A GOOD THANKSGIVING
                           by Marion Douglas


Said Old Gentleman Brave:  "On a Thanksgiving Day,
If you want a good time, then give something away."
So he sent a fat turkey to Shoemaker Price,
And the shoemaker said, "What a big bird!  How nice!"
And since a good dinner's before me, I ought
To give poor Widow Lee the small chicken I bought."

"This fine chicken, O see!" said the pleased Widow Lee;
"And the kindness that sent it, how precious to me!
I would like to make someone as happy as I--
I'll give Washwoman Biddy my big pumpkin pie."

"And O sure," Biddy said, "'tis the queen of all pies!
Just to look at its yellow face gladdens my eyes!
Now it's my turn, I think; and a sweet ginger cake
For the motherless Finnigan children I'll bake."

"A sweet-cake all our own! 'Tis too good to be true!"
Said the Finnigan children, Rose, Denny, and Hugh;
"It smells sweet of spice, and we'll carry a slice
To poor little lame Jake--who has nothing that's nice."

"Oh, I thank you and thank you!" said little lame Jake,
"O what a bootiful, bootiful, bootiful cake!
And O such a big slice!  I will save all the crumbs,
And will give 'em to each little sparrow that comes.!"

And the sparrows, they twittered as if they would say,
Like Old Gentleman Brave:  "On a Thanksgiving Day,
If you want a good time, then give something, give something,
Give something away!"