mm — IP'?— WZT^f^? ERNEK Readings and Recitation Mini tlmi ■■■■.in ttrmmfirini H i i i Hmiur r, i rnri i n i, ..... . in , iWKIIi KiJ mi ' ."(i mj]amjM«Mi i» rfr » nt i ji>i im i w nut nmtmmmammmmmmtiaimmnm mm II1IMMIMIHUI HIT [iifiitnmi 1 1 ±1 Q08-S Library of the University of North Carolina Endowed by the Dialectic -ajjd Philan- EXTENSION DIVISION ta A SE :■■ NOV Of 'T, I Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill http://archive.org/details/thanksgivingcele40sche WERNER'S Readings and Recitations No. 40 ©fyattkfijgtirittg (Uetebratuma COMPILED AND ARRANGED BY STANLEY SCHELL NEW YORK EDGAR S. WERNER & CO Copyright, iqo-j, by Edgar S. Werner Contents Around Thanksgiving Time Autumn of 1622 (historical exercise) Birth of Our Thanksgiving Day Blue Beard, Story of Brownie March and Song Child's Thanksgiving. Kate Whiting Patch Country Thanksgiving ...... Dumb-Bell Drill Elder Snifnes's Thanksgiving Dinner. Frances M.Whitcher Farmer John's Thanksgiving. Isaac F. Eaton . Feast Time of the Year (quotations). Dora Reed Goodale First Thanksgiving (poem) First Thanksgiving (monologue). Pauline A. Bristow First Thanksgiving Day ...... Five Kernels of Corn. Hezekiah Butterworth . For the Jolly Jack-'o-Lanterns (song) .... Fox, Rabbit and Turkey Illustration .... Freedom's Thanksgiving Day. T. C. Harbaugh Give Thanks. Doane Robinson . . . God Bless Our Native Land (song) .... Gossip of the Nuts Heigh Ho ! for Thanksgiving (song) . . His Riches. Lillian Gray ...... His Thanksgiving Dream. Agnes M. Smith Home for Thanksgiving. Jean Murdock . Ichabod Crane at Heer Van Tassel's Dinner Party. Washington Irving ...... I'll Be at Home Thanksgiving. Lu B. Cake In Football Times. Kathleen Carman Ingin Summer. Eva Wilder McGlasson John White's Thanksgiving 3 CONTENTS Joseph's Story (entertainment). J. G. Holland Kitty's Thanksgiving. Mabel Packard Landing of the Pilgrims (song) . Little Pilgrim ...... Little Turkey Gobbler " Makin' Things a-Purpose to Be Et." George R. Horton "MakhV Things a-Purpose to Be Et"— directions for reciting. Mae R. Perkins Making Jack-o'-Lanterns (action poem) Mayflower (acrostic) Miner's Thanksgiving ..... My Thanksgiving. Arthur Goodenough . " My Tumick's Got a Pain " Neddie's Thanksgiving Visit Night Before Thanksgiving. Eva Lovett Carson Once More We Hail Thee (song) Pessimistic Gratitude Pie Song (song) President's Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1900 Pumpkin. John G. Whittier Pumpkin-Pie Pumpkin-Pie (acrostic) Pumpkin-Pie Makers (entertainment) . Reasons for Thanks. Walter J. Ballard Scripture Readings ..... Signs of the Times. Paul Laurence Dunbar Spellers (entertainment) Story of a Seed (entertainment) . Story of the Pilgrims (poetry) Story of the Pilgrims (prose) Tanksgibbin Turkey. Jean Havez Thank the Creator, Not the Created . Thankful for What ? Frances Meacham . Thankful Frog and Unthankful Cat . Thanksgivin'. Bud Smith .... Thanksgiving (music) ..... CONTENTS Thanksgiving. Edwin Markham Thanksgiving. Amelia E. Barr ..... Thanksgiving (anon) ....... Thanksgiving. Harry Romaine . . . Thanksgiving (acrostic). Susan M. Best . Thanksgiving at the Farm Thanksgiving Chicken Thanksgiving Day. George L. Raymond . . Thanksgiving Day (acrostic) . . Thanksgiving Day Is Here Once More (song) . Thanksgiving Dinner. Lesbia Bryant Thanksgiving Entertainment Program for Primary Grades Stanley Schell . . . . . Thanksgiving for Harvest (song) .... Thanksgiving Gourmand Thanksgiving Hymn (song) ..... Thanksgiving in Old Virginia. John P. Bocock Thanksgiving in the Gold Diggings. Ellis Proctor . Thanksgiving Legend. Gilbert Nash Thanksgiving Lesson. Eva Lyle Dickinson Thanksgiving Magician Thanksgiving on Herring Hill. Julia M. Tenney Thanksgiving : Past and Present (entertainment) Thanksgiving Philosophy Thanksgiving Program (entertainment). Harriet C. Water house ........ Thanksgiving Ride of the Pumpkins. Ella M. Powers Thanksgiving Sermon ....... Thanksgiving Song (song) ...... Thanksgiving Song for Little Folks. Wm. Howard Mont gomery ........ Thanksgiving Story ....... Thanksgiving, Then and Now (play 2 m, 2 f). M. Alfredda Shirley . Thanksgiving Toasts . . . . . . 181 192 Thanksgiving Turkey (song) 28, 29 CONTENTS Thanksgiving Wooing. Minna Irving Three Little Cooks (entertainment) Three Maids of a Housekeeping Turn (action song) Tit for Tat. Laura F. Armitage Tommybob's Thanksgiving Vision. Anna M. Pratt Tommy's Dinner. George Cooper Tommy's Thanksgiving. Elizabeth H. Thomas Turkey of Life. Wilbur Duntley What Each Is Thankful For (dialogue) What Makes Thanksgiving Day ? (song) When Johnny Comes Marching Home (song) Where the Mince-Pie Grows Why ? (poem) ....... Witch's Daughter. John G. Whittier Witch's Daughter — directions for pantomiming . Page • 173 . 86 . . 83 . 161 . 109 • 179 • 93 • ■"• ,163 . 91 . 80 • 74 . 119 • 9i . 50 . . 56 (Authors Page Armitage, Laura F 161 Ballard, Walter J 130 Barr, Amelia E. 147 Best, Susan M. 191 Bocock, John P. . '185 Bryant, Lesbia . 120 Bristow, Pauline A 99 Butterworth, Hezekiah ill Cake, Lu. B 141 Carman, Kathleen 44 Carson, Eva Lovett 171 Cooper, George 179 Dickinson, Eva Lyle 133 Dunbar, Paul Laurence • . .169 Duntley, Wilbur 163 Eaton, Isaac F. 154 Goodale, Dora Reed 88 Goodenough, Arthur 103 Grey, Lillian 176 Harbaugh, T. C. 156 Havez, Jean 167 Holland, J. G 36 Horton, George R .186 Irving, Minna 173 Irving, Washington 48 McGlasson, Eva Wilder 144 Markham, Edwin 166 Meacham, Frances . . 92 Montgomery, Wm. Howard 184 Murdock, Jean . . . 122 Nash, Gilbert 128 7 A UTHORS Packard, Mabel . Patch, Kate Whiting Perkins, Mae R. Powers, Ella M. Pratt, Anna M. Proctor, Ellis Raymond, George L. Robinson, Doane Romaine, Harry Schell, Stanley . Shirley, M. Alfredda Smith, Agnes M. Smith, Bud Tenney, Julia M. Thomas, Elizabeth H Waterhouse, Harriet Whitcher, Frances ivl Whittier, John G. c. Page 94 ; . 163 . 186 . us 109 106 . 135 . . . 178 124 73 . 181 , 132 .,.',"■ 90 112 . .- 93 ..'.,..* 35 .,' " • 150 . 22, 50 PARTI. Thanksgiving Entertainment feome fcae meat, anb canna eat, Qriii £>ome toab eat tfjat toant ft; Jlut toe fjae meat, anb toe can eat, &nb aae tfje Horb be tfjanmt." — Burns, Program PART L Page I.— HYMN: "God Bless Our Native Land" 11 II.— RECITATION: "Birth of Our Thanksgiving Day" . . 12 III.— SCRIPTURE READING 12 IV.— ESSAY: "Story of the Pilgrims" . . . . . . 13 V.— CHORUS: "Landing of the Pilgrims" 14 VI.— RECITATION: "The Little Pilgrim" 14 VII.— RECITATION: "The First Thanksgiving Day" . . 17 VIII.— PRESIDENT'S THANKSGIVING PROCLAMATION 19 IX.— CHORUS : " Heigh Ho ! For Thanksgiving Day ! " . . 19 X.— RECITATION: "Thanksgiving Philosophy" ... 21 XL— RECITATION: "The Pumpkin" 22 XIL— CHORUS: "The Pie Song" 23 XIIL— ENTERTAINMENT: "The Pumpkin-Pie Makers" . . 23 XIV.— CHORUS: "The Thanksgiving Turkey" .... 28 XV.— RECITATION AND SONG: "The Spellers" ... 31 10 PART L Thanksgiving Entertainment BY STANLEY SCHELL Decorations : Fruits and flowers of autumn ; relics and pic- tures of Colonial days and times. I. — Hymn : " God Bless Our Native Land." By the School. God Bless Our Native Land f-* ^hr-i r- i -■ -i ! J H— I s 1 " L v 4 -J J « :=1 d * - 8 — S s — «-r- ■i ' ^ m 1 XS\J <+ -. -, ^ ■ d •• ■; * m f 1 God bless For her our na - our pray'r tive land! shall rise, Firm may she To God a - ev - bove 1 er stand, the skies; /V\.# <1 | lW.»fi i p J II* J . • *»- * CS> V 1 | * 1 * w ■ 1 1 1 * 1 1 V ' =*=* tS- 5 -- Through storm and night When the wild temp - ests rave, Ru - ler of On him we wait, Thou who art ev - er nigh, Guarding with ea £ =t I i :♦*: II: -d-J- -— Tj wind and wave, Do thou our coun - try save, By thy great might, watch -ful eye, To thee a- loud we cry, God save our state. IS ^^=F m m -m ' S ^ 1 11 12 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS II. — Recitation : " Birth of Our Thanksgiving Day. Birth of Our Thanksgiving Day November has come with its festival day, The sweetest home-feast of the year, When the little ones mingle in frolic and play, And share in the Thanksgiving cheer. And let us remember that tale of the past, Of the Pilgrims who gathered their band, And offered up thanks for the corn, when at last It waved o'er the famishing land. For hunger had wasted those strong, patient men, Who struggled and labored in pain, And the blessing of plenty which gladdened them then Gave courage and hope once again. And the fame of their bravery never decays, While year after year rolls away, Since the morning that ushered in prayer and in praise The birth of our Thanksgiving day. III.— Scripture Reading. Scripture Reading [From the Bible] "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good ; for his mercy endureth forever. " Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath re- deemed from the hand of the enemy." "And gathered them out of the lands from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south." THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 13 "They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way: they found no city to dwell in." " Hungry and thirsty their soul fainted in them." " Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he de- livered them out of their distresses." " And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation." " He turned rivers into a wilderness, and water springs into dry ground; and there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city of habitation; and sow the fields and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits c ': increase." " For the kingdom is the Lord's ; and he is governor among nations." " A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation ; I, the Lord, will hasten it in his time." " Fear not, O Lord ; be glad and rejoice ; for the Lord will do great things." u- IV. — Essay : " Story of the Pilgrims." Story of the Pilgrims During the seventeenth century there was a great deal of re- ligious persecution in England. Among those who suffered were the Puritans who, although members of the Church of England, disliked some of its forms and ceremonies and tried to make a change in them. The name "Puritans" was given to them because they sought to lead more godly lives than those from whom they differed. On account of the persecutions, many of the Puritans settled in Holland ; but only for a short time ; a number of them returned to Plymouth, England, from which port 102 men, women and chil- dren set sail for America in the ship Mayflower. It was late in au :umn when they started, and when they sighted the bleak shores of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where they landed, it was December 21, 1620. The Pilgrims, as they were 14 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS now called because of their wanderings, were sturdy, resolute people, willing to face any danger for the sake of what they be- lieved to be their duty. After ten months of sickness and suffering the Pilgrim Fath- ers gathered in their first harvest consisting of twenty acres of corn, and six of barley and peas, enough to keep them supplied with food for the coming year. For this they devoutly thanked God and made preparations for a feast. Hunters were sent out to procure the Thanksgiving dinner and returned with water-fowl, wild turkey and venison. Then the feast was made ready. Massa- soit, the Indian chief, and ninety of his warriors were present. During the following year there was such a long drought that the corn and barley were stunted, and famine seemed to stare the Pilgrims in the face. A day of fasting and prayer was appointed and kept, at the evening of which the sun set in clouds and a breeze sprang up. In the morning the rain was pouring down. The crops revived and yielded a bounteous harvest. For this a day of thanksgiving was ordered by Governor Bradford. During the Revolution a day of national thanksgiving was an- nually recommended by Congress. After the Constitution was adopted, Washington appointed such a day. He also issued a sec- ond thanksgiving proclamation in 1795. President Madison recom- mended thanksgiving for peace in April, 181 5. But the official recommendation of Thanksgiving day was mainly confined to New England. The governor of New York recommended its adoption in 1817. In 1858 thanksgiving proclamations were issued by the governors of eight of the Southern states. In 1863, Lincoln made a proclamation for national observance, and since then a proclama- tion has been issued every year, the last Thursday in November being set aside as Thanksgiving. V. — Chorus: "Landing of the Pilgrims." (See page 15.) VI.— Recitation : " The Little Pilgrim." (See page 16.) THANKSGIVING CELEBRA TIONS 15 Landing of the Pilgrims 1.' The break • ing waves dash'd high On a stern and rock-bound coast, the conqueror comes, They the true • heart '-. ed ' came; -^r 3. 'A - raid the Btorm they -> sang," 4. Whatsought they thus , \;a - j far?. The stars heard And the sea! Bright jew - els ~" of; the mine? Tho Not. woods with a - gainst a the roll of storm - y ~ sky Their fgf • ant ' branch'- ei stir'- ring drums, Or, trump, that- sings -of | tossed ;> faiae. JL ^ -4- =dr- I The r ' sound - ing aisles' of . Tho . wealth of seas, ~ the --3T fwood - land'rang With' an - thenis of ./'the; /free, spoils of war? They sought a ,- faith's pure shrine K -m ■ >f — ■ m- ^m 'mm KolJf- -*-*-tr^^£ — g— '— »- g+g — * — ^- FS^R— •■=% — g- w -r _ r — -. (Tho heav -. y night hung dark, j Nor l»s s the js fly ■ » ing - come, ZJ 5 B^ The . In hills,' -and | \va -' ters o'er, ,si.-., lence and' MMj.Jfosr.' 251P ■ The T /o- cean ea ■' - , glo soared' ^O'er ' roll- ing wave's white foam, /Ay,- call it ho - ly ground, ,The soil where first they trod; z4=p ^^ ^m -*= -A ==r*tz:^ -J== I When a band' :of"~"ex -"^iles moor'd their bark On wild ' New Ecg- larjd'a'fbeffc They ( ' j shook ^ tho depths of' des - ert's gloom With hymns of j lof - ty cheer m 3-^t z^r-ri * y-zt r^ iThe rock--, ing pines y,. in for", est- roar'd.To bid /They' ''left unstained what there - they found, Free -dons thetawel -come home, to nor- ship Gosi. 16 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS The Little Pilgrim It was a gloomy April day ; The Mayflower still at Plymouth lay, I To-morrow she would sail away. Brave Richie More, with grave Trevore, Stood in the freshening gale, " The Mayflower trims her sails to-day, To-morrow she will sail." The sailor said, " Come you with me, My little orphan boy," said he, " And back to England go ! " The storms have left the ocean clear, And shines the April sun; And dead lie half the Pilgrims here, Ere half the year is done. Come you with me, come follow me, My little orphan boy," said he, " And back to England go ! " Yonder your brother Jasper sleeps, The long green hill below ; Your sister too was laid beneath The mayflowers in the snow. Come you with me, come follow me, My little orphan boy," said he, " And back to England go ! " " O dear Trevore," brave Richie said, " The Pilgrims met to-day, To see who had the faith to stay And who would sail away. They saw the flag rise o'er the sea, But none would yield up liberty, Arid back to England go! THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 17 " And lovely Mary Allerton The backhouse door passed by, '- I'll, too, be true,' said she to me, And so to her, said I, 'We little Pilgrims would be free,' And so I can not follow thee, , And back to England go ! " The* Mayflower o'er the April tide Upraised her wings of snow ; The Pilgrims watched her from the graves Of those they loved ; and low, Sweet Mary Allerton, said she To Richie More, beside the sea, " We'll not to England go ! " The little Pilgrims stayed and made For us a nation free ; And all we children are to-day As true to liberty As those by Plymouth rock, who stood And saw the Mayflower sail and would Not back to England go ! VII. — Recitation : " The First Thanksgiving Day." The First Thanksgiving Day " There was great store of wilde turkies of which they took many beside venison. The fowlers had been sent out by the Gov- ernor that so they might — after a special manner — rejoice together after they had gathered the fruits of their labors." — Palfrey's " History of Nezv England." In Puritan New England a year had passed away, Since first beside the Plymouth coast the English Mayflower lay, When Bradford, the good Governor, sent fowlers forth to snare The turkey and. the wild fowl, to increase the scanty fare: — 18 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS " Our husbandry hath prospered, there is corn enough for food, Though ' the pease be parched in blossom, and the grain indifferent good.' Who blessed the loaves and fishes for the feast miraculous And filled with oil the widow's cruse, He hath remembered us ! ' Give thanks unto the Lord of Hosts, by whom we all are fed, Who granted us our daily prayer, - Give us our daily bread ! ' By us and by our children let this day be kept for aye, In memory of his bounty, as the land's Thanksgiving Day." Each brought his share of Indian meal the pious feast to make, With the fat deer from the forest and the wild-fowl from the brake. And chanted hymn and prayer were raised — though eyes with tears were dim — " The Lord He hath remembered us, let us remember Him ! " Then Bradford stood up at their head and lifted up his voice : i( The corn is gathered from the field, I call you to rejoice ; Thank God for all His mercies, from the greatest to the least ; Together have we fasted, friends, together let us feast. " The Lord who led forth Israel was with us in the waste; Sometime in light, sometime in cloud, before us he hath paced; Now give Him thanks, and pray to Him who holds us in His hand To prosper us and make of this a strong and mighty land !" From Plymouth to the Golden Gate, to-day their children tread, The mercies of that bounteous Hand upon the land are shed ; The " flocks are on a thousand hills," the prairies wave with grain, The cities spring like mushrooms now where once was desert- plain. Heap high the board with plenteous cheer and gather to the feast, And toast that sturdy Pilgrim band whose courage never ceased. Give praise to that All-Gracious One by whom their steps were led, And thanks unto the harvest's Lord who sends our " daily bread." THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 19 VIII. — President's Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1900. President's Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1900 " It has pleased Almighty God to bring our nation in safety and honor through another year. The works of religion and char- ity have everywhere been manifest. Our country through all its extent has been blessed with abundant harvests. Labor and the great industries of the people have prospered beyond all precedent. Our commerce has spread over the world. Our power and influ- ence in the cause of freedom and enlightenment have extended over distant seas and lands. The lives of our official representa- tives and many of our people in China have been marvelously pre- served. We have been generally exempt from pestilence and other great calamities, and even the tragic visitation which overwhelmed the city of Galveston made evident the sentiments of sympathy and Christian charity by virtue of which we are one united people. " Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart Thursday, the 29th of November next, to be observed by all the people of the United States, at home and abroad, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Him who holds the nations in tKe hollow of His hand. I recom- mend that they gather in their several places of worship and de- voutly give Him thanks for the prosperity with which He has en- dowed us, for seed-time and harvest, for the valor, devotion and humanity of our armies and navies, and for all His benefits to us as individuals and as a nation, and that they humbly pray for the continuance of His divine favor, for concord and amity with other nations, and for righteousness and peace in all our ways. " In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. " Done at the City of Washington this 29th day of October in the year of Our Lord one thousand and nine hundred, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty- fifth." IX. — Chorus : " Heigh Ho ! For Thanksgiving Day" 20 THANKSGIVING CELEBRA TIONS Heigh Ho! For Thanksgiving Day f (!