The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-12-21
AUNT HARR'ET's sAMp PUDDING.
a Good Yankee Thank.giving STORY.

AUNT HARR'ET'S SAMP PUDDING.
A Good Yankee Thanksgiving story,
81 DECLAR' fort" sighed Aunt Har-
riet-sinking YEARLY into the splint-
bottomed rocking chair, setting her felt
slippered feet upon the stove hearth
and clasping her hands in front of her
knees declar' fort, if | don't think
this maxim Thanksgivin' Day matter
of coOkin' and eatin' is the most foolish
of all our New England notions. Every
year since | can remember the pro-
gramme has been the same. The whole
month of November spent in preparin'
for this grand astronomical exhibit
ton as Parson Pendl' ton used to cal
1t. have never in my life been away
from this house on Thanksgiving Day;
and ev'ry year we've been overrun with
comp'ny. Father wouldn't think twas
Thanksgivin', | s'pose, if the house
wasn't full. For my part, should like
a change; either to 90 SOM ers Thanks
givin' Day, and be waited on, or stay at
home by myself"
go, Harr' ct, wouldn't talk sou re-
monstrated grandmother, who was tax
ing off her false front and putting on
her white muslin night-cap You
know the work of preparin' for dear
ones IS pleasant work. Our social fam
lily gatherin's make us all better and
happier. Your father would feel dread
fully cut up to hear you run on in this
complainin' way about maxim Thanks
gIvln'. Of course you are tired to-
night, but don't think about that; count
over your marcies, and think how much
you have to be thankful for"
"Hum," went on the wearied spins
ter in her peculiar nasal tone, Il could
make Thanksgivin' in my heart so that
1t would sing for joy without maxim
such an ado about my stomach"
Reaching down and opening the
oven-door, suggestive and delicious
odor as of baking fowls and browning
pastry burst forth, filling the roomy
kitchen. She peered inside the oven
for moment, turned around one of
the pans, using corner of her long,
straight, blue print apron for holder,
and then, shutting in the culinary Won
ders which were to grace to-morrow's
dinner, she continued:
Il have spent three weeks in house
cleaning, only to get everything in
apple-pie order just in time to be turned
topsy-turvy. Every room is full to-
night, and | 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 pump
kin pies. Tonight it will be eleven
before these chicken-pies are Drowned
fit to be seen, and flat midnight before
| can get to bed. | am tired and sick
of the great national Stufing day, and
for my own part sha'n't want a mouth
full of the nice food that the pantry
shelves are groaning under. | would
far rather have bowl of samp and
milk and day of leisure along with
it,
The bedroom door just behind the
speaker was unattached and John and
his wife, who had, late in the evening,
driven in from the west part of the
town, so as TO be at home to breakfast
on Thanksgiving morning, and who had
been put into Harriet's room, heard
every word of this TRADE.
Wen have them all next year if
we get the house fixed over" whispered
Jane under the blue and white cover
lid, and John nodded assent, whisper
ing in his turn: 1t is hard on Harr' ct,
to be sure"
The project was preached next day,
was agreed to by all hands, and
throughout the year it was talked of as
settled thing that their next
Thanksgiving reunion should be held
at Johns.
Father and mother are to come
over on Monday" said Johns wife, as
the last festal season drew near, land
on Wednesday, when the preparations
are nearly or quite complete, we will
send the team for Harr' ct"
I'm not make that amount of trouble
for anybody" replied the maiden sis
ter, who was in fact the main stay at
the homestead. "lf | conclude to Join
in your dinner, | will on Thursday
mornin' walk over through the woods
in time to go to meetin' with you"
Grandpa Buttons farm consisted of
a long strip laying between two rivers
with wooded hill about midway of its
length Grandpa lived in the old farm
house in the eastern meadow, and John
had fitted up an elegant new residence
on the bank of the west river So the
old couple were not to leave the ances-
trail acres, although it was four miles
from one house to the other around the
point of the hill, and two miles by the
foot and bride path across the woods.
On the sunny, smoky Monday morn
ing preceding Thanksgiving, grandpa
and grandma started with old Dobbin
and the chaise to jog around the mount
ain road to Johns. And on that same
Monday morning in the far West a