THE scholars at Number Five, or many of them, brought a noon-day
lunch instead of going home to dinner. And very pleasant times they
had, sitting under the trees in summer, picnic fashion, or gathering
in little groups in doors, in winter. Sometimes they had games after
lunch, and sometimes the teacher told stories. One day she told them
a story of a missionary hen, and straightway several of the scholars
determined to have missionary hens. Helen Lynch pondered the matter,
but saw no way of getting the hen. Her father might give her one, but
she was not sure; she had heard him say that missions were a humbug,
and she had little hope of his co-operation in the scheme. She was
walking slowly along the river path when she heard a fluttering on the
bank and a sound which seemed like that of a bird in distress. Putting
down her lunch basket and umbrella she went to see what was the matter
and found hid among the tall grass a young duck that seemed to be hurt
in some way.
"It must be Mr. Brown's," she said to herself, "for I do not know
of any one else who has young ducks," and she took the frightened
and suffering duck in her arms and carried it to Mr. Brown, but that
gentleman looking down upon the little girl smilingly said, "See here,
little one, what would you do with it if it were yours?"
"I'd try to make it well, and then I'd make a missionary duck of it."
"A missionary duck! What is that?"
Then Helen explained that a missionary hen was one the proceeds of
which in eggs and chickens were set apart by the owner for missionary
money and of course a missionary duck would be the same. Mr. Brown
laughed. "Well, that is a funny idea. Suppose I give you a pair--that
is, I will give you this one if you will cure it, and I will give
you a mate to it and we will see how much money you make out of the
investment."
[Illustration: HELEN'S FLOCK, AND HER MISCHIEVOUS BROTHERS.]
Helen's eyes danced with pleasure. The wounded duck soon recovered, and
before the end of summer she had quite a flock of young ducks which
afforded her no end of enjoyment. True she had to watch them closely
and look out for her mischievous brothers lest her flock come to harm,
but she did not mind the trouble. Meantime there was a great interest
growing up among the scholars in missionary enterprises. There were
missionary hens and turkeys; missionary cabbages and turnips, and even
missionary pigs. The months went by and Thanksgiving was near at hand.
After considerable thinking as to the feasibility of the scheme, Miss
Lee, the teacher in Number Five, proposed a plan by which some of the
chickens and turkeys might be disposed of to good advantage. Willie
Smith was the owner of a small printing press, and about two weeks
before Thanksgiving twenty tickets bearing the words, "Thanksgiving
dinner at two o'clock at the schoolhouse. Admit one," were put into
the hands of two of the most energetic boys to be sold at forty cents
each.
"There are a number of people in the neighborhood who will be glad to
get a nice dinner and save themselves the hard work of getting it up,"
reasoned Miss Lee. "Mrs. Graves told me the other day that she should
not try for anything extra this year on account of her lame wrist, and
Miss Smith is so lonely since her brother went away, I am sure she will
be glad to eat her dinner in good company."
Sure enough the twenty tickets were soon sold and more called for.
Twenty more were sent out. "That is positively all we can accommodate,"
said Miss Lee. The dinner was a success. Four large turkeys, three
ducks and a chicken pie or two were disposed of. Interested fathers
and mothers had lent some slight assistance, but for the most part the
work was done by Miss Lee and the scholars. The forty guests were well
pleased with their dinner. The tired mothers were grateful in their
hearts to Miss Lee for the thought which had given them a rest; surely
it was to them a day of Thanksgiving.
At the end of the feast Mr. Brown arose and moved a vote of thanks
to their entertainers, which being properly seconded and carried the
gentleman continued, "I suppose it is well understood that we have been
feasting upon missionary turkeys, and missionary hens, and missionary
ducks as well as other good things to which the same adjective belongs.
Now I trust that none of us suppose for one instant that _we_ have
given one cent to the mission cause by coming here to eat our dinner
and paying a small sum for it. That is purely a business transaction;
these young people have earned the money, and I congratulate them upon
their enterprise. Now I understand that they have several turkeys and
ducks as well as other things left over. And I wish to call out an
expression from the friends here who have enjoyed their hospitality
to-day. Shall we have our Christmas dinner prepared for us at the same
place and under the same auspices? All in favor say 'aye.'"
Then such a shout as went up seemed almost to raise the roof. A little
time was spent socially, during which Mr. Brown told the story of the
lame duck, and added as he finished, "Our little Helen here gave me
an idea and I do not know but I may as well tell you that I have a
missionary cow nowadays!" Presently the diners-out went to their homes,
leaving the young people to their dinner and their work of clearing up.