when they went
back again, after the Thanksgiving holidays, they would be in the
primer reading book.

And such preparations as went on for Thanksgiving! Dinah was busy from
morning until night, and when the little twins made inquiries about the
turkey they were to have Mr. Bobbsey said it would be the biggest he
could buy.

"An' I'se gwine t' stuff him wif chestnuts an' oysters," said Dinah.
"I tells you what, chilluns, yo' all am suttinly gwine to hab one grand
feed."

"I wish everybody was," said Flossie, a bit wistfully. "I hope our cat
Snoop, wherever he is, has plenty of milk, and some nice turkey bones."

"I guess he will have," said Mamma Bobbsey, gently.

"I hope all the poor children in our school have enough to eat," said
Freddie. "Mr. Tetlow said for us to bring what we could for them."

"And you never told me!" exclaimed Mrs. Bobbsey. "Why didn't you? I
would have sent something."

Neither Bert nor Nan had thought to mention at home that a collection
would be taken at the school for the poor families in the town. But as
soon as Mrs. Bobbsey heard what Freddie said she telephoned to her
husband. Mr. Bobbsey went to see Mr. Tetlow, and from him learned that
there were a number of families who would not have a very happy
Thanksgiving.

Then the lumber merchant gave certain orders to his grocer and butcher,
and if a number of poor people were not well supplied with food that
gladsome season, it was not the fault of Mr. Bobbsey.

But I am getting a little ahead of my story.

A few days before Thanksgiving Mrs. Bobbsey, with a letter in her hand,
came to where the four twins were in the sitting room, talking over
what they wanted for Christmas.

"Guess who are coming to spend Thanksgiving with us!" cried Mamma
Bobbsey, as she waved the letter in the air.

"Uncle Bobbsey!" guessed Nan.

"Uncle Minturn," said Bert.

The little twins guessed other friends and relatives, and finally Mrs.
Bobbsey said:

"Yes, your Uncle Bobbsey and Uncle Minturn are coming, and so are your
aunts, and Cousin Harry, Cousin Dorothy and also Hal Bingham, whom you
met at the seashore."

"Oh, what a jolly Thanksgiving it will be!" cried the Bobbsey twins.

CHAPTER XVI

MR. TETLOW ASKS QUESTIONS

THANKSGIVING was celebrated in the Bobbsey home as it never had been
before. I am afraid if I told you all that went on, of the big,
brownroasted turkey, of the piles of crisp turkey, of the pumpkin and
mince