The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-11-26
THEIR THANKSGIVING
BY Florence BOrner

ture. thought perhaps l could Dor
! row a pump from you"
Yes indeed you may have ou1
pump" said Grandfather. 1T is ou
in the garage with Lizzie" Grand
mother had been thinking. "Say. she
said, why can't you folks all stay ant
have Thanksgiving dinner with US
Here we have a huge turkey and al
the fixtures and nobody but Fathe,
and to eat them
by Gum the young fellow ex.
claimed: That sounds good to me
! and III bet Dad and the boys anC
| Dot Will be ticked to get genuine
home cooked THANKSGIVING dinner
"You see" he added, its kind OF
hard to cook things as we should like
in the wagon and one gets mighty
tired of hotel stuff When | ran
out with the pump will tell them
| of your invitation. Yes, and make it
hearty, exclaimed both the old peo-
pie. "lf my rheumatism did not
bother me, l would 60 out with you
said Grandfather. but AS it is.
guess will have to let you be the
bearer of the invitation yourself"
Having donned his things the
young fellow made his way to the
garage where he got the desired tool
after which he hurried down the
lane.
Grandmother busted herself with
the dinner. q
Just think, she said, bringing out
a pan of potatoes and peeling them.
Eve were complaining, and here we
are going to have company for din
ner, and mighty fine company at
that, if | don't miss my guess. Did
you see how that young fellow enjoy
ed that piece of pumpkin pie | gave
him? ~
Yes" answered Grandfather. II
did, and here they all come" he add
ed, looking from the window
Six forms were seen making their
way steadily for the house. Mr.. John
son was a man of about fifty or
Whereabouts. His sons John, Frank
and Donald were older than the
young man who had visited the farm
house first. Dorothy or Dot as they
called her was Il young lady Of about
seventeen.
After Harry had introduced his
father, brothers and sister 10 the old
people and hand shaking was over
Grandmother led her guests into the
living room where they warmed
themselves by the base burner, En-
ward the kitchen when 4 girlish voice
said. May | help you prepare din
ner, Mrs. Smith,"
Looking into the sweet face which
reminded her of that of the dear
daughter who had been sleeping for
SO many years in the little country
churchyard Grandmother assured
Dot that she would be more than
glad TO have her assistance.
Carrying stack of plates. Dot
soon had the big table in the dining
room in festive dress. Grandmother
Smiths snowy linen and the silver
set which had been wedding pres
ent some fifty years before made the
table appear at its best, and when
the pickles, jellieS, preserves and
other goodies made their appearance
it was a sight fit for king. What
a dinner it was. Everything was so
good that Mr.. Johnson declared the
taste would remain with him as long
as he lived. And the johnson boys,
as boys will. ate and said nothing.
But the end had to come at last and
when all were filled to the "brim"
there still remained enough to feed
a hungry family or two.
Dot wiped the dishes and when
things were all in their places again
she took her father aside and whis-
pered to him. Nodding his head in
approval. he beckoned to the boys.
Let US go out a few minutes" he
said, "and see if the weather is clear
ing up" But, once outside of the
house, he told them what was in his
mind, and the hoys all joined hearth
ly in whatever it was their father was
proposing.
Coming in the house Mr.. Johnson
told his host and hostess that the
boys were going back to the wagon
but would soon return. The time
passed pleasantly. Grandfather Smith
found Mr.. johnson u most enjoyable
conversationalist. Having Travelled
over much territory in his show bus
mess he knew many an anecodote
and gladdened the old man by reiat-
ing some of his experiences.
Soon the boys returned, loaded
down with all sorts of paraphernalia.
Mr.. Johnson arose and said: my
friends, in order to partly show our
appreciation for the good time you
have given us we are going to stage
an impromptu show for your benefit"
I've always show under tent, and
for that reason the performance will
, not be quite as it would otherwise
when we have our entire equipment,
but we hope you will enjoy our eff
fort.
Both Grandfather and Grandmoti-
or Smith were delighted. Being ad-
| vanced in years and not in the best
of health it had been impossible for
them to attend many gatherings
Their only pleasures were on those
occasions when their three children