gala times, and even
sweeter than the occasion which it preceded. Ann Mary had only one
damper all day, and that was the non-arrival of a letter. Mrs. Little
had invited her son and his family to spend Thanksgiving, but now they
probably were not coming, since not a word in reply had been received.
When Mr. Little said there was no letter in the post-office, Ann Mary's
face fell. "Oh, dear," said she, "don't you suppose Lucy will come,
grandma?"

"No," replied her grandmother, "I don't. Edward never did such a thing
as not to send me word when he was comin', in his life, nor Maria
neither. I ain't no idee they'll come."

"Oh, dear!" said Ann Mary again.

"Well, you'll have to make up your mind to it," returned her
grandmother. She was sore over her own disappointment, and so was
irascible towards Ann Mary's. "It's no worse for you than for the rest
of us. I guess you can keep one Thanksgivin' without Lucy."

For a while it almost seemed to Ann Mary that she could not. Lucy was
her only cousin. She loved Lucy dearly, and she was lonesome for another
little girl; nobody knew how she had counted upon seeing her cousin. Ann
Mary herself had a forlorn hope that Lucy still might come, even if
Uncle Edward _was_ always so particular about sending word, and no word
had been received. On Thanksgiving morning she kept running to the
window and looking down the road. But when the stage from the village
came, it passed right by the house without slackening its speed.

Then there was no hope left at all.

"You might jest as well be easy," said her grandmother. "I guess you can
have a good Thanksgivin' if Lucy _ain't_ here. This evenin' you can ask
Loretty to come over a little while, if you want to, an' you can make
some nut-candy."

"Loretta ain't at home."

"She'll come home for Thanksgivin', I guess. It ain't very likely she's
stayed away over that. When I get the dinner ready to take up, you can
carry a plateful down to Sarah Bean's, an' that'll be somethin' for you
to do, too. I guess you can manage."

Thanksgiving Day was a very pleasant day, although there was
considerable snow on the ground, for it had snowed all the day before.
Mr. Little and Ann Mary did not go to church as usual, on that account.

The old man did not like to drive to the village before the roads were
beaten out. Mrs. Little lamented not a little over it. It was the custom
for her husband and granddaughter to attend church Thanksgiving
mornin