Fred And Jack's Thanksgiving

Frod and Jark lloward sat by the window watching the snow asit feit fast to tho ifruuml. Litlle Jack, in his kilt skirta and long i'iirl-, had great respect and admira tion tor his brother Fred, who wore jackets and trousers, and had just arrived at thn diguiiy ut' boots, though immuun had sai I he could uot wear them "till snow carae." That was the reason they watched the storm so eagerly, talking buily mean while. "Fred, when is thanksgiving?" asked Jack, trying to make a picture on the win dow with his finger, forgetting maniTao's reproot' the day before. "Next Thursday," promptly replied b'red, who was almost always willing to answer Jack's questions, which, to teil the trutli, were very nutuerous; in f'act, papa called him "a dear little interrogation point ; " but Fred loved him, and besides, iked to be appealed to, as if wiser than Jack. " How many days till then ? " continudl Jack, putting some f'rightful horns on the animal which had been begun for a cat. "Six," patiently answered Fred, taking out his knife to eharpen his slate pencil. "I say, Fred," persevered Jack, "teil me what Thanksgiving's for, anyway." " Why, Jack, it'a to goto church and lavo a good dinner," said Fred, who had jroken the nice point to his pencil and was scowling a little. "And go to grandpa's, if he only hadn't died," added jack, turning away froui his "art studies" to watch Fred. " Do they ceep Thanksgiving in Heaven, Fred .' " " Yes, Jacky, I think they do, of course; )ut we go to church Sundays and we have ip-top dinners most every day, t' Dothing üappens, and we used to go to grandpa's n summer time, too, so I don't know what t'hanksgiving is for," he concluded reluctantly. " I'm pretty sure about the eating part," said Jack, triumphantly, "for Bridget's making minee meat to-day, and I had a aste," laughing to think of the size of the 'taste; " "but that can't be all it's for. Just see, Fred, how it snows ! " and away went both boys for coats, caps and mittens, as well as boots, for the ground was now as white as Bridget's frosted cake. The usy little fellows had not heard their mother cooie into the room, in time to haar he last of their conversation. She was a )retty mamma, "the prettiest lady in own," both boys stoutly maintained ; a oving mamma, too, anxious that her sons should grow into good, noble men. "They don't understand what Thanks;iving is for!" she said to herself, in ;urprise, aa she drew her rocker nearer the right, open fire. "They must (ind out, and how? " Thanksgiving morning dawned bright ind cold ; not snow enough for sleighing, ut enough to deck the fènoes ana trees n a beautiful new winter dress, and make ïome seem dearer than ever. The Howird family gathered happily around the ireaklast table, tempting with chickon, rolls, coffee and doughnuts, and attractive with soniü of mamma's flowers Rt each jlate. "So glad I don't have to go down town o day, little woman," said papa, and namma smiled back her pleasure, when ?red said, eagerly : "Mamma, who is the company we're going to have to day ? When will you teil us?'7 "They will be here when you oome from church; wait patiently till then, dear," mamma answered, and sprang to catch Jack's goblet ol'milk. which he had upset while gallantly insisting on giving her the rolls. After breakfast the boys passed the ime in playiog with the baby, till they all went to church together. Fred gave Jack a reminding punch when the minister read: 'In evcrything give thanka," and whisered, "now I guess we'll find out; " but hough he listened well for a time, he got 10 clear idea, wondering what " harvests," 'yellow fever," " accidents," and " reforros" had to do with "Thanksgiving." lack occupied himself with counting th luttons on Charlie Scott's coat, and whis)eredto Fred "what comes next tptwelvej" vlit-n mamma's hand on his reminded him hat in churoh all the talking was done by one person ; and after a long time, it seemed to Jack, church was over, and they were on their way home. Papa and mam ma walked in front, and talked about thu ennon and the singing. Frod and Jack ehind them, wondered who the " comany " m, waiting for them now at home. " It can't be Aunt Helen and the girlx, QC tbey've got the mumps, and can't go out doors. Glad we haven't got 'em. 