New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-19
nem Orlealts lailg Grestent.
"A Thanksgiving Scene.

no ~
yery soul of the high.lnnded sunnyheartea giri.
before she had stood in her fathers low par
Ior on Thanksgiving Eyeshe mad stood ~. eetwee Ecu
that father and mother to whose faces se i.su nes
sonlsneaking ewes, the bride Of an hour; ana as
the good mothers raspberry wine carefully po5.lea
nm for the occasion, went around she dreamed nos
that3in that cup there lnrked demon that snotuu
overthrow the altar just erected.
Calah Ravnolds was now 4 drunkard and deserter
from h;s home Hehad enlisted, it was Thought IN
an hour of hs wife was let 70 learn
Il from other lips lie went without one Nota VI lare
well, to the plains OF Ale&lco, anu no'9A 0Ao N
she heard of him.
Poor Adelaide carried her crushed heart BACK 10 her
fathers house. longing only to be laid IN the grave.
Have you ever seen q Tree IN OUT ofe ~
off from its connection with the lte-givng earth and
then left to wither for years? never pass such a
free without thinking of the slow death Of the heart
II which some writer has strikngy compared it, 1t
was thus that Adelaide stood among the other plants
Of her fathers nurture. Have you ever seen from
such girdled tree young shoot spring out, and,
striking down its fbres, form feeble connection with
in the tree 1t was thus that little Robert came to
bind a few broken fbres from her early hopes and
BIT We are forgetting our Thanksgiving. None Of
the annties forgot it, however, the cousins and
hy the time farmer Talbot's big sleigh" had been
empted twice upon the old sprnhled stone steps, all
were brought home from church and all were there
all except two unaccountabe stragglers, the boys
be called who were cultivating the sciences in col
lege not many miles away.
And why were they not there? So questioned
every one and grand-mamma did not answer, but only
wiped her spectaces every few minutes with her
apron and peered out of her southwest window.
Meanwhile the new corners were all clustered in the
sitting room, making merry use OF the nterude pc
tween service and dinner. There was Robert, the
eldest son. with his rompng family and anxious look
ing wife. There was Charlotte, nobody new her by
that -Lotte, blooming in her prime, and manag
ing her little ones to charm. There was Philip the
old bachelor, though by no means a crusty one Next
to him sat pale, stiff looking cousin from the near
est factory village Last, but not least, though she
was but a little one, was the school maanl-tile
Youngest Of her fathers 1ockthe laughing, fun-lov
ing Susie She was not beautiful, as Adde had been,
but there was such world Of good nature in her low
broad forehead and dimped cheeks, that you Loved
her at first sight will not attempt her portrait, for
do not know that she sat still long enough to
have it taken, except in church. This day she was
here, there and everywhere among the children, kiss
ing one, romping with another and then tossing
up Roberts babe to the terror of mamma and the de-
light of all others.
g You must let me go and help grand-mamlna take
up the turkey, indeed you must" cried Susan,
laughing as she pushed through the doorway followed
by the whole scampering troup. One had sprung
from the top Of the armchair to her shoulders end
sat growing like a parrot on his perch
AS she advanced towards the kitchen the outer
door was thrown open and " merry Thanksgiving
to you p burst from the lips of the intruders, amid
the renewed Shouts OF tne D0lSterOuS DfOOu. d -.r
g Bless me, where did you all come from! Y cried
the mother dropping the lade into the Goals in her
surprise.
'iWhy brothers, we never heard your seigllbell!"
exclaimed snsan, throwing off her encumbrance and
heartily welcoming the young colegians.
al dare say not, cried Edward, as he knocked the
snow from his boots g We chartered another sort
Of vehiele-hey WHIP"
"The fact isl exclaimed Will, " that we started
with sunrise this morning, but met with most pro-
voking break-down* by the way. So, not to be
cheated out of Thanksgiving, we footed it through
the drifts. We've lost Parson Woods sermon, but
we are in time for mothers dinner and assure you
that the walk has given us pair OF appetites.'
