Manuel's thanksgiving

Title

Language

English

Year

1947

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

MANUEL'S THANKSGIVING .. (Short Story) BERNARDO SANTOS nocos Norte Normal 'School Training Department "Good morning, Miss Dance!," politely greeted Man~el as he stepped into the room.. The other children were already there. He was breathing deeply, trying to get to school on time. But just the same he was still l~teT He had been late to school many thnes but his kind teacher always knew what 'to do. She seemed to know everything about Manuel . "Good morning, Manuel . Why are you late today?" asked Miss Dance!. Manuel did not say a word. He just bowed his head . He was ashamed to tell his richer classmates that he had to help his mother at home before going to school. Poor Manuel! Three years ago his father, who loved him so deeply, died and left Manuel with his mother. Manuel was seven .years old then, but he was not going to school yet. But now be was in the Third Grade . He was a bright pupil . He could beat anybody in his class in language, arithmetic, or reading. As he looked around from his desk, he saw his classmates all dressed in nice clean clothes. They had put them . on, for that morning they were _to hold a program . He looked at his "dothes. ';l'hey were ragged . There were holes in them. He said to himself, "If cnly my father were here, I could ,_!lc.ve new clothes also, and a pair of ··:n~w shoes on!" His heart cried. He ··.looked at his clothes again. "But they -are as clean as the clothes of my classmates," he in uttered . Suddenly,. "Thefirst part of the program is a class song, 'Planting Rice.' Josefa will -please lead the class," said Pablo, one of Manuel's friend!:. 26 The class f ang. Manuel sang, too, but he thoug;'it his voice was drowned by the rest. On the program were dramatizations, stories, and pantomines . Manuel was going to give a re:itation. Later, "Manuel will give us a recitlltion, 'Father in Heaven, We Thank Thee,'" announced Pablo. Manuel stood bravely. He had waited long to say his part. Had he not pracqced reciting it at home to his .nother that night? Now was his chance to show that he was better off than lhe rest. He began: "For flow'rs that bloom about our feet, . F01: tender grass .... " At the end of the first stanza, he paused then continued: "For this new morning with its light, For rest and shelter of night. .. " He had never recited so well. No wonder as he said_ the last lines: "For health and foo~, for love and friends, For ev'rything His Goodness sends, Father in heaven, we thank Thee ." the room was filed with tpe clapping of his friends. He seemed to forget everything .... poor boy, his old and ragged clothes were forgotten . He was very happy. Indeed there never was a day like this one he had now! He whispered: "For health and food, for love and Friends, and HAPPINESS, For ev'rything His Goodness sends, Father in heaven, WE THANK THEE ."

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