The Washington herald., 1906-11-29

fathers house is too small for the
Thanksgiving assemblage The long
table has to be laid in the wide hall that
has a fireplace on either side. and
mysterious little blind stairway leading to
a secret chamber where a rebel soldier
once hid. This hall is dim with rafters
overhead, and the old ehimneys are built
OF bricks that were brought from Hol-
land more than a hundred years ago.
over one fireplace. a wreath, called The
Harvest Wreath" is framed under glass.
II represents a work Of art which grand
mother accomplished In her youth. All
the wonderful flowers and foliage Of this
wreath are made of different kinds of
seeds. It is a marvellous piece Of work
Dinner is served about o'clock. and
such a dinner Turkeys. and geese. and
chickens. and little roasted pig; griIled
spare ribs. boiled onions. brown gravy,
and steamed oyster dressing; pickles, and
jeIlies in several different varieties; cell
cry. cider and coffee 1t isn't a course din
ner or a dinner served IN the modern fash
ion. There is neither soup. salad nor en-
tree. yet everybody eats more than is
eaten to-day at a twelve course function.
and by the time the above mentioned
solids are disposed of the pies and pud
dings make their appearance At New
England dinner, it is not a case of this
kind OF pie or that; il Is a case OF both.
and when liberal slices of three varle
ties of pie are consumed. the plum pud-
ding has got to be tested, and after that,
the fruit and nuts and more cider and
coffee.
Grandmother's Thanksgiving dinner Is
an ordeal and all the uncles carve, and
all the aunts serve. and a great deal
Of happiness prevails.
After dinner is the time when the men
and boys go o1t for Took round the
farm" This is the time for the babies
to nap, and the mothers to get out their
fancy work and get intimately sociable
and sufficiently gossippy for little girls
to open their pitcher ears Little girls
have a talent for drinking with their ears.
and their mouths usually open, out Of
sympathy, when they do IL
Twilight comes early. and when the
trampers have come in with great tales Of
stock and granneries and cribs. and also
Of a bank Of snow clouds forming in the
west, heaping dishes Of apples and
cracked hickory and butter nuts are set
out and candles are lighted. They do not
really use candles at grandfather's. They
read by lamps. but upon festive occasions
grandmother likes 10 employ the lights
OF her youth. Consequently the many
candIesticks- glass, pewter. bronze, and
iron-that have been for generations In
the family, are I'm readiness. and when
the tall tapers are lighted the effect is
extremely beautiful The best parlOT"
is a dear old room with mahogany chairs
covered with embroidered samplers. lace
shades al the windows, and an old-fash-
loned square piano with curved legs.
The piano isn't meant 10 play Chopin
or Wagner on. It would sound abomina-
bly, under those harmonies. II is sweetly
responsive. however. when mother, at
grandfather's request, sits down and
plays 'Ye Banks and Braes O. BOnny
Dune" and sings softly to her own ac-
compartment And when grandmother
begs Tor The MistletOe Bough," how
tenderly pathetic sounds mothers dear
voice. Ever SO many old melodies are r@-
vived. and when Hush, my dear, lie still
and slumber," is reached, and Aunt Har-
riet joins In with a low alto, and father s
tenor offsets gTandfather's QuaveriuE
bass, there is nothing in the world To
help a little girl through the agOnizing
sweetness Of a few silently shed tears.
Nothing, perhaps, but faint clatter
of dishes and the sight of grandmother S
gOod-natured cook bringing In a great
tray full of ice cream and followed by
several assistants with cake in towering
heaps Of black and white.
Nobody is exactly hungry. but this af-
ternOOn ice cream is part Of the Thanks
giving Day system. and We wouldn't miss
it for worlds. Eating always dispels sen
timent and by the time the ice cream is
finished somebody plays S'POp Goes the
Weasel or Money Musk" Just for dear
Lang Syne." and the floor Is cleared fo-
the Virginia reel Grandfather Is now
in his element. Grandmother wasn't
brought up 10 dance but it takes only
a little urging to set her dear old feet
pattering; and away we all go in couples
and single lines. straight through the hall
around through the sitting-roOm and con
Ssryatory. back TO first position. II is a
great lark, and just a fOretaste of the
rOmping games that follow. from attic
10 cellar. until father calls out. BY
JOve. the snow is coming in earnest
Sure enough. by s o'clock. when little
people are beginning 10 nod. regular
blizzard Is raging. This is a time for
the adventurous to start on their home
ward way; for the timid 70 yield TO grand
mothers urging TO remain over night
There is much consulting and planning
Finally one load after another. armed
with lanterns and sped on the way with
Tesounding cries Of good night" and
good lucki' disappears from the lane
and is lost in the distant snowy road.
Those who are left crowd round the
fires and tell tales Of snow-bound trav-
elers. while corn is popped and chestnuts
roasted on the shovels and tongs.
Grandfather is famous for stories, and
he goes back to war times and relates
how he got his wound IN battle. and
grandmother, also. relates her experiences
as a little girl, when she rode eighteen
miles 10 church on Thanksgiving Day,
and was kept a prisoner inside the church
for three days by a seige of Indians Oh,
1t is good to get these dear old souls
started on the stories OF their younger
days,
No wonder Thanksgiving Day is one
Of blessed memories, when grandmother
and grandfather, a mother and father
and more aunts, uncles, and cousins than
are possible to count, figure in the day
of all days when eating and visiting and
family affection reign supreme