Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-01-09

A'sa9Nu III i1Gif NuD0a
ciothes-and their c-ountenances we,
wreathed with smiles of gratitude and 10,
On enquiry, he learned thatit was TuAsK,
GIVING Day. He hailed the informa,io
as a glad omen.
On the day when the poor, forlofn-look
ing traveller, after years Of wandering
was pursuing his way toward bis nativ
village, the fire burned brightly on III
hearth stone ofhis parents. Deacon Wi
us was a New England farmers maj
VINO, by -cherlshlng the virtues of indus
try and lrugality, had become possesse,
OF a handsome p~ropcrty-and who, enjoy
ing a competence in a free country, pro
iected by a wise government, surrounded
by KIND and intelligent neighbors, and in
the midst of a happy and ~virtuous family,
ensied neither nabobs their riches, nor
monarchs their power.
1t was Thanksgiving Day-and great
had been the hustle IN Deacon WilIis's ia.
m'iy Tor the previous week. Descended
IN a direct line from one of the earliest
settlers IN New England, no consideration
could have induced the worthy Deacon 10
abate one jot OF the "pomp and pride and
circumstance" of the Thanksgiving of the
Pnritans. Thanksgiving was religiously
observed by him, as il had been by his
iather before hinI.-and the gratitude which
he expressed, was not "a mere formula Of
u%nmeaning words, but came directly from
The heart.
On this day his children were all around
hlm-and all anticipated a joyous Thanks.
giving. Several Of his distant relations,
who were not so well provided with the
good things ofthis life as the worthy Dea-
con, also accepted an invitation to be pre-.
sent. Among those who were sheltered
by his hospitable roof on this occasion,
the greatest f~ayorite seemed TO be Mary
Wordsworth, a blue-eyed damsel, whose
lovely and expressive face told more about
sweetness and purity than | could describe
in a folio volume. She was the only
daughter of a cousin of the worthy Dea-
cons, and at an early age was deprived
of her parents by death. But Deacon
Willis had been TO her a parent-his
house had been her home-his wife had
treated her with u mothers kindness
and his children regarded her as a sister
and a dear friend.
Mrs. Willis's situation as mistress of
the family, was no sinecu,c on that day.
Her duties were various and important
for IT was the New England HolHdoy-
and all her skill as a manager. was put
10 Inc test on Thanksgiving day. Alter
the family returned from meeting, ifor
they were Of The old fashioned sort, who
would almost as soon lose their Thanks.
giving dinner, as be deprived Of their
Thanksgiving Sermon the table was set
in the large front pailor, winch was
to be used only on extraordinary occa-
sions, and serious preparations for the ies-
tival commenced. A good fire, made OF
walnut and yellow oak wood, burned
cheerfuIly in the large open Fireplace
and all the females belonging to the house,
were put in requisition to bear the abun-
dance OF the good things from the kitchen
TO the parlor-and which when deposited
in their respective places, made the tables
groan again.
At the head Of the table, was placed a
portly turkey, the choicest of a large
and p~ampered family-at the further ex-
tremity, was deposited a ham of a size
and flavor to make a Wes,phalian's eyes
sparkle with Joy. On the centre was sta
toned, plucked, roasted, and ready for
the carving.knile, one of these celebrated
animals, which whilom saved from the
ravages of the Gauls, the capitol of Rome,
and which, in vulgar parlance, are ycle-
ped geesc-while here and there, seattle.
red round the table, in apparent disorder
but with deliberate care and precision,
were boiled fowls, roasted fowls-jellies,
knicknacks, and plates of vegetables OF
more varieties and excellence than would
willingly undertake to enumerate-whlle
on the kitchen table, arranged apparent
ly as u corps de reserue, might be seen a
stately plum. pudding, supported by seye-
raj o Thanksgiving pies, with
mincc pies, apple pies, squash pes ana
custarG pies, with fruits of various kinds,
not forgetting nuts and apples. to bring up
the rear. AS a beverage on this happy
occasion, pater was the only article pro-
Whitewater brought from a clear and
sparkling spring, which dubbed up a lew
rods from the house for Farmer Wills
contended that water was the bes. drink,
even on festive occasions-and that hilar-
ity and Joy should be promoted, not by
wine or strong drink Of any kind, but by
social communion, by a free Interchange
of thoughts and ideas, by generous ieei'
inrs horn and nurtufed in a noble bosom
Il was nearly two o'clock, long after
their accustomed hours OF dinner, before
the assembled company were invited int
the parlor 10 partake Of the good cheo'
which had been SO bountltully provided
And as the happy company stood aroun'
+, 49, ,,hlo w,;ting for their host 10 ask TIT