At first that was all I could think of ; and when I got so that I could think of other things , there was , as I have said , nothing for me to do but go back east . The boys , who had been as good as gold to me all through my trouble , felt dreadfully bad over this , and coaxed me hard to stay . They said if I 'd start a boarding house I 'd have all the boarders I could accommodate ; but I knew it was no use to think of that , because I was n't strong enough , and help was so hard to get . No , there was nothing for it but Northfield and stagnation again , with not a stray boy anywhere to mother . I looked the dismal prospect square in the face and made up my mind to it . But I was determined to give my boys one good celebration before I went , anyway . It was near Thanksgiving , and I resolved they should have a dinner that would keep my memory green for awhile , a real old-fashioned Thanksgiving dinner such as they used to have at home . I knew it would cost more than I could really afford , but I shut my eyes to that aspect of the question . I was going back to strict eastern economy for the rest of my days , and I meant to indulge in one wild , blissful riot of extravagance before I was cooped up again . I counted up the boys I must have , and there were fifteen , including the minister . I invited them a fortnight ahead to make sure of getting them , though I need n't have worried , for they all said they would have broken an engagement to dine with the king for one of my dinners . The minister said he had been feeling so homesick he was afraid he would n't be able to preach a real thankful sermon , but now he was comfortably sure that his sermon would be overflowing with gratitude . I just threw myself heart and soul into the preparations for that dinner . I had three turkeys and two sucking pigs , and mince pies and pumpkin pies and apple pies , and doughnuts and fruit cake and cranberry sauce and brown bread , and ever so many other things to fill up the chinks . The night before Thanksgiving everything was ready , and I was so tired I could hardly talk to Jimmy Nelson when he dropped in . Jimmy had something on his mind , I saw that . So I said , '' ` Fess up , Jimmy , and then you 'll be able to enjoy your call . '' `` I want to ask a favour of you , Aunt Patty , '' said Jimmy . I knew I should have to grant it ; nobody could refuse Jimmy anything , he looked so much like a nice , clean , pink-and-white little schoolboy whose mother had just scrubbed his face and told him to be good . At the same time he was one of the wildest young scamps in Carleton , or had been until a year ago .
I 'd got him well set on the road to reformation , and I felt worse about leaving him XXXXX any of the rest of them .
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