Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-12-01
Selected Stom.
THANKSGIVING.
ny KATHARINE WILLIAMS.

Incoming bankrupt for the NTH Tune Ia
his life, he started with my mother and
myseif IL was, of course, girl, as father
had signed for boy Tor Canada, having
heard of a inc opening IN Montreal.
/ might almost say | was led upon
books during my youth. aud my greatest
delight consisted IN reading histories OF
the early settlers Of the United States.
Their wants and privations, so nobiy en-
dured, filled me with admiration, while
their primitive ways OF living seemed to
me romantic in the extreme.
was particularly anxious to see with
nv own eyes New England Thanksglv-
ing Day. How wonderful it must be
pictured to myself grand old kitch-
en-, roomy and bright, the floor OF which
was sprinkled with the purest, whitost
sand and from whose ceiling hung here
and there great punches OF sweetsmeiiins
herbs, drying for winter use. l could Se5
in nv imagination the mother and dauBh-
tiers, busting about In the midst OF pies,
buildings, turkeys, nuts, and apples, Tor
DAYS and even weeks before the important
occasion.
When all these preparations were COM
pleted, and the joyfui morning dawned,
how the whole family would crowd into
huge sleigh, and speed over the snow to d
stately old church, where most Impress
i've sermon would be preached by yener-
able pastor, and the congregation would
bow as one man i'll thanksgiving to Him
who had caused their lines to fail Ill such
pleasant places and who had given them
such goodly heritage
Then home again IN the greatest haste,
SO that hats and muits might be put away
before the sleighs full OF aunts, uncles,
boys and girls should come pouring in to
do their best at turkey-eatlng and subse-
quent romplnS
Oh, what . marvel that Thanksg
table was to my Imagination Poor, de-
luded creature that was.
How did enjoy in anticipation the long
evening, when all would gather around the
blazing log, eating apples, drinking cider,
and telling stories; after which Grandpa
would become a boy again in blind mans
buff, and Grandma would go through the
mazes Of the reel with as light foot as
any of us !
NV desire to witness this festival bee anne
so strong that ventured to beg from my
Cousin Emily an Invitation to her house
during the following month. My letter
received n favorable reply; 80, taking all
OF my lDULutT y Dthl ClUtbtht hS won NJ tub
very small amount which called my own,
/ started for 1.-THE States"
Had / been bound for Jerusalem, it
would not have seemed more romantic.
was on my way to B, in the State of
Connecticut; and | should see the house
wherein George Washington slept for two
night, MS we'll NJ IA chair once occupied by
Lady Washington. Oh
a i t,tl ar'u hDt,ua lola -,
the evening on the eighteenth of Noyem-
Der. Being very weary from my long
Journey, retired early and, therefore,
had no time to look about me.
The next morning | rose earlier than
usual, and was surprised on opening my
window to find no show, but stiff frosty
looking earth, which was by no means
eXhilarating.
At breakfast Imagine my surprise to
hear Aunt Martha say
''5y the way tomorrow ~ Thanksgiv.
irk. must hurry of to market or / shall
lose my turkey. | had forgotten the day
was TO come 80 soon"
so it is. said Emily. al wish it were
over. for it is the stupidest day in the
whole year.
In my establishment the knife and fork
which held in my hand Went Gathering
down on to my plate, and | stared in
open-mouthed wonder ut the family
circle.
Throughout the morning | was con-
SANITY ON tho lookout for the delightful
bu tie which | longed for. How would
enjoy putting rooms in order for expected
guests At any rate, said to myself,
there must be something going on in the
kitchen. will pretend | want to get this
piece Of muslin pressed out, and that will
give me good excuse to so and see the
fun. Instead Of the beautiful sanded-hoor
kitchen had pictured to myself, behold
big square box in the basement, hghit d
by half windows. Great as was my
disappointment, there was some con-
ISOLATION in seeing halE.hnished pies lying
about, rs well as turkeys and chickens
though they We're all being attended to by
competent cook, who thanked no one to
intertel with her, instead OF having the
whole family up to their ears in flour,
which ! should have liked so much better.
The next morning was cloudy and dun,
which caused the family to look headachy
rs they assembled around the breakfast
table. VIII had returned from college the
evening before, so that the family now con-
sisted of grandpa and grandma, aunt Mar.
thu and uucle Leonard, and cousins Emily
and Will
No particular mention was made OF the
day; but everything went on in such a
matter-of-tact way that begun to wonder
whether it was not possible that was ai-
ter all, in Montreal, dreaming over some
unfinished book,
probably, said to myself. 1.-THE day
really begins with going to church. After
ALL there is something pleasant in that
SO about ten o'clock | walked into the
perlor aad spoke to Emily, who WAS curleo
up IN an easy-cha!r.
Emily, what time does church begin p
"What did you say" She replied, iook
ing up from her book "Why thought
you were up ia the attic, looking at grand
,ru - vre1tipyr 1rAsS