The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-07-01
For the National Era.
SOLOMON PEPPERELLs THANKSGIVING

BY MARTHA RUSSELL,

| CHAP. /.
Squire Pcpperell was n well-kcpt man-an
exceedingly well-kept man, and a rather well
favored man. too, as no one would deny, that
saw him, as he leaned over his front gate on
Thanksgiving evening, and watched the car
riage that bore his only son and heir back to
the busy life of the city. True he was swar-
| thy, almost as an Indian, and there was hard.
ness about the lines of his face that might sug-
| gest to person of sensitive nerves and quick
| apprehension the idea of logged obstnacy,
not to say cruelty, and a striking tullness about
| the ears and throat, that reminded one of the
animal but, then, such people run away with
a thousand fances and Squire Peppcrell was
very respectable man.
He had been keeping Thanksgiving that
day and certainly no man among us had more
reason to be thankful. At least, so said the
| good gossips, as they referred to the time when
he had started in the world with only the
clothes on his back and those none of the best.
and compared it with his present position and,
certes, If success in the accumulation Of prop
erty be the criterion of prosperity, they were
| right or, if keen, shrewd brain, a heart Of
stone. q conscience of tho accommodating quail
tiles of gutta percha, and hand of iron, are to
| be set down as the choicest gifts in Gods great
catalogue of blessings, then they were right.
| He had never doubted. or rather, in the whole
sixty years of his existence. had never given
himself time to doubt but what they were, and
actually seemed to think that, in working out
the problem of life, with money for quotient,
he was fulfilling the highest destiny of man.
Yes he was II very respectable man every
thing about him, from the bold region Of self
esteem and frmness, which rose like cold, snow
covered promontores from sea Of stiff iron
gray hair to the toe of his well-polishcd boot,
indicated it-and a very popular man withal,
as was exceedingly natural seeing he owned
all the land between Spenccrs farm and the
| Mill river, to say nothing OF his money invest
ed elsewhere--had been elected twice to the
State Legislature, paid the heaviest town tax
of any one in the place, and, though not :" a
professor" always bought one of the highest
4 seats in church, and had, at several times du-
ring late wears, manifested quite an interest in
the subject Of religion; 50 much 40, that seye-
raj good honest souls among us entertained n
strong hope that he might yet become 4" a
burning and shining light in the church" and
his great property pay IT. legitimate share
towards all benevolent objects. II must be
confessed, however, that there was here and
there an old person, gifted with IL stubborn
| memory. WHICH WbuIu uot w 'hNH ''' XIV VI
G,l 70 remind others, how that wealth had
been obtained But these were old-fashioned
peoplc. whose notions Of right and wrong were
as old.fashioned and musty as themselves ;
therefore few needed their words, Besides,
Squire Peppcrell was so "public-splrIted at
least, so the younger and more ambitious Por-
ton Of our community asserted; and who does
not know that the possession OF the somewhat
indefinite virtues included under that general
head, cover multitude of private Sins'
Hadn't the Squire subscribed more than
INV one else towards the new graveyard fence
and hadn't he said, repeatedly, that IT lem
Morgan would only pull down or move OH ms
forlorn-looking old barn near the south corner
of the common by the bridge that he would
level the spot, plant it with shade trees and
build new bridge at his own expense, u the
town would not move in the matter Ana
hadn't his son, Mr.. William, sent handsome
donation towards purchasing an organ tor the
church !"
What could such people Us old Job Harris