Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1854-11-30
G8t Storp GtlIer.
D. AUGUSTUS HIICHITS, ESQ.
A THANKSGIVING STORY.


Farmer Hichns, on the eve preceding day
appointed by the Governor of the New Eng
land States, for Public Thanksgiving and
Praise could not have avoided noticing that
somebody more than the circle there assem-
bled was expected. As large family sat
about the capaciOus fireplace, the hearty hon
est wood fire threw cheerful light on their
almost happy faces-almost happy, because
as we have intimated there was chair vet to
fill. The premonitors Of thanksgiving waited
upon the table, in the cold antipatory chick
en- pie, manufactured more with an eye to
quality than to quantity, the stout pitchers of
cider, fanked with plates of shining pippins,
walnuts cracked ready for the tooth, fire cake
yet smoking, and 'dongh-nuts,' in Manhattan
called 'crawlers, a bountiful supply An
other platter contained a formidable brisket
piece of cold boiled beef, with garnish of
pork, and no lack of cabbage and cold garden
sauce Such was the rePast, and the party
only waited the arrival of some expected guest
to fall upon it.
Suspense, which always appears long to
those who endure it, is not half so long as it
seems. At its usual hour of arrival the Hard
scrabble mail coach drove into the village, and
stopped before Farmer Hinchns' door, de-
posted the precious burden for which the fam
lily had been waiting for three hours before it
was due. Sisters, brothers, father and moth
er crowded round mass of shawl, handker-
chiefs, wraprascal, fur tppet and upper Ben
jamin, and by Industrious unrolIing, young
gentleman was at length revealed fathers
hope and mothers joy, in heightened sweet
ness long drawn out All had naturally made
up their minds to be delighted to see him
but the mother started back from his lips as if
she had encountered shoe brush The sis
ters were frozen into formality by an appari-
ton so much unlike their mental portrait of
brother Nahum, and the little brother ran
grlnnlng into corner of the room The old
gentleman laid off his spectacles, and com
menced survey OF The nondescript, begin
ming at his monkey face, coursng over his
foppish waist, running line of survey down
his candle mould invested legs, and ending in
a long stare at his silt heeed boots 1t was
evident they had expected natural blood re-
lation, but had found an unnatural curiosity
The stranger repaid the stare of curiosity with
another, and putting his quizzing- glass to his /
eye, surveyed the room in which his child
hood was SPENT as if he had never seen II be- /
We n bahi lie
father frowned, his mother bit her lips, his
sisters blushed before his gaze, and his broth
ers, to use their expression, 'snorted right
out
Affection cannot, however, be lightly |
crushed, and rhe family could not forget they
were receiving long absent member. The
animal was led to the fire, and deposited him
self in chair with the air Of man who was
paying his interiors an enormous compliment,
and the usual commonplaces were passed be-
tween the guest and his entertainer Novem-
ber's cold without was not half so chilling as
the reunion within the walls of Farmer
Hinchins' dwelling. The city son diversified
his conversation at table, with remarks upon
city dishes, by way of teaching his father and
mother, by no very ambiguous intimations,
that people lived in the country very much
like savages. Every attempt to excite his in
ferest in old familiar scenes and objects was
parried by his careless CAB to show his trav-
eled knowledge, and his acquaintance with
scenes and people who were not for superiori-
ty to be mentioned in the same breath with
any of the objects and persons which com
posed the little happy rural world, to which
N. Augustus Hinchins had once been con
tented resident. Or if that worthy vouch-
safed to hear his friend speak, it was with such
an expressive smile Of condescension that the
rustic family began in spite of themselves to
feel some interiority before Mr.. Hinchins, as
they now felt compelled TO call him, whom
ahey had counted on welcoming home with
their whole hearts as brother Nahum The
cider and apples did, however, melt down
sittie of Nahum's genlility before he went to
bed, and the sisters actually ventured to offer
their hands as they parted for the night
"Awravwahr,' drawled Nahum Augustus
Hinchins, as he scuffed out Of the room in
embroidered slippers, holding the lamp with
thumb and fnger-'Aw rayvwher nah mare
eh mong pair
The matron looked up anxiously at her
husband, as she raked up the fre-the hus-
band sat In mood contemplative. AT last, as
he rose, he broke out-'The starch must be
taken out of that youngster, ma am He is
our own son, Mr.. Hinchins' Never mind.
the starch must be taken out, and if it is not
before tomorrow night TIL be-
Mrs. H. IS somewhat extensive hand clapped
a stopper on the farmers mouth but not on
his resolution.
why don't the boy come down!' said the
father the next morning. The mother went
up to see. The tender lad complained bitter
ly that there was no bell in the room-and
that he had always been accustomed to have
fire in his apartment but as there was no
servant, he would try once to rise without
So after deal of fuss about water and towels,
and display Of his dressing box to the aston
ishment of his country mamma, he managed
in an hourss tinoa m comp damn "a broaLfos+