LITTLE WEE PUMPKIN’S THANKSGIVING[B]
Reading edition
LITTLE WEE PUMPKIN’S THANKSGIVING[B]
BY MADGE A. BINGHAM
It was the night before Thanksgiving in Peter Pumpkin-eater’s garden. Great Big Pumpkin, Middle-Sized Pumpkin, and Little Wee Pumpkin were speaking together.
“All here?” asked Great Big Pumpkin.
“I’m here,” answered Middle-Sized Pumpkin.
“I’m here,” answered Little Wee Pumpkin. “But I heard Peter say that he would pull us to-morrow and send us away.”
“That will be fine!” said Great Big Pumpkin. “I hope we shall make good pies for some one’s dinner. I wish we could go to the palace.”
“So do I,” said Middle-Sized Pumpkin. “Maybe we could see the King.”
“I should like to see Cinderella,” said Little Wee Pumpkin. “But I am not large enough to go to the palace. Still, I wish I could make some one glad on Thanksgiving Day.”
Little Wee Pumpkin was the first to wake in the morning. Peter had opened the garden gate, and Cinderella was walking into the garden.
Little Wee Pumpkin opened her eyes and listened.
Cinderella was beautiful, and Little Wee Pumpkin knew that she was good and kind. She was carrying a basket full of yellow flowers.
“They are for you, Peter,” she said, laughing. “I have brought them from the palace garden. They are for your Thanksgiving.
“Now you must help me find the right pumpkin for a jack-o’-lantern. It is to make a little girl glad. She has been ill a long time, and must have a jack-o’-lantern for Thanksgiving.”
“Yes, my lady,” said Peter; and they went from vine to vine.
First, they stopped at Great Big Pumpkin, but that was too large. Then they stopped at Middle-Sized Pumpkin, but that was too flat. Then they stopped at Little Wee Pumpkin, and that was just right.
“This is the pumpkin for the jack-o’-lantern, Peter,” she said, pointing to Little Wee Pumpkin. “This will make the little girl glad.”
“Yes, my lady,” said Peter, as he pulled Little Wee Pumpkin from the vine.
“The two large pumpkins shall go to the palace, to the King,” said Cinderella. “They will make fine pies for his Thanksgiving dinner.”
“Yes, my lady,” said Peter, as he pulled the two pumpkins from the vines.
So Great Big, Middle-Sized, and Little Wee all had their wishes.