So they sat down to dinner at last all the loving
and merry ones. Grandfather hushed them for u
moment while he lifted his bronaed hands over the
huge platter and invoked bountitul Heaven in a
lenghthy but feryent blessing. Then followed the
usual Gathering, andbut need not describe il, you
see it as well as do.
The ''wish-bone "a great prize that) fell to the
shyest one, little blue-eyed Nelly, who carefully
wrapped it in her white apron as sacred treasure.
Coz, may break it with your" screamed her
cousin Harry, from the other end Of the table,
:" No, am going to break .
" With whom should like to know"
with aunt Susie, them" said the little dove nest
ling mildly to her side
"Aunt Susie! aunt Susie would look finely break
ing wish-bonel"
And why not, Master Harry +" said Susan, nler-
fily. 8 assure you have broken more than one at
this very table"
!" And did your wishes ever come to pass-did they,
aunt Susie cried score of voices at once.
Yes, did they ever, aunt Sllse?h chimed in Ed
ward casting up from his place a sidelong demure
glance that brought the bushes and dimpes to her
cheek.
Susie has seen some quiet tlirtations. Suddenly her
face grew serious She caught Adelaide's expression
of comtenance, as the latter quietly from the
table and made some excuse for withdrawing.
The wish.bone was broken to CHARM swapping
exactly in the middle, to the innocent amusement of
,1,,U, had knnn fln hptG 10
result
The babies went to sleep at the right hour precisely
and were packed into their snug cradles with ban-
kets and pillows The eldest Of the company were
ensconced in a corner to play C button" and the
brothers and sisters clustered in quiet little knots
william and Susan sat by the window, not to senti-
mentalze over the moonlight that came ttckerlng
through the 1eecy clouds, but to gather up the
threads of confidential tefeatete to chat OF college
scrapes, and-save the mark - school maams
roguerles r.. j.,
Grandmamma had her knitting, ofcourse- bless thu
dear old fingers that kept so many feet warm .-ant
SUSIE the modern substitute, crotchet purse to net
"Wiam," said Susie, lowering her voice at /
pause in the conversation, and glancing furtvely
q what do you think of Addie today
William stole glance around Much as usual, L
.See how she sits there with her fingers moving
through her babys curls, and her eyes fixed on va
Cancy.'
80 This is her wedding night you know"
all her heart yet, as truly she ever did On tina
evening. She has never spoken his name, even to me
since the day her father forbade it to be mentioned
his presence but there is something terrible in thl
statuelike grief fhers."
A sharp, quick bark under the window arrested til
conversation
O. Be quiet Growler, old fellow what are 20
about ?n shouted William, and he was still
Dear, silent Adelaide now brought around the ira
of nuts and apples and every one tried to make he
smile as he took share but her smile was as faint
moonlight on an icy lake.
Harry and Nelly had called Aunt Susie over to tn
corner to name their apples and all were silent for
few moments The quick bark came again from Il
dog, followed bya low protracted growl, Edwal
jumped up to investigate matters, but before h
reached the door it was opened slowly but iirm " al
tall pale figure stepped within it and stood SILENT
The sudden paralysis of surprise bound every voiC
moment more, and with faint, desperate cry, Ad
ade dropped her boy from her lap, and sprang aero
the room to her husband.
AS his arms closed around her. and her head 50,
like broken lily on his shoulder, Farmer Tall
started as if stung by Il bitter memory. His arm W
raised and his white locks toated back
"Father n
It was Susan's voice, choked with agony, as g
sprang to catch the hand of the old man.
The uplifted hand fell and all was hushed for o
long moment.
"Come you as q reformed man. Caleb Reynolds
Farmer Talbot's tone was firm, though quiet
81 do, by the help Of God, my father, the stranG
sQlemnlY answered.