Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-05-12
How Jakey got his Thanksgiving
Dinner.
BY MRS. JAMES DuRNo.

with saddles, and every other conveyance
then in use had been put in requisi;ion, in
order that each branch of the family should |
be rep esented 10 its fullest extent. For three /
days, Jakey, who was the man of all work on
the old grand -sire's farm, where the family
gathering was to "come off," could do little
else than take care of The horses, and keep
the lres going He watched the movements,
and expected to line his shirt" as he told
Dinah, on enc Of Massa's fat turkies.
Preparations were all complete, and the
| day was ushered in as all other days were
only every fireplace had rousing fir. kin
died in it. The old father of all opened the
big Bible" and read an account of the ac
cepiable feast unto the Lord, where the poor,
and the stranger in the gate, should be nv-
ted to partake freely. Next II prayer, one cf
the good old fashioned kind, at which the
whole household knelt, not even Jakey and
Dnah were excluded; for in those good old
times, 1t was not inconsistent with the dignity
of family 10 admit servants TO a social family
worship. Next, in the usual order Of exer-
cses, was the big pitcher Of egg nog, in which
Dinah had good exercise beating the eggs
Jakey, volunteered to be bearer of "nog des.
patches" hoping leeHe would be spared to
add to the comfort of the poor, massa had
been reading bout. Jakey watched the glass.
es as they were re-tilled and drained; and a
rueful look gathered over his usual happy
flce.
AS Jakey was taking the empty pitcher in
to the kitchen. he turned round to massa and
said in an under tome
"Massa, me and Dinah am De poor you
read bout just now %
" suppose so," so said the old man.
"Wel massa; we have little nog then,
l suppose"
"Oh. yes, yes" said he in reply, "only
don't take too much "
"Oh, no, no. massa; me take only much
! as you did, and Dinah only as much as Mis-
sus
Next in order was breakfast; and the Ia
hles were heightened to admit seven more
than the last year. and every high chair laid
. aside in the attic was brought down, the dust
X and cobwebs renewed, and some wee bit
Z Of thing" appeared in it for the first time
After the meal was ended the old mar
d pronounced the henedcton. and remembered
= again the poor and destitute, and those who
t had none of the comforts that SO liberally sur
round that JOYOUS group.
i The next subject for their consideration
II was who should go to hear tn sermon. fo'
T. the minister was licensed TO utter his polili
:, cal opinions once year, and then, on Thanks
giving day. 1t so happened that the time a
y which our story was dated, was that OF the
II anne exaton of Texas and as the old man haC
e e but one newspaper in his house, and tha
il spoke only on one side of the question, h-
lr thought he would like to know what his min
y ister said If he was in favor of annexation
~. why of course his paper was just the righ
, one, and he would pay up for it on New
st Years for the 3Oth time.
=, The carriages were brough out and loaded
Ell and all took leave for church, except thos
:, who had little ones to care for. and the olt
le lady, who must see to the turkies and pud
" dings, and have dinner ready on their return
~ The door opened at length, and in walk
> the whole race from church. Jakey was bu
i. sy taking care OF the horses; Dinah wa
loading the tables with turkies and "tixins.
ill you could scarcely find room for tum
bier. Jakey watched the movements, and a
10 the arrangements were completed, he listen
10 ed to catch every word of the old mans grace
When he concluded, he thanked God that h
and his. we're born under the Divine inHu
10 ence Of the gospel; in a land of freedor
10 and equal rights; with the high obligation
of doing unto others, as they would ths
M others should do unto them.
JAkey looked one of his significant lool
~ al Missus. with nod Of the head; as muc
W as to say "we'i see.''
m Jakey and Dinah were busy in waitn
on and al last tte eatables had well nigh disa
l..
~, w as usual. He always took occasion To measnI
III the old mans deeds BY his spoken prayer
hs and sometimes derived advantage in that wa
After the fragments were taken up"
1s was found that .lle remained for Jakey an
J.. his better half But as they collected II
he remnants, and he had witnessed the loade
ed table OF massa, he said TO Dlnah--
" "Me got one fat chicken dressed, that n
nd put under de tub for you and me, and n
Lroil him for dinner, and s'pose massi or mi
III sus cnme in and say, how you dare cook {
~ chicken, me just say-you have good Dime
and me and Dinah want good dinner too.
e- just look at de fragments, and see if saint
h sinner could eat dem bones on Tbanksgivit
" day! Didn't massa say "we lib in dc 20
re pei land and do as we like to be done by?
us Dinah remonstrated but Jakry, not to
he defeated took b sRet Of wood for the fir
-, and stepped into The room. The old mi
%e thought he could hardly have had time to e
IA. Thanksgiving dinner and mad the engu
n ry, "havc you and Dnah been to dinner
ch No, no, massa" said he; me and L
!" ." nah don't like to pick dc bones for dinner {
is ddy."
ne well. well. Jakey, you 20 and take tn
to little lat turkey, and dress her and cook h
=" for your dinner and just take bit of som
thing 10 whet your appetite I'll it Is ready
et. Jakey went bowing oui. and told DIM
We they had GOT de turkey all In themselves, Al
re dat they could eat BIT from DE fragments.
H. last till de turkey was on dc tail lie. for
m didn't care bout de turkey, or de fat chick
le, under de tub. only he like to know if mas
ch mean anything WheH he say prayers"