Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-02
Mr. Beecher on Thanksgiyiny.

HOW THEY KEPT 1T IN NEW Z SGLASD WHEN
HE WAS BOY.
ON Thanksgiving Day, Mr.. Beechar preached
from the text 8. NV Fathers House. - and gave
description of the manner i'm which Thanks
giving was observed III New England when he
was boy. No man, he said, born out OF New
England can have genuine flavor of Thanks
giving Day. This intend shall be a day of self
glorihcation among New England Yankees in
this household at any rate. Whatever Joseph
may have meant by my Fathers house, know
what II meant to me in old I.itcbteld. in the
house at the urthest end of the street ami nearest
the North Pole. When the children came home
Thanksgiving the scene was memorable. In
these days the wages OF good mechanics ranged
about fifty cents a day. Hear that, We brick
on week days, and often on Sundays. Then the
shoemaker came round once a year from
house to house; mended all the shoes that
were mendable; and made those needed for
the Winter. Every boy and every girl had daily
some part Of the household work TO perform.
Before was ten years old. l could sew, and
errands; wash dishes and break them; cut and
split, and bring in wood, and make fires; ana
this last was no small job with green wood, and
precious few kiudlings. l was taught every
thing domestic, sent 10 school TO study; which
L seldom did. In short, 1 was a good boy
that nobody could get along with, or without.
Our old house was large and roomy. There
was great liberty in il, especially to the
elements. Nothing could live in Litchfield
that wasn't very healthy. Food was abundant:
Oh! that renowned gingerbread, with dough-
Let no man speak against pies. The man who
does, rs an enemy to his country's history.
Then Spring commenced with fast day; a day
set apart for invoking blessing upon the eifor T.
Of the husbandmen. This was a hard day for
me. Eating was that moral duty had most at
heart The loss of a full meal was quite beyond
the little grace had my heart. 4 dinnerless
day was like a suit of clothes with everything
taken away but the hat and shoes. There was
no middle to it,. Then, there was another day,
always jolly and memorable. This was after the
snow had come for good, and the farmers came
in from the East and the West with loads of
hickory and maple. For these the ovens smoked
with new cake. Tell il not in Gath, Don't let
Neal Dow hear it, Home-brewed beer ran like
water. Barrels were filled with
NOLAssEs ANb Run.
Into this mixture was plunged red hot crow
bar Me morahle was all this to the BOYS, al
though they never got any of il. Then there was
election day and the wild Fourth OF July, and
training day. But Thanksgiving day raised its
head high above all other days. II was the
crOwning day of New England. The whole year
had been frugal that there might be one lavish
day-when there should be no tax of economy.
The geese were put in training weeks before.
The turkeys were marked. Housewives con-
feIred together-blls of fare were made up.
ping mince-pie meat till / almost wished
minneapolis had never been thought of.
The morning of Thanksgiving might not
be used except as Sabbath mornings are
On this day a minister was allowed to express
himself on political affairs, and most pastors
improved the opportunity. No sooner had
meetihg let out IMAM all changed linen snow
balllng and the widest capers were i'm order,
but every body's head was turned toward home.
Then the assault commenced and the endeavors
continued. Oh. the reluctant regrets when the
children were obliged to fall of and admit the
feeblehess of their capacity. No man can know
the mcaning Of Thanksgiving unless he knows
something about the frugality that inspired the
hearts OF these men and women. never owned
twenty-fiS i've cents until was fifteen years old
Whatever had earned. They who lived in
those days lived with the understanding that
they must work out their own salvatiOn-build
and beautify their own manhood.