The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-12-15
Selett Storu.
GRANDPAPA'S STORY.

They had just risen from dinner in
the old house ut Eastwood. Dinah
and Sally were carrying out the rem
nants of- the tea. With -resretiaI
eyes the children watched its disap-
pearance. They had trie,l all the tradi-
tionary rules-had STOOD up" '.jump-
ed three jumps" '.walked four times
around the tabie'-and positively not
another morsel could they swallow.
And yet there was something sad in
letting those bonnes 5ogches-those de-
light full halves, and quarters, and trl-
angles OF mince and apple, and pump
kin-disappear and be lost forever.
The Thanksgiving dinner for that year
had become Il part of the past; and l
can tell you Grand mamma Aliens
pi"-crust was not thing of every day.
From the great turkey stuffed with
oysters, which inaugurated the meal,
to the tartlets OF ruby cranberry which
brought it to close, every thing had
that dainty, savory perfection of favor
which appertained to those fast vanish.
ing days OF wide-mounted fire places
heaped with cracking logs, and
"bake, ovens" whose depths entombed
whole regiments OF loaves and pastries,
and returned them in the fullness OF
time brown, delicate and perfect
fragrant resurrection. Alas the
arOma of those old-fashioned viands is
almost a traditionary thing to these
days of modern improvements.
Here and there it fingers in the far
recesses of New England, and at
Grandma Aliens it would linger al
ways. No range disfigured her kitch
en-. A "water back" was a thing un
known. The ample fireplace wore its
ancient livery of cranes, pot-hooks,
and roastIng:jacks and over all, King
Hickory, jolliest of monarchs, presid
ed royalty. Under his sway what un
imaginable cakes came to perfection
What fiavorous roasts what tempt
ing baked beans what toothsome hoe
cakes ? what Indian ru l,lings II for
bear. hat was indeed he Golden
Age of cookery. .-..-... -s..-a
Four generations were represented
in the circle that now drew around the
cheerful blaze in the "keeping-room"
from grandpap with his silver head.
to B iby May, fast asleep in the arms
of her fair yonng mother, his eldest
grandchild. There were the five sons
and daughters, with their respective
wlyes and husbands. and their twenty
four children, to say moth: ng of BABY
May and her proud young father, or
little Nell on grandpapa's knees--the
orphan child of that youngest son
whose loss was the one heavy shadow
on this happy home. But tonight no
shadow was visible. The Pickering
fire-ight fell only on faces ut their |
brightest, whether in the bloom OF
childhood or comely serenity of mid
die lite: on bright eyes and lips, on
kindly smiles and looks. All shone
with the cheerful humor of the an
niversary. The children were brim-
full OF fun and turkey; the parents re-
newing their own childhood for an |
evening. And there, in the shadow
of the curtains, whittier Harry and
Edith had betaken themselves, little
drama was going on-a fantasia. born
of the season-which if guess might !
be hazarded, would ripen, amidst 9TH
er anniversaries, into the earnest pur
pose of lifetime. -..s =aI .. -.
: 'Granpa, tell us a story" demand |
ed one of the little ones as night drew
on. . ~ .si14i 20 i..sf- a. III r.gI5
..Good for you, Tot!' exclaimed
her brother - 90 Jue-ls9..--3 ng5-y! 4
= .'Oh, yes, grandpa . grandpa tells
such nice storiesIn chorused the 9th !
ers while little Nell, putting her soft
hand to the wrinkled cheek. Joined IN /
with the 4please.s Which she 50 often