Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-11-17
T Spirit Of
THANKSGIVING
If ~ :

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 still seated around the
table, each member was asked to tell
for what, In the past year, he was par
ticularly thankful.
These recitals were always revela-
lions Of character. The small children
Of the family mentioned some material
thing, sled or doll, for which they
were grateful.
The older children, those In their
teens, were more abstract. They were
thankful for the advantages of educa-
ton, Of family prestige, or their social
positlon-a bit self-centered, perhaps,
as Is wont with youth in its teens.
But mother and father, In their ma
turlty of years. knew that the greatest
blessings OF life were health and hap
piness, and their recitals of thankful
ness always included word of thanks
giving that the family had been spared
illness 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
snnh a tnnph nf nj, int
1t keeps alive that family spirit. the
Joy OF an assembled family, the partlc-
ular source of Thanksgiving to each
member, along with the Joy Of the old
fashioned dinner.
old-Tlme Thanksgiving.
A quaint account of q Thanksgiving
dinner back in 1910, Is given In let
ter Of one Julianna Smith, written to
her dear Dear Cousin Betsey," found
In an old diary:
This year II was Uncle Slmeon's
turn to have the dinner at his house,
but Of course we all helped them as
they help US when IL is our turn, and
there Is always enough for us all to do
All the baking Of pies and cakes was
done at our house, and we had the big
oven heated and filed twice each day
for three days before 1t was all done
and everything was good, though we
did have to do without some things
that ought to be used. Neither Love
nor Money could buy Ralsins, but our
good red cherries dried without the
| pitse, did almost as well. and happily
Uncle Simeon still had some spices In
store. The tables were set In the Din
Ing Hall, and even that big room had
10 space to spare when we were al
seated. The Servants had enough ado
TO get around the Tables and serve US
all without overseeing things There
were our two Grandmothers side by
side. They are always handsome OLE
ladies', but now, many thought, they
were handsomer than ever, and happy
they were to look upon so many o.
their descendants.
The Crown Of the Feast.
"Ther was no Plum Pudding, but {
boiled Suet Pudding, stirred thick will
dried Plums and Cherries. was called
ny tic Olu ANulnc ullu ullbNtItu the IJuI
pose. All the other spice had beer
Gsed in the Mince Pie, so for this Pud
ding we used jar Of West India pre-
jsrved Ginger, which Glanced to b,
left of the last shipment which Uncle
Simeon had from there. We choppe,
he Ginger small and stirred II through
with the Plums and Cherries 1t wa
extraordinary good. The day was bit
Ter cold and when we got home iron
Meeting, which father did not keel
over long by reason OF the cold. W
were glad OF the fire in Uncle's Dlnin
Hall, but by the time the dinner wa
One-half over, those of us who were o.
the fire side OF one table was forced t
get up and carry our plates around I
tina far side OF the other table, Will
.hoSe who had sat there were glad t
oring their plates around 10 the fir
iiGe to get warm. All but the OIL
Ladies', who had screen put Lehin'
heir chairs"