Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-12-08
Thanksgiving at Rose Farm.
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not holiday at the village school, but as
company was expected at the farm-swect
Cousin Florence and Uncle Dick-a gener-
Gus Thanksgiving dinner was under way.
and Mrs. Maynard had consented to the
children's remaining at home to assist her
Deacon Maynard, his wife and their four
children, were the occupants of Rose Farm,
and happier, merrier, or better disposed
family could not be found anywhere The
Deacon was an intelligent farmer, who pro
vided well for his family, and who was noted
in the neighborhood for strict integrity and
a kind heart, Mrs. Maynard was devoted
wife and indugent mother--a comfort to the
poor and to all who needed sympathy and
aid. Alex Maynard, their eldest boy, was
fourteen, handsome and noble-hearted then
came Helen, who was twelve, as amiabe as
her mother and known in the village as its
prettiest girl. Daisy was the next step in
the Maynard Staircase romping, saucy,
teasing gypsy, with eyes, hair and complex
ion as brown as a chestnut. She was the
most pugnacious-lookiug child you could well
imagine; her hair was like mop-it never
would lie straight, but would hang over her
eyes, until her mamma, in sell-dcfence, had
it banged" for, she said, it would make
the whole family cross-eyed looking at the
unruly locks. Arthur Maynard, the baby
was six years old, Just in trowsers-a sweet
tempered, obedient boy, the pet Of the house
hold Daisy said she loved him almost to
pieces" but could not help teasing him when
he sucked his fingers--a baby trick in which
he stll INDUCED.
The large kitchen at Rose Farm was
picture of home comfort on this morning
before Thanksgiving. A broad pine table
stood at one side, on which there were big
yellow pumpkin and a wooden chopping
bowl filled with something very nice, as one
would have supposed, had they seen the
young Maynards taking 4" little tastes " as
| they gathered about it.. Then there were
! pasteboard, rolling pin, pan Of flour,
| pot of flaky lard and a dish of yellow but
ter. Peggy, the "help," was mending the
| fire in the observation-disclosures stove. Mrs
/ Maynard came into the room with big box
of raisins, and said, Alex and Daisy may
stone rasins for the pudding, while Helen
| prepares the turkey, and Arthur can sit on
one end of the table and look on"
How many raisins may we eat, mamma"
shouted Daisy. "Very few, gypsy or you
will have the stomach-ache to spoil your
pleasure tomorrow" Alex said al will
have to do as the cabin boy on ship-board
did when he stoned raisins for the captains
| plum pudding he was compelled to whistle
| all the time, so that he could not eat any"
Alex and Daisy seated themselves, with
newspapers on their laps, chair standing
each side, on which were the box of raisins,
and the dishes for them after they had been
pitted.
81 don't think can stand this sticky
work very long" said Alex, after he had
stoned about a dozen rasins. You girls
boI haitian 10 - aud LAT mo ero 10 tho III
the cider"
." | would not give up so soon" said Daisy,
who declared her nose was itching and she
could not scratch it for her hands were all
raisins."
Mrs. Maynard had promised Helen she
might make the stuiiing and prepare the tur-
key q task she had never undertaken. The
twenty pound fowl was brought from the
wood-house by Peggy, whore She had been
picking its feathers. 4 pile of newspapers
wers lighted Oh the hearth, and the turkey
being properly singed, Helen, knife in hand,
began her work.
"Oh what a crop " said Arthur; "that
old fellow filed himself full of corn before
his throat was cut" "Come rest in this
bosom, said the turkey to the stutling," sang
Daisy. Helen removed crop and entrails
from the fine, fat fowl, and washed him in
side and out; then stuffed him full of sayoIy
dressing, that filed the kitchen with an odor
"just like Christmas" as Daisy said " Now
! must take the liver and heart and gizzard
and place them in water ready to be boiled
and chopped for the gravy" spoke Helen,
and Peggy was called to bring a saucepan.
oh, my what cook /" shouted Alex
as Daisy whispered something TO him. Then
she ran to her mother and asked her to steu
nj ba win II Ia. Ia, "a
saucepan. All hands began laughing, except
Helen, who was ready to cry as Arthur said
"Ill tell Cousin Florence guess she won't
eat any Of that gravy" Mrs. Maynard came
to the rescue and explained to Helen that the
gizlard must be cut open and something
taken out-a fact she had quite forgotten
by four O'Clock that day, all things were
arranged for the next days dinner. Alnce
and pumpkin pies were baked, the plum
pudding ready for steaming, the turkey in
the cellar prepared for roasting. and the
ham boiled, skinned and stuck with cloves
There was to be a rousing chicken pie, and
roasted ducks besides, and iellies and nuts
and apples in profusion. A wood fire was
cracking on the hearth in the sitting-room,
giving the department delightful aspect of
comfort. All things were in readiness to re-
ceive the city visitors, whom the five o'clock
train was to bring 1t was not without tears
and an aching heart that Mrs. Maynard
olasped to her heart the dead sisters child
florence's mother, Mrs. Maynard's only sis
ter, had been dead but three months, and the
wound was fresh and sore that had been
caused by this loss yet with Christian for
titude Mrs. Maynard bore her grief resign
eddy, and resolved to make the anniversaries
OF iestiyity as happy for her niece and
brother-in-law as possible. That evening
each child was reminded not to forget in the
morrow's merry.making, to give thanks to
God for his many mercies and in tenderness
aud sympathy the little motheress child was
taught how Gods Establishments are often
for our good.
Thanksgiving morning broke clear and
cold over the village of NJ. The family at
Rose Farm were ready for church by ten
o'clock, when the fourseated wagon was
driven to the door, and, wrapped well in
robes, all were taken two miles to church.
Daisy said red noses were fashionable that
day, and so il seemed. An impressive SER
mon and a generous collection for the poor.
and our party We're taken home "What
shall we do before dinner, Helen 2" said
Alex 2" ave will walk down TO poor lame
Joe's and carry the basket mamma has filed
with his dinner. | think our own dinner
will taste better after that" And off they
started, each with something for lame Joe.
." God bless the dear children !" the old
man said, as they grouped around his bed
side in the little hut by the Hill, Helen un-
packed the substantials and mince pie Old
Joe's wife put on her hood to go for
Granny Thompson TO come and share that
delicious dinner. After a brisk run home,
the children sat down with the family at
Rose Farm TO dinner. Alex said he wished
TO serve the gravy as it was new kind.
called "gizzard gravy" and only Helen knew
how to make it. This caused shout to be-
gin with, and, of course, Uncle Dick and
Cousin Florence had TO be let into the secret.
All did ample justice TO the good dinner,
aud Daisy said she would have TO run
around before she could eat plum pudding.
Dinner ended, the children started for the
skating pond, where they whrled on its lev
surface till dark. Blind mans buff
{" Hide and seek :" all over the house, when
Uncle Dick hid Alex in bolster case.
| placed him on the bed aud stood the pillows
on him, and such hunt as there was for
him When found, he declared he was
nearly smothered, and would never be boil.
ster again.
Ten O'Clock found the young folks at
Rose Farm tired out, aud as the family as.
sembled for prayers, all agreed it had been a
delightful Thanksgiying.-Rurai Ner Yorker.
|