Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-10-24
From the Springfield Republican
Thanksgiving in New England.
This rood old custom bears transplan,in


This good old custom bears transplan,ine
every where, but thriyes best, after all
where it first took root. Like our own ap
Piles and pumpkins, the Thanksgiving tur
key has hue and savor peculiar to New
England. No where else does November
leave behind such store of m ince pie and
loaf cake 10 keep the shelves redolent OF
Thanksgiving memories all the winter
through. The best music aud eloquence Of
the day is what comes gushing from the
rock of the Pilgrims, aud we never hear
the anthem in the sacred sanctuary withou,
feeling how they sung their first glad 'Har
vest Home
New Englanders are generous enough,
however, not to monopolize the Pilgrim
festival, and just at this crisis il is mole
| pleasant than ever TO note its wide diffu.
sion. For, the proclamations Of The day
throughout the Union, tell us there is
one grand old harmony left, in spite OF
threatening discord; aud we know our
brethren at the South will stay ia with us
long enough to eat one more Thanksgiving
dinner. Perhaps, too, old grudges and
jeaIousies will he swallowed with the repast
and we shall ali rise up on better terms
than we sat down. .....- ....rt t
lie this as 1t may, every son aud daugh
ter Of New England is interested to per.
petuate the festival, as relieving the memo.
ry Of the fathers of its rigid austerity-
They could appreciate feast of fat
thugs" il seems, aud make merry over it
III deceut way. Tue, they institute but
one feast day for their descendants, but
Thanksgiving is host in itself; aud the
only wonder is that, amid their cares aud
troubles, they found leisure aud means for
this They brought to il greatful l.earts,
aud Providence send them wild turkeys like
quals 10 the old prophet SO We may cot
roast turkey to their memory, as well as
parched corn-ony let no guest so stuff
himself as to leave no room for thanks to
our fathers Gvd. s.
Besscd are the family reunions Of New
England Tbauksgiviugl From far aud
near the wanderers come h0ckiug back 10
the old homesteadS like stray sheep and
lambs to the fold One and another flies
back like the dove to the ark, having
ranged wide over the open sea, but finding
no rest nor shtlter like where the tired
wings are once more folded for little
While. The returning prodigal feels new
attractions in home just now, and recipro
Gates the paternal welcome till dinner is
over. Aud h,re the weary heart rolls of
at last burdets that would cling TO it else
where. aud feels once again grateful aud
Joyous. Ii has been q week Of busy pre-
paration in kitchen and pantry, aud out.of
doors the turkeys aud chickens have waxet
too lat TO gobble or crow The Yankee
house wife is now 10 her elcment-deep t
her elbows in dough-and TO morrow sh,
will be swaying her broom proudly as tn,
queen her sceptre. Perhaps she is tbt
mother OF grown-np sons and daughter.
That have gone forth one bv one to rear
families of their own; but she feels young
as the youngest of them now, and divides
her heart between her offsprugs aud her
pies FOR Thanksgiving. ...
Bat 1t may be that the young are filling
! tue places OF the cd, and as Young meu
and maldens, old men and children, gather
about the festive board, the dim eyes of age
are frightened, ard the waning strength
renewed by this genial reunion. The dain
lies OF the feast are lougingly called out fOr
the aged pair. and there they sit cozly en-
jo!lug them Us bees their honey. The
grandchildren by their side are as busy
TOO, as bees, feeling jnst now that it is moro
blessed TO receive than give, and making
the best of the opportunity that only comes
ronnd for them once year. Little one,
these are, but largo places they gil in the
heart, AMI big ravages they are making il
that chicken pie aud plate OF tarts.
How bright aud genial is the home circl'
on Thanksgiving evening! From city anC
country, high places and low, the scattered
links are once more joined in one COLDER
chain that years have only drawn th'
closer. The wrinkles are all smoothed out
and the hoary head shines like own o
glory Bloom comes again to The faded
cheek, aud sunshine to the clouded brow
Every tongue is looSened, and the sternes
features relax. while the cid folks give thei
experience and the young do likewise, ant
both vie in jest aui storytelling. All 81
up late but the grand children. who earl
sink to sleep, to dream Of roast turkey an
the nightmare.