As though she thought that I was thinkin' bad-words
unbeknown.

"I've dressed the turkey, David, fer to-morrow," Mother
said,
A-tryin' to wedge some pleasant subject in my stubborn
head,--
"And the mince-meat I'm a-mixin' is perfection mighty
nigh;
And the pound-cake is delicious-rich--" "Who'll eat
'em?" I--says--I.

"The cramberries is drippin'-sweet," says Mother, runnin'
on,
P'tendin' not to hear me;--"and somehow I thought of
John
All the time they was a-jellin'--fer you know they allus
was
His favorITE--he likes 'em so!" Says I "Well, s'pose
he does?"

"Oh, nothin' much!" says Mother, with a quiet sort o'
smile--
"This gentleman behind my cheer may tell you after
while!"
And as I turnt and looked around, some one riz up and
leant
And putt his arms round Mother's neck, and laughed in
low content.