"Oh! I hope they won't do that. I have such a beautiful plan." "What is it? To give them all they demand, and have them come back with a fresh and more insolent demand to-morrow?" "No, to give them--every one who has a family, a Thanksgiving basket--a turkey." Her father burst out laughing. "A turkey? Better give them a goose. What put that idea into your little head? Why, they would laugh at you if they did not fling it back in your face." "Oh! no, they would not. I never saw any one who did not respond to kindness." "Better wait till after to-morrow and you will save a lot of turkeys." "No, I am serious. I have been thinking of it for quite a while and I have some money of my own." "You'd better keep it. You may come to need it." "No, I want to try my plan. You do not forbid it?" "Oh, no! If you can avert the strike that they are preparing for, your money will be a good investment." "I don't do it as an investment," protested the girl. "I do it as an act of kindness." "All right, have your way. It can't do any harm. If you succeed, I shall be quite willing to foot the bills." "No, this is my treat," said the girl, "though I shall put your name in too." So, that day Miss Eleanor Leigh spent inspecting and getting prices on turkeys, and by night she had placed her order with a reliable man who had promised to provide the necessary number of baskets, and, what is more, had gotten interested in her plan. She had enlisted also the interest of John Marvel, who worked like a Trojan in furtherance of her wishes. And I, having learned from John of her charitable design, gave my assistance with what I fear was a less unselfish philanthropy. Happily, disease is not the only thing that is contagious. It was impossible to work shoulder to shoulder with those two and not catch something of John Marvel's spirit, not to mention the sweet contagion of Eleanor Leigh's charming enthusiasm. I learned much in that association of her cleverness and sound sterling sense as she organized her force and set them to work. And I was fortunate enough to get one of her charming smiles. It was when she said, "I want one of the best baskets for Mrs. Kenneth McNeil," and I replied, "I have already sent it." Thus, in due time, on the day before Thanksgiving Day, a score of wagons were busily at work carrying not only the turkeys ordered by Miss Leigh, as a Thanksgiving present for each family in her father's employ, but with each one a basket of other things. It happened that that night a great meeting of the operatives was held.