The Republican journal., 1881-11-24
St. Nicholas for November
An Old-Fashloned Thanksgiving.
ny LOUISA NJ. ALcOrr.

lSt Nicholas for November
An Old-Fasmoned THANKSGIVING.
III LOUISA N. ALcorr.
Sixty years ago, up among the New
| Hampshire hills. lived Farmer Bassett,
/ With a housetul OF sturdy sons and daugh-
| ters growing up about him. They were
! poor III money but rich in land and love,
| for the wide acres of wood. corn, and
/ pasture land fed. warmed and clothed the
! flock, while mutual patience, affection,
| and courage made the Old farmhouse Il
very happy home.
| November had come; the crops were
in and barn, battery, and blu were
| overfi0Wing with the harvest thatreWard-
| ed the summers hard work The big
kitchen was jolly place Just now, for in
the great ire place roared Il cheerful fire: 4:
on the wall hung garlands of dried ap-
| piles. onions, and corn up alott from the
| beams shOne crooked d-nccked sUuaShes,
| juicy hams, and dried YeniSOn for in
those days deer still haunted the deep
forests, and hunters tlourishcd. Sayory
smells We're in the air on the crane hung
| steaming kettles, and down among the
| red embers copper sauceDanS simmcred,
all suggestive OF some approaching feast.
\ White-headed baby lay in the old
blue cradle that had rocked six other
| babies, now and then lifting his head to
/ look ont like rnrnd. I'm moon then
subsidized 10 Kick and crow contentpdlv,
and snck rhe ROSY annie he had no teeth
to bjfe. Two small bows sat on the
wooden settle shellng corn for popping,
and picking out the biggest nuts from the
eoodly store tboir own hands had gather
| ed in October, Four yonng oirjs stood
at the long dresser. husiiy chopDing meat,
pounding spice. and slicino appIes: and
the tongues OF Tilly. prue. Roxy. and
Rhodv went as fast as their hands. Farm
/ er Bassett. and Eph, the oldest boy. were
..chorn' round" outside. for Ihankseiy-
ing was at hand, and all must be in order
| for the time-honoled day.
| 70 and fro, from table to HEARTH bus
! tied buXom Mrs. Bassett. flushed and
tloury, bat busy and blithe as the queen
bee of this little hive should he.
~ do like To- begin seasonaD!e and
have things to my mind Thanksgivn'
dinners can't he drove, and it does take
a sight of yictuals to fill all these hungry
stOmachs, said the good woman. as She
8dNt IL ' I8OlOQN SUI 10 lIt great ktLllt DI
cider apple-sauce. and east a glance of
housewitely pride at the fine array Of
pies set forth on the buttery shelves
"OnIy one more day and then it will
be time to eat. didn't take but one
bowl Of hasty pudding this morning. so
shall have plenty Of room when the nice
things come" confided Seth to Sol, as he
cracked large hazel nut is easily as a
squirrel
"N0 need of nv starvin' beforehand. /
aicQys have room enough, and I'd like to
have Thanksgiving every daV." answered
solomon, gloating like a Young ogre over
the little pig that Law near bv. ready for
roasting.
"Sakes alive, don't bows. It's marcy
it don't come but once a wear. | should
be worn to a thread d-paper with all this
extra work atom of nv winter veavin'
and spinin'," laughed their mother, as She
plunged her plump arms into the l0no
bread trough and began to knead the
dough as if famine was at hand.
Tilly, the oldest girl. a red checked.
black-eyed lass of fourteen, was grinding
brisklv at the mortar. for spices were
costly, and not grain must be wasted.
Prue kept time with the chopper. and the
twins sliced away at the apples till their
little brown arms ached. for all knew how
to work. and did 50 now with a will.
81 think it's real fun to have Thanks
giving at home I'm sorry Gran'ma is
sick, so we can't 90 there as usual, but
like to mess round here, don't YOU girlS?n
asked Tillv, pausing to take a sniff at the
spicy pes tie.
at will be kind Of lonesome with only
our own folks" II like to see all the
cousins and aunts, and have games and
sing cried the twins, who were regular
| little rOmps, and could run. swim. coast.
and shout as we'll as their brothers
IL don't care a mite for all that 1t will
be 50 nice to eat dinner together, warm
and comfortable at home" said quiet
| Prue. who loved her own cOzy hooks like
! a cat.
''Come, girls, fly round and get your
| chores done, SO we can clear away for
| dinner lust as soon as clan nv bread
! into the oven" called Mrs. B3ssett nres
entity, as she rounded off the last loaf of
| brown bread which was to feed the hunnrv
mouths that seldom tasted any other.
"Heres man comm up the hill live
| lv!o "Guess it's cad Hopkins. Pa told
| him to bring a dozen oranges. if thry
warn't too high +" shouted sol and Seth
running to the door. while the pirls
! smacked their lips at the thought of this
rare treat. and Baby threw his apple
overheard as if oettino ready for = new
CARGO
Rnt all were damned to odisannoin+ment
for if was NOT Gad with thn much -dpz