The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-26
OLD TIMES RECALLED.
"REMINISCENCES OF THANkSolvINos
LONG AGO.

Old and Young shared In the Prepare
-weiosming the oussss-Mirth and
Joliity Sat st the Board-Ths Charm of
the Day IL Departing.
The Thanksgivings Of the present
time may bs moro refined, more stylish.
than those Of half . osntuEy ago, but no
style or elegance can give our young
people or their parents ths sxhilaration
or the happiness Of tho fhanksgivings
that recall of more than 70 years ago
Let me for little while imagine N.Y.
self young girl Will you 90 with
me, gentle reader, TO Billiards HILL"
in Massachusetts,, and enter large, oom-
modious house, with unlimited room
for ten happy children and many guests
besides?
The door swings open. and the chill
dren rush in from school in boisterous
mirth, tossing books and garments ON
the table.
"Hurrahi No moro school this week.
for 1t is Thanksgiving. Now. what shall
we do TO help you, mar"
Now, set US all to work to help you.
ma"
"Put your books ON their shelves and
your garments In their proper places
first, and then we will find you plenty
TO do" said the gentle mother. The
help that the children could give was
plainly pointed out and checrfully en-.
tered upon. The turkeys. chickens and
ducks were to be killed and carefully
dressed by the elder boys The raisinA
fruit and either material for pies, the
cake, biscuit and bread were allotted
to the girls Under the mothers super.
vision, ana tkis gave full employment
for one day ana was accomplished with
cheerful, happy hearts in Joyful antici-
patton Of the full consummatisn Of their
labors on the happy Thanksgiving day.
Why does the return Of that day now
bring so little Of the delightful sxhilara-
ton and charms that both old and
young experienced in the long agop'
The next days work for the boys was
to bring wood and to keep tvo largo
brick ovens heated TO accomplish all the
bakiug that could be properly attended
to before the longed for any dawned fos
them all.
The work is done. and all are ready
The table. extending the full length Of
the large dining reom, "groans with
costly piles of food" and sends out a
most appointing welcome to the guests
and family. who now fle In from the
parlor Gnd take their seats. Then the
carving 10 begun. and all understand
that there n TO be no haste. They come
10 portake not only Of the abundance
with which the table il leaGsA, but also
Of the richer enjoyment of loving So
cinl intercourse, In which the voices OF
the youngest, with all their frolic and
merriment, can join without rebuke.
The carving finished and the plates
we'll flled, there is Of course less con-
versation, but the demands of appetite
do not check the pleasant jests and
sportive repartees that are constantly
passing from one 20 the other, making
the feast most jubilant.
Now the arss course 10 removed. and
as the children volunteer to aid in that
work the sport and fun that they bring
TO the work seems to furnish infinite
amusement for the guests. Did you ever
notice how much more brilliant jests
and repartees appear to be aftsr hearty
meal, or at least how little disposed the
listeners are to criticise even . poor al
tempt as funs
Well, after such surfeit Of turkey,
chielsens, ducks and tho many little
delicaeies that help 10 All the table.
what more can be expected or disposed
Of, But whcevsr heard Of Thsaksgiv.
ing dinner without the plum pudding
the rich mince pies and pies ~ squash.
custsrd and apple, together with fruits
of all kinds, the tea and osn'ee, with
the RICHEST cream and cheese that would
fill our modern cheesemaksrs with envyf
The candles (no gas or lamps in those
days. wero lighted long before the hap
py circle rose from the table and adr
journed to the parlor.
After pleasant hour In the parlor
while the dising room was being put
in order all resnrned 10 it to crack and
eat nuts, with Ans apples; to play with
the children the games has now we
seldom hear of-sliuA mans buff, hunt
the slipper, fox apd gvsss, sto or to
hear from the grandparents styries con-
nscted with tAe ola French and Indian
war or tA,s later enc Of the Rsvolution.
Mrs. II. W. Bseshsr in Golden Rule.