«n brio. sE3EngrSt -* — *— *— * — *- -&-*=V — *>. — ■* — n- P Then we'll all sing a song for Thanksgiving Day, Heigh ho! heigh ho ! for Thanksgiving Day. 3B3 *-£=£: =t -*-r §^ S3 -• — i ^-^ :s=ii=:p: irt a, — y- r=*c r-f-J y 4 m — -A Pv N- ■» * » For the tur-key so fine, and the pudding so gay, And the pumpkin pies that are I ? — *- r=a=T : -i— » — 3 :« * i ^^~j o # , — « — i P& S=t -y — h JF^ Pig found alway, When we eel - e - brate this glorious day, Heigh ho! for Thanksgiving jol-ly. Then we'll manage the tur-key 0? /Andjggll manage the pudding SUP =*=* $=« E^S THANKSGIVING CELEBRA TIONS 21 rjHr-p r-i I s 1 df- h r— — ^4— — *- £— !? -' f — • — * — — — *— \ so, 1 And 1 ^ ! y. then we'll take — V — care — v — of 1 the 2^Efi=j= =£ — *— * — «— -. n 1 — 4 — « — X ) | — *— -•- I m «Ht 1 — e — 1 — n — — •-- — -*- /*v h r» <• gy- 8 i ■ — i — 1 — P 1 1 1 — — i i f « j V — ^— U 1 1 — _ 1 — • V -*- pump - kin pies! Heigh ho! ho! ho! ho! Heigh ho! K dt 1 1 ■^t- 1 -^ X. — Recitation : " Thanksgiving Philosophy, Thanksgiving Philosophy "Hiss ! Hiss !" said the Goose, " they've taken us three To fatten for Christmas — such songsters as we ! I'll be tough as a goose ! It's a sin and a shame ! Be wise, Mister Turkey, and you'll do the same. " Hiss ! " said the Goose, " I call it abuse ! " " Quack ! " said the Duck, " I call it good luck, 22 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Just think of the dainties they give us to eat, Such apple-cores, squash-seeds, and gristles of meat ! Let's be off for a lunch ; see how fast I can hobble." But the Turkey only answered with a . " Gobble ! gobble ! gobble ! " " Hiss ! Hiss ! " said the Goose, " 'tis a sad want of luck ! You don't know a thing ; you're a goose of a duck ! A regular quack — you haven't any brains; You don't know enough to go in when it rains." " Quack ! " said the Duck, " 'Tis a world of good luck ! " '' Hiss ! " said the Goose, te 'Tis a world of abuse ! " " Quack ! Quack ! " said the Duck, " what a great goose you are.'' " Hiss ! " shrilled the Goose, till you heard her afar. " Hiss ! Mister Turkey, the world is full of trouble." But the Turkey only answered with a "Gobble! gobble! gobble!" XI. — Recitation : " The Pumpkin." The Pumpkin Oh ! greenly and fair in the land of the sun, The vines of the gourd and the rich melon run, And the rock and the tree and the cottage enfold With broad leaves all greenness, and blossoms all gold, Like that which o'er Nineveh's prophet once grew, While he waited to know that his warning was true, And longed for the storm cloud, and listened in vain For the rush of the whirlwind and red fire of rain. On the banks of the Xenil the dark Spanish maiden Comes up with the fruit of the tangled vine laden; And the Creole of Cuba laughs out to behold THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 23 Through orange leaves shining the broad spheres of gold ; Yet with dearer delight from his home from the north, On the fields of his harvest the Yankee looks forth, Where crook-necks are circling and yellow fruit shines, And the sun of September melts down on his vines. Ah ! on Thanksgiving Day, when from East and from West, From North and from South, came the Pilgrim and guest, When the gray-haired New Englander sees round his board The old broken links of affection restored, When the care-wearied man seeks his mother once more, And the worn mother smiles where the girl smiled before — What moistens the lip and what brightens the eye? What calls back the past like the rich pumpkin-pie? Oh, fruit loved by boyhood ! the old days recalling, When wood grapes were purpling and brown nuts were falling, When wild, ugly faces we carved in its skin, Glared out through the dark with a candle within, When we laughed round the corn heap with hearts all in tune, Our chair a broad pumpkin, our lantern the moon, Telling tales of the fairy who traveled like steam, In a pumpkin-shell coach with two rats for her team. Then thanks for the present ! none sweeter or better E'er smoked from an oven or circled a platter! Fairer hands never wrought at pastry more fine ; Brighter eyes never watched o'er its baking than thine; And the prayer which my mouth is too full to express, Swells my heart that thy shadow may never grow less, That the days of thy lot may be lengthened below, And the fame of thy worth like the pumpkin-vine grow, And thy life be as sweet, and its last sunset sky Golden-tinted and fair, as thy own pumpkin-pie! XII. — Chorus : " The Pie Song." By Six Small Boys. (See page 25.) XIIL — Entertainment : " The Pumpkin-Pie Makers." 24 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS The Pumpkin-Pie Makers Characters : Goddess of the Pumpkin-Pie. Spice Boys. Ten Little Maids. Feour Maidens. Pumpkin Runner Boys. Little Milkmen. Egg Maidens. Sugar Maidens. Costumes : Goddess in pumpkin colored cheese cloth, cap of same ma- terial, having gilt paper star in front. A wand covered with gilt paper in her hand. Ten Little Maids in short-waisted white cheese cloth gowns; hair waved and flowing. Pumpkin Runner Boys with snow shoes, black suits, big yellow wigs, and yellow ties. Egg Maidens wear white suits, trimmed with egg yellow cheese cloth, slippers and sashes of same color. Spice Boys wear brown suits and mottled ties. Feour Maidens wear black dresses covered with flour dust. Little Milkmen wear blue overalls and calico shirts, no collars. Sugar Maidens wear cream gowns and pink sashes. Directions : All the little maidens should trip in lightly and gracefully. The boys come gliding in or come in making a noise. Scenl : As curtain rises Goddess op the Pumpkin-Pie is seen at stage L. C, seated on throne. From stage R. enter Ten Little Maids, who trip across the stage and bow low to Goddess, then face audience. Ten Little Maids [sing] : Ten little maids from school are we, Joyous and happy and full of glee; Home for vacation, and glad to see. The Goddess of Pumpkin-Pie. [Ten Little Maids face Goddess.] Goddess. Who can eat a pumpkin-pie? (Continued on page 26.) THANKSGIVING CELEBRA TIONS 25 fc The Pie Song ■ft N f * ^£ 5 & J— -0 — =r d s* • -£— N- ■W s=^ Big pies, lit-tle pies, thick and thin, Baked in a plate either Chicken pie, cherry pie, cream pie too, Lemon pie . . black - berry, One piece, two pieces, three or four; Never had enough, always Gooseberry, raspberry, sour and sweet; Cran - ber-ry, ap - ri-cot, nP*- 15 — fc ~~ i* K N — s — \-i 3 - "\ *\ _r S" J "1 is B *i s _!* J* 1 "€ — S — R a) f — ft — fe — • — — « — — S N- 4 U -0 9 — ' • ^_ ^* *■— — — — ***-_ ->* ' i - ron or tin. a - ny kind will do. called for more, e - nough to eat. Mince pie, cust - ard pie, Cur-rant pie, cur-rant pie, E - ven to the mud pies we Pumpkin pie, O! pumpkin pie is a ft ft 3 — i — f v fc V £► & r r — i * — \ S — d 1 -2 s m -N S — ft ft & £*- v ^ — o m k m 1 — M- — • • ft ^- * - : — £ y j m — j* ^=^ • • — ap - pie or plum, Peach pie, sug - ar pie, nice and brown, We've sam-pled all the best made when small, When we're ver - y hung - ry we can the pie for me. There are no oth - er pies that h Chords. * =ft^==F# — -0- yum! yum! yum! Peaeh pie! peach pie! pie! pie! Yum! yum! yum! pies ' in town. Chick-en pie! chick-en pie! Yum! yum! yum! eat them all! Mud pies! mud pies! Yum! yum! yum! I can see When there's pumpkin pie! pumpkin pie! Yum! yum! yum! s. i i ;-= ^ '- '— Peach pie! pie! Peach pie! Chick- en pie! Chick - en Mud pies! Mud O pump-kin pie ! pump - kin pie! Yum! yum! yum! pie! Yum! yum! yum! pies! Yum! yum! yum! pie! Yum! yum! yum! 26 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Ten Little Maids [dancing around in a circle, shout]. I, I, 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1. [Bach in turn, voices ascending the scale to sol, then back from sol.] Goddess. Who can make a pumpkin-pie ? [Ten Little Maids look sad, then each in turn sighs and shakes head.] Goddess. Poor dears ! Well, here's a recipe good and true, Which I now gladly give to you. [Hands one of them a long, narrow strip of paper, and an- other a bell. They stand in straight line across back of stage.] Goddess. When all is ready tap the bell, And forth will come, as in a spell, All things you need; so do it well. [The maid with bell taps it, and then passes bell to next girl, Enter Pumpkin Runner Boys stage R. They roll before them a large yellow pumpkin. When near Goddess's throne they bow low, and speak.] Pumpkin Runner Boys. We have come to represent At your call our pumpkin race. [They bow, roll pumpkin to stage C, and step to one side. Next maiden taps bell and passes it. Enter Egg Maidens stage R. with baskets of white eggs. They bow to Goddess, then speak.] Egg Maidens. Eggs you're wanting. : Our white shells Of good health Right plainly tell. [They place baskets of eggs a short distance from pumpkin, then move to one side. Next girl taps bell. Enter Spice Boys. They bring large pans of spice, bow to Goddess, then speak.] First Spice Boy. I am ginger. [Puts pan of ginger on floor near eggs.] Second Spice Boy. I am cloves. [Puts pan of cloves next.] All Spice Boys. Don't let us get too near your nose. [Put down rest of pans, making circle about pumpkin.] THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 27 [They step to one side. Next maid taps bell and then passes it. Enter Flour Maidens bearing large wooden trays of flour. They bow to Goddess, then-whirling about, speak.] Flour Maidens. We're the flour, white and clean, Don't you see? [whirl] don't you see? [whirl] Better you have never seen, Don't you see? [whirl rapidly] don't you see? [ivhirl rapidly] . [They set flour down, then step to one side. Next maid taps bell and passes it, while Little Milkmen enter bearing broivn jugs of milk. They bow to Goddess, then speak.] Little Milkmen. Milk is very good to drink, Which we can testify, For pumpkin pie you'll need, I think Our brown jugs' best supply. [They set jugs beside flour, then step to one side. Maid taps bell. Enter Sugar Maidens with bowls of sugar. They bow to Goddess, then speak.] Sugar Maidens. We bring forth the sugar sweet ; Taste of it, it's good to eat. [They set sugar down, forming a second circle, and skip to one side. Goddess waves her wand, and the Ten Little Maids glide around the pumpkin and in and out among the other things, as if mixing, singing as they go chorus to tune of " Yankee Doodle."] We will have a pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie, pumpkin pie, We will have a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving dinner. [Repeat the march and song over and over again until the pie is supposed to be thoroughly mixed. Then step to one side and the Egg Maidens, Flour Maidens, and Sugar Maidens form a close circle about the things. Then the Pumpkin Runner Boys, Spice Boys, and Little Milkmen form circle outside of them. All kneel, faces in, and bend heads toward the center of circle. Then Ten Little Maids separate, advancing from all sides of stage looking over kneeling ones, and nodding to one another with air of satisfaction.'] 28 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS One Little; Maid erom School. Now it's ready for the baking. Another Little Maid from School. Oh, what fun there is in making - , All Little Maids from School. A good pumpkin pie. [Ten Little Maids now pass to position in front of God- dess and kneel.] Goddess. Blessings on you little Maids, These materials, and all aids, Blessings on your Pumpkin Pie. [Goddess rises, waves zvand, and moves toward stage R. fol- lowed by Ten Little Maids. When near door Goddess waves wand again and the pie materials lift heads, rise sloivly and glide off stage zvith materials, in the order in which they entered.] [curtain.] XIV. — Chorus : " The Thanksgiving Turkey." (See page 29.) II. We have much to be thankful for ; all will admit it, As of life's varied picture the bright side we view, Though its dark shadows lingered, and sunshine had flitted, Though our trials were many and blessings were few, We still can give thanks that life is worth living, That Hope's pointed rays pierce the clouds that-look dense, Our conditions we master, content and forgiving — Unlike the lean turkey that roosts on the fence, The Thanksgiving turkey, the sharp-breasted turkey, The tendon-thew'd turkey that roosts on the fence. III. That proud ancient turkey that strutted for seasons, The lord of the barnyard, orchard and lawn, Like an ill-fated felon convicted to Treason's Guillotine, scalded, dissected and drawn ; The pride that upheld him until he grew hoary, (Continued on page 30.) THANKSGIVING CELEBRA TIONS 29 The Thanksgiving Turkey Jztt V T \> How scarce, tough and dear is the Thanksgiv-ing Tur - key, On The grav - y a - bout it though lus - cious and mur - ky, Sub m -*- ' -0- m ■*"* -0- m -*- • m -*- -*- m •*- d: *■ _£L -y- i — N- — — "-J ■*- r. ^1 which we tbis Pur - i - tan hoi - i - day fast, ( "When in t ul - ness • lime - ly re-minds us of Tbanksgiv-ing past, j For tbe year's grate- -*- -» of beart we were wont to re-mem-ber, Our Thanksgiving Anthems as ful boons to tbe close of No-vem-ber, Unlike tbe poor tur -key that r r r r r r r r r r r i :£=£ P -3- % i some rec - om-pense. roosts on tbe fence. r {■ The Thanksgiving tur - key, the i - ron clad — n — i i 03 IN F r IS v 1 F ^1 i— v — — * — M 1 II fe=^=i=T- -0T-. ^ 1— — *r i — H • • — £— J— — S— irH W~ * — * — ^^ • 3 -f- > — * — tur - key, The tough-muscled tur - key that sat -4. M .#- -0- • -#- -«- -0. * 9 1 - on the fence. /«>-* 1* 7 1 1 1 p • # p | : -^- -i-l T Tl 5^ ^ ]/ > • k » - -0 f ^ — H ky 1 +- \\ 1 1 p 1 Lh W —J H 1 ' H* — — & — v — ' * ' 30 THANKSGIVING CEIEBRATIONS Is humbled to sate prouder man's abstinence. He died like a martyr of Thanksgiving glory, The colonial gobbler that sat on the fence — The Thanksgiving turkey, that toothless old turkey, That ancient brained turkey that sat on the fence. IV. When far gathered friends surround the'home table, And thanks render up for reunion and peace, They seem to forget, like the fox in the fable, The warfare they're making on Turkey and Grease. On the red-gilled old gobbler the pride of the farm, With sharp-whetted knives and stout forks they commence, To hold a post-mortem on a being void of harm The scraping winged turkey that sat on the fence, The tough-fleshed old turkey, the onion-stuffed turkey, The flower-decked turkey that sat on the fence. V. Dame Nature would seem to maliciously cozen, The Thanksgiving mortals all over the land, For the turkey, to-day, should of legs have a dozen Or two, to half meet the fair household 'demand ; Pope's noses and wishbones and light-colored pinions, And bosom-cuts few betray much negligence In nature to satisfy Thanksgiving minions, With a centiped turkey to sit on each fence, The tough-hided turkey, the whalebone-winged turkey, The jaw-breaking turkey that sat on the fence. VI. No more, hoary gobbler, in lanes that are shady, Thou'lt strut in thy pride where antique brambles crack, Like a gent in store clothes or a stylish young lady, In feathers and flowers or new seal-skin sacque; The tuft on thy bosom lies dormant of feeling, Thy proud crested head has of anguish no sense, THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 31 In parsley and lettuce thy corpse is revealing The death-stricken turkey that sat on the fence — The zinc-plated turkey, the cottonwood turkey, The tooth-tugging turkey that sat on the fence. XV. — Recitation and Song: "The Spellers." By Twelve Small Folks, The Spellers \Let pupils taking part stand on a line, each provided with a large letter made of cardboard and covered with silver paper. As each one recites his couplet let him hold his letter before him so that audience may see it; then lower it again out of sight until all recite the last stanza; then all raise letters together, making the word "THANKSGIVING."] First Pupil. T stands for Thank you, the word that we say When we remember this Thanksgiving day. Chorus oE Children. [Tune: "Yankee Doodle."] The turkey brown has come to town And all he says is Gobble. He struts around with wings well down And all the while sings Gobble. Strut and pose and step and prance And, if you must, sing Gobble. Second Pupil. H is for Happy, the way that we feel Just before eating our Thanksgiving meal. Chorus oe Children \_same as before] . Third Pupil. A stands for All, all our family dear Whom we like with us to help make good cheer. Chorus oe Children \_same as before] . Fourth Pupil. N for November — the sky may be gray, Yet we are glad and our spirits are gay. Chorus oe Children \same as before]. 32 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Fifth Pupil. K is for Kindness, and if we are good, Those who are poor shall have some of ou food. Chorus of Children [same as before]. Sixth Pupil. S is the Season for pudding and pie, Turkey and dressing and gravy — oh, my ! Chorus of Children [same as before]. Seventh Fupil. G is for Gobbler, our national bird, When he is dressed he says never a word. Chorus op Children [same as before]. Eighth Pupil. I stands for 111, which we surely shall be If we eat greedily of all that we see. Chorus oe Children [same as before]. Ninth Pupil. V stands for Vain, like the gobbler we see — All right for turkeys, but not you or me. Chorus of Children [same as before]. Tenth Pupil. I is for 111, as you just have been told. Health is worth far more than silver an gold. Chorus of Children [same as'before]. Eleventh Pupil. N stands for Nuts, hazel — hickory — wal — Beech — chest — and butter — we love on and all. Chorus of Children [same as before]. Twelfth Pupil. G is for Give. If we freely receive So let us freely and willingly give. Chorus of Children [same as before]. All [holding up cards]. Thanksgiving, thanksgiving, thanksgiving, So each and all of us call ! For the many good gifts that are ours From God, the giver of all. PART n. Thanksgiving Program Program PART II. Page I.— CHORUS: "Thanksgiving for Harvest" .... 35 II. — READING: President's Thanksgiving Proclamation . . 35 III.-CHORUS: "Thanksgiving" 36 IV.— DIALOGUE: "Joseph's Story" 36 V.— RECITATION: "In Football Times" 44 VI.— DUMB-BELL DRILL 47 VII.— READING : " Ichabod Crane at Heer van Tassel's Dinner Party" 48 VIII.— PIANO SOLO 49 IX.— PANTOMIME: "The Witch's Daughter" .... 49 X.— CHORUS: Doxology 66 34 PART n. Thanksgiving Program Arranged by HARRIET C. WATERHOUSE I. — Chorus: "Thanksgiving for Harvest." Thanksgiving for Harvest Moderalo. ¥f 1 1 The har • vest is in J The 2. For all the good things The _ 1 1 — 1 — S-. eel rich •— * — i- i tl . ♦ -••-•■ *. lar 1 and bin Are stored Autumn brings, For all . 1. ■*•-#■ •*- with the fruits of the that the har - vest can — i*-n ait earth; show. — £=1 IT So Most *— * -, i -Hb — 4 \ .-+■ ■i * L 1K — „H- : JJ T—*- ^— -i sqH — -j— - = dEzzizz^z, --ix ^=*l4_U let us be gay On Thanksgiving Day. And keep it with feasting and mirth, thankful we'll be. Dear Fa - ther, to Thee, Whose pow-er and love made them grow. m± -A-4 ■—— 4z=t *-^r II. — R^ad-ing : President's Thanksgiving Proclamation. (Use either the proclamation given on page 19 of this book or the proclamation of the President in office.) 36 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS III. — Chorus : "Thanksgiving" Thanksgiving j^TTT^" ivT SSI 1. Praise to God im • mor - tal praise, For the love that orowns our days! 2. For the bless - ings of the field, For the fruits the gar - dens yield, ■& 73 &i—l *> «> SI ■ ! » 1 &- ^E SS^E 3^ /phi. — j 1 H — ■ — i— 1 ... J - 1 —I—, 1 +- ■X-tfz?— A cj ] jjr- — | 1 j — zsj "j ^— -J — — * 2* H Boun-teous source of For the joy whiol ftVjr-U U * e>- — tfc- ev - 'ry joy, har - vesta bring, Let thy praise Grate-ful prais - r- n . our es — * tongues em - ploy 1 now we sing. pfe 1 ' r r^ i ¥^ ~| - 1 )v 1 2 - 5 — /O f 1 =fc= — 1» f- w-H \ i i 1 1 1 3 All that spring with bounteous hand Scatters o'er the smiling land ; All that liberal autumn pours From her rich o'erflowing stores j 4 Lord, for these our souls shall raise Grateful vows, and solemn praise : And when every blessing's flovro, Love Thee for Thyself alone. IV. — Dialogue : "Joseph's Story.' Joseph's Story By J. G. Holland [From "Bitter Sweet"] Characters : Ruth. A girl dressed as a woman. Joseph. A large, clumsy boy, but one with some dramatic ability. Samuel. A boy of about 12 years. Rebekah. A girl of about 14 years. Three or four smaller children. Scene : A New England kitchen. A fireplace ; an old-fash- ioned clock; a table on which are apples, jug of cider and glass; THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 37 two or three wooden-bottomed chairs ; dried apples strung across the ceiling ; bunches of dried herbs and corn hung in corners. When the curtain is raised the children are seated in a semi- circle playing "Button-Button." Joseph is hunting the button and the others are playing tricks on him. Some one pulls his coat, some one gets in his way, and finally some one trips him up. Joseph falls and as he rises rubs his nose and says : Joseph. Have we not had "Button-Button" enough, And "Forfeits," and all such silly stuff? [He takes the handkerchief from his eyes.] Samuel. Well, we were playing "Blind-Man's Buff" Until you fell, and rose in a huff, And declared the game was too rude and rough, Poor boy! [Holds his sides and laughs.] What a pity he isn't tough ! All [laughing and making fun of Joseph]. Ha ! ha ! ha ! what a pretty boy ! Papa's delight, and mamma's joy! Wouldn't he like to go to bed, And have a cabbage-leaf on his head? Jos. [pouting] . Laugh, if you like to ! Laugh till you're gray ! But I guess you'd laugh another way If you'd hit your toe [holds up foot and rubs it] and fallen like me, And cut a bloody gash in your knee, And bumped your nose and bruised your shin, Tumbling over the rolling-pin \ That rolled to the floor in the awful din That followed the fall of the row of tin That stood on the dresser. [He rubs each spot as he speaks of his hurts. The others laugh, some holding their sides, some pointing a finger at him, except Rebekah, zvho first laughs, then, seeing the boy is ready to cry, shakes her head at the others.] 38 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Sam. Guess again, dear little guesser ! You wouldn't catch this boy lopping his wing, Or whining over anything. So stir your stumps, Forget your bumps, Get out of your dumps [shakes him] And up and at it again ; For the clock is striking ten, And Ruth will come pretty soon and say, [Imitating a woman] "Go to your beds You sleepy heads!" So — quick ! What shall we play ? [Catches Joseph and holds his hands behind him.] Rebekah [seeing Joseph is about to cry]. . I wouldn't play any more, For Joseph is tired and sore With his fall upon the floor. All [jumping up]. Then he must tell a story. Jos. [laughing]. About old Mother Morey? All [laughing; some stamp their feet]. No! Tell us another. Jos. About my brother? [Makes a face.] Reb. [going up to him] . Now, Joseph, you shall be good, And do as you'd be done by; We didn't mean to be rude When you fell and began to cry; We wanted you to forget your pain; But it frets you, and we'll not laugh again. Jos. [pacified]. Well, if you'll all sit still, And not be frisking about [shakes his head at them] Nor utter a whisper till [shakes his finger] You've heard my story out, I'll tell you a tale as weird As ever you heard in your lives, Of a man with a long blue beard, And the way he treated his wives. