Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1903-12-30
FEASTING A CENTURY AG
Description of an Old Time Thank
giving Dinner In New England.


giving Dinner In New England.
The Thanksgiving feast Of a century
ago had charm to 1t that today seems
TO be lacking. says the Seattle Times.
Here is a description Of one Of these
celebrations:
in the great red farmhouse on the
hill preparations were begun long before
the day. The turkey that stalked before
the dooryard had been watched with
hungry eyes and fattencd with urgent
care. Pumpkins had been brought from
the cornfield TO sun themselves on the
wood pile All, 1t was a sure sign OF
the days approach, and they might
have defended their right to be there
without being laughed at by the an
Gent chronicler's words, Let no man
make jest at pumpkins, for with this
fruit the Lord was pleased to feed his
people to their good content till corn
and cattle were increasedv A goodly
supply of all garden vegetables was al
hand. Apples and pears, the best in the
orchard, had been gathered and hidden
away in the dark to mellow. Alas for
the feast If there was not molasses
enough to be hadl There could be none
without 1t. Stores Of raisins and citron
had been laid in, so there was some
thing for the girls to 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 q deal of work neces-
sary within the house-the wedding
china to be brought out. the brasses all
to be polished, especially the ancestral
andirons, and the spare chambers to be
set in order, with extemporized beds IT.
every available cOrner-all ready for
the Homecoming. Grandpa and grand
ma were the reigning sovereigns. and
their family was royal one The night
before Thanksgiving they are all there.
and the daughters-in-law have slowed
their little ones away In big feather
beds. dozen. more or less. in 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 its 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 ready for the evening prayer
and the tender good night. And then
hn ho IL fx-i 10
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 reli-
gion was on dress parade and the
gray haired parson, regardless Of the
passing time. rises TO the occasion in
fervent words OF gratitude to God for
his abundant mercies Then comes the
Inner. skillfuly managed by the maid
1n aunt-GOd bless her.-an indlspen-
sable condensation Of virtue on such
occasions. dinner not so elaborate as
not so elegant as healthful.s
How the chlldren's eyes dance. even
hose of the babe in the big board era.
lie who has no part or lot in 1t. The
turkey. of course. Is there. crisp and
,rown. as only one can be which has
,een slowly roasted before the fire and
pasted from the dripping pan beneath.
vegetables of all sorts load the table:
lelcacies. too. that have been wait
ne long for that hour and numerous
Mysteries Of their old fashioned Gull
Iary art. Then there are pies of sun
Try kinds. the chicken pie among !
hem: but best of all-and can we
rust our feelings TO mention them?-
eDulne pumpkin pies baked In square
ms. having only four corner pieces to
ach. AS the evening shadows fall
here Is n grand assembly about the
replace. How merrily the corn sput- .,
,rs in the pepper! How familiar the \
ound Of the nuts cracked on the =
earthstone! What apples and compe-
tons in pairing them without a break
the golden shaving! The cider flows 4
'om the great earthenware pltcher-ft Y
ever became old in those days