Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-26

IN
ml .t. breakfast table, around which her
Of InS md ten children were already
ALs'.s5 ~Only a week to prepare for it
hN ~ nO'' rrterance of the word Thanks
ne, brought look OF eagar expec-
t. into the face of every Bigelow
TAM! from the twenty-year-old son,
pr IN little Hannah, the eighteen
b'...,iTs-oId baby of the household. who, as
u IN She had had the clearest possible
u. - n The significance of the occasion
NJ. .Ie host Of good things indissolubly as
aa ~ with 1t, laughed and crowed and
80 her hands as she sat on the lap OF
her sister Faith
r--r sister was Z rare type OF New Eng
80 t...,ltv, The eldest OF the large Blge-
a. +.,,rilr. she had been passing fair'' at
Zen but now. 1T twenty-five, the domi-
rq.,iauc,. Of early youth was crowned
i- l'.' nlgsiye sadness that mdae it still more
tia-!f.l. Like many another New Eng
- of, Faith Bellows life had known
FINANCE of d sailor loVer-a fine, manly
t,Tcy some seven years her senior, to
MON She had been betrothed at seventeen,
,yho,e ship had been lost with all on
pH-.rI ;lrec months before the Thanks
a;ri,- riav set for their wedding.
f-,r Notwithstanding that melancholy as
,..,e-for THANKSGIVING was always a JOY
o'-,gl,..,stun in the household of Hezel1iah
Ii,..gvr. an Industrious and prosperous
w Eagland farmer. residing wherever
=. reader chooses to locate him within
- ,,rrat region bounded by the shores of
,h. Connecticut river the Green mountains,
Ei-ut Hope and Moosehead lake.
..ly.T now mother" said Mr.. Bigelow,
T., ra,pousa 10 his wife's observation, II
lb,-.5 think a week was time enough to get
wa THANKSGIVING dinner, and a Thanks
ririrr supper good enough for King George
.So rwould be-" answered Mrs. Bige-
ra,y IF we had anything in the house to
gel il with, but we hain't bit OF flour, nor
I0mca- iOr nince pies"
..y-rpr Won mind. MOTHER responded
Mr. Bigc0w well have a Thanksgiving
~ for the governor in spite of all that
Last saturday put into bag as good a
trsheI Of wheat as ever was ground.
iEiah can take horse ana carry it TO the
mil this mJrniu', and you'll have prime
-four In a brace of shakes. We've got
r.-uty If butter and lard, and 'Bijah can
order your ralsins, spices and SIGH at Brent
wirn's store on his way home from the mill.
D.arou SfOry's a-goin' to kill a beef critter
This moruin', an I've spoke for Z quarter.
Irsi.kerlate hundredweight of beef will
make al. he mince pies you want. We've
rot lots Of milk and five carloads of yellow
r.uklus u the barn for punkin pies, and
I'll Iii. a many turkeys and chickens as
YOU think necessary. Now, go ahead and
make as much Thanksgiving as you please
and as fast as possible"
The Bigelow household was an unusually
busy one from that hour. and when the all
lmportAu. day arrived there had been pre-
llrgd such i profusion of food as seemed
impossible Of consumption in any one week,
much S any one day, by any single family,
even thuu-rf ID numbered. including father,
mother, children and hired help, some six
teen persons. Nor was ii intended that it
should be Consumed by so comparatively
small number. The BiGelows had invited
an extensive company of their neighborS TO
ear q Thanksgiving dinner with them, and
had also made arrangements for giving a
Thanksgiving supper and frolic to still
larger company of young people in the even
ilg
In all these preparations Faith, the eldest
daughter and mainstay of the HOUSEHOLD, had
borne prominent part. though she felt
that they could bring little of joy TO her.
During all the eight long years that had
passed since the shadow of her great sor-
row had fallen upon her life, she had been
true 10 the memory of her first and only
love. though she had had many suitors, of
whom the claims of more than one had
been strJngiy urged by both her
parents. But she was one of those who
can love but once, and to whom
marriage with Il V save that first and only
love seems sacrilege. Rebellious thoughts
often rose IN her heart. What
have 10 be thankful for?" she would ask
herself il anguish and bitterness of spirit
Il the approach Of each recurring Thanks
giving Day that should have been an ami
yersary Of her wedding. "Shall l give
thanks TO God for having deprived me Of
al. held most dear?'
"Canh expect me to be thankful or to
believe III his love and mercy?' But the
strong 1aiJn implanted in her by many pre-
CndUg generations of Puritan ancestors
would soon triumph over such doubts and
rcroutirm her belief in the goodness and
wisdom of God, and she would once more
resume the burden Of life, saying only, 1T
might have been, but thy will be done.''
Vow 'Bijah, who's comm here to-
nich' Whom have you invited2" asked
Priscilla, the second daughter of the house
hold tair-haired girl of eighteen. II was
drawing towards the evening of Thanksgiv-
M s.E. and many of the elderly people
"aH had gathered about the hoSpitable
hoa'a Of the Bige.ows at dinner had retired
70 their homes.
"Oa there's lot on 'em. I've asked
tsre"
t'A'I , Nu as hti INdtlltl NdFNtrE''
Yes. and what's more intereStiu' to you,
b = brother Dam
Dan doesn't interest me bit, replied
ms sister cO.oring violently as she turned
10 leave the room.
wait L minute, Sis. heard to-day that |
10 Wn'm on Hannah Loveioy, but they'll |
..- De- here tonight, and you can judge |
Tor Yourself
81 Tuu't believe it. exclaimed Priscilla
Is her brother sam coming2n
'bIl III wager a big red pippin that |
She, FL come with Dan Carver
lAe day had been bitterly cold and the |
mercury fell still lower as night drew on. |
hAl the BlEclow boys kept the large fire. |
Pace lH liz long dining room, the fore |
..lGt and the end-room,' well piled up |
WIN good sized logs. and the blazing fires |
SEN warmth and light to every corner of |
nose apartments. And now the young |
io-ks began 10 arrive Rosy-cheeked girls !
u shaw.s, cloaks and tippets. Stout boys
~ rouud jackets, AMI stouter boys in sack |
-ll aired coats. Mr.. and Mrs. Bigelow |
"a "a IN tile forenoon with some of the mid |
l.g'a1e1 members of their dinner party, |
VIC lac been invited to remain to supper, |
" ME he young folks were gathered into |
tlie ena-room waiting till the table should |
VI tsa4F IN The long dining room.
-. here's Dan Carver's BELLS said |
nI.ah Is a merry tiukle was heard coming |
i-eefer ana nearer, and few moments later |
1i4A Carver. his sister Rachel, Hannah |
tr,-y,',.oI lid two strange gentlemen were |
uSEereC in.
N-t ny he strangers was young manor |
sode iweuty-lhree years. He was of |
lellum height and light build, and his |
~. was singulafly frank and win