noon
He groaned . Would he ever earn enough to marry Louise ? Thanksgiving drew nearer . At school , on the Wednesday immediately preceding , the chosen few who were Miss Brown 's personal aides , stayed after school at noon to decorate the room for the entertainment to be given at a quarter of two . Her desk was backed against the wall , and the cornstalks used by the drawing class as models for their efforts , were grouped against it to form a background for the impassioned actors . A supply of pumpkins , gourds , and other autumnal fruits of the earth , borrowed by the teacher from the grocer with whom her mother traded , gave still greater festivity to the room . There was no need of roll call .