The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-11-25
Home to THANKSGIVING"

Scotia. Ed. Gas.
"HOme to Thanksgiving
II was near 10 o'clock at night, when
John Norton and bis wife, with the com
farlable, quiet feeling, which the heads d
large families often have after the busines,
ol the day is over, and the inmates Of The
house have all, but themselves, retired
drew their chairs close around the fast
cooling stove, aud settled themselves fol
onc OF those domestic chats which they hac
long been in the habit Of enjoying together
a, this hour. Mr. Norton was farmer
with very small farm, which, as he had
seven children and an aged mother to sup
port, was entirely insufficient 10 do more
than provide some ot the staple necessities
of life, and he had to exc out the remainder
by "job5ing about" when he could find
any work to do. But as he was bes
with that greaiest Of all poor meas bless
iugs--an industrious, frugal, healthy wife
hc M s6lged to live withou, debt, and, as h.
said, siairly keep his head above water
These quie, hours talk before he went 10
bed, were The pleaxan,esi part OF Johns life
ior he rose early, aud worked hard all DAY
long, and without these would have know
Iite Of lie comfort Of happy home. To
night he was more than usually tired. lol
be had sawed cord OF wood for Squire
Jones. and he began 10 think, as the grea'
I'D clock in the kitchen corner struck ten
that Hannah was very wide awake, for her
kuitiing needle certainly never flew faster
md her ewes were fixed upon the stove as
# she discovered some new beauties in its
familiar face, yet she had not spoken .
word for 4 long time.
..IIanuah!' he said at last, after yawn.
ing iu an imploring way several times, to
attract her attention, "Isn't j, time TO 90 tC
bed?"
.Why. yesw said his wife looking up;
..only wanted to talk with you, Little
while, about plan | have been thinking
Of for some iime."
"WclI, let's have it," said John, bright,
ening.
81 don't exactly like to tell you, john
am afraid you would think lam eSirava
CANT"
"That you never are-vou will have &c
turn over new leaf What is i,?"
II want to keep Ihanksgiring--really
Keep il, John, as we never have since We
we're married.
"IIow is tha,?'
"l've been thinking il over and over ali
.,l / do nd
God blessed US with health, spared our
lives, and brought US in a plentiful harvest.
that, when the time came pretty near
round, would ask you about it. Now we
have not with all our seven children, and
an old mother, had to call a doctor for Sin
months, no accden, nor harm OF any kind
has befalen us, aud heard you say yes
,erday ,ha, the farm had never yielded SO
we'll since YOU worked it,"
san true, Hannah, but, as il is, we shall
only Just live; if there had been sickness.
or accident, or pooe crop, must then
have run in debt, and then; God help the
poor man! feel as if could not help my
self, toany purpose again n-stlli, we always
have kept Thanksgiving, and ! always
mean TO-"
.Yes, but, John, ! want, for mother,
sake, to keep a regular old New Englan'
Thanksgiving, such as my grandmothe
used to tell about. You know mother i
very old aud feeble, and NAV never live Il
see another. Let US ask all 1.-THE. family here
children, grandchildren, and grea
grandchildren"
"Why. Hannah, are YOU crazy! There
is forty or :nore OF them, all told"
"Well, it's no matter if there are fifty;
have no relations in the world, you know
and mother would so enjoy it,"
"But where could you get any thing for
Them to ea,?''
.Oh! will engage TO give them frs
rate dinner, and that, too, without diminish
ing very much from our own comfort"
elbow. IIannah, how? don't see hou
YOU would begin. There are pies anf
puddngs. and turkeys and chickens, nnc
Iapples and nuts. Why, IFS impossible
where could they all come from"
Il know, John, it would be pretty close
planning; but think ii could be done.
have been thinking il over and over, ant
I'm quite sure, if you don't object, can d.
tn
"But only think of the folks! Io'
would not ask Sam down from the city
would you?"
ayes, would ask every one," said Han
nah; "but il is five years last August since
he has even sen, to inquire for his old moth
er; SO don't think there is much proba
biIi,y tha, he will come, or any of his prou'
family"
"The more shame to him." answered
John. waving little warm, $40 neglect h
poor old mother, and he rolling in gold a
he is."
"Never mind the gold, John," said hi
wife, soo,hingly; she has that, and yo'
have your mother, and ! am sure she !
worth all that ever was dug; and you kaoa
you wouldn't for the whole world chang'
places with Sam this moment"
"No, that's true! only one would like l.
see him little more kind to his poor rela
tons"
sand them" pursued his wife, "lhere
Susan, who hasn't home in The wd