'Twas Thanksgiving on the farm,
And hurry everywhere;
For Grandma Brown got word from town,
The children would be there.
She sent an invitation
A week or two ahead,
To daughter Anna and daughter Hannah,
And this is what it said:
"Now bring the children, every one,
And have a jolly time;
For we've our share, and some to spare,
So bring them all to dine.
And let them bring their relatives,
And each a playmate too,
So bring them all, both large and small,
We'll have enough for you."
So Nell and Dell invited Bell
And little cousin Prue,
Then Bennie Mills asked Jennie Bills,
And also neighbor Sue:
Then neighbor Sue told brother Ralph,
And Ralph told cousin Nan,
Then cousin Nan asked playmate Sam,
And he told neighbor Dan.
Grandma said to grandson Roy:
"Now bring your neighbor Ray."
So neighbor Ray and sister May
Invited cousin Jack;
Then cousin Jack told neighbor Mack,
And asked his playmate Tess;
Then cousin Lottie asked cousin Dottie,
And also sister Bess.
Then sister Bess invited Richard,
And he invited Ned,
Then brother Ned invited Ed,
And also cousin Fred;
Then cousin Fred asked sister Ann,
And she invited Joe,
Then he sent word, so William heard,
To bring his sister Flo.
Then sister Flo and her young beau
Invited playmate Tom;
They said to him: "Bring neighbor Tim
And also cousin Don.
Tell cousin Don to go along
And ask her neighbor Millie;
Then she will make her brother Jake
Invite his sweetheart Tillie."
When grandma's tables were all spread
For little guests from town,
The happy crowd then shouted loud:
"Three cheers for Grandma Brown!"
They listened while dear grandpa then
Gave thanks for daily bread.
Then Will and Tim did both begin
And so did Tom and Ned.
Then Bennie Mills and Jennie Bills
And little Don and Sue,
All waded in with eager vim
And so did Dan and Prue.
Then sister Bess and playmate Tess,
Ate much of poultry meats;
While Ralph and Nell and cousin Bell,
Ate many pickled beets.
Then Roy and Ann and Dick and Joe,
Ate all of grandma's jam,
While Ed and Nan, Dell, Fred, and Sam,
Ate all the eggs and ham.
Then Ray and Millie, and May and Tillie,
And also brother Jake,
And Jack and Lottie, and Mack and Dottie,
Ate all the broiled steak.
When all were through at dinner time,
There naught remained but crumbs;
For pretty Flo and her young beau,
Ate all the sugar plums.
Then grandma smiled when she looked round
And saw the happy set,
For she just knew, as grandmas do,
How hungry children get.
When grandpa hauled the wagons out
To take them back to town,
They scrambled in, with childish din,
And cheered for Grandma Brown;
They cheered for grandpa loud and long,
And called him "Grandpa, dear,"
He said to them: "Now, come again,
And dine with us next year." |