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 39 All [clapping hands]. Oh, that will be nice! We'll be still as mice. [All sit down, some on the floor, Joseph in the center.'] Jos. Centuries since, there flourished a man, (A cruel old Tartar as rich as the Khan,) Whose castle was built on a splendid plan, With gardens and groves and plantations ! But his shaggy beard was as blue as the sky, And he lived alone, for his neighbors were shy, And had heard hard stories, by the by, About his domestic relations. Just on the opposite side of the plain A widow abode, with her daughters twain ! And one of them — neither cross nor vain — Was a beautiful little treasure; So he sent them an invitation to tea, And having a natural wish to see His wonderful castle and gardens, all three Said they'd do themselves the pleasure. As soon as there happened a pleasant day, They dressed themselves in a sumptuous way, And rode to the castle as proud and gay As silks and jewels could make them; And they were received in the finest style, And saw everything that was worth their while In the halls of Blue Beard's grand old pile, Where he was so kind as to take them. The ladies were all enchanted quite ; For they found Blue Beard so polite That they did not suffer at all from fright, And frequently called thereafter; 40 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Then he offered to marry the younger one, And as she was willing, the thing was done, And celebrated by all the ton With feasting and with laughter. As kind a husband as ever was seen Was Blue Beard then, for a month I ween; And she was as proud as any queen, And as happy as she could be, too; But her husband called her to him one day, And said, "My dear, I am going away; It will not be long that I shall stay ; There is business for me to see to. "The keys of my castle I leave with you ; But if you value my love, be true, And forbear to enter the Chamber of Blue! Farewell, Fatima ! Remember !" Fatima promised him : then she ran To visit the rooms with her sister Ann ; But when she had finished the tour, she began To think about the Blue Chamber. Well, the woman was curiously inclined, So she left her sister and prudence behind. (With a little excuse) and started to find The mystery forbidden. She paused at the door: — all was still as night! She opened it ; then thro' the dim blue light There blistered her vision the horrible sight That was in that chamber hidden. ■ The room was gloomy and damp and wide, And the floor was red with the bloody tide From headless women, laid side by side, K The wives of her dear lord and master! THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 41 Frightened and fainting, she dropped the key, But seized it and lifted it quickly; then she Hurried as swiftly as she could flee From the scene of the disaster. She tried to forget the terrible dead, But shrieked when she saw that the key was red. And sickened and shook with an awful dread When she heard Blue Beard was coming. He did not appear to notice her pain ; But he took his keys, and seeing the stain, He stopped in the middle of the refrain That he had been quietly humming. "Mighty well, madam!" said he, "mighty well! What does this little blood-stain tell? „ You've broken your promise ! prepare to dwell With the wives I've had before you ! You've broken your promise, and you shall die." Then Fatima, supposing her death was nigh, Fell on her knees and began to cry, "Have mercy, I implore you !" "No !" shouted Blue Beard, drawing his sword ; "You shall die this very minute," he roared. "Grant me time to prepare to meet my Lord," The terrified woman entreated. "Only ten minutes," he roared again; And holding his watch by its great gold chain, He marked on the dial the fatal ten, And retired till they were completed. "Sister, oh, sister, fly up to the tower! Look for release from this murderer's power! Our brothers should be here this very hour:—* Speak ! Does there come assistance ?" 42 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS "No : I see nothing but sheep on the hill." "Look again, sister!" "I'm looking still, But naught can I see, whether good or ill, Save a flurry of dust in the distance." "Time's up !" shouted Blue Beard out from his room. "This moment shall witness your terrible doom, And give you a dwelling within the room Whose secrets you have invaded." "Comes there no help for my terrible need?" "There are horsemen twain riding hither with speed." "Oh ! tell them to ride very fast indeed, Or I must meet death unaided." "Time's fully up ! Now have done with your prayers," Shouted Blue Beard, swinging his sword on the stair; Then he entered, and grasping her beautiful hair, Swung his glittering weapon around him; But a loud knock rang at the castle gate, And Fatima was saved from her horrible fate. For, shocked with surprise, he paused too late; And then the two soldiers found him. They were her brothers, and, quick as they knew What the fiend was doing, their swords they drew, And attacked him fiercely, and ran him thro', So that soon he was mortally wounded. With a wild remorse was his conscience filled When he thought of the hapless wives he had killed ; But quickly the last of his blood was spilled, And his dying groan was sounded. [Joseph is seated at the beginning of the story, and talks to those around him. When he says, "My dear, I am going away," etc., he rises; and as he proceeds he speaks to the audience, enter- ing into the story dramatically. As he closes Ruth enters unper- ceived, for the others are applauding Joseph.] THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 43 Sam. Capital ! capital ! Wasn't it good ! I should like to have been her brother : If I had been one, you may guess there would Have been little work for the other. I'd have run him right thro' the heart, just so [illus- trates] , And cut off his head at a single blow, And killed him so quickly he'd never know What it was that struck him, wouldn't I, Joe? Jos. You are very brave with your bragging tongue, But if you had been there, you'd have sung A very different tune. Poor Blue Beard ! He would have been afraid Of a little boy with a penknife blade, Or a tiny pewter spoon ! Sam. It makes no difference what you say, (Pretty little boy, afraid to play!) But it served him rightly any way, And gave him just his due. And wasn't it good that his little wife Should live in his castle the rest of her life, And have all his money, too? Reb. I'm thinking of the ladies who Were lying in the Chamber Blue, With all their small necks cut in two. I know the sweet Fatima would Have put their heads on if she could ; And made them live — she was so good! And washed their faces at the si ,_ " But Blue Beard was not sane, I think: I wonder if he did not drink! For no man in his proper mind Would be so cruelly inclined As to kill ladies who were kind. 44 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Ruth [who has been shaking her head in disapproval, comes for- ward'] . Story and comment alike are bad: These little fellows are raving mad With thinking what they would do, Supposing their sunny-eyed sister had Given her heart — and her head — to a lad , - Like the man with the Beard of Blue. So let us have done with our talk : For they are too tired to say their prayers, And the time is come they should walk From the story below to the story upstairs. [Takes one of the little ones by the hand. All walk off.] V. — Recitation : "In Football Times." In Football Times By Kathleen Carman. As Thanksgiving Day drew near, student interest centered itself ardently in the final championship game of the season, which was to take place on that date. The 'Varsity was to play its bit- terest rival, and hopes, fears, predictions, and — bets, were ex- changed freely. But when the crucial day arrived, the hopes of one, at least, seemed doomed to disappointment. Gordon had hurt his knee and, spite of arguments and prayers and passionate supplications, was forbidden to play. The sub quarter-back was to take his place and the only thing that saved Gordon from suicidal despair was the hope that his understudy would be unable to "stand the pace." "And in that case, Gordie, old man," said the alert and cheer- ful trainer, "I expect you'll have to go in, knee or no knee." By two o'clock the interested sun was beaming down upon a gorgeous and inspiring sight. The great athletic field was swarm- ing with an excited and hilarious crowd. In banners, streamers, fluttering ribbons, the red of the visitors vied with the 'Varsity THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 45 blue ; while the omnipresent tin horn, the terrible ''devil's rattle" and the 'Varsity yell combined in a nerve-reaching, blood-quick- ening clamor. A burst of noise, louder and more prolonged than usual from first one and then the other of the rival factions, greeted their respective teams as they came trotting out upon the field. Gordon, from his ignominious place at the side-line, watched the preliminary prancings of his mates with an admiration in which envy had its share. Then came the kick-off, and from that moment Kent and Gordon thought only of the play. When the umpire blew his whistle for the end of the first half, the wearers of the blue took one long breath, and then broke forth into such a pandemonium of joy as only a football crowd can make, for the score stood six to nothing, and it was Kent who had been pushed over for the touch-down. But by the end of the first fifteen minutes after the second half had begun, the red-clad arms and legs had done such good service that the ball was far into the home territory and after a brief and hopeless rally on the part of the blues, the score was tied. Though momentarily stunned by this painful surprise, the backers of the blue promptly rallied, and under enthusiastic lead- ership, sent their various yells racketing through space. In spite of all, however, it was evident that something was wrong, for the ball was slowly but steadily creeping down the field again towanj the home team's goal. The thirty-yard line is passed, the twenty^ five, the twenty. Ye gods ! Shall this thing be ? From the east side of the field, where is the stronghold of the red-bedecked ones, comes a mighty and increasing howl of joy. Already they feel the flush of victory. Too soon, my friends, too soon. From west and south and north there comes an answering shout whose sturdy, sullen, rhythmic pulse steadies the nerves and steels the muscles of the eleven men for whom it is meant. "Hold 'em ! Hold 'em ! Hold 'em !" And backed by that wall of sound, ten yards from their own 46 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS goal-line, the wearers of the blue make their last stand. Vainly the opposing line hurls itself against them. Neither through the center nor round the end can they go. "Third down," says the umpire, and to the accompaniment of a din that might daunt the Sphinx, the ball goes over. But the goal behind which its holder would fain see it put is very, very far away, and those red-clad arms and legs are terribly strong and agile. Young Gordon kneeling at the side-line, trembling from head to foot like a setter come to point, sobbing now and then from sheer excitement, prays without pause for one chance, just one, against that line up. The ball is given to the heavy half-back. Atkins and the for- wards endeavor to make a hole for him. One down, no gain. The ball is given to Kent for a try round the end, but one of his opponents breaks through and tackles him behind the line. Two downs, no gain. And then from the ranks of the faithful goes up one last de- spairing groan, for one of the blue-clad warriors is stretched out unconscious on the ground. It is the sub-quarter who has given out at last, having done his plucky best. With one twist, Gordon has freed himself from his ulster and, as he runs out to his own place, a cheer of vigorous enthusiasm goes after him. He does not hear it, he hears nothing but his captain's voice at his ear in quick and brief command. Gordon has a dim sense that it is the happiest moment of his life. He is not at all nervous and he has forgotten his knee. He gives the signals in a loud, clear voice, catches the ball from cen- ter, passes it to Kent with the speed of lightning, and hurls him- self into the play. The interference is slow in forming and Kent s outrunning it. Gordon sees this in a flash, blocks one man, ees two others that he must choose between ; chooses, checks his nan, and has a glimpse of Kent's dark, straining face flying past lim as he falls. By the time he is on his feet again, Kent is half way down the field, waving a mocking farewell to his outdistanced pursuers, while the frantic crowd, breaking past the ropes, scarce- THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 47 ly gives him time to make his touch-down before they surround him. By somewhat forceful persuasion they cleared a space for the captain to kick his easy goal, while gray-headed professors waltzed about with all the joyous abandon of freshmen, and the "roosters" strained their hoarse voices to the highest pitch of endurance. The visitors yielded the few seconds of play that remained, and the victorious team, physically sore and weary, but with their souls lapped in unutterable contentment, was borne triumphantly from the field." VI. — Dumb-Beel Drile. Dumb-Bell Drill [Have eight pupils, or more if the platform will allow, take this drill. They may be all boys, or all girls, or, one row of boys and one row of girls. If the pupils can dress alike it will add much to the looks of the drill. A good march is necessary, with the time distinctly marked. Have the class march on, taking these positions : with bells held in hands and at the sides of bodies.] First Movement : Salute. Raise right arm diagonally out, count one ; bring bell to forehead, over the eyes, count two ; diago- nally out, count three ; lower to side, count four. Second Movement : Raise right arm, directly front, shoul- der-high, four times, count one with each movement. Same with left 54x4 counts. Alternate 54x8 counts. Both ; 4x4 counts. On the fourth count bring bells to chest, curved arms, bells held horizontally ready for next movement. Third Movement: Swing right arm up and around to shoulder-high 54x4 counts. Same with left 54x4 counts. Alter- nate 54x8 counts. Both 54x4 counts. On fourth count lower arms to sides, face of hand from body. Fourth Movement: Swing right arm out, from side to full length over head ; 4 x 2 counts to each swing. Same to left ; 48 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 4x2 counts to each swing. Alternate ; raise one arm while the other is falling. Both ; striking bells on each second count. Fifth Movement : Bells from sides to shoulders ; count one ; count two ; charge with right foot diagonally forward ; right arm raised in line of left leg ; right knee bent and bearing weight ; left hand about six inches from left leg ; eyes to upper lobe of bell. Hold this position through count seven ; on eighth count assume military position. Same to left. Same to side; first right, then left. Same diagonally back to right ; then to left. VII. — Reading: "Ichabod Crane at Heer van Tassel's Dinner Party." Ichabod Crane at Heer van Tassel's Dinner Party By Washington Irving. [From " Sketch Book."] It was toward evening when Ichabod arrived at the castle of the Heer van Tassel, which he found thronged with the pride and flower of the adjacent country. Fain would I pause to dwell upon the world of charms that burst upon the enraptured gaze of my hero, as he entered the state parlor of Van Tassel's mansion. Not those of the bevy of buxom lasses, with their luxurious dis- play of red and white ; but the ample charms of a genuine Dutch country tea-table, in the sumptuous time of autumn. Such heaped- up platters of cakes of various and almost indescribable kinds, known only to experienced Dutch housewives ! There was the doughty doughnut, the tenderer oly koek, and the crisp and crum- bling cruller; sweet cakes and short cakes, ginger-cakes and honey-cakes, and the whole family of cakes. And then there were apple pies and peach pies and pumpkin pies ; besides slices of ham and smoked beef; and moreover delectable dishes of preserved THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 49 plums, and peaches, and pears and quinces ; not to mention broiled shad and roasted chickens ; together with bowls of milk and cream, all mingled higgledy-piggledy, pretty much as I have enumerated them, with the motherly tea-pot sending up its clouds of vapor from the midst — Heaven bless the mark ! I want breath and time to discuss this banquet as it deserves, and am too eager to get on with my story. Happily, Ichabod Crane was not in so great a hurry as his historian, but did ample justice to every dainty. And now the sound of the music from the common room, or hall, summoned to the dance. The musician was an old, gray- headed negro, who had been the itinerant orchestra of the neigh- borhood for more than half a century. His instrument was as old and battered as himself. The greater part of the time he scraped on two or three strings, accompanying every movement of the bow with a motion of the head ; bowing almost to the ground and stamping with his foot whenever a fresh couple were to start. Ichabod prided himself upon his dancing as much as upon his vocal powers. Not a limb, not a fibre about him was idle ; and to have seen his loosely hung frame in full motion, and clattering about the room, you would have thought Saint Vitus himself, that blessed patron of the dance, was figuring before you in person. He was the admiration of all the negroes ; who, having gathered, of all ages and sizes, from the farm and the neighborhood, stood forming a pyramid of shining black faces at every door and window, gazing with delight at the scene, rolling their white eye- balls, and showing grinning rows of ivory from ear to ear. How could the flogger of urchins be otherwise than animated and joyous? The lady of his heart was his partner in the dance, and smiling graciously in reply to all his amorous oglings ; while Brom Bones, sorely smitten with love and jealousy, sat brooding by himself in one corner. VIII.— Piano Soto. IX. — Pantomime: "The Witch's Daughter. 50 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS The Witch's Daughter ("Mabel Martin") By John Greenleaf Whittier. [Abridged as shown by the stanza numbers.] I, It was the pleasant harvest time, When cellar-bins are closely stowed, And garrets bend beneath their load; — 5- On Esek Harden's oaken floor, With many an autumn threshing worn, Lay the heaped ears of unhusked corn. 6. And thither came young men and maids, Beneath a moon that, large and low, Lit that sweet eve of long ago. 7- They took their places ; some by chance, And others by a merry voice Or sweet smile guided to their choice. 8. How pleasantly the rising moon, Between the shadows of the mows, Looked on them through the great elm-boughs !- 9- On sturdy boyhood sun-embrowned, On girlhood with its solid curves Of healthful strength and painless nerves ! THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 61 13- But still the sweetest voice was mute That river-valley ever heard From lip of maid or throat of bird ; 14. For Mabel Martin sat apart, And let the hay-mow's shadow fall Upon the loveliest face of all. I 15; She sat apart, as one forbid, Who knew that none would condescend To own the Witch-wife's child a friend. 16. The seasons scarce had gone their round, Since curious thousands thronged to see Her mother on the gallows-tree ; 17- And mocked the palsied limbs of age, That faltered on the fatal stairs, And wan lip trembling with its prayers! 18. Few questioned of the sorrowing child, Or, when they saw the mother die, Dreamed of the daughter's agony. 19. They went up to their homes that day, As men and Christians justified: God willed it, and the wretch had diedl 25- The school-boys jeered her as they passed, And, when she sought the house of prayer Her mother's curse pursued her there. 52 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 26. And still o'er many a neighboring door She saw the horseshoe's curved charm, To guard against her mother's harm. 31- So in the shadow Mabel sits; Untouched by mirth she sees and hears, Her smile is sadder than her tears. 32- But cruel eyes have found her out, And cruel lips repeat her name, And taunt her with her mother's shame. 33- She answered not with railing words, But drew her apron o'er her face, And, sobbing, glided from the place. 34- And only pausing at the door, Her sad eyes met the troubled gaze Of one who, in her better days, 35- Had been her warm and steady friend, Ere yet her mother's doom had made Even Esek Harden half afraid. 36. He felt that mute appeal of tears, And, starting with an angry frown, Hushed all the wicked murmurs down. 37- "Good neighbors mine," he sternly said, "This passes harmless mirth or jest; I brook no insult to my guest. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 53 38. "She is indeed her mother's child; But God's sweet pity ministers Unto no whiter soul than hers. 39- "Let Goody Martin rest in peace ; I never knew her harm a fly, And witch or not, God knows, — not I. 40. "I know who swore her life away ; And, as God lives, I'd not condemn An Indian dog on word of them." 41. The broadest lands in all the town, The skill to guide, the power to awe, Were Harden's; and his word was law. 42. None dared withstand him to his face, But one sly maiden spake aside : "The little witch is evil-eyed! 43- "Her mother only killed a cow. Or witched a churn or dairy pan ; But she, forsooth, must charm a man!" 44. Poor Mabel, in her lonely home, Sat by the window's narrow pane, White in the moonlight's silver rain. 49. She strove to drown her sense of wrong, And, in her old and simple way, To teach her bitter heart to pray. 64 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 50. Poor child! the prayer, begun in faith, Grew to a low, despairing cry Of utter misery : "Let me die ! 51- "Oh ! take me from the scornful eyes And hide me where the cruel speech And mocking finger may not reach! 52. "I dare not breathe my mother's name; A daughter's right I dare not crave To weep above her unblest grave! 53- "Let me not live until my heart, With few to pity, and with none To love me, hardens into stone. 54- "O God ! have mercy on thy child, Whose faith in Thee grows weak and small, And take me ere I lose it all !" 55- A shadow on the moonlight fell, And murmuring wind and wave became A voice whose burden was 'her name. 56. Had then God heard her ? Had He sent His angel down ? In flesh and blood, Before her Esek Harden stood. 60. Her tears of grief were tears of joy, As, folded in his strong embrace, She looked in Esek Harden 's face. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 55 62. He led her through his dewy fields, To where the swinging lanterns glowed, And through the doors the huskers showed. 