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Show Thanksgiving Visitor me. Johnnie used to poke me and tell me that if I didn't go ask her for a dance, she would be old and gray before anyone would take her hand." Everyone giggled as Ellie reached out and tugged at the strangers coattails. And every word of it is the truth," he added. There was more laughter and jeers from the crowd. "But, let me continue. It didn't take long for me to ask her. Only five dances. I just could seem to find the courage to ask her. Now she's the first one I ask at a dance." Once again the crowd bursts into laughter. "But, now more seriously, it wasn't more than six weeks that we were engaged en-gaged and ready to be married. But... well... I still had to wait another years before her father would be the kind father has taken us into the chapel and given us this chance to serve as the caretaker for the church. It keeps me with the money I need to feed my family." We felt a little astonished since this announcement was something of a surprise. We now knew why he was a guest at the party. "I'm proud to help out with the tasks around the chapel, and hope that each of you will enjoy the worship in the building while we are the caretakers. Thank you for taking us in." With that there was a silence that fell across us all. As we enjoyed the rest of the meal, there was but humble silence, mingles with the thankful spirit that we had so much. We were glad that the Thanksgiving spirit had been shared with us. byRobert Hicken We had been .sitting around the table talking. The voices of those present, mingled with the songs of some of the others in the corner who had taken to singing some church songs. The harmony of the meal and the friendship was all we could ask for. "Family and friends, just a moment. In this the day we should give thanks, let's remember that this day we have a special visitor with us, who has traveled a long distance." Father Turner shouted over the conversations, conversa-tions, "I feel that we would be benefited by listening to the tales that he has to tell. ' ' Father Turner turned to the meek, timid man seated at the Fathers' left hand side. He had his napkin tucked under his collar, and he grabbed for it as he stood to face Father Turners face. "Well... I.. .just..." he stammered, cleared his voice and looked out over the people assembled. Most of the family gathered in by the table. Curious eyes had been cast at the stranger during the entire meal. Father Turner had his arm over the thin man." The' Father dwarfed the man in size. He was a robust man, and everyone would come to Father Turner with their problems. "Speak up man, the ears of these children are just waiting for the words you speak." With that, Father Turner slapped the man on the back, and sat down. "I..." he stumbled for words, "thank you for your generosity, and hospitality.' I'm sure that my family will never forget it. We are greatful for the things that you have given to us this day." The man's cheeks" were flushed with color. His eyes showed the weariness he must of felt. He glanced around the room from side to side, attempting to meet with approval from everyone. every-one. "I reckon I'd better start at the beginning so that you'll all know me and my family better, "I grew up in the area they called the Catskills. I didn't have much family, that is until I met Ellie. She was the dream of the ballroom. I just knew that I had to meet her. f sauntered over to the corner of the room and starry-eyed, I watched as the other fellows of the town danced with her." . "We knew that there were no prettier girls in the whole town that is Johnnie and Kina enougn to give me approval." "We chose one to two good friends a piece before we were sure who we wanted to attend the wedding. It was fun and exciting," he paused, smiled at his wife, and returned to the crowd. "We didn't have much '.. money to begin out with,' and J after Jimmy was born the money even got a little tighter. It was a cold winter that year, and the power company threatened many of the neighbors to cut off their power if they didn't pay their bills. We were the lucky ones to have continued with the jobs when the mine began laying off people. "It was a hardtime. People all over had turned to a life of crime, stealing and cheating. I decided, that is, We decided that we were going to live a clean life." There was a light air come over everyone in the building. build-ing. Suddenly we all knew that we were going to hear a story of lifetime struggle passing many years. The stranger looked at everyone in the crowd, his eyes pleading the burden he carries. "We decided that the people of the good town of Lowelle would need good honest people ta help." We have been thankful and blessed with all that we have." "It is this thanks that we have now in our hearts on this Thanksgiving Day. During Dur-ing the past five years we have seen many injustices that others have done. We have seen people kill for a' few pennies." "The unemployment situ- ation has been to hard on many to bear, and it threatens every home and rjfamily todays J;ff f lcky that |