d old bird, bless him, but
football is what I really love, delightful, thrilling football. I wish I
could play center on the home team. I know I could make a touchdown as
well as the best of them."

The crowd of young people were seated on straw in the bottom of a large
road wagon that was slowly making its way from Grace's house out to the
football grounds. It was decorated with the colors of the Oakdale High
School, sea-blue and white, and the girls wore blue and white rosettes
and carried long horns from which dangled ribbon streamers. Numbers of
Oakdale people were hurrying down the road toward the field, and the
crisp autumn air vibrated with the sounds of talk and laughter. In the
distance could be heard the music of the town band, which always gave a
concert before the Thanksgiving game.

"And to think that little Anne has never in her life seen a football
game!" exclaimed Jessica.

Anne blushed.

"Yes," she replied reluctantly, "I'll have to admit this is my very
first game, but I understand the rules. Grace has explained them to me.
I hope our boys will win."

"If the Dunsmore boys are in good trim, I'm afraid they'll give us a
stiff pull," observed David, "but the stiffer the pull the more
interesting it is to watch, so long as they don't lick us."

Just then the wagon drew up at the grounds and the boys and girls jumped
out and made their way through the crowd to their seats.

Everybody in Oakdale turned out for the annual Thanksgiving football
game. The professors and their wives, the teachers from the Girls' High
School and all the pupils were there in full force, besides the citizens
of Oakdale and their families. There was really a very large assemblage
in the semicircular ampitheater which was hung with bunting and flags in
honor of the great occasion, and probably not one in the whole cheerful
company but had enjoyed a good Thanksgiving dinner that afternoon, so
good humor beamed from every face.

"Don't you think this is a thrilling sight, Anne?" demanded Grace, for
there was not a soul in Oakdale who was not vain of the High School
football team, which had won for itself honors all over the state.

"Wonderful!" exclaimed Anne, clasping her hands and waiting impatiently
for the performance to commence.

Just then the band struck up again, and under cover of the music David
whispered to Jessica:

"Do you see that man over there to the right on the back seat, with
long, dark hair and a slou