63. "Good friends and neighbors !" Esek said, "I'm weary of this lonely life ; In Mabel see my chosen wife !" Directions for Pantomiming "The Witch's Daughter" Scenes: i. The Barn. 2. Mabel's Home. The platform must be arranged for this number, which will also be in keeping with the day. Curtains must be hung on both sides of the platform. Behind one, represent Mabel's home, which only needs the space and a window ; behind the other curtain the villagers pass. Between these curtains is the barn scene; picture this scene as far as possible. Characters : Mabel Martin. Reader. Esek Harden. Ten to twelve villagers. The Reader stands at one side. As she reads, "On Esek Harden's oaken floor," the villagers enter and act enough to carry out the words. During the reading of stanzas 13, 14 and 15, Mabel stands alone. To give room for this, some of the villagers retire behind the curtain. During the reading of stanzas 16, 17, etc., all are off the plat- form; at the 31st stanza they re-enter, Mabel still stands aloof. Stanzas 32, 33, 34 and 36 must be acted as the words show. At stanza 37, Esek steps forward and seems to be speaking. Some of the villagers appear frightened at his words and (stanza 41) with- draw, leaving room for two girls to act stanzas 42 and 43. Here the Reader pauses ; the curtain is drawn over the "barn scene," exposing "Mabel's room," where she sits looking out of the window. 56 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS At the reading of the prayer, Mabel, acts as if she were pray- ing. Upon the entrance of Esek Harden, the words are acted through to stanza 31. Here the "barn scene" is shown, with the villagers all gathered. Esek and Mabel enter with the reading of stanza 53. During the reading of stanzas 56, 60, 62 and 63, the villagers gather around Mabel and Esek, who stand well to the front, forming a closing picture. X. — Chorus : Doxology. part ni. Thanksgiving: Past and Present PARTIII. Thanksgiving: Past and Present AN EXERCISE FOR TWENTY-FIVE CHILDREN PART L— THE PAST Stage Arrangement: Dark background plentifully hung with pine boughs, stalks and ears of corn, firearms — guns, rifles, bows and swords — any Indian relics ; antlers, mounted birds or animals will also add to the decorations. At center of stage back have a large dry-goods box covered with dark cloth, the opening facing the wall at back. Music : Slow, impressive music before the curtain is raised. Stirring patriotic music between scenes. Characters: Girl. Boy. Father Time. 8 Pilgrims. 4 boys dressed as men, 4 girls dressed as women. Costumes : Gire — any white gown such as is worn by small children of about six. Boy — black trousers and jacket, fancy white shirt waist. The boy should be somewhat older than the girl. Father Time — draped in a robe of black (may be made of shawls) ; he wears a wig of long white hair; carries a sickle. Pilgrims — Boys wear large, dark hats, straight jackets with white collars and cuffs, knee trousers and low shoes. One or two might wear dark capes. Each boy carries an old-fashioned gun. Girls wear gray cambric gowns made short ; tight-fitting waist and long full skirt ; white muslin Puritan caps, wide white cuffs, white neckerchief. Each carries a Bible. [Enter Girl and Boy. They pass to front of stage.] Girl. Fall is giving way to winter, The November skies are gray, But our hearts are full of sunshine, 'Cause we love Thanksgiving Day. Boy. From on high our loving Father Watches o'er us through the days, And for comforts, peace, and plenty, We return Thanksgiving praise. 59 60 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Girl. Have we always had Thanksgivings, Ever since the world was new? Who first thought we ought to have them? Tell me all about it — do. Boy. Well, I really don't remember, t. But I'm sure it was some one Who was very good and thoughtful. Perhaps it was George Washington. Girl. Well, I wish some one would tell me The story of Thanksgiving Day; — But oh, there comes a funny man, [Looks off at side of stage, then takes hold of Boy's arm with one hand and points toward the old man with the other.] Just see — who is it, anyway? Boy. Why, that is Mr. Father Time, Come — we'll have to run away, 'Cause he's dreadful bad to children — Makes 'em old and bent and gray. [They take hold of hands and run off at one side of stage.] Enter Father Tims. Father Time [laughing] . Well, well, I suppose those little folks were afraid of me — it does beat all how people like to keep out of the way of old Father Time. I wish that little girl hadn't run off; she said she wanted to hear all about Thanksgiving Day and I was going to tell her the story. I'm sure I know it if any one does, for wasn't I right there and heard all the particulars when it first happened? But perhaps there are some other little folks here who wtmld like to hear the story, so I think I'll tell it anyway. Let me see. [Puts hand to head and thinks.] It will be some trouble, but I just believe I'll do it. [Slaps hand against knee and laughs.] That's just the thing. I'll turn my "time machine" back- ward to the day when the Pilgrims held the first Thanksgiving, THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 61 and let them tell about it themselves. Now you just watch and we'll have them here soon. [Goes to the box at back of stage and pretends to turn a crank while some one behind the scenes makes a great noise to imitate the creaking of the machine, such as nibbing a piece of iron on an old washboard.'] Enter, to march music, 8 Pilgrims, four boys and four girls. The boys march in from one comer {back) of stage and girls from the other, pass diagonally to center of stage, in couples down center to front, where the first boy turns to the right, the first girl to the left, the second boy to the left, the second girl to the right and so on. The lines pass half-way up right and left sides of stage, turn a square corner and pass to stage center, forming a line across stage center, the leaders of the line halting about a foot from each side of stage center; the same distance is kept between every two throughout the line. When they have reached places the music ceases and Father Tim£, who has stood by his machine during the marching, speaks. Father Time;. My friends of long ago, ye who endured the hardships of life in bleak New England when the country was new and dangers many, pray tell us of the first Thanksgiving you have just celebrated. [Bach girl as she begins to speak drops a curtsy, each boy lifts his hat and bozvs low.] First Pilgrim . You ask for the story of Thanksgiving Day, yet first of our sad trials in England would I speak. The false customs of ye established church of that land we could not prac- tise and the rules imposed upon us by despotic King James we could not abide. Sad were our hearts as we longed for freedom to worship as seemed to us right and holy. Then did William Bradford, ye brave young man, gather a company who should no longer support the Church of England but in a strange land should find new homes and freedom of religion. After many hardships, such as being betrayed to the king when about to sail, having our money and much belongings taken from us, friends and even families being separated, at last did we escape from England, turning our faces to a distant land. 62 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Second Pilgrim. To ye land of Holland we journeyed and for eleven years there made our homes among the quiet Dutch. Peace and freedom were ours, yet were our hearts unsatisfied. Firm and rigid were our principles, simple and unassuming our habits, and ye free-hearted, careless customs of the people about us we could not approve. As the years passed poverty still pressed her unfriendly hand upon us, while our sons and daughters grew like unto the Hollanders whose ways we fancied not. At last our restless spirits cried for another pilgrimage and we bade adieu to Holland. Third Pilgrim. In two vessels, ye Speedwell and ye May- flower, we embarked for far distant America ; but scarce had our journey begun when ye Speedwell sprung a leak. Of no avail were all efforts to repair it and those who could not find accommo- dation in ye Mayflower were obliged to remain behind. Over the blue Atlantic sailed our good ship, often tossed by angry billows, once indeed in danger of being wrecked ; but the brave passen- gers, resolutely facing all perils, sang amid the storms and at length beheld the shores of a new land. Fourth Pilgrim,. Into Cape Cod Bay sailed ye gallant May- flower safely bearing its band of sturdy Pilgrims to the shores of bleak New England. Desolate were the cold, rock-bound coasts, and threatening the tones of the dashing billows ; sadly mournful were the whisperings of the solemn wind-tossed pines as they murmured at our intrusion. The deep shadows of rock and wood- land darkened not our resolute -hearts. To the swelling accom- paniment of sea and forest rose our songs of freedom, our hymns of praise. Thus we consecrated our years of toil to the unfolding of the possibilities of this new land. Fifth Pilgrim. A strange people, the dusky red men of the forest, we found on these shores and learned to call them friends. Very queer were their buckskin garments, the fringe of grasses and wampum belts, their tents of bark and reed and branches, their bowls of clay and willow baskets. Such as proved warlike our brave Miles Standish with warrior heart that knew no fear, subdued and brought to terms of peace. Massasoit, Samoset, and THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 63 Squanto with great kindness taught and helped us in many ways. From them we obtained the shining ears of Indian corn and learned to use it for food. When in spring the oak leaves were the size of a mouse's ear they showed us how to plant it and gave us ears for seed. Sixth Pilgrim. On Christmas day, when cold were the frosts and the north wind, we began our new homes at Plymouth. The ring of swift axes was our Christmas carol while our hearts throbbed to the melody of peace and good-will. Steadily fell the pines beneath our swinging axes, and slowly rose our homes, our homes of privation and freedom. Each man who brought with him a family was to have his own humble castle, while those who were not thus blessed were to make their abode with the others. Seventh Pilgrim. Then followed trials and hardships, famine, sickness and death. At times those who were well scarce numbered enough to care for the ones who were ailing. One hun- dred and two were with us when we reached the shores of New England, but ere the sunshine of spring gladdened our hearts with its brightness fully one-half of our number slept in their graves by the seashore. Slowly grim want came among us till we gazed at the pale face of famine, yet the unconquered heart of the Pilgrim endured, toiled on and was hopeful. Ere the winter had passed seven stout homes had been builded, which afforded grateful shelter to our numbers so greatly diminished. Then when the spring came we planted our maize, our pease and our barley, toiling with cheerful hearts as we hoped for a bountiful harvest. Eighth Pilgrim. Upon our landing at Plymouth we had chosen John Carver as governor, but when he died in the spring- time we gave William Bradford the office. As in the autumn days we gathered the fruits of our labor, the bushels of golden corn, the pease and a small share of barley, our hearts were filled with praise to the gracious God of the harvest. Then our governor made proclamation, the wise and devout William Bradford, that for our blessings received and the bountiful fruits of our labor we should hold a time of Thanksgiving and praise to our Heavenly Father. Forthwith into the forest were sent four unerring marks- 64 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS men who returned with a load of wild turkey and water-fowl in abundance. Our Indian friends who came to rejoice and keep the feast with us brought with them four large deer which gave us venison in plenty. Thus on the New England shore by ye sturdy and brave-hearted Pilgrims was held the Thanksgiving feast, the time of praise and rejoicing. \All the Pilgrims sing the following words.'] Tune : "Old Hundred." Praise God who guides the Pilgrims' way, Praise Him this glad Thanksgiving day, Praise Him with hearts of glad delight, The God of freedom and of right. Tableau : "Pilgrims Going to Church." [All face side of stage and form a group, one boy steps toward front of stage, acting as guard, all slightly bow heads and mark time as if marching slowly. Boys shoulder guns, girls clasp hands over Bibles. Some one behind the scene beats time on a drum, and colored lights are thrown on stage,'] [curtain.] PART H.— THE PRESENT Stage Arrangement: Extending across the stage about four feet from the front suspend a curtain of pink mosquito net- ting which can be held in place by tacking its lower edge to the floor. In front of this curtain and near one side of stage have an easy chair and a footrest. Characters: Young Man, afterward transformed to Old Man. Father Time. Miss Thanksgiving. 6 Little Girls. 6 Brownies. Costumes: Young Man wears stiff hat, standing collar, showy tie, heavy watch chain and rings; carries a dainty cane. After he is transformed he wears white wig and whiskers, a bright flowered dressing gown ; carries a heavy cane. Father Time — same as in Part I. (See page 59.) THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 65 Miss Thanksgiving — long white gown with scarlet trim- mings and sash, a gilt crown ; carries tiny gilt-covered wand. Little Girls — white gowns. Brownies — queer little bright colored suits ideas for which may be obtained from pictures of Brownies.* Enter Young Man. Young Man \drawlingly\. Well, deah me, from all the fuss that's being made I suppose Thanksgiving Day has come again. For my part I don't believe in it and I haven't any time for all this talk about being thankful. I don't see as there's much to be thankful for, at least my blessings aren't numerous enough to get excited about. Why there are a whole lot of people who haven't much of anything and they're spending this day being thankful. I don't like living very well any way; now I'll tell you one I would be thankful for — to be an old man. Why I just wish this minute that I was seventy years old so I wouldn't have to bother to live so long. That's all I'd feel like being thankful for. [Stands at one side of stage with back slightly to the opposite side.] Enter Father Time. Father Time [aside]. Here's a foolish young fellow who doesn't know what he's talking about. Wants to be an old man ! Well, I'll have to teach him a lesson. [Walks' over to Young Man.] Hello, sir! [Young Man turns quickly.] You want to be old, and I can give you just what you want in that line. [Makes a few passes with his hands in front of Young Man's face.] Now just follow me. [He leads him off stage, and while Young Man is changing his apparel Father Time pretends to be turning his "time ma- chine," standing just at edge of stage, and some one behind scenes imitates the grinding noise, as in Part I.] Enter Oed Man. Father Time leaves stage. Oed Man. Well, well ! here in the twinkling of an eye I'm an old man — why, I must be seventy-five ! This is delightful. Just think of all the years of work and worry I've skipped — it's *Brownie pattern sent postpaid for 50 cents by Edgar S. Werner & Co. 66 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS wonderful. I'm sure I ought to be thankful now, and I am too. I feel rather tired though — think I'll have to take a short nap. [Seats himself in the easy chair, puts feet on the foot-rest, closes eyes and pretends to sleep.] Enter Miss Thanksgiving. Miss Thanksgiving. Ah, my friend, sleep on, but in thy dreams shalt thou see strange visions. For shame that your heart responds not to the sweet influence of Thanksgiving cheer and praises. I indeed am the spirit of Thanksgiving and I must needs try my gentle power on thee. Perhaps in thy dreams I can teach thee that there is no heart which can not count its blessings, no life but that should be gladly lived. [She zvaves her wand before him, then blows a soft blast on a tiny trumpet, and takes her position at opposite side of stage.] [Enter 6 Little Girls who march and form line directly back of pink curtain.] First Girl. On this day of happy thanksgiving, when our hearts are singing glad praises to the bountiful Father above for His care and manifest goodness, let us now to memory recall and make known with heartfelt rejoicing some token of watch- care and love, some blessing for which we are thankful. For this wonderful, beautiful world, with its shadows and showers and sunshine ; its marvelous forests and lakes, its rivers and mountains and valleys ; for the beauty in flower and tree, and the language that's written therein, would we offer our glad songs of praise and thanks to our Heavenly Father. Second Girl. For the home where each heart may find peace and rest from the world's busy care; for the shelter and comfort therein, whether cottage or palace of king; for the castle, though humble and poor that each heart may claim as its own; for our homes, the dwellings of love, we also our thanks would return. Third Girl. Let us not forget the dear friends, who lighten the cares of each day, who comfort in time of distress and rejoice THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 67 with us when we are gay. There's no burden, though heavy and sad, but some friend will help us to bear it ; there's no sorrow, though ever so great, but kind friends will patiently share it. For the friends, who like rare flowers sweet, make life's pathway more happy and bright; for the blessing of their kindly love would we thank our Father to-night. Fourth Girl. We live not in days but in deeds, and our lives are measured at last by what we have done for the world and our work as the swift years passed. Every door at which we may knock the key of hard work will unlock ; 'tis man's greatest helper and friend, it brings success and contentment. Then let us be glad and give thanks for the work we each find to do and consecrate daily our lives to deeds that are noble and true. Fifth Girl. For the multitude of small comforts that day by day we enjoy; for the blessings of such slight account that we scarcely recall them to mind; for these little tokens of love and care from our Father on high, we would return gracious thanks and pass them not thoughtlessly by. You know many littles at last make a factor of wonderful power, and our lives are greatly made up of these blessings of trifling account, which though we oft notice them not are the ones we should sometimes prize most. Sixth Girl. And for the best blessing of all, the blessing of life and of health, let us return grateful thanks and rejoice in the days that are ours. To live in this beautiful world, to live, to enjoy and to do, ah, that is a blessing we ne'er can fathom until life is throughj To live, and to better the world, to help in its busy warfare, is indeed a blessing that God intended we each should enjoy. Then let us be glad for the life that is ours this Thanksgiving Day, and improve our years as they pass, nor heed- lessly fritter them away. [The girls now take hold of hands, bow low, move slowly backward (six abreast) until they reach the back of stage where they stand in line.'] [Bnter 6 Brownils who skip and dance about the stage, then take places just back of curtain.] 68 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS First Brownie;. We are merry little Brownies who have come to assist at this glad Thanksgiving. We are busy little fel- lows and are always ready to help our friends. If you call on us for aid you will never feel that you have nothing for which to give thanks. My name is Industry, and if you want to make a success of life just call on me. The person who makes Industry his friend and helper will always be ready to keep Thanksgiving with a cheerful heart. Second Brownie. My name is Perseverance and I'm just the one to help you along in the world. "Never give up" is my motto and I have found that the way to win is to keep always at work. Perseverance is sure to gain success, and all who look to me for aid will find when Thanksgiving Day comes round that they have abundant cause for giving thanks. Third Brownie. My name is Patience. You have all heard of me because I was the dear friend of Job, and you surely re- member how much I helped him. You need not expect to suc- ceed in life unless Patience sustains you when things go wrong. Perseverance and I go hand in hand, and between us we are a sure cure for failure. At any rate, give us a trial and let us see what we can do for you. Fourth Brownie. Mr. Nimble Finger is my name, and I am the one to help you make things fly. The man who pokes along in life needn't be surprised if things seem rather dull when Thanksgiving comes along. You must get a hustle on if you want to get to the front, and Mr. Nimble Finger is just the one to help you. You'll always find me at your service. Fifth Brownie. I am called Mr. Little Fellow because it's my belief that if you want to get along in this world you must not neglect the little things. Some people are always looking for something big to do, and many fail to make a success of life because they neglect the little duties and opportunities. If you don't believe what I say, just call on me for help and see if I can not prove that I am right. Sixth Brownie. My name is Cheerfulness, and if you want THANKSGIVING CELEBRA TIONS 69 to feel at Thanksgiving time that you have more blessings and comforts than you can count, just make me your friend. It is really wonderful how I can help you over the hard places in life. Why, half the battle is won when you learn to look on the cheerful side of affairs. Now with six such little fellows as we to help you along there surely is no reason why life isn't worth the living and en- joying. [Brownies take hold of hands and march slowly backivard (six abreast) until they are just in front of the line of Little Girls. They all face right and march in couples across back of stage down right side and form single line just back of curtain. They then sing the folloiving words.] Thanksgiving Hymn mmm wm ^ ^ ^^ ^m m^^ m gJEJJ *& fc£ ■^ ^#^%# ff PP For happy homes and loved ones dear, For comforts of another year; Our Father for these blessings free, We now return our thanks to Thee, Loving watch-care, tender mercy, Thy blessings to us, oh, how free! 70 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS For sunshine and refreshing rain, For harvests of the hill and plain; For life and strength and happy days, We now return our heartfelt praise. Loving praises, glad rejoicing, We now return our heartfelt praise. [Little Girls and Brownies face left and march off stage at back. Miss Thanksgiving crosses stage and zvaves her wand over Old Man, zvho awakes with a start. Miss Thanksgiving leaves the stage before he sees her.] Old Man. Where am I ? Have I been asleep, and did I dream or was my vision a reality ? Am I alone, and where are the voices who taught me the beautiful lessons of Thanksgiving? How came I to be old? I thought I was young. Ah, I remem- ber! Fool that I was, I wished for old age and was granted my desire ! Oh, to think I imagined I had nothing to be thankful for, when the world is so full of blessings ! If my dream be true, and I feel that it is, life is a wonderful thing. Oh, if I could undo my mistake! How can I endure this? Enter Miss Thanksgiving and Father Time. Miss T. Father Time, I am sure our friend has seen the folly of his ungratefulness and learned the sweet lesson of Thanksgiv- ing. I pray you restore to him the youth he has lost, that he may yet live to bless the world with his earnest labors. Old Man. Oh* indeed, I implore thee to grant her gracious request. Surely I have seen the error of my ways and repented. But give me back my youth and the happiest day of the year shall be to me the glad Thanksgiving time. Father Time. Well, I guess I shall have to favor you, but I'll keep my eyes on you in the future to be sure you are true to your promise. Come on. [Father Time leaves the stage with the Old Man, while Miss Thanksgiving goes off at the opposite side.] [curtain.] PART IV. Thanksgiving Entertainment Program FOR PRIMARY GRADES Program PART IV. I.