New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-26
4 NAN AND A SHADE.
AN OLD PURITAN AND BILLY CLAGGETT.
AT A THANKSGIVING DINNER.

AT A THANKSGIVING DINNER.
Copyright. 1893, by Sam Walter Foss)
Melchizedek Adoniram Jones. two hundred years
In peaceful rest laid down his bones and left this
| world of woe;
A Puritan of ancient breed, sweet may his soul re-
A man who loved his holy creed and preached 1t
| through his nose.
The spirit of Mechizedek Jones roamed through the
Walked DER the City's golden stones by rivers of
But once upon Thanksgiving Day he heard sound
| OF mirth
Come Heating heavenward on its way from the re-
joicing earth
How quick the years have rolled away. how fast
fain once more would see the earth. though after
many years
From which this most unseemly mirth Is hoatinS 10
my ears.
Melchizedek Adoniram Jones then slipped away to
earth
And sought the town where rest his bones the
town that gave him birth.
His t-grea -great great grandson's home he en-
And said Il will no longer roam; here I abide with
thee"
But why. my great-great-great," said he. why
Why this unhaliowed revelry. this graceiess joty?
Turn ye from wanton pleasures path, refrain from
Lest / arise and in my wrath I smte We to the
earth.
What vain apparel behold thine helpmeets proud
The silks Of sidon and the gold OF Tarshish shall
decay.
Thy gold shall tarnish. jewels rust, and fade thy
Away and sit thee in the dust In sackcloth and in
ashes.
"out with your tinlng music vain your loud
More fitting were a funeral strain to your
desolation.
The furnace of my wrath is hot my righteous an
ger high:
in nd
" c ikis sto"' anu spare ye not ana S"''s 'e MP anu
and these vain books, the vanest thing the heart
OF man cntices
SO full OF vain imagining and many strange de-
And Shakespeare. too? stn meath the stars lives
his unhalowed mirth'
trusted our anathemas had driven him from earth.
Why gorge ye with this foolish spoil and make a
should fast and pray?
And wherefore is this rotous feast, these Egypt
Why gorge ye like the gluttonous beast. when
We should quake with fear?
WHY make your children such din. why is their
DEPRIVED conceived and born in sin and wholly
Before their great sins let them quail and let their
grief be deep?
In conrite sorrow let them wall and gnash their
teeth and weep"
Good saint" replied his great-grea great II note
your warm appeal
Your manners may not be ornate though respect
But believe that childish FRANKS spring not from
Satans guile
And men may offer heartfelt thanks and keep their
clothes In style.
but come my at-greatgreat. sit down and try
modern fare.
Relax your Puritanc frown and smooth your ruff |
fled hair
The Puritan began to eat; his frown. It passed |
away.
lie fit the kindly influence sweet-the spirit OF the
day.
The turkey vanished like a dream. the pudding did |
not stay.
The viands In steady stream all seemed to flow
his way.
And him-ward. all that dinner hour the stream OF
yctuals poured.
And his assmilative power astonshed all the board.
Between the pudding and the pie he lifted up his
voice.
Rejoice. Rejoice" they heard him cry. again l
say rejoicci
Give thanks for this your modern lot and all your
modern bliss,
wish" he said. John EndIcott could taste meal
like this