Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-02-10

and so is my son Isham but if you are not |
satisfied, or if any of these other gentlemen |
are not satisfied, Qor the cabinet had now |
come down stairs), you are perfectly well
come to come and look for yourselves.
So the Governor thought 1t would be bet |
ter, perhaps, to go and see exactly how the
thing stood; and he therefore called together
committee composed of gentlemen from
the Legislature, a couple of clergymen, some
merchants, and president of bank, and
they all went out to look at Mother Pater's
pumpkin.
When they reached tho garden escorted
by Isham and his mother, they saw in a
moment that the old lady 3 story was correct.
Even if laid in the sunniest part of the sun
niest shed in the village, it would be utterly
impossible for that pumpkin to ripen by the
following Thursday. Without word, they
looked at each ether, and dismay sat upon
every countenance. Then, assuring Dame
Pater that her case should receive his earnest
attention, the Governor, followed by the
committee, returned to town.
When he got home, he found all the citi-
zens, together with all the country people
who had come to town, anxiousy awaiting
his report. When he told them what he and
the committee had seen, such a commotion
arose as never before was known in the
town. For while the Governor thought
that there was danger of riot, and he had
the militia bell rung. As most of the dis
orderly persons belonged to the militia, and
had to 60 to their halls to put on their uni
form when the bell rang, comparative quiet
was soon restored. Then to the sensible
people who remained, the Governor said
that, as far as he was able to judge Of the
matter he could not see how he could help
putting off Thanksgiving day but if any
of them could think of any other expedient,
he should be happy to hear it. For time
silence reigned, and the people looked at
| each other with blank faces. AT last hap
| DIV thought struck a citizen, and he cried
out
{. Let somebody give her pumpkin" !"
Like flash of electricity, this idea ran
through the crowd, and altogether they set
up great shout
| "Give her a pumpkin J"
The very lightnihg-rods trembled, and all
the weather cocks turned round, so tremen-
dous was the burst of enthusiasm. Then
every man of the citizens rushed home and
got pumpkin, and hurried away with it to
Mother Pater. And every man among the
countrymen mounted his horse or mule, OF
ran as fast as he could, and got good pump.
kin from his pile and hurried with it tc
Mother Pater. About sunset they began tC
arrive, and in an hour Dame Pater's garden
her front yard, her back yard, her cellar. hel
parlor, her kitchen, her bedrooms, and her
garret were all filled with shining yellow
pumpkins. In the wood shed Mother Pate
and Isham had to eat their supper, and il
that shed, although the night wss cool, the.
!, had to sleep.
The next day, these two arose to look a
their pumpkins. A fine large one wa
ooIooiod for thoir Thanksgiving pios, and tn
,, rest Dame Pater determined to give to tn
: poor. So she sent out Isham on Mi
SCOTS horse and gave him the dinner-horr
and he went all over town and country 70
two days and invited the poor to come an
eat pumpkin-pie on Thanksgivlng-day
Hearing of this, great many folks CAV
flour and sugar, and butter, Qor. you know
they were all cheap in those days,) and
; the women set to work and every one {
Mother Pater's pumpkins were baked int
: pies.
i, And on that Thanksgiving-d there wa
!, not poor person any where within twent
miles, who had not as much pumpkin-pi
as he could eat, and even the SIN millest chill
. had whole one. Everybody who was ric
y could cat dinner that day without thinkin
:, that anybody else was suffering; and ever.
:. body who was poor had no occasion to eny
~ ~ the rich. All looked happy and gay. Jo
y sparkled in every direction. suppose IL
y folks could have got up Thanksgiving tlll
. ner for the poor, even if Mother Patcl
- pumpkin had ripened; but then, you Sc
= they didn't think of it.
As for the Governor, he was well satisf'
- - with the way things had turned out but |
: didn't want to put Thanksgiving day in su,
:, jeopardy again. So the next year he mat
- it come good deal later, when everybody
- pumpkins would be sure to be ripe, and
- has been that way ever since.
~