Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1878-11-28
AUNT HARR'ET'S SAMP PUDDING.
A Good Yankee Thanksgiving Story.

ed rocking-chair, setting her felt-slipper
ed feet upon the stove-hearth and clasp
ing her hands ii9Nfront of her knees
declar' fort, if don't think this maxim
Tnanksgivin' Day matter of cookin
and eatin' is the most foolish OF all gu
New England notions. Every year sine
can remember the program has beer
the same. The whole month of Novem
ner spent in preparin' for this grand gas
Economical exhibition, as Parson Pendl'
ton used to call it have never in my
life been away from this house on s
Thanksglvin' Day; and ev'ry year we've
been overrun with company. Father
wouldn't think twas Thanks9ivin,
s'pose, if the house wasn't full. For my
part should like change; either to Ct
som ers, Thanksgivin' Day, and be wait
ed on, or stay at home by myself"
30. Harriet, wouldn't talk So" re
monstrated grandmother, who was tax.
ing off her false front and putting on hel
white muslin night-cap. You know the
work of prepariA' for dear ones is pleas
ant work. Our social family gatherin'S
make US all better aud happier. Your
father would feel dreadtully cut up to
hear you run on III this camplainin' way
about maxim ThaukSgivin'. Of course
you are tired to night, but don't think
about that; count over your MARCHES, and
think how much you have to be thankful
for"
Hum went on the wearied spinster
in her peculiar nasal tone, II could make
Thankseivin' in my heart so that it would
~ 1tl inH SNch N ado
about my stomach"
Reaching down and opening the oven
door, a suggestive and delicious odor as
OF baking fowls and browning pastry
bui st forth, filling the roomy kitchen.
She peered inside theoYen for moment,
turned around one Of the pans, using a
corner of her long, straight. blue print
apron for holder, and then, shutting in
the culinary wonders which were 70
grace to ,mUrrOW's dinner, she continued
have spent three weeks in hGls :
cleaning, only to get everything in ap
pie pie order Just in time to be turf ed
topsy-turvy. Every room is full tonight
and l must stretch my tired frame on a
lounge. 1t never makes any difference
where Harriet sleeps; she can be tucked
anywhere. Last night | was up until
eleven o'clock to get the pound cake all
baked Night before last it was the
mince and pumpkin pies. Tonight it
will be eleven before these chicken pies
are Drowned fit to be seen, and FIAT mid
night before can get to ped. l am tired
and sick of the great National stuRnq
day, and Tor my own part shan't want a
mouthtul of the nice food that the 4ntry
shelves are groaning IN Ter. | would far
rather have bowl Of samp and milk,
and day Of leisure along with it,"
The bed room door just behind the
speaker was unattached, and John and his
wife, who had, late in evening. driven
In from the west part of the the town, SO
as to be at home to breakfast on Thanks
giving morning, and who had been put
into H4,riet's room, heard every word OF
this TRADE.
"Weil have them all next year if we
get the house fixed over whispered Jane
under the blue and white covtrlid, john
nodded assent, whispering Ia his turn
sit is hard on Harriet to be sure"
The subject was broached next dav,
was agreed to by all hands, and through
out the year it vas talked of as settled
thing that their next Thanksgiving re-
union should be held at Johns.
Father and mother are to come over on
Monday" said Johns wife, as the festal
season drew near, land on Wednesday,
when the preparations are nearly or quite
complete, we will send the team for
Harriet"
I'll not make that amount OF trouble
for nybody," replied the maiden sister,
who was in fact the mainstay at the
homestead. IF I conclude to ioin n
your dinner, wilton Thursday mornin',
walk over through the woods in time to
go to meetin' with you
Grandpa BuXton's farm consisted of a
long strip laying between two rivers, with
a wooded hill about midway Gifts length
Grandpa lived in the old farmhouse in
the eastern meadow; and John had fitted
up an elegant new residence on the bank
of the west liver. So the old couple were
not TO leave the ancestral acres. although
it was four miles from one house to the
other around the point of the hill, anG
two miles by the foot and bridls
path across the woods.
On the sunny, smoky Monday mornipe
proceeding Thanksgiving, grandpa anC
grandma started with old Dobbin and th.
chaise to jog around the mountain roac
to Johns. And on that same Monday
morning in the far West pretty plump
little woman, with her husband and five
children, started in an ox-cart to go th,
fifteen or twenty miles to the nearest rail
way station, where SIX of them were t.
take the cars for the East to spend
THANKSGIVING, while the father retraceC
his wearisone way to the lonely log cabiI
on the forest prairie.
It was rather dowdy and old fash
g Toned company, as might have been ex
pected, so far as clothes were concerned
but attractive in their rosy healthy, BUOY
ant good nature. They were all as hap
ply as happy could be-from twelve year
old Johnny to Baby TIat-for were the,
not journuying to the wonderful home
stead where mamma lived when she wa
little girl? and where the scenes OF al
mammals stories were laid-"mamma
splendid stories, which were better thai
any fairy stories, or any stories printe.
IN books or papers
On, on they whirIed. 1t was Wednes
day afternoon; yet these children, win
had never in their lives been FIVE mile
from their own clearing, were not eros.
or sour, or out of patience, although the
were dreadfutly tired, and oh, SO hungry
for the stable lunch basket, we'll file
when they started from home, had quit
given out, aud the reinforcements bough
in haste at waYside restaurants not 8
filing.
"Oply fifty miles from grandpa's aow,
and the plump little woman marshalle
L - LIZ Il Z. l,a..t LIZ. o., 4lo.. raal, II