— ACROSTIC: "Thanksgiving Day" .... II. — SONG: "Thanksgiving Day Is Here Once More" III.— RECITATION: "Story of the Pilgrims" . IV.— SONG: "Once More We Hail Thee" .... V.— EXERCISE: "Story of a Seed" VI.— EXERCISE: "Autumn of 1622" VII.— SONG: "What Makes Thanksgiving Day?" . VIII.— MOTION SONG: " For the Jolly Jack-o'-Lanterns" . IX.— CONCERT RECITATION: " Making Jack-o'-Lanterns" X. — SONG: " Three Maids of a Housekeeping Turn" . XL— RECITATION: "Three Little Cooks" . XII.— ACROSTIC: "Pumpkin-Pie" XIIL— QUOTATIONS: "The Feast Time of the Year" XIV.— RECITATION: " Thanksgivin' " XV.— RECITATION: "Why?" XVL— EXERCISE: "What Each Is Thankful For" XVIL— SONG: "Thanksgiving Song" . . . . Page 73 73 75 77 77 79 80 80 82 82 86 87 88 90 91 91 95 72 PART IV. Thanksgiving Entertainment Program FOR PRIMARY GRADES By Stanley Scheie. I. — Acrostic : "Thanksgiving Day." . . By Twelve Children [Bach child carries a banner or large card having on it one of the letters of the word "Thanksgiving." The banner or card should be decorated with cranberries, com, dried fruit, etc. Chil- dren enter one at a time. First child enters, steps on platform, speaks its line, and then shows its letter, keeping it before audi- ence. Next child follozvs first child at completion of Urst child's line, steps on platform and speaks its line, then shows its letter, etc., and so on until all are on line and the audienee sees "THANKSGIVING" spelled out.] Thanksgiving Day Thanksgiving Day has come once more Hurrah !• for all the autumn store ; Apples, fruits and nuts and grain Now plentiful and ripe again. Kind Nature spreads the mighty fe?»st, Sending her gifts now west, now east ; Gives to us all our harvest time, In many a land, in many a clime. Very thankfully here we stand, In turn we view on every hand, Not only useful things but gay, Given for this Thanksgiving Day. II. — Song: "Thanksgiving Day is Here Once More." By the Acrostic Children. 73 74 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS When Johnny Comes Marching Home Moderate. P :> j- i i. s 5 zfczi: m & SI it r~rr t r ct J- J J' l J M =*-+ JU JLJ A T— T r r w i J=l 1 -fca — MfF- J _ff , J ^J Ji^^L Aj= 3 feJ: vt & r r rr — p B=£ a* f= THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 75 [When zuords of second stanza are reached, the children be- gin to march out, the last ones making their exit on last words. ,] Thanksgiving Day Is Here Once More [Tune: "When Johnny Comes Marching Home."] Thanksgiving Day is here once more, Hurrah ! Hurrah ! Of fruits and grains we have a store, Hurrah ! Hurrah ! We come from the north, we come so gay; We come from the south, on this bright day, For we all will greet Thanksgiving Day again. We bring you pumpkins big and fair, Hurrah ! Hurrah ! And turkeys good and chickens rare, Hurrah ! Hurrah ! And pies and cakes, all crisp and sweet, And apples red, so good to eat, For we all will greet Thanksgiving Day again. III. — Recitation : "Story of the Pilgrims." Told by Nine Children (each carrying a concealed letter). [Nine children enter; -first two children recite first stanza. Bach of the following stanzas is recited by one child, until the last stanza, which is recited by two children. As soon as the last stanza is finished, the children stand a moment, then the leader holds in view the letter "M" and speaks about it, and each child in turn holds in view a letter and recites a line. At finish, the word "MAYFLOWER" is before audience.] Story of the Pilgrims Almost three hundred years ago When all the land was covered with snow, The Pilgrims came across the sea To find a home where they might be free. f6 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS The boat in which they sailed away Was the Mayflower. Many a day Will its name be sung, and the glory told Of the three months' sail in the Mayflower bold. On Plymouth Rock, they came ashore, Where no white man had been before ; Only the Indians lived there then, They'd never seen the "pale-faced" men. The Pilgrims, through cold winter days, Tried in ever so many ways To keep themselves and their children fed, But many died, I've heard it said. They built their homes of logs of wood, And in the spring as soon as they could, They planted corn and oats and wheat And other good things they liked to eat. They were so glad when harvest came And every one had plenty again, They decided to have a merry feast For every one from great to least. And so they had Thanksgiving Day, And met to feast and sing and pray, They thanked the Father who sent the rain And let the sunshine ripen the grain. The Mayflower— Acrostic Many, many years ago, Amidst the wind and sleet and snow, Ye glorious Pilgrims left the shore, THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 77 From England parted evermore. Left all their friends and kin behind On this new land a home to find. Winter was coming bleak and bare, Every one was full of care ; Reaching the shore they knelt to pray, This was the first Thanksgiving Day. IV.— Song: "Once More We Hail Thee." By School. \Tnne: "S'wanee River."] [All sing with school, then exit during last chorus.~\ Once More We Hail Thee Once more we hail the glad Thanksgiving With songs of cheer; Once more we render thanks to Heaven For blessings of the year. Chorus — Countless as the sands of ocean Or the stars above Are all the blessings to us given By Heaven's boundless love. Each promise spoken by the springtime In bud and flower Returns to us in golden harvest — Now is fulfilment's hour. Chorus — V. — Exercise; : "Story of a Seed." By Five Children. 78 THANKSGIVING CELEB R A TIONS Story of a Seed First Child [enters holding a seed in view]. THE SEED. Just a little seed, Very small indeed; Put it in the ground, In a little mound, And wait and see What it will be. Second Child [enters carrying a pumpkin vine, which may be made of tissue paper]. THE VINE. The seed became a lovely vine, That o'er the brown earth used to twine, And at our feet so very low Went on and on, to grow and grow. Third Chied [enters with a blossom]. THE FLOWER. The summer rain, the summer shine, That wet and warmed the pretty vine, Had somehow quite a wondrous power, Which wrought this lovely yellow flower. Fourth Child [enters bringing a pumpkin]. THE ERUIT. The little flower grew and grew, In sun and shower and moistening dew; And when the leaves began to fall, There lay this gorgeous yellow ball — The prize for harvest best of all. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 79 Fifth Child [enters holding a pie]. THE PIE. Hurrah for the tiny seed! Hurrah for the flower and vine! Hurrah for the golden pumpkin, Yellow, and plump, and fine! But better than all beginnings, Sure nobody can deny, Is the end of the whole procession — • This glorious pumpkin-pie. VI. — Exercise: "Autumn of 1622." By Six Children, Boys and Girls. [Children enter bearing vines, fruits, berries, pumpkins, ears of corn, etc. Children {except pumpkins) group in pyramid form. First pupil turns to audience and recites, goes back to pyra- mid and busies himself. Second pupil turns and recites, returns to his work. Bach in turn does the same.] Autumn of 1622 First Child. Such an autumn as 'twas in 1622 ! And such a harvest ! Second Child. "God be praised !" said Governor Bradford. "Let us appoint a day for solemn services of thanks to God who has poured out upon us such rich blessings." Third Child. The golden pumpkins were harvested, the corn was husked, the wild plums and grapes were gathered and preparation was made in every cabin for a generous Thanksgiving dinner - . Fourth Child. The pumpkin slicing was the best fun of all. First, the pump- kin must be halved, then it must be cut into rings, and woe to the 80 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS child so clumsy as to break these rings. Then the rings must be laid upon the table, arid the tough rinds be sliced off. Fifth Child. We must not forget the guests these people invited. Inviting company for Thanksgiving, you see, was from the first a New England custom. The guests at this first Thanksgiving were the great Indian chief Massasoit and one hundred of his braves. Sixth Child. What do you suppose the Indians thought of the roasted turkey and the pumpkin pie? They were strange guests, but the colonists were kind to them. The Indians were true to the pledge of friendship, and there was the best of feeling between them. There is no doubt that the day was a joyous one to the red men and the colonists. VII. — Song : "What Makes Thanksgiving Day?" By the School and the Six Children. What Makes Thanksgiving Day? [Tune: "Auld Lang Syne."] 'Tis not the feast so richly spread, 'Tis not the word we say, 'Tis not the greeting and the song That make Thanksgiving Day. But here's to one little thought for us, To take and put away ; Two helpful hands and one glad heart Will make Thanksgiving Day. VIII. — Motion Song: "For the Jolly J ack-o' -Lanterns." By Six Children (still on stage). THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 81 For the Jolly Jack-o'-Lanterns [Tune: "Comin Thro' the Rye."] [While singing first stanza children place pumpkins at base of pyramid and make gestures of solving seeds.] Half a dozen lads and lasses Were coming thro' the corn, Sow'd some pumpkin seeds, 'tis whispered, On an April morn. Every lassie, every laddie, Thought, with laughing eyes, Of the jolly jack-o'-lanterns And of pumpkin-pies. Children [look smilingly at audience]. Half a dozen lads and lasses, Amidst the rustling corn, Watched some pumpkin vines, 'tis whispered, On a summer morn. [Through these words children bend down and look at vines very intently.] Every raindrop, every sunbeam, Do your very best ; Make our pumpkins grow and ripen, We will do the rest. Half a dozen lads and lasses Were coming thro' the corn, Found ripe pumpkins 'midst the blossoms On an autumn morn. Proudly homeward now they bear them, Each a splendid size, For the jolly jack-o'-lanterns And the pumpkin-pies. [Through this verse children make motions of gathering pumpkins, and, at the end, they each pick up one and march into half-circle. Bach sits on his pumpkin.] 82 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS IX. — Concert Recitation: "Making J ack-o' -Lanterns." By Three Boys. {Three boys enter, each carrying a pumpkin (that has been scooped out) and a jack-knife. During the recitation each boy makes a jack-o'-lantern. The other children on the stage gather around, watching the work.] Making Jack-o'-Lanterns Just take a golden pumpkin Of quite the largest size, Cut all 'round the stem, just so, Scrape out the inside below, And cut two holes for eyes. And now fix a nose beneath, And such a great big mouth with teeth, And you've a jack-o'-lantern! Then fix a tallow candle, Just big enough to light, And when it flickers, see him blink, And when it flares up, see him wink And smile so broad and bright. This is the j oiliest sort of a fellow, With cheery face so round and yellow, This funny jack-o'-lantern. [Boys hold in view the completed jack-o'-lanterns. School sings to tune of "Old Oaken Bucket."] Then here's to the lantern, the plump pumpkin lantern, The old jack-o'-lantern we all love so well! X. — Song : "Three Maids of a Housekeeping Turn." By Three Girls. [Three girls enter carrying breadpans, spoons and recipe- book. They sit on front of stage, put pans on their laps, and sing the folloiving song, the other girls eagerly watching them.] THANKSGIVING CELEBRA TIONS Three Maids of a Housekeeping Turn 63 ijfoflj** n ' 1 A k — s- ■Br e - - N "N - V"*' F ^ "^ ^ ^ ' >< — N — ^H Three maids of a housekeeping -J — * — r— *-- tarn are we, With — 1 ! ; ! -# — m— c wr-* 2 -* — implements ready for fe^r-r -d J 2 5 _J * _| «_ — 1 1 1 — -• « — -* » — i/ •**♦*• -5. .5. • -• • » I — -J 1 ! T-. 1? u<4 • 1 • * 1 * | » | * - > ' t> 'i^U I J /-p ■ 9 ,_ V S a ,\t U * — f< — is — i " 8r~fc 1 — k- & & — v «s H, h ' K " f* 1 JL-b II™ * J J *f i" # j j /»? B • • * / i is, »s ' * * m 1.1. \; " ^ ■** ^ work, you see. S oons and pans, and a long re- ci -pe, For the n — r — i e== making of pumpkin '-^ r— i— f= u # — ; a i i j -« — ^ — # — a* — - — * — • — r^ — i -0 c — - m , ! : i i Ck--U t — I J J aH ._.| * > # - J i * >V i> J — * — J— - — i — = 1 — i 1 !«■* — « 3 V a S 4 * 4 9 # ^^" & 1st girl. 2d girl. fcfc± -^MF pies. Stir, and stir, till you stir long e-nough ; Roll the crust so it S= s -# — _L^ , ; ^^^S*-" 9 +*£ — 4- iss 3S I s 3» GIRL. JS __&h -+—*—4- *— R fr - fr *- * » N g— p g " fafcih won't be tough; Dainti-ly season it — this is the stufFFor the making of pumpkin fe£ m CE * *==*=* =S 3— 4- 3=r fefeE i 84 THANKSGIVING CELEBRA TIONS tit Three Maids of a Housekeeping Turn— Continued :2= =m N N- S-? pies, For the mak-ing of pump-kin pies. Oh ! Listen and learn from I i T— -1 r =t=t :# — $£ »S:-g -P 8 £ rrV fc=5r ■P— E -> — »—#—#- ■§=*-*: us that we tell — Oh! choose out a pumpkin big and yel-low, Left till the sun-shine ■0- -0- -0- -0- *^ * r m& id2=fc3t=fc i * r — 9 d m- . - ft * i * i i * — i — * — ri-* fe 11 ■ N - — » — * Pv- — F made it mel-low, Use it for pumpkin pies. Oh! use it for pumpkin pies fe ~ m 9\ \*V m ^=? ♦ * ■& •¥ •*■ ^ $ ^-rzr -*^* §Sfel -* — • — * i* i *z :£=*: 3t3S fcc FM- 3= *£ 1st girl. 2d girl. -N S N- 32=5=3=; -* — # — 0- V — 9—9- Cov-er the tins with the flak - y crust, Sprink-le the pie with ife^ -m *— THANKSGIVING CELEB R A TIONS 85 :i^ Three Maids of a Housekeeping Turn— Concluded 3d girl. all. r-^i --* — *- cin - na- mon dust. There's sci-ence and skill, and art, I trust, In the fe£ & q: fe 3t=* gfeg — S g >-0— -0- •*■ ■*• -• * ™ T„ •0- -0- -0- if • i--!=3- =F=jC 1st girl. -*— a & fit -*-^ mak-ing of pumpkin pies. Be sure that the ov - en is pip - ing hot; Z± V s! ^«== gE=i -F-*^ — ^ — -^- sg -y — J te 2n GIRL. -fe N- Sd girl. BE -N — s 2=ze=e: -*--# -*-P-h* £-g Put in the, pie, and spill it not; Bake it un-til it is done to a dot. fer P I>. S. al Fine. IS Beau - ti - ful pump- kin pies, Beau-ti - ful pump - kin pies. i t fe3 Dr ^ *- V §^ ±=t fB: P 86 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS All: Listen and learn from us what we tell, — oh, Choose out a pumpkin big and yellow, Left till the sunshine made it mellow, Use it for pumpkin-pies. [All trip out.] XL— Recitation : "Three Little Cooks." By Three Girls. [Three girls enter dressed as cooks, each carrying a huge pumpkin-pie. ] Three Little Cooks All Three Girls. Three little cooks are we, We bring our pies for you to see. First Girl. I rolled the crust all smooth and thin, And crimped the edges around the tin. Second Girl. I mixed the pumpkin sweet and nice, And sprinkled in the fragrant spice. Third Girl. I baked it till it was golden brown, The finest pumpkin-pie in town. [All on platform cluster about the three little cooks, in atti- tudes pleading for a piece of pie. The little cooks hold pies high.] [All sing: Tune: "Old Oaken Bucket."] The big pie of pumpkin, of golden brown pumpkin, Please give me a piece of the big pumpkin-pie. [All kneel around cooks who hold pies aloft.] [While all are kneeling ten small children enter, each with a card. As each child enters it recites a stanza, takes a position so as to form a line just behind the kneeling girls and the cooks, and holds the letter well in view. When all ten children have entered and their letters spell "PUMPKIN-PIE," children all shout, "Ah! the lovely pumpkin-pie!" The cooks slyly slip away; the kneel- ing children quickly follow and the Acrostic Children follow last.] THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 87 XII. — Acrostic : "Pumpkin-Pie." Pumpkin-Pie— Acrostic P is for Polly, So happy and gay, Who planted some seed One sunny spring day. XJ is for Uncle, Who worked with the hoe. He cared for the plants, And helped them to grow. M is for Marjorie, Who saw the big leaves, And bright yellow bud Which hid underneath. P is for Philip, Who quickly did run To tell of the flower, As bright as the sun. K is for Kitty, Who first told us all, She saw a green pumpkin, So round and so small. I is for Ira; A wee little fellow, •Who saw the green turning, And said, " Tis all yellow.' 1 JJ is for Nora, Who said it was time To bring in the pumpkin, Ere frost killed the vine. 88 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS P is for Papa, Who late in the fall, Paraded the treasure Through kitchen and hall. I is for Ida, Our good-natured cook, Who'd rather do baking Than read from a book. E is for Every Dear girl and boy, Who greets her good pies With gladness and joy. Kill. — Quotations: "The Feast Time of the Year." By Five Children. The Feast Time of the Year By Dora Reed GoodaeE. First - Child. This is the feast time of the year When hearts grow warm and home more dear; When autumn's crimson torch expires, To flash again in winter's fires. This is the feast time of the year, When Plenty pours her wine of cheer; Let rich and poor together break The bread of love for Christ's sweet sake. Second Child. Harvest is come. The bins are full, The barns are running o'er ; Both grains and fruits we've garnered in Till we've no space for more. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 89 We've worked and toiled through heat and cold To plant, to sow, to reap ; And now for all this bounteous store Let us Thanksgiving keep. Third Child. Then lift up the head with a song! And lift up the hand with a gift ! To the ancient Giver of old The spirit in gratitude lift ! For the joy and the promise of spring, For the hay and the clover sweet, The barley, the rye, and the oats, The rice, and the corn, and the wheat; The cotton, and sugar, and fruit, The flowers and the fine honeycomb, The country, so fair and so free, The blessing and glory of home. Fourth Child. Not for broad lands and gold, I wis, Fat crops and ripening weather; Our fathers in the wilderness Knelt and praised God together : When the grim forest's icy bound With hardships hemmed the wanderers 'round, When dangers lurked behind, — Nay, in death's very teeth, they found Faith and a thankful mind. Fifth Child. Great God ! we thank Thee for this home, This bounteous birth-land of the free; Where wanderers from afar may come And breathe the air of liberty \ 90 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Still may her flowers untrammeled spring, Her harvests wave, her cities rise: And yet, till Time shall fold her wing Remain Earth's loveliest paradise. [All children join hands and recite.] Now is the time to forget all your cares, Cast every trouble away; Think of your blessings, remember your joys, Don't be afraid to be gay! None are too old and none are too young To frolic on Thanksgiving Day. [As these five children exit in dignified fashion, a very small boy enters, looks at the others and recites as he walks along. ] XIV. — Recitation : " T hanks givin' ." By Very Small Boy. Thanksgivin' By Bud Smith. White Meat, Dark Meat, Punkin Pie, Turkey Stuffin' Piled sky-high; Giblets Gravy, Three kinds o' cake — Jelly, Chalklut, 'N' Stom'c-ake, No School Friday, Got a Gun, — Ain't Thanksgivin' Lots of Fun? [As this boy exits, next small boy is coming in. On reach- ing stage front center, he addresses his lines to audience; looks questioningly at them and exits, slowly shaking his head.] THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 91 XV.— Recitation : "Why?" By Very Small Boy. Why? I've noticed on Thanksgiving Day, With strangers or my own folks, That little boys can always eat A great deal more than grown folks, Of turkey or of pumpkin-pie — Will someone please to tell me why? XVI. — Exercise: "What Bach Is Thankful For." By Seven Children. What Each Is Thankful For i. Indian Girl. I'm a little Indian girl And on Thanksgiving Day, I'm thankful for the plains and woods Where I can run and play. 2. Puritan Maid. i I'm a little Puritan maid, And on Thanksgiving Day — I'm thankful for the brave, true men Who conquered every foe. 3. Modern Maid. I've read of many little girls, Who lived in many a clime, But I am thankful that I live Just at this present time. [Little girls all make abrupt bows and run off together."] 