see the big pile of good things there are to eat!"
exclaimed Tom. "Oh, boys!"

"Aunt Sallie sure has cooked a lot!" cried Ted.

"The most I ever saw," added Harry. "And such a turkey!"

"And such cranberry sauce!" sighed his sister.

"An' there's candy an' nuts an'--an' lots of things!" added Trouble.
"It's mos' like Ch'is'mus!"

"Yes, it surely is," agreed Janet. "Only I hope by Christmas we'll have
daddy and mother here." A letter had come from Mr. and Mrs. Martin from
the distant city where they had gone to see about the money. In the
letter the parents of the Curlytops said they hoped to be with them at
Christmas.

The father and mother of Tom and Lola had also written, wishing the
children the joys of a happy Thanksgiving, and saying they would come up
at Christmas with Mr. and Mrs. Martin.

There was also a letter from Mrs. Benton, in which the poor woman said
that she had been operated on, and was much better, but added that she
would have to be under the doctor's care and in the hospital some time
yet.

"Anyhow, it's something to be thankful for," said Mary. Her brother
agreed with her. And if in their hearts there was a little sadness
because they had no father to share the joys of the holidays with them,
they kept it to themselves.

"We all have lots to be thankful for," said Aunt Sallie, when the feast
day came. "Yes, and you shall have something, too," she added to
Skyrocket, who was sniffing hungrily at the kitchen door.

After breakfast Uncle Toby took them all to the village church in the
automobile, though of course Skyrocket was left at the cabin. He did not
like it very much, either, and howled dismally after the Curlytops.

Home they drove, through the crisp air of the woods, to take part in the
bountiful feast that was ready all but the "finishing touches," as Aunt
Sallie called them.

And such a feast as it was! Never was there such a browned turkey! Never
such jolly red mounds of cranberry sauce, almost like jelly! Never such
crisp celery! And the gravy that covered the heaping plates that the
children had passed to them! Surely never was such gravy made!

"Oh, I don't believe I can ever eat another thing!" exclaimed Mary, when
Uncle Toby asked her to have another slice of turkey.

"Hasn't you got any room left?" asked Trouble, patting his own little
stomach. "I got some room. I saved it for the _ice-cream_!" he added,
hoarsely whispering the last word.

"Oh, is there ice-cream?"