The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1922-11-30
I T[beSpir,it of
Thanksgiving
MAN

As we read Of old time Thanksgiv-
Ing customs, we realize that the
world has been travelling fast since
then-away from the simple and the
spiritual.
One Of the customs particularly, was
quaint.
AFTER the Thanksgiving dinner, while
the family was stiil seated around the
table, each member was asked to toll
for what. In the past year. he was par
ticularly thankful.
These recitals were always rovela-
lions Of character. The amall children
OF the family mentioned some material
thing. q sled or a doll, for which they
were grateful.
The older children, those In their
teens, were more abstract. They were
thankful for the advantages Of sduca-
ton. Of family prestige, or their social
position--a bit solf-csntered, perhaps,
an 10 won't with youth In its teens.
But mother and father. In their ma
turity Of years, know that the greatest
blessings OF life were health and hap
pinsss. and their recitals Of thankful
ness always included q word Of thanks
giving that the family had been spared
ilness and poverty. No thought for
themselves. but thankful Of sons sue
cess In school. and daughters improve
ment in controlling her temper.
The spirit Of the day calls for Just
such touch Of spiritual introspection.
II keeps alive that family spirit, the
joy Of an assembled family, the partic-
ular source Of Thanksgiving to each
member, along with the Joy q the old
fashioned dinner.
oid-Time Thanksgiving
A quaint account Of q Thanksgiving
dinner back In ITO, IL given In a let
Ter Of one Julianna Smith, written to
her dear Dear Cousin Detsey," found
In an old diary:
~This year Il was Uncle Slmeon's
turn u have the dinner at his house,
but Of course we all helped them as
they help ~ when II 10 our turn, and
there IL always enough for Ne all to do.
All the baking Of pies aud cakes was
done at our house. and we had the big
oven heated and filed twice each day
for three days before II was all done,
and everything was good. though we
did have 10 do without some things
that ought to be used. Neither Love
nor Money could buy Raisins, but our
good red cherries dried without the
pitse, did almost al well, and happily
Uncle Simeon still had some spices in
store. The tables were set In the Din
ing Hail. and even that big room had
no space to spare when we were all
seated. The Servants had enough ado
to get around the Tables and serve US
all without overseeing things. There
were our two 0randnotbers, side By
side They ara always handsome old
ladies', but now, many thought they
were handsomer than ever, and happy
they were to look upon so many of
their descendants.
The Crown Of the Feast.
''Ther was no Plum Pudding, but q
boiled suet Pudding. stirred thick with
dried Plums and Cherries, was called
by the old Name and answered the pur-
pose. All the other spice had been
used In the Mince Pie. so for this Pud-
ding We used . Jar Of West India pre-
served Ginger, which Glanced to be
left Of the last shipment which Uncle
Simeon had from there We chopped
the Ginger small and stirred II through
with the Plums and Cherries. Il was
extraordinary good The day was BIT
ter cold and when we got home from
Meeting, which father did not keep
over long BY reason Of the cold. we
were glad Of the Are in Uncle's Dining
Hall, but By the time the dinner was
one-half ever. those Of Us who were on
the are side Of one table was forced 10
get up and carry eur plates around to
the far side Of Tie other table. while
those who had sat there were glad TO
blinC their plates around to the nre
side " get warm All but tho Old
Ladies, who had a screen put Eehind
their chairs"