92 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 4. Six-year-old Boy. I'm thankful that I'm six years old, And that I've left off dresses ; And that I've had my curls cut off, — Some people call 'em tresses. Such things were never meant for boys ;— Horrid dangling, tangling curls — They go quite well with dress and sash: They are just the thing for girls. I'm thankful I've got pockets four, Tho' they're almost too small To hold the things I want to keep ; — Some strings, knife, top, and ball. I'm thankful that we're going to have, All my folks and I, Just a jolly dinner to-day, With turkey and mince pie. O, one thing more, my mamma says, And what she says is true ; 'Tis God who gives us everything, And keeps and loves us too. And so I thank Him very much For all that I enjoy ; And hope that next Thanksgiving Day Will find a better boy. 5. Small Girl. (Poem :" Thankful For What?" By Frances Meacham.) What am I thankful for? v Why, don't you know? Thankful to live, And thankful to grow; Thankful for feeling, And hearing, and sight; THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 93 Thankful for playing From morning till night; Thankful for bread And butter, and milk ; Thankful for clothes Tho' not made of silk; Thankful for father, And thankful for mother, But most of all For the dear little brother. 6. Six-year-old Boy. (Poem: " Tommy's Thanksgiving." By Elizabeth H. Thomas.) I'm thankful for a lot of things: I'm thankful I'm alive, I'm thankful that I'm six years old, Instead of only five. I'm thankful for my tops and toys And for my Kitty Gray; I'm thankful for the big outdoors Where I can run and play. I'm thankful for the things that grow, The apples — aren't they good? The corn where we played hide-and-seek, As in a little wood. I'm thankful for the pumpkins round, Just like a golden ball, And jack-o'-lanterns, big and queer, They don't scare me at all. I'm thankful for Thanksgiving Day, For pies all in a row ; I'm thankful grandma made them sweet, She knows I like them so. 94 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS I'm thankful for the turkey, too, How brown it is and nice! And I'd be very thankful, please, For only one more slice. 7. Small Girl. (Poem: " Kitty's Thanksgiving." By Mabel Packard.) Little Kitty, are you thankful For the things you have to eat, For the turkey bones and gravy, For the milk and custard sweet, For the bed out in the sunshine I have made so soft for you — Kitty, do you s'pose you're thankful? You must purr and say you do. Long ago my people, Kitty, Came and made Thanksgiving day, And you couldn't have this dinner If we hadn't come to stay. Savages in paint and feathers Might have now belonged to you. Kitty, do you s'pose you're thankful? You must purr and say you do. I have worked for you, my Kitty, Kept the naughty boys away, Warmed your milk and fed you catnip, Thought about you night and day. Lots of little cats are homeless That are just as good as you — Kitty, do you s'pose you're thankful? How you purr! I know you do. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 95 XVII. — Song : "Thanksgiving Song." By Entire School. Thanksgiving Song First, a bit of springtime,Green leaves over head, Then a bit of summer, With its sun and showers Next a bit of autumn, Crimson skies a-bove — Last, a bit of win-ter, Time of gay good cheer; Birds that sing and buds that spring, All in white and red. Days a-glow that bud and blow Sweet as fragrant flowers. Reddened leaves and ripened sheaves — Little songs of love. Seasons small — it takes them all, To make one glad year. Chorus. w . w j> . _,* . a_ -v Eg 33 -& — r-J To the kind All - Fa-ther, On Thanksgiving Day, -k— 5 — z — j — ^ — g — i — p + n ^— #■ -N-V :£: -*- For the hap-py, hap-py year,Thank you,now,we say. CUNNINq TZfJ?J/IZY[ tc/rk.h MARRY M£r, I/£ J Zl AZISAYS\ ZII/FAS °NE-. MV D&4R, F°R I'D £AT y°v UP, Y°U ^5££: I'MJiAPPY °N TfMNKS-* Q1VINQ. I'V£- &4T£N TILL I'M BUT I WISH JtltPHANT. TfffN I \ C°UID M°LD L°T3 J M°R£-. PART V. Thanksgiving Selections PART V. Recitations PAGE Around Thanksgiving Time.. 188 Child's Thanksgiving 163 Country Thanksgiving 177 Elder Sniffles's Thanksgiving Dinner 150 Farmer John's Thanksgiving . . 154 First Thanksgiving (poem) ... 158 First Thanksgiving (mono- logue) 99 Five Kernels of Corn in Freedom's Thanksgiving Day. 156 Give Thanks 178 Gossip of the Nuts 168 His Riches 176 His Thanksgiving Dream 132 Home for Thanksgiving 122 I'll Be at Home Thanksgiving.. 141 Ingin Summer 144 John White's Thanksgiving. . . 164 Little Turkey Gobbler 122 "Makin' Things A-Purpose to Be Et" 186 Miner's Thanksgiving 148 My Thanksgiving 103 " My Tumick's Got a Pain". . . 159 Neddie's Thanksgiving Visit. . 117 Night Before Thanksgiving. . . 171 Pessimistic Gratitude 140 Pumpkin-Pie 128 Reasons for Thanks 130 Signs of the Times 169 Tanksgibbin Turkey 167 Thank the Creator, Not the Created 175 PAGE Thankful Frog and Unthankful Cat igg Thanksgiving 166 Thanksgiving 147 Thanksgiving 104 Thanksgiving 124 Thanksgiving (acrostic) 191 Thanksgiving at the Farm 137 Thanksgiving Chicken 165 Thanksgiving Day 135 , Thanksgiving Dinner 120 Thanksgiving Gourmand 143 Thanksgiving in Old Virginia. 185 Thanksgiving in the Gold Dig- gings 106 Thanksgiving Legend 128 Thanksgiving Lesson 133 Thanksgiving Magician 104 Thanksgiving on Herring Hill. 112 Thanksgiving Ride of the Pumpkins 118 Thanksgiving Sermon. ....... 146 Thanksgiving Song for Little Folks 184 Thanksgiving Story 125 Thanksgiving, Then and Now (play) 181 Thanksgiving Toasts 192 Thanksgiving Wooing 173 Tit for Tat 161 Tommybob's Thanksgiving Vision 1 09 Tommy's Dinner 179 Turkey of Life 163 Where the Mince-Pie Grows . . 119 PART V. Thanksgiving Selections The First Thanksgiving Monologue for a Woman By Paueine A. Bristow. [Adapted from Jane Austin's " Standish of Standish."] Scene : The great cooking room at Plymouth. Characters: Priscilea MuleEns in Puritan garb; John Alden and others supposed to be present. Nay, then, John, thy look is so serious that I must e'en try to lighten it by a rare bit of news ; — 'Governor Bradford hath re- solved upon a day, or rather a week, of holiday and of thanksgiv- ing for the mercies God hath showed us. Think of it, John ! A whole week of feasting and holiday ! Nay, stop not to answer ; I can not listen ; for they look to me for the marchpanes and man- chets and plum-porridge and all manner of tasty cates, not to speak of possets. And the Indians have been invited to take part in our feast; dost see them yonder by the fire at the head of Middle Street? Massasoit and Quadequina and a dozen others, all looking as dig- nified as if they were akin to the good Monarch over the seas. See how Massasoit is talking to that big chieftain who was never here before; I fancy I hear his. low gutturals! I'll be bound he is ex- plaining that by this feast the white men propitiate the Great Spirit and engage him both to prosper them and kill their enemies. Ah ! here come Mary Chilton and Desire Minter and Elizabeth Tilley. To work, girls ! Spread the long table in the open air for the men, and make ready the wooden bowls of butter and treacle and clam chowder. Know you how to soak the sea-biscuit in broth? Brave girls! Fetch the pieces of cold boiled beef and 100 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS have plenty of mustard. Here are the turnips, and I know who loves them, eh, John? There is but one thing thou lov'st better? I'll thank thee, John Alden, not to stand staring at me as if thou hadst never seen me before, but carry these white and purple grapes and luscious plums to Dame Brewster. Watch thy steps, for I want the dear mother to have them all. Deary me, girls, do hear those Indians whoop ! If they eat as much as they yell, we shall have little to spare. What's that, Mary? A bushel of popcorn which Quadequina brought? I have ever averred that kindness dwelt in his dusky bosom. Ah, how good it is ! Don't give it all to Elizabeth Chilton, John Howland ; she might break her teeth on it. What, John Alden, back already ! Didst give the grapes and plums to Dame Brewster and not drop them by the way? But sure, lad, thou didst not tarry for her thanks. Such haste will be thy ruin some day. Thou feared'st that I might need thee ? Well, well, thou think'st thou art of some importance in this world. Did I ever say that I needed thee? Bestir yourselves, girls ; blithely, blithely, dear ones, and later we will don our dainty toggery. What say you to some ells of spanwide lace to trim our Sunday kirtles? Think you that Mis- tress Winslow would tear it away with her own fingers ? Think'st not, John? Why, prithee? Because Master Winslow himself weareth cambric ruffs on occasion ? And his dame hath a paduasoy kirtle and mantle ? Marry, come up ! How wise the lad hath grown ! Hast been pondering women's clothes instead of the books Captain Standish gives thee to study? Deary me ! if I had but some Spanish chestnuts to stuff these turkeys, they might seem more like their brethren across the seas. Yes, John, I agree that their flavor is better, and their size finer. Now, if this one were but a goose, I would name it John, 'twould be so prodigious a goose ! Come, come, stand not there idle ; there is much to do, and scant time to talk of it. I must have wood and water galore to make meat for a hundred men. So stir thyself! Why not stuff the turkeys with beechnuts? You have store of THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 101 them at your cottage ? How came they there ? Doth our doughty Captain Standish go bird's-nesting and nutting in his by-times? Well, John Alden, if thou gathered'st those nuts for me, why have I not seen them? Thou feared'st I'd flout thee? Oh, sure, never was a poor maid so bestead with blind men ! Hast not discovered ere this how I dote upon beechnuts ? There ! get thee gone for them. My sweet Elizabeth, how glad I am to see those great clam and scallop shells! John Howland presented them to thee? My blessing on him. They're just the things for my oyster-compote. We'll set them in the ashes to roast, and in a twinkling we'll have a toothsome dainty ! 'Twill be a novelty and will set off the board famously. And yon dishes of salad with autumn leaves twined around them will make a picture long to be had in mind. And we must have plentiful flagons of ale ; the poor men are aweary with work and needs must have potations ; my thanks to the Indians for teaching us to flavor with sassafras ; it improves the drink vastly. Ah ! here thou art, John, with the nuts, and a beautiful supply thou hast. Whenever I use beechnuts with my turkeys after this, I'll call it goose-dressing in honor of thee, John ! Lad, lad, that serious face pleases me not; I like sunshine in face as well as in sky. Thou hast something to say to me? A bad time to say any- thing of consequence, but say on while I work. What thou hast to say is for my ear alone ! And exp'ect'st to be humored ? I have noted that if thou canst drive a bashful youth out of his bashful- ness, there are no bounds to his forwardness. But be it as thou wilt. Maids, maids ! will you run to the Common-house, and set the table there for the women and children ? There they go, but I fear me the table will be all awry. Now, Master John Alden, have thy say and be done. What ! thou art sent to me with a proffer of marriage ! Thou art sent, John Alden! Who sent thee? Captain Miles Standish? Indeed ! And was it too much honor to a poor maid for him to do his own errand? John Alden, art thou and thy master joined in league to flout and insult me, an orphaned maid? He spoke to my father before he died of a marriage in time to come between 102 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS him and me ? And he feared his silence might seem to me to be a want of eagerness on his part ? Ay, I see ! He feared that I was angered that he had not wooed me across his wife's and my father's graves, and so thrust thee forward to bear the first out- burst of my fury ! 'Twas kindly thought on, if not over-valiant, and 'tis an honorable, a noble office for thee, John, who hast at odd times thrown me a soft word thyself. Oh, yes, that's all very well ! Thou say'st I know that thou lov'st me as blind men love sight and dying men water, and so on. Then why don't you speak for yourself, John? But honor is a great thing with thee, and I know thou wilt not speak till thou hast delivered the message thou wast commissioned to bring. Yes, I know Captain Miles Standish comes of noble lineage ; that among his ancestors are men of brave deeds and proud achievements ; and that among them hath never risen a braver or a nobler or a more honorable man than he who now woos me. Did he bid thee say all that, or is it thy loyalty to a friend that forces thee to speak him so fair? I know his name is unstained, and he offers it to me. He offers me some coat- armor, a long lineage, and courage, both ancestral and personal, and — what else? I forget, but surely there was no love among these commodities. Didst drop it by the way, or did the Captain forget to send it? Hast done? Hast said all thy say ? Then listen to me ; clear thy memory and make room for my answer. Oh, thou know'st how to dress an unwelcome message in comely phrase better than any other man of mine acquaintance, so try thy skill on simple No, for 'tis all I have to say. And now, having done thy duty, why stand'st thou there look- ing at me with eyes sad as sorrow? I am aweary of thee, John Alden, and fain would be alone, so I wish thee Godspeed and a keener wit. Still here? Will— I— be— thy— wife !! ! Nay, then, John, why didst not ask that at first, rather than at last? Thou art too fond of quip and quirk and wordy warfare, John Alden ; too much given to fence and intrigue. Again the same words? Nay, I never could bear a cuckoo-song all on two notes, and if thou art THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 103 bound to say that phrase over and over till 'tis answered — . What ! again and yet again? How can I see my work if thou stand'st so near? Well, then, — yes, John, I will be thy wife, and now I hope thou art content ! Oh, don't, don't, John, for shame ! What would Mistress Winslow say? My Thanksgiving By Arthur Goodenough. I am glad that I believe there is a God, And glad that I believe in a hereafter; That I accept His reasonable Word And base my hope upon it. And glad that I believe that God is good, That out of love He shared with man His being; Breathed His own soul into the clay that He Had fashioned in His image. I am glad that I believe in Him through all, And though I sin and suffer ill thereafter, When all is said, and all has been summed up My faith remains unshaken. I am glad my creed is something more divine Than one of merely human composition; And writ in stars, in continents and clouds, And in the heart of nature ! I am glad that I refuse, rebuke, repulse The words of atheists and evil doers And shun the babblings of evil men, Which savor of destruction! And though I feel the need of many things, That serve to make the wheels of life run smoother, Still shines the Light of Life upon my path, And lamps my feet forever ! 104 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Thanksgiving For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped, For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped, For the sun and the dew and the sweet honey-comb, For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home — Thanksgiving ! Thanksgiving ! For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land, For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand, For the good that our artists and poets have taught For the friendship that hope and affection have brought — Thanksgiving ! Thanksgiving ! For the homes that with purest affection are blest, For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest, For our country extending from sea to sea, The land that is known as the "Land of the Free !" Thanksgiving ! Thanksgiving ! The Thanksgiving Magician By Rose Terry Cooke. I dreamed a dream, such a wonderful dream Come listen, my little lad ! A dream so living about Thanksgiving It made me sad and glad. I thought that I saw a table spread In a low and narrow room, Its boards were bare, and the men that were there Wore looks of care and gloom. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 105 There were women, too, so pale and thin That my heart ached in my breast, And children so quiet ! No merry riot, No laughter, song, or jest. There were trenchers on the table set, And pitchers of water fair. But for all the feast for greatest and least What do you think was there ? By every plate five grains of corn, Five kernels and no more ; Five kernels of corn was that dinner forlorn, For I counted them o'er and o'er. The reverend men they said a prayer, And long they thanked the Lord, For this that was left for them bereft Of all but His Holy Word. Then while I looked with wonder sore I saw the oddest sprite Glide softly round, without a sound; But none of them saw the sight. A scythe across his shoulder hung, And he touched each crispy grain. One turned to a pie all crusted high, But how I can never explain. Another swelled to a turkey brown, And some to joints of meat. There was boiled, and roast, and quails on toast, And all good things to eat. • 106 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS The dames who wore their kirtles of gray- In velvet swept the ground, And girls and boys with merry noise Made all the house resound. And "Oh!" I said, in a whisper small, "Good elf with the scythe and glass, Thou doest well, but thy name pray tell, And how this cometh to pass !" He smiled and sighed and smiled again, And his voice like a Christmas chime Said : "I am a seer, I work wonders here ; Mortal ! my name is Time." Then listen and learn, my little lad : Though troubles and years increase, Life is worth living ; so keep Thanksgiving, For time brings plenty and peace. A Thanksgiving In the Gold Diggings By Elus Proctor. It was Thanksgiving night at Rainy Lake. The wind shrieked outside of the Lake House, but little was it heeded by the hilarious crowd within. "Here's to you, Kimball ! Give us another story !" they shouted, as they emptied their glasses at a draught. "Well, boys, if you will have it, here goes. It was in '49 that my brother and I left our home in a little town in Massachusetts, and set out for the gold-fields in California. "Just before the gold fever took possession of my brother, he became engaged to a neighbor's daughter who looked with little favor upon his 'fool's errand/ as she called it. However, she THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 107 finally gave her consent to his going, agreeing to wait one year for him to return and marry her; but before we had been gone six months we learned that my brother's promised wife had married another man. "Well, up to the time my brother received the unwelcome news from home, we worked our claim almost day and night, and had salted down several thousand dollars' worth of dust; but that letter meant ruin to my brother, and a great deal of trouble and anxiety for me. Ben " "What's the matter there, you old scarecrow ? Boys, I believe this old duffer's as loony as a sun-struck owl," said Dejerio, the proprietor, as he lifted an old, decrepit man to his seat on a beer- keg from which he had just fallen. "He's been winkin' an' blinkin' at Kimball for the last ten minutes, an' startin' an' jumpin' like a man in his sleep. Go ahead there, Kimball, an' you, old chap, get- er-brace on yerself an' keep quiet." "As I was going to say," resumed Kimball, "Ben lost his interest in the mine, and would knock off work for a week or two at a time and tramp about from one place to another till he got broke, and then come back and work right smart for a few days, and then off again. Ben had never been a drinking man, and I never knew him to touch a pack of cards in the old days at home ; but after his trouble began the hardest kind of tanglefoot that they had at the diggings — and three fingers of some of it was pretty sure death — wasn't any too strong for him, and many a time did I drag him away from the card-table at two or three o'clock in the morning." "Hi, there ! you lunatic," broke in Dejerio. "What's you talkin' 'bout now?" "Oh, he ain't sayin' nothin' but, 'that's so,' " said Bill, a gambler who stood near the beer-keg. "And the strangest part of it was," Kimball went on, "that, although he didn't know anything about cards, if there was a big pot of dust on the table, he always won. He didn't care any more about the gold than as though it was so much tin, but he just loved 108 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS the excitement of winning it. All that he lived for was excite- ment — anything to make him forget his troubles. "One Sunday afternoon there were about forty of us crowded around the tables in Dead-shot Dick's parlor. The parlor opened out of the bar, and more hard liquor went over that threshold in an hour than Rainy Lake has seen yet. Everybody was flush, and nearly everybody had taken more liquor than was good for him. Before night, I think without any question that nine-tenths of the money in that room had shifted into the hands of two sharp- ers, the only ones in the crowd who had kept sober and knew what they were about. Up to this time my brother had taken no part in the games, but as the sharpers' last victim left his chair, my brother took his seat, and placing a bag containing a thousand dollars in gold on the table, said : 'Cover that, boys, and the best man wins.' "With a sly glance at each other the two sharpers accepted the challenge, and passed the cards to my brother for him to deal. As he was shuffling the cards, he noticed something about them that aroused his suspicion, and handing them to me, he said : 'Here, Will, put these in your pocket and get a new pack at the bar.' "This move surprised the sharpers and they could not quite hide their confusion, but the new cards were procured, and the game began. It was plain to see that the sharpers were more or less rattled, and my brother quite easily won the three thousand dollars. Handing a thousand to me, he let the rest remain on the table and said to the sharpers : 'Here goes again, boys, — my pile against yours.' But they didn't like risking all they had on one game, and wanted to make it an even thousand apiece. 