The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1872-11-28

THANKSGIVING DAY To-day IL spe-
cially set apart rs day Of thanksgiv-
ing to the Author of all good for the
many blessings showered upon this
favored land and upon our people. The
custom Of having day Of thanksgiving
is OF New England origin, and in those
States is made day OF family gather
ings, when it is expected that all the
members OF the family who can possl>
DIV do so will take their old-time bov
and girl places at the family beard. 1t
is no uncommon sight, there, to see the
father bowed by the weight of years
sitting at the head Of the table, with
silverv- haired sons and daughters, lith
some granddaughter ard sons, and even
toddling great grandchildren on either
hand. o. course it is day OF feasting
and thanksgiving, and great prepare
lions are made Tor it weeks in advance.
We were in Boston during one Thanks
giving Day, ard it seemed to us that
every man and woman in the city con-
ceived it 10 he his or her bounden duty
to 60 to church in the morning, eat to
reple,iom at nom, and 60 TO the Boston
Theatre or Boston Museum at night.
They did all three, anyhow.
In the West Thar ksgiving Day has
never been held in so high esteem as
IN the Eastern States. Before the GUS
tom became established OF having the
day selected by the President, the Gov.
errors OF States used to fix the time and
one could have a dozen Thanksgiving
DAYS If he would travel into so many
States. Then turkey shooting, coon
hunting and husking frolics furnished
occupation and amusement for the
Young Western folks on Thanksgiving
Day. Sometimes when new families
came into locality from the East they
brought with them and tried TO estab-
lish their customs. They made great
preparations for Thanksgiving Day, but
not being posted in country ways, made
many and funny mistakes, as may be
learned from the following
Listen, my boy, and you shall know
thing that happe ned time long ago,
When 1 was a by, not ns la Se as you,
And the younge of nj the chilgueu, 100,
laugh even now as thin IT o or.
And the more | think, laugh The more.
Twas the chilly eve OF an autumn day,
We were all in the kitchen. CHEEKY and gay,
The tire burned bright on the Old brick
hearth,
And its cheerful light gave zest to our mirth;
My.e!dest sister. addressing me,
And stopping at once my mirIhtul glee;
"To-moi rows Thanksgiving, you KNOW
said she,
ave must Kill the chickens tonight you see;
Now light the lantern and come with me,
wi ! wiring their neCkS until they are dead,
And have them all dressed ere we 90 10
bed"
so the old huge lantern made Of tin,
Punched Iull OF no eS, and a cabdle within,
Put in its appearance In shorter time
Than II take> to make this jingling thyme.
" start, off and the way led.
| For raid on the chickens under the shed,
| A pile o roots filled the open space.
| Thus making a splendid roasting place;
And a motley tribe OF domeS! ic fowls
Sat perched there as grave and demure as
| owls.
NV sister unused to scenes of blood,
And pale with excitement, TIRE milling stood;
| But SUNNI opipg courage she laid he: plans
Aud sc zed the old rooster with both her
hands,
And with triumph written all over her face
| Her victim bore to an open space.
Then she wrung and wrung with might and
main.
And wrung and twisted and wrung again,
She threw him down on the ground Tor dead.
! But the rooster would not consent TO die
And be made up into chicken PIE,
| So he made away with csckle and bound
Almost "a soon as he touched the ground,
And hiding away from the candle, light,
Escaped the slaughter ofthat dark night.
NV sister, thus brought to sudden stand,
And loos ing at what she neld In her hand,
Soon Jaw why the rOo>ter vas not dead
She had tt7lino or his tail instead Of hn head!