Show thanksgiving by ALINE DURFEY lettle lettie lane came briskly up from the station in the crisp purple twilight day alter after tomorrow was thanksgiving the thought made her want to dance tor for loy joy the large turkey turl cey the plum pudding the nuts I 1 and candy the thanksgiving dance all were promising a joyful day ann her dearest friend was to arrive tomorrow and stay until after thanksgiving lettle lettie had been visiting a friend in a near near by town it seemed good to be coming home to help prepare for the joyful holiday As she entered the gate a sudden misgiving filled her heart why waa wa the doctors car in front of the gate quickly walking up the walk she was confronted by the doctor himself dont come in lettle lettie thelma has broke out with a rash we think she has scarlet fever ever scarlet fever lettle lettie stared blankly at the doctor 11 yes and as you had it you cant stay slay home arrangements have been made for you to stay with miss kintero Win tera tero stay with aunt sadie till the fever is over and thanksgiving day after tomorrow lettie found her air castles tumbling about her ears cars 1 I simply cant stay with lier her ou on thanks givinn gi vinc besides anns anas coming oh ahat shall I 1 do sho she walled your mother has telegraphed ann not to come perhaps it will but you must try and bear it Perli perhaps aps aunt sadie wont approve of the plan flan pug suggested lettic who was trying to be brave at the thoughts of her holidays a failure your aunt sadie has agreed I 1 talked to her myself ab about out it I 1 was there yesterday her neuralgia is bothering lettle could stand it no longer her brave resolutions suddenly tailed failed her the prospects of a thanksgiving with a fifty year old old mald maid who fusses busses and frets about everything and will have a tit fit it I 1 suggest the dince dance to her it would be unbearable at best but with neuralgia in the bargain ill take the fever first with this outburst she walked up the walk and banged the gate lite life was certainly flat stale and a failure lottie lettle felt herself to bj one of the most picked on and abused girl there ever was lettie imagined he here growing 0 old d in n the home of a cross rid did maid aunt who was afflicted with neuralgia t the h e d doctor octo and all her friends including the board of education who were so with their holidays all mourning over her ashes and blaming themselves tor for the wasted life the romance of the situation would have comforted her it she had not encountered the fat turkey gobbler in tile the yard the gobbler resented the well aimed kick that she aimed at him and she was forced to run for or safety bettles Lett fea les anger cooled oft a little and she was inclined to laugh at the chase with the gobbler she decided to accept the hospitality of her aunt rather than risk the fever iter her suit case was handed to her at the gate it and everything in it smelling strongly ot of the disinfectant used aunt sadie answered the door when she knocked ile he face was vas bandaged up and her gray hair defying the twenty hair pins that were to hold bold it in place A look of discontentment and a shade of sorrow were woven into the withered face she eyed lettle lettie with a pair of hard indifferent eyes lettle lettie had never liked her aunt and it if aunt sadie had ever liked anything or anyone it was as a long time igo ago come on in take your clothes in the west room and it you had supper go in the kitchen and get some mrs Den bensons sons gone home long V ago I 1 wonder it if you come down with fever in a day or two you yen look like you might have it now old ilea hen muttered lettle lettie as she passed into tile the west room the next morning after breakfast lettie went into the ki kitchen mcben to help mrs denson benson the housekeeper mrs benson was a pleasant looking woman of about thirty live five although she laid no claim to beauty one olle liked to look at her she smiled kindly at lettle as she entered good morning she said 1 I was very sorry to hear ot of you having to give III up your thanksgiving plans she plunged ed her hands into a pan ot of sy elsh water lettle lettie picked up IP the dish towel and began wiping the dishes it seemed good to have a sympathetic listener to tell her troubles to 1 I suppose all of oe us have our troubles said mrs airs benson cheerfully 1 I have mine too but I 1 have a great deal to be thankful for also I 1 have three lovely children it is hard to support them of course but I 1 part with them for the world sarah is ten she takes care ot of the younger children billy and betty while I 1 work here sarah has her troubles of course she would like beautiful clothes and many things I 1 cant afford but we are very happy anyway our blue days dont come very often every one has their troubles but its selfish to feel sorry tor for their selves when there are so many people in the world t to U feel sorry tor for 1 I had never thought I 1 it t selfish to pity ones self said lettle lettie thoughtfully 1 I think it it Is because no matter how bad things are they might be worse look at miss aliss winters with III all her money both of us are arc more fortunate than she think how anely her life must be she has nothing to interest or at least she interested in anything and no one thinks much of her of 0 course she has made her life what it is but she is to be pitied tor for all that lettle lettie finished her work silently how selfish she had been tile the doctor or no one else wa was s to blame to tor her unhappiness except herself she had so much in comparison with most people r for or instance take mrs bensons laughter daughter sarah who tended children all day and poor old cross aunt sidie who had lived alone and seemed to be willing or e zechin tin to die alone unwept ned and unsung 1 I wish you would come and spend thanksgiving day with vs 3 I 1 have asked miss winters but bat 1 I dont think she will come id love to beamed lottie lettle 1 I wish aunt sarah would go lettie lettic entered the dining room with an entirely new feeling towards her aunt and after considerable coaxing on lettie part and several sharp speeches by aunt sadie miss aliss winters not only agreed to let lettle lettie go but reluctantly consented to go herself the following evening lettle lettie sent the following lowing ol letter to her mother dear dea mother I 1 am perfectly happy tonight I 1 ate thanksgiving dinner with mrs denson benson I 1 like her very much and her children too their home Is humble but perfectly happy aunt sadie went with me I 1 think sho she enjoyed it although she say so I 1 dont dislike her any more I 1 teel feel sorry for her and wish I 1 could do something ng to make her life more worth while everyone has their troubles cs but I 1 think mine are lighter than most peoples I 1 hope thelma Is soon better with lots ot of love LETTIE LANE |