The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-30
Thanksgiving Diary of I779

i The following is an extract from
an old diary, describing a Thanks
giving dinner in New England in
This year it was Uncle Simeon's
! turn to have the dinner at his house,
but of course we all helped them as
/ they help us when it is our turn, &
t there is always enough for us all TO
do. All the baking of pies & cakes
was done at our house & we had the
! day for three days before it was all
done. & every hing WAS GOOD,
: though we did have to do without
| some things that ought to be used
! Raisins, but GU good re- Cherries
dried without the pits. did almost as
well & happily Uncle Simeon still had
some spices in store. TIE tables were
set in the Dining Hall and even that
| big room had no space to spare when
We were all seated. There were our
two Grandmothers side by side They
are always handsome old Ladies, but
now, many thought, they were hand
somer than ever, & happy they were
to look around upon SO many of their
descendants. Uncle & Aunt Simeon
presided at one table, & Father &
Mother at the other. Besides the
Relatives, there were six of the Liv
ingston family next door. Then there
were four Old Ladies' who have no
longer Home CT Children of their own
by my mother. but Uncle and Aunt
Simeon wished it so.
"Of course we could have no Roast
Beef None Of US have tasted Beef
this three years back as it must all
go to the Army, & too little they get,
poor fellows. But Nayquittymaw's
Hunters were able to get US a fine
red deer, SO that we had a good
Then there was on one a big Roast
Turkey & on the other a Goose &
two big Pigeon Pasties, These were
balanced by huge Chimes of Roast |
Pork at the other ends of the Tables. |
Then there was an abundance of good |
Vegetables of all the old Sorts & one
which 1 do not believe you have yet |
seen. Uncle Simeon had imp the |
Seede from England just before the
War began & and only this year was
there enough for table use. 1t is
called Sellery & you eat it without
cooking. 1t is very good served with /
meats. Next year Uncle Simeon says
he Will be able to raise enough to give
US all some. 1t has to be taken up,
roots & all & buried in earth in the
cellar through the winter.
"Ouh Mince Pies were good although |
we had to use dried Cherries as Rails
ms, & the meat was shoulder of VENTS
son, instead of Beef. The Pumpkin
Pies, Apple Tarts & big Indian Pud-
dings lacked for nothing save Appe-
lite by the time we got around to
them
'Of course We had no Wine. Uncle
Simeon has still a cask or two, but it
must all be saved for the sick, &
indeed, for those who are well, good
Cider is a sufficient Substitute. There
was no Plumb Pudding, but a boiled
suet Pudding, stirred thick with dried
Plumbs & Cherries, was called by the
old Name & answered the purpose
All the other spice had been used in
the Mince Pies, so for this Pudding
we used jar of West India preserved
Ginger which CHANGED to be left of
he last shipment which Uncle Simeon
had from there, We chopped the Gin
ger small and stirred it through with
the Plun-bs and Cherries. 1t was
good. The Day was !.
bitter cold & when we got home from !
Meeting, which Father did not keep 4
over long by reason of the cold, we
we're glad emo of the fire in Uncle's
Dining Hall, but by the time the din
Ter was one-half over, those of US
Who were IN the fire side of one Table
vas forced to get up and carry our
# the other Table, while those who
heir plates around to the fire side
Who had a screen put behind their
hair.
Uncle Simeon was in his best
mood. and you know how good that
s. He kept b tn Tables in a roar of
aughter with his droll stories of the
avs when he was studying medicine
n Marlborough and afterwards he &
'ather & Uncle Paul Joined in sing