Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-11-19
The Girl of
NewEngIand
A Story For Thanks
giving.
By EDITH Y. ROSS

ginia happened to be in Massachusetts.
had no invitation for dinner on that
day. This did not trouble him, for the
Thanksgiving anniversary, not being
indigenous to the south, has never
taken such hold there as in the rest of
the country. Besides, being an ardent
southerner, he was not enthusiastic
over New England institutions. He
admired the rosy cheeks of the girls OF
that region, but had never had any in
tention of marrying any but a dark
eyed southern beauty.
BicllfOrd had some cousins in MaSSa.
chuSetts living between Boston and
Plymouth whom he had never seen.
He had promised his mother that he
would look them up and on arriving at
Boston wrote them that he would be
pleased to visit them if they would in
SruCt him how to get to them. He
heard nothing from them till the day
before Thanksgiving. when he received
an invitation to dine with them on that
anniversary. They lived on a road
some distance from a railway, and he
would be obliged to go by auto mat
ter of ten miles from the station. The
distance from Boston to their home
being but forty miles. he concluded to
hire a car and go by that conveyance.
He started about o'clock in the aft
ernOOn, expecting to reach his cousins
home within two or three hours. But
winter sets in early in that region, and
the day ended with the advent of VIC
lent snowstorm. Bickford, who was
driving the machine, pushed on through
the deepening snow, but his progress
slackened and it began to look as if he
would be stalled.
That was the year when intense cold
came on so early and so many persons
lost their lives in a November blizzard.
1t was certainly not inviting to the
southerner used to the sunny climate
of Virginia. His lights after Il time, on
account of the snow, failed to show
him the road, and presently he found
IllllSbll Ill Al ulitu. liz luNl IL NIlOlOC bt-
tween remaining in the car or leaving
it to find better shelter. He decided
to remain where he was, for a time at
least, hoping that some Wayfarer
would come along and pick him up. He
strOvc to keep himself awake, fearing
that if he went to sleep he would freeze
to death. but despite his efforts he sank
into Il doZe.
Suddenly opening his eyes, he saw a
very short distance ahead of him the
lighted windows Of house. He won
dered why he had not seen it before,
for he had looked for place of refuge
in every direction. 1t occurred to him
that the reason he had not seen it was
because darkness had come on, the
snow was falling thick, and the lightS
might not have been lighted. Deter
mining to 90 to it. he got out of the
auto. His limbs We're stiff with the
cold, and he moved with difficulty. On
reaching the snow covered ground he
staggered like drunken man.
Though he had but short distance
to CO. it seemed to him that he was
hours in making the distance. Time
and again he thought he must sink
in his tracks, but he struggled onward
and in time stood on a porch. He could
not see the character of the house on
account of the darkness and the falling
snow. He was only able to catch an
iron knOcker on the door and give a
few faint raps when he sank on the
porch. In another moment the door
was opened, and he was dazZled by the
lights within.
A man in strange costume lifted
him up and supported him into the
house. He had seen pictures of men
dressed that way, but they had lived
two or three centuries before. The
man, calling for others to assist him
got BickfOrd into room where was a
four post bedstead and, placing him on
the bed. called for hot rum. When It
came BickfOrd drank it, and it seemed
to give him strength. He sat up on the
bed and declared that he was quite
himself again. though his head was
top heavy.
BY this time a group Of men, womeI
and children were gathered about him
What astonished him was that they
were MI dressed in the costume of the
pilgrims
81 see" he said TO himself. "this is {
THANKSGIVING pnrty and they are celc
brating it in the apparel of their fore
fathers
But those who were Iooiing at hin
seemed as much interested in his ap
pearance as he w3s in theirs. How
ever. since they RETAINED from com
menting on his clothes he refrainc(
from commenting on theirs. Risin'
from the bed. he said to them:
~ am sorry to intrude upon what
conceive to he Thanksgiving family
party. hut on my way to attend ;
THANKSGIVING dinner | got stalled II
the snow. Seeing the lights in youl
windows. came here with much diff
culty and barely had strength to give
few taps on your kuo"kcr before sink
ing down with fatigue ANA benumbe,
with cold Give me shelter for tn,
night. and tomorrow ! will lerve YOU"
I'VE will not only give YOU shelter.
said patriarcha man with whit,
head. but YOU shall join us in givin,
thanks for the abundant fruits of tn,
earth we have been blessed with thi'
autumn. You need rest. Lie down (,
sleep, and when you are refreshed we
will see you again."
Bickford felt himself sinking into a
Slumber as the old man spoke and had
confused view of those who had gath
cred about him trooping out of the
room. When he awoke or when he