, inside warm and comfortable
The fire in the stove cracked mer-
rily, and an enticing aroma came
from the oven as Grandmother look
cd after the huge turkey which but
Il few hours before had proudly
strutted in the barnyard. but was
now destined to serve a more useful
purpose.
The clock on the mantel chimcd
ten, and still there was no !ull to the
storm outside.
ITS too bad said Grandmother
Smith. Here we had been planning
on this Thanksgiving for weeks. And,
just how you and me are going to
eat the dozen pies, three cakes and
big plum pudding on the shelves yon-
der in the pantry is a mystery to
me-
with all the children and the
grandchildren here, was thinking
maybe we had ought to have killed Il
rooster or two to help out with the
turkey, but as it is, l am glad we
didn't"
"Grandfather rose from his place
by the kitchen stove and laid a
caressing hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. Mother he said. The
day is not over by any means, and
one can never tell what may happen.
And. if the worst comes, and nobody
shows up think what feast we will
have for days and days"
Grandmother sighed" / never did
care for cold turkey" she said: And
if You and ne eat all those pies |
can see where we both get indiges-
ton with our old stomachs."
But what can't be cured must be
endured, suppose, and we must
not be ungrateful to the Giver on the
day set apart from all others to rem
der our thanks. But. it is too bad
the storm had to come on this day OF
all others.
The old lady walked slowly to the
window facing the road.
For goodness sake, Father come
here quick" she said Can YOU see
what kind Of rontraption that is
down the road anyway? | can't see
very well without my glasses, but it
actually looks like some kind of
gypsy outfit
Grandfather Smith hastily adjusted
his glasses and took his place by his
wife. NO. he said. 1T is no gypsy
outfit, Of that | am certain: but just
what kind Of wagon it is I cannot
say, or what it is doing out in this
ktnd OF weather. The vehicle in
question was an overgrown bus of a
brilliant yellow hue It's gaudy sides
bore flaming posters, and it appeared
to have become stalled in snowbank
Il short distance from the lane which
led to the farmhouse.
Look Father" exclaimed the old
lady. Isn't that some one coming
down the road, or what is ?" Grand
father looked in the direction she
pointed and saw a traveller butfetted
by the storm making his way toward
the house. Yes" he answered his
wife's query. 'Some poor traveller is
coming here to get warm I wouldn't
doubt bit that he is from that STALL
ed car down in the road. and maybe
is coming here for help
poor fellow said Grandmother,
she must be nearly froze. / will set
the coffee pot on the stove and have
a hot drink ready by the time he gets
here. It's awful to be caught out in
such weather"
Suting action to her word Grand
mother hustled about and as loud
rap sounded on the door the boiling
coffee sent out an aroma which must
have been very appctizing to the way
farer who had battled his way over
half mile through the elements.
Come right in" said Grandfather
Smith Hospitality. Mother saw you
coming and has fine cup of coffee
and bite of food ready for you"
Seating himself by the fire the
stranger warmed his hands and after
removing his coat and hat crate
fully accepted the cup Of steaming
coffee.
This certainly seems fine" he
said looking at Grandmother, and
with an appreciative glance about
the comfortable room added: This
takes me back to the time when was
a boy and went to my grandparents
home for Thank gving"
The stranger was but a boy pro-
badly twenty one or two years old
and the way he dove into the huge
slab of pumpkin pie which Grand
mother Smith gave him showed tina:
he had not forgotten how to appre-
ciate good cooking.
Il suppose YOU folks are wondering
who / am, and how I happen to be
here at this time the young man
sand htving finished his repast. II