Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-11-25
Grandmother Story

A Thanksgiving story? All, my lads
and lassies, when you ask that, the years
are bridged by memory's magic, and
am again child in my Western home.
| was years old when father, having
met with serious business losses, sold
our comfortable home and went to try
his fortunes in the land which is now the
state of Minnesota. That was about
the year 1910, think, before the ter
ritory was organized.
We lived in a canvas tent until IA
Their and brother Ben made a loghouse,
with tables. bedsteads and benches of
fragrant pine planks heWn from gigantic
trees. They also covered the roof with
long pine shingles, split from young,
straight-grained saplings. Then we be-
gan housekeeping in earnest, while father
and Ben cleared away the dense for
ests to prepare for the next years crops.
Soon we could see the silvery lake, even
the river, and our hearts were hopeful
and strong.
The very hardest thing to find in this
forsaken place is decent Thanksgiving
dinner" said Ben in despair.
I'VE have milk and eggs and next year
we can prepare for it by raising poultry
Out UOn see MOlUGE SlSucU,
hesitated and stopped.
Don't say we shall have no Thanks
giving dinner this year, mother!' | cried
in dsmay.
But we must keep every hen, children,
and We have no pig" began father, 80
sparerib or turkey is out Of the ques-
ton
Unless I can get a wild turkey, IA
Their" suggested Ben. hopefully.
THAT is not at all likely, SO don't set
Your mind on it." answered the father,
and there the discussion ended. But
Ben and [ did not drop the subject by
any means. Ben was only II years old
and a good hunter, as frontier boys usu-
ally are.
L know 1 can get a turkey and I'll
he on the lookout, now, ] can tell you.
I'll snare him and keep him in a pen
until cold weather comes on. III do 1t,
never you fear sis. Well have tur-
key for Thanksgiving" he said more
than once.
[ had great faith in my big brother
and l felt that the turkey was as good
as caught Ben laid snares and caught
many birds and rabbits as well as Two
or three foxes; that was all for some
time.
There are no turkeys in this country.
you're only wasting time. Perhaps [
for your mother to stuff and bake, ana
[ found a few cranberries IN the mead,
oW that will be ripe before long" said
father to comfort us.
The turkey will come, I have a pre-
sentiment" asserted Ben, sturdily:
And sure enough it did. One frosty
morning Ben rushed in excitedly: Give
me a bag or something! There's a big
turkey in the snare by the brook singing
out Quit for all he's worth Hurry
uick-somebody! Don't let him get
away"
You may be sure we all rushed out to
see if it was true.
ben is right. It is a noble bird, tut
but it can't be a wild one said father.
There's no settler within ten miles of
us and the bird is mine" cried Ben. .
1T surely seems as if he might be, y
smiled mother. 1t was an easy thing to
throw a blanket over the captive's head:
1t was not so easy to carry 3O-pound
gobbler to the place which Ben had pre-
pared for his prison, SO sure had he been
of his prisoner.
1T is a noble bird" said father again
as he looked through the poles that
made his pen.
'.What did I tell yon?' shouted Ben,
dancing with glee. We'll have just the
biggest plumpest turkey we ever had.
IF he don't die before his time
comes" said |.
"Oh sis! You're a wet blanket on
everything. Of course he will not die
until | say So
Ben was right. When 1 think of it it
seems as if that turkey could not help
thriving under his vigilant care. The
brought in his share of the feast in the
shape of fat young doe. Ben shot young
bear. too. and we added bear spare rib
to the bill of fare. Mother made some
delicious Sausages from that bear meat
those were for Thanksgiving breakfast.
At last all was ready. The turkey
was stuffed for baking, the venison and
spare rib were IN the stone oven, the
brown bread was steaming in the kettle
and the dried raspberry leaves were i'll
the teapot ready to steep for tea.
ut will be much nicer than l dared
to hope" smiled mother. "And | guess |
will make q very few wheat biscuit. l
can't spare much of the flour, for we
don't know hen we can get any more. "
Mother was very careful of that flour
and never used it except upon great occa-
ciOns corn bread being our staff of life.
Father went to the nearest neighbor's
early in the morning, starting before day
light. hoping to find a little coffee for
mother, a surprise which she would ap-
rreciate. Ben worked busily picking out
the best wood to split fine, that the pre-
cious turkey might not lack the proper
heat to turn it to the exact shade of del
icate brown that he liked. L set the
table, using the one white linen table
cover that was left to us fro1n the days
of plenty in the old home. Iother
brought out the silver spoons. grand
mothers wedding present, and laid q
spray of pressed autumn leaves upon
each plate.
All dearies, years have passed since
then but if [ close my eyes [ can seem
to see that rough pine table, in that rude
log house, decked with the best we had
king.