Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-12-01
VOL. x.-NO. ii.
JOSIAH BAKER,
ms ruRKIEs AND HIS SWEETHEART.

her' iHueeu, you may have heard of him,
even though you have not been in the State;
for he is well known in Boston as the great
est dealer in poultry in all New England
About Thanksgiving time, you may see in
all parts Of Boston, Josiah Bakers wagons.
literally crammed with turkeys, geese, chick
ems aud ducks, together with pumpkins and
squashes, and all manner of Thanksgiving
sauce 1t was thought by some, il Josiah
should die without an heir to inherit his
virtues and perpetua,e the stock of poultry.
that Thanksgiving would have TO be abol-
ished altogether in that region; for. as to
being thankful upon an empty stomach. II
could not in the nature OF things, he ex-
pected. In fact they tried It on one occu-
sion. Josiah didn't die, to be sure but
twas just as bad for the time being, as YOU
shall see. hinta ainas 19tli'}r
Contrary to all usages, and probably for
the sake of doing something wlerewith TO
distinguish himself, the Governor Of Massa-
chusetts appointed Thanksgiving on the
same day which had been set apart for that
purpose in Vermont. Now no real Yankee
will ever absent himself from his kindred
on Thanksgiving day, not even for gain;
and Josiah, though bachelor, was in the
habit Of having all his blood relations to
make merry with him on that occasion and
! you know that the habits of an old bachelor
are not easily broken in upon. Besides his
worthy sister Hester would have felt herself
scandalised indeed, if she were denied the
privilege ofbustling and scOlding, and storm
ing about as usual in the hurry of prepara-
ton for the joyous festival. Not that she
was illnatured or given TO scolding under
ordinary circumstances, far from IL; but
there is time for everything. Then Josiah's
numerous relatives, (and you've no idea,
unless you have been there, how numerous
zones relatives are in that part Of the co,In-
try,) who were always expected to partake
of the luxuries of his farm-yard and 10 de-
devour, with an appetite which fortunately
returns but once year Miss Hesters pud-
dings, pies, tarts &c, would have felt any
thing but thankful if Josiah had gone 20
Boston, instead of keeping Thanksgiving at
home. But he had no idea ofsuch thing
He could as well afford to keep his ltur-
kies, as the ID Boston folks could do without
hem. and hed teach Gov. Lincoln to appoint
the same day as thesGov!'ot Vermont. SO
Josiah kept Thanksgiving, as in time past,
though his heart was not so light as usual.
for he pited the Boston folks, and could
al
slice of turkey, Governor Lincoln ought to
have known keter." ltt -Uot tr.ai0.'
But if there was this drawback upon his
happiness, it was a trHe compared with the
transformation of the Boston people,. His
old customers who had for fifteen years re-
lied upon him for supplies, and had never
once been disappointed--could not believe
that he would fail to appear now, and even
the day proceeding Thanksgiving, refused
TO purchase of others under the full conyic-
tion that he would come, though is was at
the eleventh hour. But, alas, he came not =;
and for the first time in their lives andI
hope the last, many of our good citizens
were obliged to forego the luxury OF a,roast
turkey, and dine upon roast beef; and, ein-
stead of being thankful, they did nothing
but eat drink and grumble. But there il
no calamity however great, from which
good may not be extracted. -fr 80 b;ss
This unhappy event led the good people
TO reflect upon what might be the conse-
quence if Josiah should be removed BY death
leaving no issue to keep up the stock Of tur-
keys, and as life is uncertain, even in Yer
mont, they sat about devising means of aver
; ting so serious an evil Accordingly, Jo-
siah began to receive letters advising him
to marry; disinteresedly pointing out to
him the cheerlessness of his present mode
of life; and limiting also that if he should
die childless, Thanksgiving would be bro
ken up. Now the subjec of matrimony
: had never entered Josiahs head His mai
den sister attended to his house darned
; his stockings for Sunday washed his neck
! and ears for him on a Saturday highland
Econbed his hair in more ways than one
In short he couldn't see what more woman
could do. However, The subject had got
into his mind, and it was not easyfto GET it
out again. 1t was constantly before him
lie could not even sleep in meeting, but
was constantly looking about, and. observ-
ing how nice and chirk the young women
looked, Finally he concluded to open his
mind to his sister and ask her advice.
After weighing the matter thoroughly,
aud mourning over the prospect of laying
down the sceptre, she advised him with
magnanimity which none but sister could
exhibit) TO comply with the suggestions OF
his friends-and Mary stated that she was
, willing to resign her authority to another
for the sake promoting his happiness; but
in order to secure the latter, she must make
the match herself, at least SO far as to point
out proper person for him to court. This
was a great relief TO him but he would have
!, been better pleased ifshe could have settled
a the whole matter; for he had great horror
a of encountering one of the sex face to face,
4 having never been in company with any but
his own relations. However, his sister, who
was in the habit Of gossiping in the inter
= mission with all the women that came 10
' MEETING snnn mada chnice Of a wife for