The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-11-23
QhrDrmurrat-S Star
OLD TIMES RgCiLL ED.
"reminiscences of Thanksgiviugs Long
Ago.


Mrs. II. W. Beecher In Golden Rule.
The Thanksgivings Of the present
time my BE- more refined. more
stylish, than those Of half a century
ago, but no style or elegance a give
our young people or their parents the
exhileration or the happiness of the
Thanksgivings that | recall of more
than 20 years ago.
Let me for a little while imagine
myself IA young girl. VIII you go with
me, gentle reader, to "Bullard's HILL"
in Massachusetts, and enter a large,
cummodious 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.
"Hurrah No more school this
week, for its Thanksgiving. Now,
what shall we do to help you, ma"
"Now, set US all to work to help
you, may'
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 chcerfully en-
tered upon. The turkeys, chickens and
ducks we're to be killed and carefully
dressed by the elder boys. The %raisins,
fruit, and other material for pies, the
cake, biscuit and bread were allotted
to the girls under the mothers super
vision, and this gave fun employment
for one day and was accomplished
with cheerful, happy hearts in joyful
anticipation of the full c~onSumation
of their labors on the happy Thanks
giving day. Why does the return of
that day 0 bring SO little of the de-
lightful exhileration and charms that
both old and young experienced in the
''long ago 2"
The next days work for the boys
was to bring wood and keep two large
brick ovens heated to accomplish all
the baking that could be properly at
tended to before the long looked for
day dawncd for them all.
The work is done, and all are ready.
The table, extending the full length of
the large dining room, "groans with
costly piles of food" and sends out a
most appetizing welcome to theguests
and family, who now file in from the
parlor and take their seats. Then the
carving is begun, and all understand
that there is to be no haste. They
come to partake not only of the abun-
dance with which the table is
loaded, but also of the richer enjoy
ment of loving social intercourse, in
which the voices of the youngest, with
their frolic and merriment, can join
without rcbuke.
The carving finished and the plates
well filed, there is of course less con-
versation, but the demands of appe-
titles do not check the pleasant jests
and sportiye repartees that are con
~stantly passing from n to the other,
making the feast more jubilant.
Now the first course is 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 after a heaty meal or how lit
tie disposed the listeners are to criti-
else even a poor attempt at fun?
Well, after such a surfeit of turkey,
chickens, ducks and the many little
delicacies that help to fill the table,
what more can be expected or disposed
of? But who ever heard of a Thanks
giving dinner without the plum pud-
ding, the rich mince pies and pies of
squash, custard and apple, together
with fruits of all kinds, the tea and
coffee, with the richest cream and
cheese that would fill our modern
cheesemakers with envy?
The candles (no gas or lamps in
those days were lighted long before
the happy circle ose from the table
and adjourned to the parlor.
After a pleasant hour in the parlor,
while the dining room was being put
it order, all returned to it to crack and
eat nuts, with fine apples to play
with the children the games that we
now seldom hear Of-blind mans buff,
hunt the slipper, fox and geese, etc
or to hear from the grandparents sto-
ries connected with the old French
and Indian war or the later one of the
Revolution. /
Interesting Figures.