Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1912 — BARBARA’S INVITATION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BARBARA’S INVITATION

S REALLY don’t see how we could go out to Aunt Barbara's for Thanksgiving dinner this year,” Mrs. Maddox said thoughtfully. "You are sure she intends to ask us?” "Yes,” Mrs. Lawler returned. “Just as I was leaving town I met her on the street. She spoke of our being neighbors, and then she told me that she was going to ask you all out to an old-fashioned Thanksgiving dinner. I wouldn’t have men* tioned it, but I supposed that you had your invitation.” “It would be fine to go there,” Marion remarked. “Her pumpkin pies are about three inches deep, and her turkeys are always cooked to a Titian brown and her cranberry sauce is so delicious—■” The youngest of the Maddox family was overcome by the fervor of this description. "Oh, let’s all go to Aunt Barbara’s for Thanksgiving!” he cried. "But I had hinted to Mary Thomas that we might ask her here,” said his mother. "Somebody else is sure to ask Mary,” declared Mariocl. "We have tickets for the Thanksgiving matinee." “Take ’em back.”

And your father and I are asked to a whist party at the Grangers’ in the evening.” , “Send regrets.” “Well, wait and hear what your father and Jack say,” Mrs. Maddox said. When Maddox and Jack came home to dinner they were met with the news that Mrs. Lawler had seen Aunt Barbara, and that they were all to be invited to the

country for Thanksgiving. “I don’t see how I can get away,” Mr. Maddox said. But Mrs. Maddox had gone over to the enemy, and she proceeded to show how they could all leave the city late on Wednesday afternoon and return early on Friday morning, send regrets to the Grangers, return their matinee tickets and defer Mary Thomas’ dinner Invitation until Christmas time. “After all, Aunt Barbara is getting old and we ought to make an efTort to go,” Maddox said. So all the details were arranged and the famfily settled back in a state of expectancy, awaiting the written invitation. Every day the youngest Maddox met the postman, demanding a letter from his great aunt, but the days passed, and none came. During the last week before the holiday the Interest of the family became almost feverish. Four days before the feast Mrs. Maddox spoke of writing a note to Aunt Barbara accepting the alleged invitation conveyed by Mrs. Lawler. But the others argued that if Aunt Barbara had forgotten to send a formal invitation, she was not expecting a formal acceptance. "She takes silence for consent, and she’s too busy making pies to write,” Jack said. The day before Thanksgiving came around, but no letter from Aunt Barbara. The family held council at breakfast. “Of course, she expects us,” Marion observed. “She’s absent-minded, and she probably wrote a letter and stuck it behind the clock, waiting for somebody to go to the postoffice.” It was agreed that Maddox and Jack should return early from the office, then they would all take an evening train to the country and drop in on their aunt Just at bedtime. Mrs. Maddox told the cook and housemaid that they could go away immediately after lunch and not return until Friday. r 1: The Maddox family were almost ready for the train when the postman

left a letter in Aunt Barbara’s cramped writing. “H o w fortunate that we are all ready,” Mrs. Maddox said, as she tore open the envelope. “Here is our invitation now.” Aunt Barbara sent greetings to all and then went on to say that she bad lately seen Mrs. Lawler and told her that she was going to ask the Maddox family out to the country to Christmas dinner. “You must be sure to come,” she ended. “That’s why I am asking you so long before.”

“The youngest Maddox s«t up a loud wail. Marion called Mrs. Lawler “a stupid thing,” and the rest looked at each other with foolish smiles. This is the reason that on Thanksgiving day the Maddox family sat down to steak, boiled potatoes, and a sticky rice pudding.