Dotty's goodness ran on with a ceaseless flow till two o'clock, when that event took place which the children regarded as the most important one of the day--that is, dinner. After the silent blessing, Mr. Parlin turned to his youngest daughter, and said,-- "Alice, do you know what Thanksgiving Day is for?" "Yes, sir; for turkey." "Is that all?" "No, sir; for plum pudding." "What do you think about it, Prudy?" "I think the same as Dotty does, sir," replied Prudy, with a wistful glance at her father's right hand, which held the carving knife. "What do you say, Susy?" "It comes in the almanac, just like Christmas, sir; and it's something about the Pilgrim Fathers and the Mayflower." "No, Susy; it does not come in the almanac; the Governor appoints it. We have so many blessings that he sets apart one day in the year in which we are to think them over, and be thankful for them." "Yes, sir; yes, indeed," said Susy. "I _always_ knew that." "Now, before I carve the turkey, what if I ask the question all around what we feel most thankful for to-day? We will begin with grandmamma." "If thee asks me first," said grandma Read, clasping her blue-veined, beautiful old hands, "I shall say I have everything to be thankful for; but I am most thankful for peace. Thee knows how I feel about war." The children thought this a strange answer. They had almost forgotten there had ever been a war. "Now, Mary, what have you to say?" asked Mr. Parlin of his wife. "I am thankful we are all alive," replied Mrs. Parlin, looking at the faces around the table with a loving smile. "And I," said her husband, "am thankful we all have our eyesight. I have thought more about it since I have visited two or three Blind Asylums. Susy, it is your turn." "Papa, I'm thankful I'm so near thirteen." Mr. Parlin stroked his mustache to hide a smile. He thought that was a very _young_ remark. "And you, Prudy?" "I'm so thankful, sir," answered Prudy, reflecting a while, "so thankful _this_ house isn't burnt up." "Bless your little grateful heart," said her father, leaning towards her and stroking her cheek. "For my part, I think one fire is quite enough for one family. I confess I never should have dreamed of being thankful we hadn't had _two_. Well, Alice, what have you to say? I see a thought in your eyes." "Why, papa," said Dotty, laying her forefingers together with emphasis, "I've known what I'm thankful for, for two days. I'm thankful Mrs. Rosenberg isn't my mother!" A smile went around the table. "But, papa, I am, truly. What should I want _her_ for a mother for?" "Indeed, I see no reason, my child, since you already have a pretty good mother of your own." "Pretty good, papa!" said Dotty, in a tone of mild reproof. "Why, if she was YOUR mother, you'd think she was _very_ good." "Granted," returned Mr. Parlin. "I don't think you'd like it, papa, to have her scold so she shakes down cobwebs." "Who?" "Mrs. Rosenberg."