West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-11-26
FEAsTlNe A CENTURY AGO.
Description of an ola Tim. Thanks
giving Dinner Ia New England.

gtvfnu Dinner Ia New England.
The Thanksgiving feast OF n century
ago had n charm to II that today seems
10 be Incking. says the Seattle Times.
Here is description OF one or these
celebrations:
I'm the great rcd farmhouse on the
hill lpreparationswere begun long before
the day. The turkey that stalked before
the dooryard had been watched with
hungry eyes aud fat,ened with urgent
care. Pumpkins had been brought from
the cornfeid TO sun themselves ON the
wood pile. All, II was sure sign OF
the days approach. and they might
have defended their right 20 be there
without being laughed at by the an
cient chronicier's words, Let no man
make jest at pumpkins. for with this
fruit the Lord was pleased 10 fe. his
people 60 their good content till corn
and cattle We're increascdr A goodly
supply OF all garden vegetables was at
hand. Apples and pears, the best In the
orchard. Ind been gathered and hidden
away In the dark 20 mellow. Alas for
the feast IL there was not molasses
enough 20 be hadi There could be none
without II. Stores OF raislns aud citron
had been laid In. so there was some
thing for the girls 10 do while the boys
looked after the popcorn. which had
been seasoning In their wood shed
chamber, or picked up walnuts under
the old shagbark tree In the pasture.
Then there was n deal OF work neces.
sary within the house--tho wedding
china 10 be brought out, the brasses all
to be polished. especially the ancestral
andirons, and the spare chambers to bo
set In order, with extemporIzed beds In
every available corner--all ready for
the homecoming. Grandpa and grand
ma were the reigning soyerelgns, and
their family was royal one. Tho night
before Thanksgiving they are ali there,
ana the dnughtersin-law have slowed
their little ones away In big feather
beds. dozen, more or less. I'm each, like
sardines. and the youngsters have gone
to their pillow fight In the attic cham.
bers.
Around the huge open fireplace, by
the light OF It's burning logs. those boys
OF the olden times spin their yarns of
childhood days and crack their Jokes
until the laughter changes to tears and
they are rendy for the evening prayer
and the tender good night. And then
the Thanksgiving mornlngl II Is clear
and cold. perhaps the first snow upon
the ground. for Boreas was wont TO
contribute something unusual before
the days OF weather reports All the
family are at church-it was expected
and the proper thing. for family rell.
gion was on dress pnrndc--and the
gray haired parson. regardless OF the
passing time. rises TO the occasion I'm
fervent words OF gratitude TO God for
bis abundant mercies. Then comes the
dinner. skilIfilly managed by the maid
en- aunt-God bless herl--an indispen-
sable condemnation OF virtue on such
occasions. a dinner not so elaborate as
bountiful. not so elegant as bcaithfui.
How the children's eyes dance. even
those OF the babe In the big board era
die who has no part or lot In II. The
turkey. OF course, is there. crisp and
brown. as only one can be which has
been slowly roasted before the fire and
basted from the dripping pan beneath.
Vegetables Of all sorts load the table:
delicacies, too. that have been wait
Ing long for that hour. and numerous
mysteries OF their old fashioned Gull
nary art Then there are pies OF sun.
dry kinds, the chicken pie among
them; but best OF all-and cnn we
trust our feelings to mention themf-
genuine pumpkin pies baked in square
tins. having only four corner pieces TO
each. AS the evening shadows fall
there Is grand assembly about the
fireplace. How merrily the corn sput-
tiers IN the pepper! How familiar the
sound OF the nuts cracked on the
hearthstone! What apples and compc-
titions In pairing them without break
in the golden shavingl The cider flows
from the great earthenwarc pitcher-it
never became old In those days"