A HEART-WARMING THANKSG IVING STORY FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAM ILY by Helen Frazee-Bower
T h e late November sun shone warm and golden on the “ Five Little Salts” stretched out upon the lawn. That was a nickname of course. Their real names were David, Danny, Linda, Donnie and Duane — stair-steps from eleven years to two. There had been a time when Mother spoke of them as the “ Five Little Peppers,” recalling a childhood book by that name. But that was before Daddy taught them the Bible verse: “Ye are the salt of the earth.” When Linda heard it she announced immediately, “ I’d rather be a Salt than a Pepper.” So “ Salts” they became. Just now the children were gazing wistfully across the street at the gate to Audrey’s swimming pool, now closed for the winter. “ Didn’t we have fun all summer?” Danny said. “ I wish I could have just one more swim, but I suppose it is too cold.” David smiled. “Well, I’m thankful for all the swims we did have. We are lucky to have such nice neighbors.” “ It is about that time, isn’t it?” said Linda. “About what time?” Danny wanted to know. “About ‘thankful time.’ Pretty soon our teachers will be asking, ‘And what are you thankful for?’ What are you going to say this time?” Danny watched a few scattered leaves from the maple tree blowing across the lawn. “Well, for one thing, I am going to be thankful when that old tree is bare and I don’t have to rake up any more leaves.” Four-year-old Donnie lay looking up at the sky, his thoughtful blue eyes wide with wonder. “ Do you know what’s above the clouds?” he said. “ Heaven! I’m thankful for God.” David leaned over and cupped the little boy’s chin in his hands. “ And I’m thankful for you, Little Preacher,” he said. David was old enough to remember the time when Donnie had undergone serious heart surgery, and he had a special fondness for the little brother for whom he had prayed so earnestly. “ It isn’t hard to guess what Daddy is thankful for this year,” said Danny. “ The car’s almost paid for.” Baby Duane stood up, put his hands on his hips and announced, “Me thankful.” “ You’re thankful for what?” David asked. “Me thankful.” The children laughed. “Maybe that’s the best way after all,” said David. “ Just to be thankful without any reasons.” Linda spoke up, “Well, I have a reason. I’m thankful that Mother makes dresses just like mine for my dollies. But I wonder what she’s thankful for.” “Who — Mother? I wonder myself,” Danny said. “All she does is work. Twenty-seven shirts she had in the iron ing last week!” “ And all my dresses too,” Linda added. David looked thoughtful a moment. “Maybe there is something we could do about all this,” he suggested. “ Something to make her thankful.” It was then that the Thanksgiving Secret was bom. In the days that followed, the children whispered about it much. “ Don’t forget the password,” Danny said every time he came near one of the others. And Linda did so much giggling it was plain to see she was up to something. But Mother didn’t notice a thing. It was her turn to have the family reunion, and she was far too busy with her dinner plans. Evervone was up bright and early Thanksgiving mom- 1.0
ing. The fun began at the breakfast table. Duane spilled his milk. “ Pass the salt, Linda,” David shouted. Linda jumped out of her seat, shoved the salt toward her brother, grabbed a paper towel, and quickly wiped up the spilled milk. The toast started to bum. “ Pass the salt, David,” Danny said; and with one hand David reached for the salt shaker while rescuing the toast with the other. The telephone rang. “ Pass the salt, Danny,” said Donnie. Danny pushed it toward him and then rushed to answer the phone. They kept it up through the meal and, when breakfast was over, they were busy with the dishes before Mother had a chance to remind them. She was so busy herself that she scarcely noticed. But when dinner was served, and they began to call for the salt every few minutes, she became curious. “What’s wrong with my cooking?” she wanted to know. “ Did I forget to season something? You all keep asking for the salt.” “Tastes wonderful to me,” Daddy said. The children giggled and went on with their game. The salt went back and forth and one or the other hopped up to do whatever needed to be done. Danny refilled the glasses, Linda served the pie, they all cleared the table. The guests were amazed. “ Do they always help like this?” one of the aunts wanted to know. “ I wish mine did.” “Well, maybe not quite like this,” Mother confessed. “ But they are usually pretty good.” Later, when the guests had all gone home, she inquired into the matter herself. “My, but I had some fine little helpers today,” she said. “This is about the best Thanks giving Day I ever had.” “ Really?” David asked. “We wanted it to be.” “ But what was that silly game about passing the salt?” “ That wasn’t silly,” Danny said. “ That was the most important part. You know, Daddy taught us that verse, ‘Ye are the salt of the earth.’ He said that salt is for seasoning, to make things taste better, and to keep things from spoiling. He told us a real Christian lends a better taste to living for everyone around.” “ And we are the ‘Five Little Salts’ you know,” said Linda. “ So we wanted to season your Thanksgiving din ner.” “We wanted to make you thankful,” Donnie added. “But I’m always thankful.” “We wanted to make you thankful for us,” said David. “ For you? Why, bless your hearts, you are one of the reasons I’m always so thankful.” “ But we make so much work for you — all that wash ing and ironing!” Danny had tears in his eyes. “We thought if we helped you more you would know we loved you, and then you wouldn’t get so tired.” “That was a dear thought,” Mother said. “But I think I’d better explain something to you.” She sat down and took the youngest on her lap. “ A mother loves her chil dren for what they are, not for what they do. Now look at Duane. He is too little to help. Do you think I am thankful for him?” “ Of course!” the children chorused. “We are all thankful for Duane.” The baby gave them his charming dimpled grin. “Me thankful Duane,” he announced. Everybody laughed. “ That makes it practically unanimous,” said Daddy. THE KING'S BUSINESS
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