The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-05-28

roof YET fingers one whose gay haifs and ial
tering step, arc spared a little while longe
from the home Of the living !.
So thought Mrs. Norton and u had Away
been from the first hour thst her husband
mother had chosen her home by their fireside
the object OF her endeavors TO make those las
days 0f long and useful life, the happiest o
them all, and now to change a little for he
the monotony Of qniet in door life to give he
something to think over, when those cold bitte
winter storms should shut out even the it'll,
variety she now had, and to gather once more
the members Of large family to receive the
blessing, which she so much priced, for herself
and children, such were Mrs. Norton motives
in the laboriOus task Of keeping "a real New
England Thanksgiving
Martha was the eldest child, now nearly fif.
teen years old and as there were six younger
she had always been accustomed from child tC
taking care" The mother depended very much
upon her, she consulted her in little arrange
ments, and would have felt as if great part Of
the household had been removed if any thing
had deprived her Of Martha. From early sum
mer she had been her mothers coniidants re.
specting Thanksgivilg--an had in her own
quiet way made thousand plans for bringing
it about. II is astonishing in how many ways
children Of that age, or even much younger
may be not only comforts, but aids, to theil
parents. There was numberless little acts o
self-sacrifice which Martha was daily perform
ing, and which though they did not appear al
the time to produce any impression on the con
dition OF the family. vet in the aggregate wert
OF great importance, AMI what is better yet
were forming her own miud aud heart to
standard of generous and high toned self devO
ton; freedom from selfishness, at once tht
passport aud the guide to the esteem and Low
of all who knew her. Through the summer sh
had taken no butter, no sugar, no tea, nor an,
of the articles that could be saved for, as sh
reasoned to herself every little helped an
by and by when the time fairly came, sh
could tell her parents what she had done to less
en- the expected expense. But Mrs Norten'
watchful eye had long since noticed the sacrifie
that Martha was making and had not only di
vined the cause, but as far as it was possibl
she had aided her. She had however, refrain
ed from making Martha aware that she had dis
covered her secret for she wished her to hav
the pleasure Of making it known to her.
a
ly, when one morning after breakfast Nj
Norton inquired of his mother, "if she shoul
feel well enough to like to keep Thanksgiv
iRgf"
"Wby-yes, my son, You know we alway
do that, and hope you always will, so long a
your old mother is with you" answered th
grandmother.
"But, mother" interposed Mrs. Norton, NJ
longer able to keep still, I'VE mean grea
Thanksgiving, a regular old fashioned one
such asyou used to have when You were littl
girl, only you will be the grandmother now
aud they will be your children. We mean t
have aU."
"All-all, Hannah l'' stammered the oil
lady; "what not aH?"
Eyes, Sans, and Joe's, and Henry's, an,
Martha's, and Betsey's and James families
and "
"Why, Hannah" interrupted the grandmOth
er, flush Of emotion and pleasure passing owe
her face, such as it had not known for years.
sit would beat you all out to have so many
besides the expense"
"Never mind the expense, dear mother, W
have planned it all, and by being careful, an
doing without few things, we shall have
nice supper, Just as you used to in old times, an
am sure il there was ever family who ough
to thank God for his goodness to them, it
we, for his having spared you 50 long to u
mother"
The old lady's gentle heart sent tear to he
eye--it was her only answer; and, amid ii
riotous rejoicings Of the other members Of II
family, the breakfast broke up.
"And now, my children" said the mothe
as they all flocked around her, ''you have eaC
one somthing to do TO help get ready, Yol
father is poor, you know, aud you are heart
little things to feed, aGd it costs much
clothe you but we will have the best, ii yC
are all willing to help"
"R' hat shall do2 and Il aud lf' cried
half dozen voices tOgether-'Only tell us, tn
is all"
"Well, one at a time" said the mothe
laughing; "aad first, my good Martial 20,
mother has known what you have been doir
all summer, aud grandmOther's ThanksgiviT
party could hardly have taken place, but +
your constant and unliring willingness to
without.
A rich blush passed over Martha's face, ar
a CLEAN Of sun light into her soul. She low
the words Of her gentle mothers ApprobatiC
aud she loved too, the smile Of pleasure, whit
lit up the fading eye ofthe dear old grandm
ther. The children all looked wonderingly
her; and Edward, fine boy Of thirteen, wi
a toss Of his curls from his brown forehea
said che might have been doing something, t
if he had been told; but he did not ktow he
man could be expected to do when he did
know anything was to be DONE"
'sYou hare been, doing, my boy, all summer
said his mother, with quick consciousness
the discomfort which his words implied.
tell you how, when we are alone; and now
on your cap and take two Of the best squash
you eau find, and run with them to Squi
Jones. l dare say he will like to buy theI
and that will help towards the sugar.
"0hno, mothefI Billy is big enough to tai
those, and have plan Of my Own-Only dor
let any one ask me what it ISL
Every well--and Billy has gone already,
see. for thesQuashes."
In one hour ell Of the family were busy
doing such things as they were able, to he
Tor ward the event. Even little John, who b
not seen his third summer, sat upon the flo
and picked Outall the spscked apples from