St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1857-11-26
Tge antelligenter,
Thanksgiving,

Thanksgiving.
To-day, Thursday, November Goth, has bce,
set apart by the Governor of this State as Il
day Of public thanksgiving and praise. N
all our holidays, this timehonorud, purtani-
cal festival has probably the hottest and hap
picst influence. 1t is calculated to awaken
grateful emotions, and So unitc anew the fam
lily bond. The religious and bacchanalan fes-
rivals of Europe rnav DC more imposing to the
spectator, but none can surpass this in simple,
Hearty jo"ousncss to the participator. 1t oc-
ours at n season when joys are drawn from
within, rather than without when the fresh
r!css of spring and bloom of summer have
passed away the harvest of autumn has been
gathered, and the wind, which has sighed like
a declining belle over faded beauties, begins
to whistle II sharper tune. At this season of
the year our torefathcrs set apart day for
rendering thanks to the Giver of all good, for
the harvest garnercd. And how could they
be more beautifully or appropriately given
than by gathering the scattered members of
the family at the altar of home, and around
the festal board, upon which are spread the
bounties yielded by our mother earth They
may be hundreds of miles apart, engaged in
different pursuits, but one day in the year
brings them together for common purpose
Thanksgiving. For a few days previous, the
avenues of travel are crowded, business is
brisk, the men in gaining time for a leisure
day, and the women in preparing the creature
comforts. The day previous the charitable
housewife takes from her wcll-iillcd lardcr
portion, which she dispenses among the needy.
with kind words and good wishes while the
kind -hcarted farmer remembers that the IA
therless should have warm Thanksgiving,
and diminishes his wood-pi!e accordingly.
The day arises, and the morning is devoted
to religious exercises in the church. where the
village pastor makes general review of our
blessings, from those of the nation down To
individuals, and every heart finds it has much
ten to be charitable they are reminded before
it is too late and none can leave the church
without feeling it was good to be there
Then comes the dinner. The table groans
with the weight of meats, fowls, pies, pud
tings, vegetables, jellies tarts, and the many
etccteras prepared by woman's hand in the
farmers kitchen, conspicuous among which
are roast turkey, plum pudding and pumpkin
pie. Without these it would not seem like
Thanksgiving day. Around the table are sea-
ted old and young, from the grand parent to
the new baby. The hoary-hcadcd sire asks a
blessing, and then commences test of the
edibles. False conventionalities are thrown
to the winds, and heart etiquette rules the
house The free merry chat of the home cir
Gle affords fund of interest and laughter
family incidents are related, stories told and
jokes cracked with right good hunor.
Evening comes, and the younger members
OF the family commence their games Of hunt
the slipper :. blind mans buff and the
like, into which fathers, mothers, unclcs, aunts
and cousins are drawn, and sometimes even
old grandpa and all are children once again.
1t may be there is an unmarried son or daugh-
ter in the family who has invited his or her
particular friend to join the sports of the eve
ming. If SO, it is good evidence OF another
merry making in preparation and many
sly joke is enjoyed at the expense of these who
are prone to form select circle OF two in Il
corner. If one of these young bachelors be
comes the "blind man - he is sure to hold
two soft hands in his own some time before
he gucsscs his prisoner, although a beyy OF lit
tie ones, impatient at the delay, have whisper
ed or spelled the name a half dozen times.
Then perhaps follows n contra dance, and by
this time the children are quietly rubbing
their peppers. After the evening song or eve
ming prayer, the little ones are all snugly
packed in bed, and the older ones draw close
around the fire.
There may be vacant seat--a loved one
missing to the angel land-thcn is the
memory Of the dear departed most wildly re-
called, and if such are permitted to look back
TO earth, this is fitting moment
Bedtime arrives, and necessity becomes the
mother of invention in providing sleeping
quarters f.; the women soon arrange it, having
given the youngest--who by being the most
helpless are Away the most consequential
best places, comfortables and buffalo robes
are spread before the kitchen fire for the men.
1t may be the storm RACES without and the
cloud-born music is the lullaby of the sleepers
in this their childhoods home. Or may be
the moonbcams, stealing in at the window,
show mcmcntos about the room which bring
dreams OF boyhood FRANKS and pleasures.
Whatever is without there is 4 holy music
within, in the voice Of that dearest mother
who was the first we loved, the last we can
forgeta she gives her nightly Blessing with
the hope of a further reunion on the ;.nniycr-
sary of Thanksgiving.
The people of Buffalo and vicinity had a
smart little earthquake October 2Ist. Build