The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1839-12-20

iandsome pruperIy; aud vino, enjo ia.
I competence IN free country, protec
Ted by wise gOverumeut, surrouude,
hV kind an Intr'hG"u' ne,ghhors, and II
The midst Of d happy aud y,r,nouS lmt
Iy, eavied neither nahnb~ their riches
nor IN nsrchs th"ir power.
1t was Thanksgiving Day; and gres
had been the bu>'Ie in Deacon WilhI
lam ~ for the prevInus week. DesceJ-
ded N direct line f. iom one of the ear
hest settlers of New England, no con :
, sideratlon could have induced the wor i
thy Deacon to abate one iot of .hel
''pomp aud pride and clrcumstance' Of
tho Thanksgiving of the Puiitans
Thanksgiving was ielIgioutly observed
by him. as it had been by he father be-
fore him; and the gra,imde which he ex.
pressed to his Creator for The mercies
which he had received, was not a mere
formula of unmeanIng words, but came
directly from the heart. !
On this day his children were col(
lected al around him; and all antlcipa>
ted joyous Thanksgiving. Several of
his distant relations, who were not SO
well provided with tho good things of
this life as the worthy Deacon, also ac-
, cepted an invitation to be present. A.
mong those who we're sheltered by his
hospItable roof Oh this occasion, the
greatest favourite seemed to be Mary
Wardsworth,a blue eyed damsel, whose
lovely and expressive face told more a..
bout sweetness and parity than | couIp
describe in folio volume. She wds
the only daughter Of a cousin of lib
worthy deacon's, and at an early ap
was deprived Of her parents by death
But Deacon Willis had been 10 her
parent; his house had been her homo
his wife had treated her with mother1
kindness; and his children regarded hei
as sister and dear friend.
= Mrs. Willis situation as mistress
of the family, was no sinecurs on thai
day. Her duties were various and i'm!
poriant; for it was the New England
Holiday; and all her skill as house, 4
> wife; all her excellence as manager
were put to the test on Thanksgiving
Day. After the family returned from
meeting, for they were of the old fash
Toned sort, who would almost as soon
lose Their Thanksgiving dinner, as be
deprived OF their Thanksgiving sermon,
the table was set IN the large front par
lor, which was wont TO used only OF
extraordinary occasions, and serious
preparations for the festival commenced
A good lie, made of walnut and yellow
oak WOOD, burned cheertulIy IN The large
open fire-pluce; and all The females be-
'ong'ng to the house, we're put in res
quisIlIOn to bear the abundance of the
good things from the kitchen to the
parIor, land which when deposited IN 'hel,
respective places, made the tables groal
again. AT the head of the liable, was
placed pottly Turkey, The choicest OF
large aud pampefed family; at the
iurther extremity, was deposited han
OF a SIZE and tiaVolf 10 maka Wes-
phaI'an's Gye sparkle with jov, Oy
'he centre was statlausd, pucked, roas
; ted, and ready or the carving knife, ont
oi those celebrated animals, whlom sa
we'd from the ranges OF the Gauls, the
capital of Rome, and which IN vugar
parIance, are ycleped geese while here
and there, scattered round the table, II
apparent disorder, but with deliberate
care and precisioo, were boiled fowls
roasted fowis-.SIlies, knicknacks, an,
plates OF vegetables Of more varietie.
: and excellence than | would willngl,
undertake 10 unumerate-whiie on the
Kitchen table arranged apparently as q
corps dereserUe, nigh be seen statel,
plum pudding, supported by several e,
normons Thanksgiving pumpkin pies,
with m'nce pies, apple pies, squash pies
} and cus:ard pies, with fruits of various
kinks, not forgetting nuts and apples, tt
bring up the rear. AS a beverage or
This happy occasion, W0ter was theon
y article provided = water broughrGom
I clear and sparkling -prng, which bub
bled up few rods from the house; fol
Farmer Willis conlendcd that water
was the best drink, even on festive oc-
cas'ons-and that hlarlty and Joy shosI.
he promoted, not by vine OF strong drink
, Of any kind, but by social communion,
] by free interchange of thoughts ant
: ideas, by generous feelings, born ant
= nurlnrod in public bosom.
II was nearly two o'clock, long afie
; their accustomed hours Of dinner, be.
u fore the assembled company where in
: vItod into the paror to partake of tn,
9 good cheer whlch had been so bounti
o fully provided. Aud as the happy com
o pany stood around the table, waiting 70
n their host to ask the Divine Blessin!
j. Nnnn Ihe naal which uos ,,Nonnd hoC,,r