Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-12-24
The Thanksgiving Dinner.


And onon produces unmerted fatci
Talk, talk, talk,
q for an ond oi talk ;. W.. s.
s-
The Thanksgiving Dinner.
Benaiah Tuthil, farmer, Of Pumpkin
Four Corners, Connecticut, strobe dscon-
solately homeward after the COWS, in the
misty yellow light Of November sunset
As he took down the bars between the
&C. home pasture and the barn. yard, pleas.
ant-lookng elderly woman came briskly
from the house with a shining milk-pail on
each arm, and soon was busily engaged in
her work.
Meanwhile, the farmer stood absently
stroking Bonnys sleek head, still with that
downcast face, till he suddenly caught the
bright eyes Of his wife, bent sharply upon
him. She was none Of your salow, SAHARA
tus-poisoned country women, but hand
some OLD dame with all her wits about her.
You don't look as if you was well,
Najah," she said Ben plowing too long
and got a tech Of rheumatic, shouldn't
wonder hev ye2"
No, no, 'taint that, Polly, | was only
thinkin here's Thanksgivin' come round
again, day arter tomorrow you know, and
how lonesome the cid house will be with
Just you an me to set down to table. Seems
like taint wuth while to bev Thanksgiv-
in dinner Its narrowin' down, Polly
that's a fact Since my poor niece died
and brother Nathan went out West there,
none left"
Lets ask some Of the neighbors il
then said Polly, as she rose with the brim-
ming pals.
Nonsense they wouldn't any of 'em
come Who'd leave their own folk to take
dinner with US ?"
You're way behind the lighthouse this
time" answered his wife, f" 'Pends on
who you call your neigbbors Eff you only
mean the rich folk, faint likely they would
come. But you know, 'Najah," and here
the bright eyes and CHEEKY voice softeued
there was once feast spread to which the
poor, the lame, and the blind were called
out Of the highways to come Don't yor
think the Lord meant Thanksgiving fol
them every mite as much as for US ?"
You should have seen the good farmer
face brighten up, as he exclaimed, That
a first rate idea, Polly you're an awfu
smart woman about settin things to rights
Tell you what! you drive down to tn
corners tomorrow, and get all you want a
d the store, and I'll kill the biggest turkey i
3 the yard, and pair of geese, and there
that little shoat too he's een.a- most burs
ing with fat anyhow and please the Lor
, we'll have such Thanksgiving dinner q
the old house never saw"
Thanksgiying.day bright, clear an
frosty. The chidess farmer and his vii
went to " mootin'' with beams of " ligh
divine shining from their eyes, for wer
they not about to have feast at which Je
sus, that gentle, yet majestic being woulC
preside He who had said: "Inasmucl
as ye have done it unto one of the least 0
these my brethren, ye have done it unit,
me-" They enjoyed the preachin' won
derful,' ,' and sang " China and d" Haddam
those nice old Connecticut tunes--wtl
all their might and main, and then wen
home eager to prepare for their guests.
The long table was already set out il
the big, old.ashioned kitchen, whose stronI
rafters were ornamented with strings o
onions, scarlet peppers, and dried apple
and on this occasion with the addition o
great bunches of evergreens; and now tn
turkey aud geese aud fat little pig a
roasted to a bright golden brown, wer
, placed smoking hot upon the table, wit
pumpkin.p pies and cranberry tarts, and a
manner of long and round sass, which las
is the old-lashionod Yankee phrase for VEG
etables-turnips and potatoes being " roun
sass aud beets and carrots "long sass.
" Aunt Polly" was hurrying about givn
the last touches to everything, while Far
mer Tuthill, in his Sundays best, stood a
the open door to welcome the company, VIII
we're approaching with eager, happy faces
When all had come, and the farmer wa
about to close the door, the garden gate wa
timidly opened, an an unexpected pair o
guests walked up the trim path, bordere'
with box aud shaded by fine cherry trees.
One of them was a great, gaunt, forlorr
yellow dog, who looked as if he woul
hardly recognize a bone if be saw one
The other was little girl not more tina
seven years old, wan, thin, starved looking
without hat, and dressed in faded col
ton frock and ragged shawl But she ha
big, winsome blue eyes that looked straigh
up in your face in sweet, confident fasbior
hard to resist, and short, golden rings G
hair which curled round her broad forehea
and nestled in her neck.
The farmer watched this strange coupl
a moment and then walked down the pat
to meet them
"Well, who are you, Sis ?" he aske,
laying his hand kindly on the child's heaC
while the dog drew close to her, regardin
the farmer with a sharp, suspicious look.
"Oh lse Milly," replied the tiny thin
smiling,
"Oh " responded Benajah, "but wher
did you come from
From the poor house." said Mill,
? I'VE runned away-Bngo and me. W
, heard you were going to have all the poo
folks here to-day, and we've come to g
l our Thanksgiyin', too
So you shall Come in, Milly. Yo
shall hcv your Thanksgiving, sure enougl
Come right in !"
= Bingo too ?" she asked, slipping he
mite of hand into his broad one. Bing
7 ismy friend you don't know how good he is.
= "Yes, Bingo too" said the farmer, stool
7 ing to kiss the childs pale face. So a
e three went into the house and came up
e Aunt Polly, now smiling over her bountiit
= board, at which all her guests were scate
$ waiting for the farmer to begin.
I Polly, here's one more to make rool
= for" said the farmer.
0 "The dear sirs, she's welcome There
! never one too many at such time. Pret,
! little dear. o 'Najah how glad we'd
i if we'd had darter like that"
The farmer answered nothing. 1t was
sore topic with him and sitting down,
}, said grace and began helping his guests