'Whole hog or none,' said my brother as he made a motion as if to take away his winnings, and the sharpers, seeing that he meant what he said, gave in. "Talk about excitement ! Why, the bar didn't do any busi- ness for the next twenty minutes. Every man of them was watch- ing that game as though somebody's life, instead of a few thou- THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 109 sand dollars, was at stake. Suddenly two or three of us who were looking on saw one of the sharpers make an effort to substitute another card for one of those that he held in his hand. My brother saw the movement, too, and accused the man of an at- tempt to cheat. The sharper pulled his gun, but Ben was too quick for him, and when the smoke cleared away we found one sharper stretched out on the floor, and the other had 'lit out.' Of course, nobody blamed Ben for the shooting, but he was terribly cut up over it, and the next day he left the diggings and I have never seen him since." "Did the sharper pass in his checks, or was he only winged ?" asked someone. "Only winged," replied Kimball, "and in less than a month he was well enough to be fired out of town." The old man on the beer-keg had arisen, with hands uplifted, with face as white as death, and trembling in every limb, he stood with his staring eyes fixed upon Kimball. "Thank God ! thank God!" he exclaimed, and falling to his knees, raised his clasped hands before him, in silent prayer. The crowd of rough, careless men fell away from the kneel- ing man, in awe. Even Dejerio's ready tongue was hushed. Kimball, with a troubled look, approached the kneeling figure. Suddenly the old man's face assumed a happy, peaceful expres- sion. There was a slight tremor of his wornout frame, and Kim- ball stooped to gaze into the transfigured face of his brother Ben! Tommybob's Thanksgiving Vision By Anna M. Pratt. It was Thanksgiving evening, and Tommybob slept, While over his pillow Thanksgiving dreams crept ; They whispered, the while he grew rigid with fear: "Look out, for the ghosts of the slaughtered are near !" 110 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Alack ! though he strained and he struggled to rise, He was held down by pickles of marvelous size, That stood like policemen each side of his bed, With revolvers of cinnamon aimed at his head. Then in walked a turkey, bespattered with mud, And with gobbles which curdled poor Tommybob's blood, — The lack of a liver and a load of fine dressing Made it beat with its drum-sticks until 'twas distressing. It perched on the footboard and whispered : "I'll stay And hiccough, young man, till next Thanksgiving day." While an inward commotion young Tommy was feeling, Some celery sprang from his chest to the ceiling, And under the shade of its fast-growing trees A pepper-box waltzed with a piece of green cheese ; Fried oysters rode bicycles made of mince pies, And each took a "header" right into his eyes ; A plum pudding camped on a terrible ache, And doubled its fists at a large jelly cake ; While raisins unnumbered fell over in fits — ■ Which frightened poor Tommybob out of his wits. As the nuts fell like hail, someone sounded a gong, And at once all the company joined in a song: "Woe, woe to thee, Tommybob ! Many a night We'll dance on thy bed till thou tremblest with fright, Till thou learnst that thy stomach should not be abused, For know that thy gluttony'll not be excused." Then at Tommy they sprang. He uttered a groan, And, lo ! they all vanished, and he was alone. Tommybob has decided a greedy young sinner Has to pay a big price for a Thanksgiving dinner, And that eating to live will make much finer living Than living to eat, as he did on Thanksgiving. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 111 Five Kernels of Corn By Hezekiah Butterworth. 'Twas the year of the famine in Plymouth of old, The ice and the snow from the thatched roofs had rolled. Through the warm purple skies steered the geese o'er the seas And the woodpeckers tapped in the clocks of the trees; And the boughs on the slopes to the south winds lay bare, And dreaming of summer the buds swelled in air. The pale Pilgrims welcomed each reddening morn ; There were left but for rations five kernels of corn. Five kernels of corn ! Five kernels of corn ! But to Bradford a feast were five kernels of corn! "Five kernels of corn ! Five kernels of corn ! Ye people, be glad for five kernels of corn !" So Bradford cried out on bleak Burial Hill, And the thin women stood in their doors white and still. 'Xo, the harbor of Plymouth rolls bright in the spring, The maples grow red, and the wood-robins sing, The west wind is blowing, and fading the snow, And the pleasant pines sing, and the arbutuses blow. Five kernels of corn ! Five kernels of corn ! To each one be given five kernels of corn !" O Bradford of Austerfield, haste on thy way. The west winds are blowing o'er Provincetown Bay, The white avens bloom, but the pine domes are chill, And new graves have furrowed Precisioners' Hill ! "Give thanks, all ye people, the warm skies have come, The hilltops are sunny, and green grows the- holm, And the trumpets of winds, and the white March is gone, And ye still have left you five kernels of corn. Five kernels of corn ! Five kernels of corn ! Ye have for Thanksgiving five kernels of corn! 112 THANKSGIVING CEIEBRATIONS "The raven's gift eat and be humble and pray, A new light is breaking, and Truth leads your way, One taper a thousand shall kindle. Rejoice That to you has been given the wilderness voice !" O Bradford of Austerfield, daring the wave, And safe through the sounding blasts leading the brave, Of deeds such as thine was the free nation born, And the festal world sings the "five kernels of corn." Five kernels of corn ! Five kernels of corn ! The nation gives thanks for five kernels of corn ! To the Thanksgiving feast bring five kernels of corn ! Thanksgiving On Herring Hill By Julia M. Tenney. [Cutting from original story, used by permission of the Chautauqtian.'] "Good-bye, Aunt Susan. Take good care of yourself and the house, and we will be home again on Saturday," and Mrs. Van Arsdale drew her head in at the carriage window. The family was' off to take Thanksgiving dinner at the old homestead ten miles away. Aunt Susan stood watching the departing vehicle till a cor- ner of the street hid it from view ; then she began giving her orders. "Here you, Jane ! Don' you be'er-standin' dar gappin' down de street all day. Don' you know dis's Thanksgibin' day, and dar'll be fifty ob de ladies and gemmen ob our 'quaintance here to-night for to 'joy de supper we-uns got to 'vide? You go an' kill fo' ob dem good sized hens. Now min' you don' make no mis- take an' git massa's young chickens, ca'se I's left in charge ob dis here place, an I ain't gwine 'low de tings what de fambly prize ter be 'sturbed — not if I knows it. Here, Patrick Henry, you an' George Washington come kerry ebery blessed bit ob de furniture THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 113 cep'n' jes' de table an' cheers outen dis dinin'-room an' set it in de parlor, an' I'll lock de do' so dey'll be all safe an' soun'. Polly, you come he'p me beat up er couple ob cakes an' some doughnuts. Dis time las' week prospec's look mighty black for dis here sup- per, but now de good Lord's done 'ranged eberyt'ing jes' right; de whole fambly done gone away, an' dey done took dat meddlin', tattlin' ole mammy wid 'em, an' my key jes' fits de store-room lock, an' de sunshine ob prosperity is above us!" "Well, if here ain' Lindy Jackson ! How in de lan's name did she git here dis time 'er day !" "How's yer, Miss Lindy? Walk in an' take a seat. Dat's a fine mince pie youse got dar. I reckon you run ober wid it while Mis' Smith was down-town." Jane now returned with the four dead chickens which she be- gan to pick while she sang: "I n-e-e-d thee every h-o-u-r." Patrick Henry and George Washington reported the furni- ture moved, and were sent by Aunt Susan on a collecting tour to the various houses where the expected guests were employed. The first house they visited was Dr. Cooke's, and Mrs. Sarah Primus, who attended to the culinary department there, was watching, with a quart of beautiful, large oysters. Lieutenant Paul's was the next kitchen visited, and here Mrs. Mahala Reed reigned supreme and "nothing was kept under lock and key." At length the bucket was about filled with oysters, while the piled market basket caused some narrow escapes in its transit to the Van Arsdale home, for the people were now coming home from the churches. Evening came and found Mrs. Susan Washington standing in front of the long glass in the large chamber usually occupied by the lady of the house, holding her breath till her eyes literally bulged from the sockets, while Jane (who as supper chambermaid was supposed to be an authority upon toilets) strained till the belt of Mrs. Van Arsdale's second best black silk gave a warning crack, in her efforts to make it meet around Aunt Susan's forty- two inch waist. 114 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS "Tain' no use, Mis' Washington, 'wont meet, not by six inches ; but I kin jes' pin it on each side, and dar's a han'some pink sash in Miss Flora's bureau what I kin pin ober de gap. It's er long train so it won' hitch up much in de back nohow." "Yes," said the suffering victim, "but what'n de land's name '11 I do 'bout de wais' ?" Jane looked blank for a moment, but she stepped to the ward- robe and produced a lavendar silk breakfast sacque, with a cas- cade of soft lace falling its full length from the throat, and helped Aunt Susan into it. "Lor', maw, yer do look gran' !" giggled Polly. "But, come, he'p me git into dis here worritin' frock. I'm plagued if 'tain' too short nohow. You jes' take some pins and pin it down" — as Aunt Susan came forward and began to adjust Miss Flora's garnet cashmere upon the gaunt form of her eldest hopeful. "Not too fur down now — you know how it's got to connec' wid de basque." Jane, in the meantime, had donned a soft blue tea-gown of Miss Flora's, and could be heard in the adjoining room hand- ling such articles of jewelry as had been left upon that young, lady's dressing table. Aunt Susan stepped hastily to the door. "You, Jane!" she thundered, "you ornery critter! You jes' lef lone dose jewelries ! Ain' yer got no conshuns? I's lef in charge ob dis here place and I feel worvy ob de trus', an' I ain' de one ter see de fambly jewelries so much as teched by any one here present ! You take dat comb right outen yer head an' dem spanglers offer yer black wris's." The ladies descended to the large hall which ran the full depth of the house and had been settled upon as the best place in which to receive the guests. Here they were met by Patrick Henry and George Washing- ton, who were arrayed in borrowed garments of their masters. "Now, mammer," said Polly, "yo' stan' near de do' an' hoi' yer hans so — wid yer hankchief atween 'em. Jane, yo' stan' aside her air laugh like Miss Flora do, no matter what de folks says. Patrick Henry an' me'll be at de dinin'-room do' to show 'em in." THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 115 Mr. Latiny Lazarus and Miss Lavinia Speed were the first comers, and they received a warm welcome. While the lady was laying aside her wraps Mr. Lazarus stood gazing about him in a kind of awe. "Dis here house is mighty 'ceivin'. It looks sizable from de outside, but when yer gits in it de walls stretch a-w-a-y from yer, an' de ceilin' r-i-s-e above yer, till yer feel like er ant in er quart cup !" Miss Araminta Phoenix and Mr. Hiram Spinner came next. "Walk right in! How's yer sister, Miss Araminta?" said Aunt Susan. "She's poorly, thank God, Mis' Washington. What wid de wuk an' her drunk ole man an' all dem chillen, she's 'bout played out !" "Has she got nice clothes fur dat new baby?" "No, she ain' got none 't all, an' she say she ain' gwine to git none nuther. She's done 'vided close fur nine chillen already, an' she say she's sure dat's her share, so she's trus'in to de Lord to snatch dis one." The bell interrupted them here, and quite a batch of guests arrived together. At length all had arrived excepting Elder Jones when the party was startled by a very decided knocking at the kitchen door. A terror fell upon the people. With widely distended eyes and chattering teeth Patrick Henry pronounced the magic word, "Cops !" Cautiously Mr. Lazarus opened the kitchen door a few inches, with a rough and threatening, "Who's dar?" "It's me, de shepherd ob dis flock," a stern voice replied. The elder's sheep flocked around him and Aunt Susan hastily and triumphantly threw open the dining-room doors, while Mr. Columbus Smackum announced in stentorian tones : "De feas' is spread an' we only waits de leadin' ob our honerd parstor 'fore we perceeds to clean up de boa'd." "One minute, Broder Smackum," said Elder Jones. "As de shepherd ob dis flock, I am here dis night, an' I kin tell' yer dat 116 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS de bleatin' dat comes to my years soun's pow'ful mo' like de voice of de goat dan ob de lamb ! Before we goes inter dat lubly and temptin' table I wants all ob yer here present what calls 'emse'ves strictly hones', an' is members in good standin' in Ebenezer Church, fur ter take dere stan' agin de souf wall — fardes' from dat dinin'-room." Like one man the righteous throng swung southward. "Fs glad, brederin an' sisters, if yer all b'long dar on de souf side, an' in de sunshine ob de Lord's approval, rader dan on de norf side, where de win' ob His wraf an' curse sweeps ober yer ; but be re'sured dat if any stan' dar er-callin' ob hissel hones', when de bran' of de thief res' upon his soul, he is er-layin up judgment agin hisself in de las' day!" The crowd swayed uneasily toward the center of the hall. "Now look fru dem do's as yer stand opposite" — every eye followed the direction of the long black finger as it pointed to the table — "each one on yer look straight at de donation what yer brung or sent, an' den look in yer own heart an' see if dat was 'pervided hones' ' in de sight ob de pusson whose house it lef 'fore it come here." A groan was the only answer. "Brederin an sisters, dat food in dar would stick in de froat ob any hones' pusson what tried to swaller it. Better is a dinner ob yarbs, what's come by hones', dan de stalded ox what war hooked from his crib." (Sounds of sobs and murmurs of "Lord! L-o-r-d ! !" from the assembly.) "Now be not cas' down, fur, brederin', de Lord neber yet 'low a temptation fur to come to any man 'thout pervidin' a do' ob 'scape. Yer can each one resto' ter de owner de victuals what yer fotch here, unteched. To screw up yer courage, we will all jine in singin' one verse ob 'Zion is a hard road to trabel', an' den while Air. Tobe Watkins gibs us a verse ob f De debil's hard arter my soul,' each penitent will 'sume dey wraps an' geder from de dinin'-room whateber dey brung or sent an' kerry it back ter de place what dey fotch it from." THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 117 "I ax nothin' onreason'ble, de Lord, He know our frame, He 'members we is dus' — coal-dus'. If et's beyon' yer strength to 'fess yer fault ter yer missuses, jes' leabe yer tings at dere do's an' ring de bells, an' when yer done it, come wid clean nan's an' pure hearts to my house on Goat alley, an' he'p yerse'ves freely ter de barrel ob apples an' de. bushel of ches'nuts what Uncle Adam an' Aunt Hannah Norris done pervided hones' in de sight ob all men — an' may de Lord be wid yer an' furgib yer !" And, as the last startling notes of "De debit's hard arter my soul," shot from the throat of Mr. Tobe Watkins, the door closed upon the bearer of almost the last dainty which had so lately crowned the Thanksgiving board. Neddie's Thanksgiving Visit I turn to see my gran'ma one cold Fanksgivin' day, I shooked and fweezed and chattered all along ve way; Gran'ma was knitting stockings and so I twied to knit, Dot hold of ve wong fwed and undid every bit. Nex' day I twied to tackle a piggy for a horse, I tumbled in ve pig-pen — whew ! wasn't gran'ma cross ? I'm sure I wan't to blame 'cause my new dwess was white, If mamma 'd made it pig-color 'twouldn't have showed a mite. My gran'ma's got a brick room filled up wiv pans of milk ; One day I let in pussie — she's des' as soft as silk — An' pussie likes ve fick cweam ve best of any fing. I sat her down aside a pan ; you'd ought to heard her sing. She's awful funny, pussie, along ve shelf she ran And wiv her little nosie made blue holes in every pan. But gran'ma's awful stingy — she dwived us bofe away, And said she'd a mind to send me home 'afore another day. 118 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Sometimes ze pussie's naughty : one day she catched a mouse, An' chased, an' teased, an' bited it all around ve house. I hit her wiv ve 'tato-masher every time she'd turn. I dot away poor mousie an' hid him in ve churn. Who ever fot zat cweam would drown ? I fot 'twas only wivers — But when my gran'ma churned nex' day zat mouse was drowned to slivers. Vey gave ve butter to ve pigs, vey putted me to bed, An' vey spanked poor pussie awful, wite on her pretty head. One day I saw a tub of milk — Ave keeps ours in a dish — I fot 'twas good for noffin, an' so I d catch some fish. I des dot sitted down — my feets was pretty fweeze — When in came gran'ma screaming, "Zat fellow's in my cheese !" She jumped me out, I tell you, wite on the cold stone floor, She called my new boots dirty, an' locked ve dawy door. I've been awful good to gran'ma — haint raised a speck of dust, But I'm going home to-morrow, 'cause gran'ma says I must. The Thanksgiving Ride of the Pumpkins By EiJvA M. Powers. Five jolly, fat pumpkins one moonlight night Said: "Come, let us all take a ride. The turkeys will take us with ease and delight." So away they all rode in great pride. But soon Mistress Cook cried out in dismay, "O, where are my turkeys, my pies?" "They all went away to spend Thanksgiving day," Said the moon, laughing down from the skies. rHANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 119 Where the Mince Pie Grows Little Sam Sugartooth said to himself, As he sat by a great big rose : "I wish I could go with a fairy elf To the land where the mince pie grows. I'd sit all day, in a dreamy way, And I'd watch them bud and bloom, And I'd eat and eat of the fruit so sweet Just as long as my stomach had room." Little Sam Sugartooth fell asleep, And as sure as the tale I tell, The elfins softly round did creep, And the boss one said : " 'Tis well." With a graceful hand he waved his wand, And sleeping Sam arose On the elfins' backs, and they all made tracks For the land where the mince pie grows. Little Sam Sugartooth opened his eyes And he looked with a wondering gaze, And he saw 'twas the bakerman making pies, And the boss bakerman, he says : "Dot's a nice leedle tog unt a olt creen frog Unt some drash vat I fount in de streed: Shust schop dem nice, mit dose rats unt mice, Unt 'dwill do for de next mince mead." Little Sam Sugartooth kept quite still, But he thought that his sides would bust When he saw those bakermen with a will Commence on the mince pie crust. In a great big trough, with their stockings off, In their bare, red, flat Dutch feet, They tramped that dough, till the boss said: "Ho! Dot'll do; pring de nice mince mead." 120 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Little Sam Sugartooth watched them close As they brought out their rolling pins, And he saw them putting that horrid dose Into rusty old worn-out tins. But his stomach was sick and his sight grew thick, As anyone would suppose, And he wished in his heart that he might depart From the land where the mince pie grows. Little Sam Sugartooth stirred himself And he found he had dreamt a dream, But he looked around for the fairy elf, For the whole thing strange did seem. And since that day the folks do say That he turns his nose up high, And hops like a frog and barks like a dog When you offer him fresh mince pie. A Thanksgiving Dinner By Lesbia Bryant. Young Turkey Gobbler, with highly arched head, Looked at his mates gathered round : "To-morrow's Thanksgiving," he earnestly said, "And not one of us must be found; For I heard the farmer tell his wife That he would only kill three — And all the while he sharpened his knife He kept his eye on me. 'Forewarned is forearmed' — a saying old; Come, let's hide !" he said. But the next morning, stiff and cold, He hung by his legs in the shed. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 121 Miss Yellow Pumpkin, with tears in her eyes, Grew on a sunny slope. "To-morrow's Thanksgiving — they always have pies ; But they won't find me, I hope ! To be made into pies — what a dreadful fate !" And she rolled from side to side. "Oh, there comes the farmer's daughter, Kate, And I must surely hide !" Then Miss Yellow Pumpkin rolled down hill, Bruising her dainty self, And she didn't come to her senses until There were twelve golden pies on the shelf. "I wonder what they are trying to do?" Said the Apples in the bin. "If we're to be pared and cut in two, I think it's a shame and a sin ! And only think — to be wrapped in dough, And put over a kettle to steam ! And now comes the very worst of it, though — To be eaten — with sugar and cream !" The Potatoes and Onions, the Turnips and Squash Got into a regular flutter, When the farmer's wife gave each a taste Of the very same kind of butter. "How can I stand it," Sir Table said ; And he groaned as if in pain. "Oh, dear, I would be really glad If Thanksgiving ne'er came again. Oh, me ! oh, me !" and he groaned the more As the children took their places; But smilingly his load he bore When he saw their happy faces. 