Lollie and Kippy learn that there is
up the walk, “We are thankful you are all right.” “ Yes, Mamma,” Lollie said, opening the door to The Crackerbox. “We were so scared!” “ It won’t be a very gay Thanksgiving, I am afraid,” said their mother, but the children shouted together: “ Oh, yes, it will, Mamma! We have something to be thankful for—we still have the very best mother in the whole world!”
By Betty Bruechert
I T WAS a balmy autumn day, perfect weather for playing ball or pushing about doll carriages, but yellow-haired Lollie and her chubby brother Kippy, sat listlessly on the front steps of their tiny bungalow, The Crackerbox, where they lived with their mother. Their brown eyes were full of gloom, their usually sunny faces disconsolate. Kippy kicked a pebble. “ Can’t ever do anything we want,” he grumbled. “ Or ever go anywhere we like,” added Lollie, with a frown. “ An’ tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Day, too!” Kippy’s laugh was not pleasant to hear. “What have we got to be thankful for?” complained Lollie. “We wanted to go to Grandma’s for Thanksgiving vaca tion, but there wasn’t enough money!” “ Couldn’t even buy a turkey,” said Kippy bitterly. The children were silent a while. Finally Lollie s a i d uncomfortably, “ ’Course Mamma couldn’t help it,” and Kippy agreed glumly, “ She just didn’t have the money.” Kippy looked at his Mickey Mouse wrist watch. “ It’s getting late — Why doesn’t Mamma get home?” “ I don’t know . . . It’s almost dark . . .” Lollie began to look worried. “ Do you think anything has hap pened?” Kippy wanted to know. “ Mamma would call Mrs. Williams,” said Lollie, and just at that moment their next-door neighbor came hurriedly toward them, walking across the grass that separated the two homes and not waiting to go around by the walk. The children, alarmed, jumped up. “ Is something wrong, Mrs. Williams?” cried Lollie, and Kippy demanded in a frightened voice, “Has something hap pened to Mamma?” Mrs. Williams, putting her arms about the shivering children, said kindly, “ It isn’t too bad, my dears. She just slipped and fell as she was boarding the street car.” Kippy was sobbing, “ Did—did—did— a car run over her?” “ Oh, no, thank the Lord for that. The car that was coming stopped just in time.” “Where is Mamma now?” asked Lollie through her tears. “ In the doctor’s office. Mr. Williams will bring her home in our car pretty soon. Her arm was broken and it is be ing set. Come over to my house now and we’ll have some supper.” “ I don’t want to eat,” said Lollie sad ly, “Neither do I,” added Kippy for lornly. N O V E M B E R , I 9 4 9
“ Now, now,” said Mrs. Williams, as she set before them hot soup, peanut butter sandwiches, and milk. “ You must be cheerful and help your mother all you can. She was just telling me how thankful she was to have such good chil dren.” Lollie and Kippy dared not look at each other; they were so ashamed of their miserable complaints such a short time before. “Your mother feels bad about spoiling your Thanksgiving,” Mrs. Williams went on, as she poured more milk into their glasses, “ She even had a nice surprise for you—a fat chicken in the icebox. But her arm will be in a cast.” Kippy brightened up at that. “ Oh, we’ll do the work,” he said. “ I’ll run all the errands!” “And I can cook some,” said Lollie proudly, “I can do just what Mamma says.” Kippy stuck out his chest. “ We’ll get the Thanksgiving dinner,” he boasted. Their kindly neighbor smiled. “ That’s fine, children,” she said. “ Isn’t that the car?” With one bound, the children were out in the yard and running across the lawn to the car out of which Mr. Williams was helping their mother. Although pale and weary, she smiled bravely, as she kissed her offspring. “ I hope you weren’t frightened, darlings. I couldn’t get word to you any sooner.” “ It’s O.K., Mamma,” Kippy snuggled up against her as she walked carefully
Some little calves go to market, Some little calves stay home; Some little calves become roast beef, Others delight to roam. This little calf is a missionary calf To those who’ve never heard; He will be sold and dollars sent To preach God’s living Word.
VERSES FOR TH A N K SG IV IN G Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift (2 Cor. 9:15). He [Daniel] gave thanks before his God (Dan. 6:10). And be ye thankful (Col. 3:15). Now therefore, our God, we thank thee (1 Chron. 29:13). Know ye that the Lord he is God. .. be thankful unto him (Psa. 100:3,4). So we . . . will give thee thanks for ever (Psa. 79:13).
JU N IO R HING '5 BUSINESS
Martha S. Hooker
Page Thirteen
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker