Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-12-08
miscellaneous.
THE NRMFuL OF WOOD.


De Yes, father Thanksgiving doesn't come
but once q year. and 1t is pity lwecsn' have
our children around us all together az often
az that. I can't helm but pity poor old neigh
Dor Grumberley. only three boys and girl
to come home to thanksgiving. and only one
prandchild 70 her name. IL must seem real
lonesome and desolate-like to sit down at
such slim tablefui," tsid Mother Marlbo-
rough, whose expansive heart could not inn
agine maternal affection satisfied with lavish
ing itself on the contracted sphere Of less than
dozen OF so Of children. And there is
Mrs. Baker, without chick or child in the
world she can call her own. 1t must be a
dreary life never to know what IL is to ex-
pect ones own folks home now and then.
suppose, though, the poor things don't miss
what they never had, but after all, am sure
they must feel dreadful lack somehow"
While the good dame thus philosophical
one by one chickens and turkeys we're yield
ing up their lives aud their feathers, uncon-
scious offering to the great natural law where"
by" Life evermore is fed BY death"
As the first step in the course of prepare
ton, from the dark corners under the garrett
caves to the potato bins in the cellar, every
spot in the house underwent most thorough
cleaning. From every nook and hiding place
heaps upon heaps Of old time valuables came
forth to take their semi-annual polishing and
glimpse Of daylight, then to be slowed away
again to be appreciated by nothing but spi-
ders and bright-eyed mice, until time for
spring white-washing. Not foot OF space
or an article Of furniture escaped, and the air
was fairly burdened with the wholesome fra
GRANGE OF soapsuds and whitewash as every
thing was righted for the great festival.
Then came the cooking, and there was no
end to the boiling and baking, the stewing
and mixing that went up for full week ; but
when you consider the size of the Marlbo-
rough family, children and grandchildren,
you will not wonder. ataa.
Finally, all in good time, the night before
the great day came. Already the stage coach
es were doubly freighted with happy people
who, good-naturedly for once, endured crowd
ing and squeezing, and the highways we're
lively with travellers. For almost every house
had its absent ones coming to the annual
gatherings, az we'll as the red, gambrel rooted
house on the hill, which Mother Marlborough
filled with happy futter and hustle of ex-
pectation.
he wind which is not i'll enough to blow
nobody some good, had, in leaving some one
friendless on this day Of all days in the year,
blown in the path Of Mother Marlborough a
great blessing in the shape Of Rachel Green
wood, a treasure mint of gold, right hand
in short. What she would have done with
out her is too dreadful to consider, and there
is no need of considering 1t, for there she was,
red-chesked. hardy and untiripg. There she
was, and, what was more and better, there
she was likely to be, for only Thanksgiving
before Cnas. Marlborough youngest and best
hi. fsL IA ~
rough's boys and girls, the son who was ex-
pected to succeed to the parental acres-had
taken unto himself as his lawfully welded
wife, TO hold till death should them part, this
same red rose which | am praising. In to-
ken whereof, behold, not only the plain gold
ring on the fourth finger Of her dexterous
left hand, but as well the two months baby,
plump and wholesome, passing the busy
hours of Thanksgiving morning in peaceable
slumber as any well-behaved baby should
lying in the red wooden cradle, which had
been the resting-place SUCCESSFULLY OF every
member Of the Marlborough family. There
it had amiably lain during all the hours Of
previous prearations, as Mother Marlborough
and dauehter-in-lsw Rachel, among other
feats, stuffed whole flock Of turkeys, and
made couple Of chicken pies. large enough
and-twentv times over
A few Of the family saw some,b;r, ln,o
dozen. came ON the iav before TbanIso;.ine
but thew were no more ,eoarded ,hsn .. faS
Aies more or less in doc Ssys Not hrt ,hat
thew met hearty welcome. and mt the wbaIs
household in a state Of deliobtGul hustle
Not but tina, the dinipe.toble had an extra
loaf or two. and the nile Of mates and ems
were propor,ionallv increased bu, these ,t;-
Aes were all attended ~ xi,bou, any annerar,
exertion. and there was no visible dim;nu.
tion in the beaped mn sunnI;es Of tbe nan,rv
and ststeroom. r'
Fortunately. for the recommendation Of so
many guests. the heads Of the Msrlboro,eb
family sires and sons had aImost aver since
the time of the Mayaower, allowed ,he;, sur-
Mus enervv and 1--we Of noveItv to.xn,.ssi,.
self in throwing ont here a bsd.,oom ., Too
with extensive closets ana roomy 'ennbosrds
attached ana ,ha.a -. - - 80, ~
and a commodious wash .,oom hes;dss
whole wing ~ coryenisn,.r .,trn.,,s 80
inc in the 1es, or ,hanr;r;nppI a;a -
extends h. red o,a.f..lsa ~