Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-02

and the narrowness of their lives car
| but give us added cause for thank
| fitness for the abundance which ",
enjoy.
For many years after that frs
cheerful celebration at Plymouth
Thanksgiving was kept in a most sol
| emn and unattractive manner; but as
the battle for life became easier it de-
veloped into a day Of joyous thanks
giving in very truth.
1T was. as it always had been. a
religious day. and a day for the in
gathering of the family. But instead
of two church services, each three
hours long. with dinner crowded be-
tween. the afternoon services Were
dropped, the dinner leisurely enjoyed,
and the afternoon given over to visit
ing. games, music sleigh-rdin and the
various other delightful ways by which
the ties of home and kindred are re
newed and strengthened by the love
that makes the world go round.
fMeal-times in those days were at
sunrise. midday and sunset. and in all
well-regulated families the festival
was at an end when at nine o'clock the
meeting house" bell rang out the cur
few signal.
AN amusing incident Of one of these
dinners is found in the journal of a
Connecticut clergyman. who, in 111i.
said: When We services at We meet
ing-house We're ended We council and
other dignitaries We're entertained Mt
the house of Mr.. Epes. on We hill near
Nv -b.ar hD1 f,r1 n lie
giving dinner, with bears meat and
venison. the last of which was a fine
buck, shot in the woods near by. After
ye blessing was craved word came
that We buck was shot on We Lord
Day by Pequot, an Indian, who came
to Mr. Epes with a I've in his mouth.
like Ananias of old. Ye council, there
fore, refused to eat We venison; but it
was afterward decided that Pequot
should receive 40 stripes save one for
lying and profaning on We Lords Day.
and restore Mr.. E.pes We price of We
deer; and considering this just and
a righteous sentence on We sinful
heather, and that a blessing had been
craVed on We meat, We council all par
took of it but Mr.. Shepard, whose con-
science was tender on We point of We
vension."
For years all instruments Of music. eX-
cept the drum. trumpet and jewsharp.
were prohibited. But such restrictions
We're gradually dropped. until a century
ago, when it was customary for every
one. from grandfather and grandmother
to the little children, to join in a Virginia
reel at the close of the evening. But one
worthy divine as late as 11i5 gave his
flock. upon leaving the church on Thanks
giving day, this solemn spiritual wet
blanket: Take heed that after the pub
lie exercise Of this day is over that none
of YOU run into those follies that are I'M
becoming such a solemnity as this
Marriages were often celebrated at
Thanksgiving, and if any one thinks that
all the brides and srooms of colonial DAYS
We're dressed in homespun and cobblers'
shoes. they should have listened to Great
grandmother Brewsters description OF
cious yellow old journals that. We're writ
ten long before her day There were
white satin gowns and lace kerchiefs
bosom-pins Of a miniature set in virgin
gold, and white kid slippers with glitter
ing buckles. And certainly a groom of
today would look as though appareied for
| funeral in comparison with one Of a
| century aSo. with his powdered hal,
twisted into a queue. his smooth black
coat. long sik-embroidered vest. SNOWY
frills at bosom ana wrists, white satin