The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-12-04

&
4 Our Thanksgiving feast could no. be
bought in the shambleS. Ii had 10 be
made ready. 80 there was endless
mastering OF the FARMS resources.
From sty. and stall, and perch, We
/ brought in the Savory meats; flesh g;
/ swine, and kline, and lated fowl. Day
/ and night the sacrifice went on. We
I brought up the yellow pippiGs from the
\ cellar. and the great golden pumpkins
out OF the barn, and made them into the
/ pie stuff that boys never get enough OF.
| 50 the work went ON outdoors and in.
Y Such marvelS OF things went into that
/ old brick oven, SIS no hungry boys had
I ever seen before. Such rows and rows
Of pies, pumpkin pies, and mince pies,
and apple pies, and cuStard pies, and
currant pies. and huckleberry pies,
enough 10 last pretty nearly all winter.
} That was how we made the ThanSsgiv-
ing two or three weeks long. 1t was
Thanksgiving - long Is those mince
pies lasted And You hSve no idea how
long they would last, unless You have
seen what regiments OF them the good
mothers OF fifty years ago used 70 mar
shall onto their pantry shelves. And II
was marvellous how long the careful
mothers OF those days could make them
last good deal longer than four hun
CRY boys used 10 think they ought 10.
Never 4 taste OF those most sayory
things did We get till the festival morn
ing came. Those New England mothers
knew how 10 get their boys ready TO en-
JOY the feast. And after the iestal day
was over, where those regiments OF pies
and things went 20, who can tell None
Of the little boys, YOU may be sure. But
they came TO light, one by one. not too
often for health, but often enough to
make the Thanksgiving feast long-co:-
tinued Joy.
50 the festal yiands were made ready,
Snd the teStal morning came; came in
white raiment often, al the hills and
meadows mantled in the purest spotless
robes We always looked for the first
generous snowfall about Thanksgiving
time Ana when we awoke 10 find that
d" The snow had begun in the cleaning.
And. buSily all the night,
Had been piliug field and highway
With 4 silence deep ana white,
We Just made the old farmhouse ring
with our " leone 10 the snow; for that
on Thanksgiving day; going up 10 the
house OF God over the cleaning snow and
TO the sound Of merry bells. And 50 We
went, all but the busy mother. That
great brick oven was too fu!l Of the pre-
cjOuS things OF the feast to De lett TN
cared for, and no hands but the mothers
own were s5iIlful enough 10 make that
dinner ready. 81 she stayed by the
hearth while We went up TO worship.
Now do not remember much about the
worship. 1t was not meant much for the
BOYS, that preaching and singing OF fifty
wears ago. Il Vas fovmal. 1t was stately.
1t was reverent. Ii voiced the peoples
thankfu,ueSS 1 can remember that. Il
made mention Of the dear Lords loving
bounty. I can remember that. Ii was
sincere and grateful worship. I had no
doubt OF that. And the sermon was gen
orally i summons TO some high duty,
some claim OF God, or some need OF the
State, or some incentive 70 = worthy 10y
atty. So much | can remember. And
though 1t was mostly beyond boys
comprehension, and though there was
no Earlauding OF the sanctuary in any
fest5I green and bloom, nor any bringing
Of rhe frstfruits and thankoferings-ut-
terry bare u any beauty or any token OF
the peoples bounty those old Thanksgiv-
Ing services were, and 50 net the most
attractive 70 Us children, nor very inspir-
IN - I remember tkeu-yet somehow
they were helpful TO Us. We coupled
the thoughts u the ail-lOvilg Father
sith ogr daily bounty, and we carried 4
more EevsrenI spirit into our festive glad
ness. for having Joined IN those stately
s1-enui-ieS-
Bus they were not the best OF the day
70 u TlEa- was IN the home, by the
glowing IreS.le: around the great
hearthstoua, the old-ilshioEed hearth I
stone. I remember II well. that great /
5Llziug fireplace That was oar testal I
Place, In the dear old home. ~ the /
household beard and the household .
altar Sacred 1Eac memory Is; sacred .
the story OF that household Joy. How Z
can tel Il The faces that made II the /.
gladGes- are trJnS6glrei HOw, and the .
voices that made II such 3 sweet sol I
emnity are heard now only among the i
rznsoned- How can l tel you about T.
It Ihat morning PRAYER Of thdnkSgiv- /
Ing. An how the dear sanity father : 4
lips tremb.ed with his great hearts gra-
titude Is he poured out his soul before 4
God IN acknowledgment Of the dear
Lord's bounty in the harvest ana grace
in the home. Those we're prayers for
boys 20 remember I shall remember
them forever.
And then the least OF lat things At that
fsstal board, with the good old grand
father there. and the sweet and sanity
and sometimes the uncies
and aunts, and cousins; how many l
never could remember. And such day
OF feaSting; : whole long day 1t was
nos all put into the dinner. Ii began in
the morning. Il vas the grandeSt break
last q all tue year and the graudest
dinner or al the ages heaps upon heaps
q sucn tempting things - made T. boys
long Tor teHf8id more capacity; the
chicksn-uie, made so big that It gener-
ally lasted , fortnight; and the chicken
thought the smaller birds the better:
and the other roasts from all lie beasts
81 the stall. and the roots, and the
.ruits- and the nuts. and the cake. and
lGddilEs, and tsTts, and pies-pies
what dinner Il was
L makes NE hungry nov 70 think Of It.
~ - L f5r sIrieIting2 Not IT al FOX that.
though some OF those little brothers and
cousins OF mine may possibly have sur
eIfed Z little l never knew II u hurt
hem though. But II vas not meant for
iJIrfeltIlg- Ii Vas II grateful token O.
he loving Fathers bounty. that they