s him, that the youth felt no more kindly
toward him than he had before.

"Well, let him be as ugly as he wants to be--only let him keep away from
the place and let our things alone," thought Hiram. "Goodness knows! I'm
not anxious to be counted among Pete Dickerson's particular friends."

Thanksgiving came on apace, and every one of the old boarders of
Mother Atterson had written that he would come to the farm to spend the
holiday. Even Mr. Peebles acknowledged the invitation with thanks, but
adding that he hoped Sister would not forget he must "eschew any viands
at all greasy, and that his hot water was to be at 101, exactly."

"The poor ninny!" ejaculated Mother Atterson. "He doesn't know what he
wants. Sister only poured it out of the teakettle, and he had to wait
for it to cool, anyway, before he could drink it."

But it was determined to give the city folk a good time, and this
determination was accomplished. Two of Sister's turkeys, bought and
paid for in hard cash by Mother Atterson, graced the long table in the
sitting-room.

Many of the good things with which the table was laden came from the
farm. And, without Hiram and Sister, and Old Lem Camp, Mrs. Atterson
made even Fred Crackit understand, these good things had not been
possible!

But the Crawberry folk, as a whole, were much subdued. They had missed
Mother Atterson dreadfully; and, really, they had felt some affection
for their old landlady, after all.

After dinner Fred Crackit, in a speech that was designed to be humorous,
presented a massive silver plated water-pitcher with "Mother Atterson"
engraved upon it. And really, the old lady broke down at that.

"Good Land o' Goshen!" she exclaimed. "Why, you boys do think something
of the old woman, after all, don't ye?

"I must say that I got ye out here more than anything to show ye what we
could do in the country. 'Specially how it had improved Sister. And how
Hiram Strong warn't the ninny you seemed to think he was. And that Mr.
Camp only needed a chance to be something in the world again.

"Well, well! It wasn't a generous feeling I had toward you, mebbe; but
I'm glad you come and--I hope you all had enough gravy."

So the occasion proved a very pleasant one indeed. And it made a happy
break in the hard work of preparing for the winter.

The crops were all gathered ere this, and they could make up their books
for the season just passed.

But there was wood to get in, for all along they ha