St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1922-11-24
T ,T;[be:Spi',it Of
Thanksgiving
MAk .

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
nhle. each member was asked to tell
for what, In the past year. he was par
ticularly thankful.
These recitals were always rsyela-
lions OF character. The small children
Of the family mentioned some material
thing, sled or a doll. for which they
were grateful.
The older children, those In their
teons, we're more abstract. They were
thankful for the advantages Of educa.
tion, OF family prestige. or their social
poaltion--a BIT self-centered. perhaps,
as Is wont with youth In It's 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
moss always included word OF thanks
giving that the family had been spared
illness and poverty. No thought FOE
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.
Il keeps alive that amily spirit. tho
joy Of nm assembled family. the partic-
ular source OF Thanksgiving TO each
member. along with the Joy Of tho old.
fashioned dinner.
old.Tlme Thanksgiving.
A quaint account OF Thanksgiving
dinner hack In i7T9, 10 given In q let
ter Of ono Julianna Smith, written 10
her dear Dear Cousin Betsey." found
In an old diary:
This year II was Uncle Simeon'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 10 do
All the baking OF pies aud cakes was
done at our house, and we had the big
oven heated and oiled twice each day
for three days before Il was all done.
and everything was good. though we
did have to do without some things
that ought 10 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 10 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 Grandmothsrs, side by
side. They are always handsome old
ladies. but now, many thought, they
we're 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. 10 for this Pud-
ding we used jar of West India pre-
served Ginger, which ehsneed 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. II 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 fre In Uncls's Dining
Hall, but By the time the dinner was
one-half over, those Of US who we're on
the fre side OF one table was forced TO
get mp and carry our plates around 70
the far side OF the other table. while
those who had sat there were glad 10
bring their plates around 10 the nre
side TO get warm All but the Old
Ladies. who had a screen put zehind
their chairs"