Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-04-01
THE STORY TELLER.
'' From the Boston Traveller.
" HOME TO THANKSGIVING"
A DOMESTIC STORY.
BY G. w.


~ur g. BY G. W.
1t was near ten o'clock at night, when John
Norton and his wife, with the comfortable, qui-
ct feeling, which the heads of large families Of
ten have after the business of the day is over,
and the inmates of the house have all, bni
themselves, retired, drew their chairs around
the fast cooling stove, and settled themselves
for one of those domestic chats which they had
long been in the habit Of enjoying together at
this hour. Mr.. Norton was farmer, with a
very small farm, which, as he had seven chill
dren and an aged mother to support, was en-
tirsly insufficient to do more than provide some
of the staple necessities of life, and he had to
exc out the remainder by jobbing about, when
he could find any work to do. But as he was
blest with that greatest of all poor mems bles-
sings-an Industrious, frugal, healthy wife, he
managed to live without debt, and as he said,
fairly keep his head above water These
quiet hours talk before he went to bed, were
the pleasantest part of Johns life, for he rose
early, and worked hard all day, and without
these would have known little of the comfort of
having happy home. To-nigh the was more
than Usually tired, for he had sawed a cord of
wood for Squire Jones, aad he begun to think,
as the great old clock in the kitchen corner
struck ten, that Hannah was very wide awake,
for her knitting needles certainly never flew
faster, and her eyes were fixed upon the stove
as if she discovered some new beauties in its
familiar face; yet she had not spoken word
for long time.
Hannah he said at last, after yawning
in an imploring manner several times to at
tract her attention: Isn't it time to 90 to
bed,
Why yes.' said his wife, looking up 'on-
ly l wanted to talk with you little while
about plan have been thinking of for some
time
Well, let's have it, said John, brighten
ing.
i don't exactly like to tell you, John. l
am afraid that you will think am extraya-
CANT
That you never are-you will have TO turn
over new leaf. What is it,'
9 want to keep 7Aanhsgicing- really keep
it, John, as we never have since we were mar
ried'
How is that.'
I've been think ing it over and over all
summer, and | made up my mind that if God
blessed US with health, spared all our lives,
and brought us in plentiful harvest, that
when the time came pretty near round, l
would ask you about it. Now we have not,
with all our seven children, and an old mother,
had TO call doctor, for six months, no acc-
dent nor harm Of any kind has befal!en us,
and heard you say yesterday that the farm
had never yielded SO well since you had work
ed it,
All true, Hannah, but, as it is, we shall
only just live; if there had been sickness or ac-
cldent, or poor crop, | must have run in debt,
and then, God help the poor man feel as if !
could not help myself, to any purpose, again
still, we have always kept Thanksgiving, and
always mean to.
Yes, but, John, want for mothers sake,
to keep regular old New England Thaksgiv-
ing, such as my grandmother used to tell about.
You know mother is very old and feeble, and
may never live to see another. Let us ask all
the family here-children, grandchildren, and
great-grandchildren
Why, Hannah, are you crazy! There is
forty or more Of them, all todl'
'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 anything for them
to eat1'
'Oh! will engage to give them first rate
dinner, and that too, without diminishing much
from our own comfort.
How, Hannah, howl don't see ho,u yor
would begin. There are pies and puddings
and turkies and chickens, and apples and nuts
Why, it's impossible; where could they al
come 'front.'
Il know, John, it would be pretty close plan
ming; but think it conld be done I've beer
thinking it over and over, and am quite sure, i
you don't object l can do it.'
But only think of the folks! You woulc
not ask Sam down from the citv, woult
yong
Yes, would ask every one, said Han
nah 'but it is five years last August sinc'
he has even sent to inquire for his old mother
50 l don't think there is much probabiIit,
that he ever will come, or any of his prout
family
The more shame to him. answered John
waxing little warm: to neglect his poo
old mother, and he now rolling in gold as h
is.'
Never mind the gold, John, said his wife
soo,hingly; he has that, and you have you
mother, and am sure she is worth all that ev
er was dug; and you know you wouldn't 70
the whole world change places with Sam thi
moment
mo, that is true! only one would like
see him little more kind to his puor rela
tons
.And then,' pursued his wife, there is Su
..r who hasn't home in the wide world, an
has to 90 to the minister's to be married. Wei
have her here, and the wedding shall be wher
grandmother is; and now think of it, suppos
we have the baby baptised, as the minister will
- ,haro ;s Jane's child lust abou