Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-12-12
THANKSGIVING DAY.


disappointed not to have grandma there.
There comes another buggy; that wag-
on behind looks like Charles; and then
another. What does it all mean :" BY
this time the first vehicle had reached
the top Of the hill.
Good morning. mother good
morning. grandma" from dozen
voices at once, as one and another rush
cd to meet her. The utter surprise that
looked out OF the eyes OF old Mrs.
Carpenter found vent in the exclamation
why, Vinal, and Mia, ard Calista,
aud Charlotte. too. declare"
This was we'll planned surprise for
the old lady. To make it the more COM
plete. che had been invited 10 a Thanks
giving dinner at her daughters. At the
moment of the arrival she had Just COM
pleled her toilet. preparatory to stating.
The number OF well filled baskets.
carefully covered, relieved her mind OF
any uneasiness it might have had with
regard to providing for the physical
wants CT so many unlocked for guests.
Very full Of life and joyous laughter
was that aSsemblage Of mothers and
fathers, sons and daughters, children and
babies. uncleS land sun,ies. Who that
ever attended such n family gathering
has not felt grateful for being member
OF large family.
This gathering took place in an old
New England farm house-the house
where all the children were born. and
from which there had never yet been a
funeral, but which had seen many joy
Gus wedding. having sent out seven
daughters and one son TO build house
holds OF their own.
The large square kitchen was of ample
size for oil. One or two Ment to light
fire in the best room, which, though
small. soon looked cheerful enough, with
its large open fireplace. and the swapping
and cracking Of the new made fire kept
the feet of the little ones dancing 10 pre-
VENT he carpet from being burned.
After all, this best room" did not have
so great attractions - the kitchen. which
had been the living-room for so many
years All restraint was thrown off, and
those whom many cares and sorrows had
prematurely turned gray seemed like
children again beneath the parental root
When il was line to prepare dinner
The task was not handed over TO Bridget
or Mollie; but while lively talk and gay
ETY. seemed unslackened. you might see
that each group had some portion of the
preparation in progress. Some were
peelins turnips, some potatoes, some
squash. Some were bringing all the Ia
bles in the house and arranging them in
one long Tow.
In the side room were the young
mothers descanting upon the precocious-
ness and various cunning tricks o! their
babies. and happy mothers did they look
20 be just then, as they held in their own
arms their bright and healthy little ones.
The morning seemed too short when
dinner was announced. and such pro
fusion OF turkeys. chickens. vegetables,
sauces. cuslarlS, puddings, and especial
~ pies was spread before them As might
have tempted more epicurean appetites.
But who comes! All the family are al.
ready there, SO there is general rush TO
see who this new arrival can be.
90, its Sam; it's Sam" (and in an un-
dertone.) "a lady with him."
Yes, so il is; and he has come from
over thousand miles away to surprise
auntie, who has always been 10 him
kind OF second mother, and to present TO
her his new wife. He, too. was not
little surprised to meet such an array of
familiar and unfamiliar faces. Many
years have passed since he had met those
so dear to him before. In that interim
he had been in the army exposed to
many hair.breadth escapes By land and
by sea, so that TO these simple hearted
mouniaineers. who seldom went farther
from home than the nearest city to sell
their produce, he seemed a sort Of hero.
When all had pressed bis hand and re-
ceived a smile from his bride, and they
had been assured over and over again
that no one in the world could have been
more welcome at this family meeting,
dinner, (for the moment forgotten) was
again the absorbing subject. IL received
no less hattering attention from the new
corners, than from those whose appettes
had been whetted by its preparation and
the sayOry smell.
After dinner was over and the dishes
cleared away, and each persons things
slowed away in their own baskets, the
children claimed the room Tor blindnan's
buff hide and seek, etc. Then came the
popping of corn and making of corn
balls and molasses candy. All was in.
terspersed with an abundance of apples
and sweet cider, gingerbread and cake.
The good cheer continued till eight
o'clock, when all prepared TO return to
their several homes, with universal good
will. Each wished the other many re.
turns of this anniversary day and all ex.
pressed the wish that cousin Sam would
not fail to make them a visit before his
return to his far off Southern home, on
the banks of the Ohio. Cousin Sam