'red," said Jack, skippingalong backward o admire Fred'n tiew overcoat, with so many pockets ! "Nor Uncle John, for he's gone to see hat pretty lady who was here last spring," aid Frod. " Wonder what ho'a gone to see her for ; wasn't she lovely, though?" and hore Frrd forgot his dignity in b n itured ehase afier u dog, in which Jack joined. As they went up the watk to their pretty, ooinfortable home, there was an odd little Miiileon papa's face, and noaiñinasi3, :i they went in : " Boys, po direotly to the nursery and take off your coats, snd then corae down." In a twinkling the boys were in the sittingroom, their eyes big with curiosity, hom do you think they saw ? Sittiop by the fire, in their own prettycamp ehairs, were two boys of about their size, thin and pule and dirty; in rapged, scanty clothe.-, ...¦. uiinsly as muoh ourpriicd at W-ing thcic as any one eUe could Ie. Instantly mamnia said, in her sweetest voice, holding out her hands to her own boys : " Jack and Tred Howard, here are Bob and Toni White, who havo come (o visit Uf. We hope to give thew a very happy duv." l;red and Jack were very dear children, hut they were surprised and disappointed. Forgetting "the law of love" and the 'Vulden rule," which older people Ibrget most sadly, too, Fred stood eyeing tbe guests with something like scorn, I am sorry to eay, whilo Jack, turninif away from his ruother's ouistretched hand, cried out : " I don't like 'em ; I don't want 'em here." Bob and Toni fidgeted and turned red, gazing in awe at the pictures, vinos, easy chairs, and most of all at Mrs. Howard's beautiful face, turned so kindly toward thetD. Thcn she spoke : " Fred and Jack, my darlings, lt me teil you a true story. I found these little boys down on l'ark st., that first day it snowed. They have no home ; they have no fatber or mother, no one to tak-3 care of them. Bub holds lioixcs, .-wet pscru.si-in.s, or d$fs auytliing he can to nu a little lor Lom and hiniself. A wora&n down noar the tia K.iimi" Iets them sleep in her woodshed. Their futher aod mother died of yellow fever la-t sumtner, while we wem at grandpa's." Here her voice faltcred for a minute - lier dear old father had died only a few nionthn before - but then she went 00 : 'I have broneht the iu here to day to lt;t you sKje what Thiinksgiving's for ; and 1 hope thoy will find out before they leave us." Slio topped, and waited for an ans wer. Fred camequickiy furward, and -:t'l to Boii : " Havon't you any liome?" To thi.s loving boy home moant all that was dear in the W'irld. " No," briefly replied Bob, surveyiiif; Prea'a blut; uit and bright buttons with sliarp and wistf'nl eyi's. N'oarer caniu litile Jack, liis cheeks red with excitement. " Havcn't you iny inaintua? " he criud nut. as if lie couldn't bolieve ëo great a sorrow oould be borne. " Ño," airain said Bob, this time putting up a rüugh, dirty haud to his eyes. "Norany baby nistei ¦? " asked Jack, tiow standing close beside them. "No," b.clke in Toiu, willi ¦ little choke in his voice ; " she died before the rest.' Poor little Jack ! tliei-miling baby nibtor, in the rose-lined crad'e up stairs, was a very angel to him, and thi -i was too much. Bursiing into tears, he cried out, clasping his anus around her neck ; "Oh, mamma, Ido fei'l so sorry fur them. Can'tyou do something for them?" Fred was crying too, now, and papa walked to the window and stuod with his back to them all, but mamma smiled, though the tears were io her eye. Drawing Fred close to her, she id, laying her hands on Jack's curly head, buried in her lap : "Shall we give theui soiue jood warm clothes, and wlieu they are washed aod dressed shall they come and eatdinnerwith U8? Shall we give them a look at baby, aod let them hold her littls hands in theirs ? Shall they play funny games with us after dinner, and sing with us when you aro tircd of play ? And when it i.s nearly dark shall papa go with tbeui to a kind muo, who will take care of them, and never Ut them be honieless or hungry any more?" So tbis was the way Fred and Jack learnod "what Thankí-giving was for."