The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-12-08
THE CARVER DINNER.

W OuSll, anu IL WAS q 'thhSS
observation-disclosures, the fat gobbler was
at that time lying trussed in his warm
bed in the family oven, while close al
band the russell yellow pumpkin pies
were ranged on the shelf, awaiting their
coming fate in sober silence. Eat,
drink, and be merry" was to be tie act
ing and acted proverb of the hour. In
the cd Carver homestead the first part
of the saying was to be fulfilled to the
letter, tor such h d been the custom
there ever since the institution OF
Thanksgiving had been established in
that neighborhood. 1t was q foreign
thing, imI orted from New England, but
had taken root and hourishcd. The Car
vers had been originally Of the Society
Of Friends. The father of Phincas had
married "tut of meeting" and had
Ceepened the offense by suffering "a
hired priest" as the brethren ermed the
Methodist circuit-rider, to celebrate hi>
nuprials. Having cast his lot among
eth" worlds people," Jedediah Carver
adopted their teasts, in moderate way
and his son Phincas followed his ex'
ample in hat respect. The Carver
homestead had remained in the family
since the coming of it's first owner,
nearly two centuries before, with Viii.
liam Penn. 1t had passed always t.
the eldest son, the other children being
otherwise provided for; but now was t
pass out of possession and be the Car
yer farm no more.
Phineas Carver was ffty-6ve years
Cd, tall, gaunt, angular of form and
heavy OF feature. He was a man Sc
vcreiy pious. Just, true and upright il
all his practices, and even liberal in his
dealings with his farm hands and his
poorer reiehbors, he lacked charity
He found no excuse for the slightest
fault in another. He followed the rrin'
cipIes OF the Greek lawgiver, and ION.
sidercd tie smallest otiense worthy Of
the highest punishment known. HI
believed very much in himself. In re-
gard TO the character Of Others he con-
sidered his judgment to be -infailible.
He thought no man could deceive him,
and generally he was right; but his
perception had been lamentably at fault
in one instance, and he was about TO
pay the penalty. He had become one
Of the sureties of Jacob Skinner, the
county treasurer. Jacob had gone 10
unknown parts, and 8 part OF the public
money had gone in his company. The
other bondsmen turned out to be worth
50 much less than they had been when
they signed the obligation that they
were almost worthless. Nearly all the
deficiency would have to be furnished
by Phineas. Now, he had some per-
sonal property perhaps ten thousand
dollars worth: but tat wax not
enough. The farm would have to 20.
It was true that IL was desirable prop
erty, and there would be competition st
the sale. There would be enough sur
plus to enable Phineas to buy q sma |
place in the neighborhood, or, as he
determined to do, 20 West and begin lite
over again. Friends offered to lend him
the money on bond and mortgage, but
he rejected these offers. The place
had never been mortgaged," he said,
land it never should be while lie haG
it." In truth, since he had to leave the
old homestead, Phineas Carver would
rather live elsewhere. 1t Was not SO
much the loss of property that shamed
him, but the sense OF. humiliation that
he, so keen OF perception, should have
been deceived in regard 10 the character
OF Jacob Skinner. in whom, as fellow
member of the church, he had such con-
fdence.
Happily the troubles OF Pnineas and
his wife fell on no others than them
selves. Their only son, Abner, was dead.
lie had been brought up conscientiously
and strictly, but at eighteen had grown
weary CT the rigid government, and
wanted to 20 West anu set up for him
self. Then his father told him that he
should remain where the Carvcrs had
always been born, lived, and been
buried, and if he dad 60 the father would
never receive him back. Thereupon
Abner ran away. Tney heard nothing
Of him TOR two years, when news
came OF his death in a fray with some
Comanches in Northwestern Texas.
That was twelve years before tins
Thanksgiving. 1t was a severe blow to
both, but especially to the mother. Time
gradually softened the sorrow; but the
old couple often talked Of their dead
and tept his memory green. The cham
Der in which he slept had never been
occupied by another since his departure;
his fishing rod hung undisturbed in the
hallway, and his gun rusteG in quiet in
It's Old place just beneath the rod. His
death made no difference in the active
lie of Pnineas. He managed the farm
the same, and laid by something every
year; although it was not for a son, but
lot distant kins:olk. whom he had never
seen. But, havingEo son and no rela-
tions near at hand, and Thanksgiving
being q grcgarious institution, Phineas
always used to invite any respects bic
Strangers WHO CHANGED 30 be in the
n~eighborhood at The time TO share the
feast. Err in that way" said Phineas,
in explanation TO his pastor, lone may
entertain angels unawares." Pretty
angels" SID Mahaia, the hired girl,
who hao overheard this, and who from
twenty years service vas privileged of
tongue. "One vf them angels last veal
went of alter dinner, and two silver
spoons an three forks went off with
him, an nuthe. them nor the angel amt
comc back VT But Pnineas perse-
yered in his practi' e. On his occasion
he was TO have cur guests. He had
heard the night before Of the arrival
of a foreigner with his wife and
children ard two servants, at the inn.
Jeilie!, the hired mar, reported that
thew were foreigners. The servants
seine out landish tongue, which
was neither French nor German, he was
sure. lie had asked the ma himself
SO Carver had directed him-to take
elmer with him. and had received
Yes" for an answer. He looked like 3
MAJ well off. His name? Yes, h. had
asked him his name, and he had said he
was a Gring). The man had a good
deal Of beard, and spoke English very
well. That was the sun of the infor-
nation brought by Jehiel. Phineas was
satisfied with it. He would have his
guests at the last Thanksgiving to be
held in the Carver house by Il Carver,
and he was determined TO ca and enj y
.nd give thanks. For, Priscilla" said
Phineas. we have u deal to be thank
for. after all. " hen the worst
romes to the worst we shan't want
bread in our old days, and that's more
than some poor creturs say. It's all
Tor the best that we amt got no sons
prospects to ruin" $780,,
At n o'clock in the afternoon Jehlel,
who had gone for them, the
tran gers in the light wagon. PhlneF
was AZ the door to receive them, and, us
got out, scanned them curiously.
Gid Mahala. from tie window OF tn
Kitchen in the wing. "Angels IS
'hem?" sail she, vigorously, though not
IN correct form of speech. "Sartin the
.lildrea loob nice. speshly the leetle
ral. an the woman's handsome I don't
bus the mans an ESau, if there
yer was III Esau."