Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-11-23
I The Spirit Of
THANKSGIVING
AM

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 recitels were always revela-
lions Of character. The small children
Of the family mentioned some material
thing, a 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
position--a bit self-centered, perhaps,
as Is wont with youth In its teens.
But mother and father, In their ma
turity 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
such touch Of spiritual introspectlon.
1t keeps alive that family spirit, the
Joy Of an assembled family, the partic-
ular source of Thanksgiving to each
member. along with the joy OF the old
fashioned dinner.
old-Time Thanksgiving.
A quaint account Of a THANKSGIVING
dinner back in 1779, is given In a let
ter of one Jullanna Smith, written to
her dear Dear Cousin Betsey," found
In an old diary:
."This year 1t was Uncle Slmeon's
turn to have the dinner at his house,
but Of course we all helped them as
they help us when 1t is our turn, and
there Is always enough for US all to do.
done at our house, and we had the big
oven heated and filled 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 Raisins, 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
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 Grandmothers, side by
side. They are always handsome old
ladies, but now, many thought, they
were hands0mer than ever, and happy
they were to look upon so many OF
their descendants.
The Crown Of the Feast.
Ether was no Plum Pudding, but a
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 CHANGED to be
left of the last shipment which Uncle
Simeon had from there. We chopped
the Ginger small and stirred it through
with the Plums and Cherries. 1t 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 fire in Uncle's Dining
Hall, but by the time the dinner was
one-balf over those Of us who were on
the fire side of one table was forced to
get up and carry our plates around to
the far side Of the other table, while
those who had sat there were glad to
bring their plates around to the fire
side to get warm. All but the Old
Ladies' who had screen put zehind
their chairs"