122 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS The Little Turkey Gobbler Said the turkey gobbler's mamma to the little turkey gobbler, "Stay at home ! No matter what temptation comes, I warn you yet again, Do not roam !" Then the anxious mamma went away to spend the autumn day, But alas ! She was not gone two hours before a butcher-man that coop Did pass— pass ! Ah ! you, my little hearers, sure can guess the rest of it ; For you know That gobbler, he was fat, and that butcher knew it well, And so, so, He grabbed him by the leg, swung his head across a block — Woe is me ! And when his mamma came at night, nothing but his head Could she see ! Home for Thanksgiving By Jean Murdock. Just outside a peaceful little hamlet on the shores of broad, beautiful Erie, lies the dear old farm — my birthplace. In fancy I see again the old, low red-brick house with its wide cosy veranda, the blue smoke curling lazily from the broad chimneys, the large, old-fashioned flower-garden. At the back, stretched the broad acres of my father's farm, with their fields of waving, golden grain, or green pastures, over which roamed the mild-eyed cows, or galloped the spirited horses. Such was my home ; the place where my merry girlhood was spent among my brothers and sisters, Archie and Nell, Grace, THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 123 Charlie and myself, a happy, careless, loving- troop. All day long we played racing over the meadows, roaming through the woods or building houses on the sand. Ah, that is a long time since ! Our clever, gifted, handsome Archie, is now a lawyer at the bar. Nell, bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked Nell, is now a comely matron, with a little brood of her own to watch over and care for. Grace is married to a young merchant. Charlie, wild, wilful, generous-hearted Charlie, has studied med- icine. Only the old, white-haired father and mother are left in that home now. Dear old father is bent and aged, deep wrinkles plough his worn face and his withered hand trembles. And mother, the idol of our young days, is failing fast, but she looks up with the old, tender smile to meet the husband of her youthful days. "We are fading away, Teems," she says. "We shall soon cross the dark valley, and the place that has known us so long shall know us no more. God has prospered us, my husband; He has sent us plenty, and dear, noble boys and girls to be a com- fort to us in our old age. Before we go, Jeems, we will have them all around us once again for Thanksgiving." So we meet in a body at the village and go out together with our families, to the dear, old familiar homestead. At the door we are met by father, who says not a word, but silently takes us in his arms and kisses us, placing his dear, old hands in blessing on the curly heads of our children, who are wild with happiness to see grandpa again. But grandma, where is she? Grandpa leads us into the parlor with its cheery open fireplace, and there sits grandma. Silently, with wet eyes and throbbing hearts we kneel and kiss the faded lips and silver hair, and grandma smiles and says, "God bless you, my children." Then the little ones are lifted up to kiss grandma good-night. Ah ! little do they dream that it is "Good-bye" ; that ere they see her again grandma will be beyond the sky in the light of God's eternal love. Oh ! what a home- coming is this ; what a Thanksgiving ! 124 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS With aching hearts we tuck the children away in bed and go down to receive our last good night. "Read for me, Archie, my boy," the mother says, as we all gather round her, with poor, old father's head bent on the arm of her chair to conceal the anguish he will not pain her by letting her see. And Archie reads the words that have been her "Staff of Life." "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Low, clear and sweet come her parting words, "Yea, though I go down into the valley of the shadow of Death, I have no fear, for Thou art with me. Good-bye, my children, a loving Saviour unite you with me in heaven. Dear Jeems, do not mourn, you will come to me ere long, and — it is well with my soul." With a gasp the gentle life is ended, and we are left alone to cry with motherless hearts for "mother, mother," and to comfort as best we can the lonely heart of the dear father who has lost his "all" on earth. Thanksgiving By Harry RomainE. "Bring home a turkey ; don't forgit, And praties, Pat; we need 'em." "Ah, Biddy, if you asked for it I'd get the bird of freedom." "The eagle ! Sure he'd be enough To keep us from starvation. But wouldn't he be rather tough? He's oulder than the nation." "He tough! Bedad you're off the track; Columbia, heaven defend her, Puts him upon the dollar's back, And then he's legal tender." THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 125 A Thanksgiving Story 'Twas to be a grand Thanksgiving, For the harvest stored away Safely in barn and cellar, — A time to feast and pray. Alike in the cot and mansion 'Was a hurrying here and there ; And the scent of the browning turkey Filled, like incense, all the air. Dear little Puritan Ruthie Looked on in a glad surprise, With her small hands quaintly folded, And her blue eyes grave and wise; And a host of eager questions Flitting from brain to tongue, To puzzle the busy workers Their savory tasks among; Until her mother lost patience. "Ruth, 'tis Thanksgiving day," She said, "and we are all busy; Thee must go out and play. "I will call thee when I want thee." Then quietly little Ruth Tripped out of the noisy kitchen, Though she'd rather not, in truth. The dinner at last was ready, The haste and the bustle were o'er, And the mother, flushed with toiling, Swung open the cottage door, 126 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Calling, "Come, child, now I want thee, I want thee, Ruth; does thee hear?" But her face grew white that moment With a sudden dreadful fear. Where was she, her little daughter? The forest was deep and wide; "Ruth ! Ruth !" but only the echo Of her trembling voice replied. The dinner was left untasted, And the search went bravely on, Till the pale stars shone in heaven And the daylight all had gone. "Have you tidings of the lost one?" 'Twas a heart-sick mother's cry, To one and another searcher, "None yet," was the low reply ; "But there soon must be ; be trustful.'* And all through the darksome night The torches flamed and flickered Under the stars' pale light. At last in the east a glimmer Told of a day begun ; And the scattered band of hunters Heard — was it the signal gun? Found ! in a sheltered corner — In a hollow snug and deep ; All rosy, unharmed, and peaceful, The child lay fast asleep. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 127 Found! but the joyous clamor Of a sudden died in air, For the golden head was nestling On a great, black, shaggy bear. He growled at the waving torchlight, Ruth's blue eyes opened wide. "I'm glad you've come to find me, I knew you would !" she cried. She glanced at the leveled muskets, Half a dozen all around; And forth, with a cry of terror, She sprang, at a single bound ! "Don't shoot the dog!" she pleaded, Her wee hands clasping tight ; "He has kept me warm and safe All through this cold, dark night." "So be it !" cried her father, As he clasped her in his arm; "Not a single hair of his shaggy coat Through us shall come to harm !" Then home went the glad procession Through the morning growing fair, To the cottage in the forest, To the mother waiting there For the child, whose face she sprinkled With the tears she could not stay — "I thank Thee, Lord !" she murmured, "For this Thanksgiving day." 128 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Pumpkin Pie When melancholy days come round and leaves get brown and red ; When corn is shocked, and when you add a blanket to your bed ; When apples, pared and quartered, are set in the sun to dry; This is the time you smack your lips and think of pumpkin pie. This pumpkin pie's a tempting dish to almost any fellow ; So sweet and tender, luscious (yum!) and then, withal, so yellow. You stir up eggs and milk and spice and sugar, O my eye ! And then you add the pumpkin, and that makes the pumpkin pie. A Thanksgiving Legend By Gilbert Nash. All day the hungry cattle roamed the bleak November hills, The scattered grass-blades, sere and dry, crushed crisply to the tread, The gushing springs, that leaped so oft to swell the eager rills, And clothe the fields with velvet garb, before the drought had fled. No corn lay nestling in the stock, no meal the closet bore, The harvest shrunk beneath the blast of that fierce summer sky, No hay the barren mows upheld, empty and bare the floor, And now the dreary winter months were hastening all too nigh. One question spoke in every face — "Where shall we look for bread?" The days still fly, as they have fled ; no succor meets the gaze. The gen'rous main yields scanty fare, though brave men struggle hard. The very fish lie under ban, while children cry for food, The sandy beach, whose fruitful breast, with jealous care they guard, THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 129 Responds not to their pressing need, but sleeps in solitude. All human help has vanished quite, the last hope almost fled, While now, upon the bended knee,- men seek their God in prayer, Will He, who for them gave His Son, and brought Him from the dead, Look coldly on their agony, and now refuse His care? "O God, whose ear the fathers heard, hear Thou the children's prayer ! Thou at whose word earth's treasures lie, in whose right hand is power, Look down in mercy on our woe, and in our blank despair, Be Thou our strong deliverer, our refuge in this hour. Thou leddest Israel as a flock — from heaven came angels' food — And badest, from the flinty rock, the living waters leap. Has Thy strong arm its vigor lost? Is Thine a changeful mood? Are we not Thine, and wilt Thou not Thine oft-made promise keep ?-" The strong man bows in trusting faith — the woman bows in tears — The children look in wonderment — they, also, look and pray, Will He not visit their distress, and calm their many fears? Will He not open now their path, and from the night bring day? Look yonder — see that glittering speck far out upon the main ! And eager eyes are all aflame — up springs the bended knee ! The fiercely throbbing hearts are mute — the flashing eyeballs strain, And yet 'tis but a tiny star that dances on the sea. And now it lifts upon the wave, now sinks again from sight ; It sparkles like a royal gem, then for an instant hides ; But swiftly flies before the breeze, a messenger of light, And soon, the cry, "A sail ! a sail ! Blest be the hand that guides !" And now the strange bark nears the stand, the rushing cables hiss, The pond'rous anchor plunges sheer, and grasps the ground below ; 130 THANKSGIVING CELEBRA TIONS ' Hand meets with hand in manly clasp — the tear greets many a kiss — For each, though ne'er before they met, finds none a stranger now. "Thanksgiving for the mercies past, and for the future good ; For though He guides in unknown ways, the end is always sure ! Our Lord, the ever-faithful God, gives to the hungry food, And never fails His children, while His promises endure. Praise, then, from joyous hearts, we bring to Him on bended knee. And thanks for that deliverance which He has wrought this day, And, year by year, glad hearts shall sing a welcome jubilee, While children's children lift the strain, and grateful memory pay." Reasons for Thanks By Walter J. Ballard. Let us be thankful to Almighty God for all the blessings He has showered and is showering upon the American nation in material things. Let us be thankful for the way in which He has led the American people in the paths of duty and honor in the years that are past. Let us be thankful for the clear conception He has given the American people of their obligations for the future, toward the oppressed of their own and all lands. Let us be thankful for the spirit of loyalty and gratitude in which the American people have always responded to these lead- ings and obligations. Let us be thankful for Abraham Lincoln and the removal of the curse of slavery from our midst, heavy as was the price we paid for its removal. Let us be thankful for the sense of duty displayed by our brethren of the South in accepting the verdict of the civil war, and THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 131 for the energy they have put forth in building up the New South. Let us be thankful for the patriotism of the North and the South in promptly responding to the call for military and naval service when the crisis of the Spanish war was upon us. Let us be thankful for the inspiration to duty which always animates our army and navy when the call to action comes. Let us be thankful for the "Stars and Stripes," which pro- claims liberty to all, when flung to the sun-kissed breezes of the Pacific, or the icy winds of the Arctic. Let us be thankful that we can point to that flag in any part of the world, and with the words : "That is my country's flag," rest safely under its folds. Let us be thankful for that American spirit of individuality which can always be relied on "with the hour to produce the man." Let us be thankful for the examples left us by the lives of America's glorious dead. Let us be thankful for the magnificent contributions contin- ually being given by Americans to the cause of American educa- tion and advancement. Let us be thankful for the free public schools of America with their sixteen millions of American boys and girls. Let us be thankful for the army of devoted men and women, who in teaching these sixteen million school children are building the America of the future. Let us be thankful for that other army of devoted workers, who, either in the pulpits and missions of our own land, or in foreign lands, are doing Christ's work upon earth. Let us be thankful for that realization of obligation to duty which enables the American people always to take to heart what the poet meant when he wrote : " For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do." Let us be thankful that we are Americans. 132 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS His Thanksgiving Dream By Agnes M. Smith. Three plates full of turkey with cranberry sauce, And four or five vegetables, too, And candy and raisins and ice-cream and pie — Poor Tommy ! How little he knew What a quarrel they'd have in his little insides In the course of that Thanksgiving night ! The people he dreamed of were all so mixed up, He couldn't get one of them right. Miss Muffet was sitting on something quite high, It wasn't a tuffet at all; It looked very much as if — yes, it must be ! It was, Humpty Dumpty's red wall ! And Humpty see-sawed with Miss Margery Daw — ■ He tumbled, and came down too soon ; And Little Red Riding Hood, dear little girl, Ran away with the man in the moon. King Cole, he was busily shaving the pig; The Barber was singing "Ding-Dong!" The maid wasn't hanging out clothes as she should, She was singing the old sixpence song. Jack Horner was asking the little black sheep To give him a bag full of wool; And "Diller a Dollar," that ten o'clock scholar, For once was quite early at school. Now "Rockaby, baby, upon the tree-top," Was queer for Tom Tucker to sing. The queen ate her honey with Little Boy Blue; The little dog laughed — at the king ! Now Little Bo Peep rode to Banbury Cross So fast that Cock Horse couldn't stop ! THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 133 When Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard, She found it was full to the top ! Now Tommy slept badly because of all this ; He hated his pie and ice-cream. And he was right glad when he woke up next day, To find it was only a dream. A Thanksgiving Lesson By Eva Lyle Dickinson. 'Ellen, a girl aged fourteen. Carrie, aged twelve. Characters: j . I Anna, ten. ! Kathleen, eight. Scene : Ellen seated by a table reading. The others grouped together, laughing and whispering. Ellen. Kathleen, do you know what day this is? Kathleen. Of course, I do. It's Thanksgiving. Ellen. Yes, that's right. I've found a nice story, about the first Thanksgiving, that I will read to you after a while. Anna. Don't want to hear it. Get enough of books in school without reading anything on a holiday. Ellen. But you want to know something about Thanksgiv- ing, don't you ? Why do we keep Thanksgiving anyway, Carrie ? Anna. You must think we don't know anything. Carrie. I don't know, and don't care, just so I get my turkey. Ellen. Yes, but you should care. What if someone should ask you why you keep Thanksgiving? What would you say? Carrie. That I'm thankful for a holiday. Ellen. I'd be ashamed to tell it. Well, what do we have on Thanksgiving? Carrie. Turkey, for one thing. 134 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Anna. And cranberry sauce. Ellen. I mean at church. What have we at church? Kathleen. Thanksgiving service. Ellen. There, Kathleen knows more than either of you You all be quiet now and I'll ^ead you this story. Anna. You don't caie about anything but old books. Kathleen. And you want us to be just like you. Ellen. I don't, but you should know, or want to know, something about Thanksgiving. Listen, now, while I read this. It's a nice story and you ought to remember it. [Reads:] "After Columbus found America, people began to come here and settle. There were some good people, called Pilgrims, across the sea, who were not happy. Their king would not let them worship God in their own way. So they said, 'Let us go away to the new coun- try, America.' They came here in a ship called " Carrie. Oh, Ellen, do you know that conundrum about Thanksgiving ? Anna and Kathleen. Tell it, Carrie ! Carrie. What country in Europe would you celebrate Thanksgiving with? [Pause.] Anna. Tur Kathleen. Turkey. That's good. Tell another. Carrie. Can't think of any now. Ellen. Quit talking and let me finish this story. Where was I? Oh, yes, I see. [Reads:] "They came here in a ship called the 'Mayflower.' The men had to work seven years to pay for the ship. Men, women and children came. They lived in log houses, worked very hard and were often cold and hungry. The Indians gave them much trouble, but they were happy because they could worship God in their own way." Anna. I don't see where you get anything about Thanks giving in that. Ellen. This is about the first Thanksgiving now. "The Pilgrims had a long, cold winter ; often they did i;ot have enough to eat. Many took sick and died. ^ the spring they planted THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 135 wheat and corn ; it grew well and in the fall they found they had enough for the next winter. They said " Carrie;. Oh, yes, I've thought of another riddle. If a col- ored waiter should drop a turkey when carrying it to the dining room, what effect would it have upon the nations of the earth ? [Pause. 1 Anna and Kathleen. Give it up. Anna. What's the answer? Carrie. The downfall of Turkey, the overthrow of Greece, the break-up of China and the humiliation of Africa. That's a good one, isn't it? Ellen. Do be quiet while I finish reading. "They said, Xet us thank God for this.' So they all went to church and thanked God who had been so good to them. Then the Pilgrims gave a party which lasted many days. The good Indians " Anna. I know a riddle. What is the principal key at Thanksgiving ? Carrie. I don't know. Kathleen. Neither do I. Anna. Turkey. Ellen. Well, the good Indians came to their party. [Exit Carrie.] "The men brought wild turkeys and deer from the woods [exit Anna and Kathleen], and oysters from the sea, and the children gathered nuts." Wouldn't you have liked to — Well, if those children haven't gone. Oh, dear, I'm afraid they will never learn anything. It will not be my fault, though. Thanksgiving Day By George L. Raymond. I sought the house Thanksgiving Day, And found its inmates all away, Save her who sat before the fire, And by her side, her palsied sire. 136 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS At play, betwixt her fingers white, A needle nimbly glanced the light; But oft her eyes it could not stay, To either side would glance away. And on her right hand, open spread, There lay the Book of God she read ; And on her left I just could trace An infant namesake's pictured face. The Book of God, the housekeeper, The babe that had been named for her, The Book and babe and she between, — Through doors ajar I mark'd the scene. And while she sat before me so, Content to share another's woe ; A captive for her sisters gone, Whom all their joy depended on; Now cheer'd to read of heavenly worth For soul denying self on earth ; Now moved to do the deed she should Lest wrong should lead that child from good : Another soul, my heart felt sure, Could keep, if so surrounded, pure, — If there God lured his thought above, And here one shared his name and love. The scene was homely; yes, I know, But homely scenes may haunt one so! — That still her sweet face with me stays, My days are all Thanksgiving" Days. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 131 Thanksgiving at the Farm Josiah Starn had just finished a large and pleasing breakfast of buckwheat cakes and Jersey sausage, and was now drawing long whiffs from his corn-cob pipe. While he smoked, Catharine Anne, his wife, cleared away the breakfast things. "Coming to service this mornin', ain't you, Josiah ?" she asked. "I reckon no, Catharine Anne — not tu-day; no — not tu-day." "And why not, Josiah?" "Well, Catharine Anne, it's just this: I've got a feelin' as I'd like to spend the mornin' alone with Natur'. I'll do a thanks- giving out in the woods thinkin' in my own quar way, figurin' up all the Lord hez done for the farm and me durin' the past year. You and the children go to meetin' ; I'll just meander about and turn up at dinner time." A look of disappointment made Catharine Anne's, "As you please, Josiah," a triumph of wifely tact. An hour later Josiah watched his wife and seven children tramp churchward and, five minutes after that, he was hurrying down to the shore of Coon Lake. Four old friends were wait- ing for him, — Jake Holmes, Isaac Scattergood, Matthew Simpson and Paul Jenkins. The men got into a large flat-bottomed scow and pulled out to the centre of the lake. "Rig the table," said Josiah Starn. "Don't you boys feel the awful wetness of this water?" sug- gested Paul Jenkins. "Well spoke, Paul. Well spoke. Draw that cork, Matthew. We'll start the day right, anyhow." Five cheerful gurgles, five reluctant sweeps of rough hand over moist lips and then the five old farmers settled down to "communing with Nature," that is — a stiff game of draw poker. Indian summer had taken all the chill out of the air and the sun shone kindly down. The party was a jolly one. Smiles 138 THANKSGIVING CEIEBRATIONS danced across wrinkled faces ; laughter deep and husky came free and often. But all happy times have an end and two o'clock drew pain- fully near. Josiah Starn had been playing from the start in bad luck. "Last pot," cried some one. Josiah held up a four, five and seven of diamonds, drawing two cards. Scattergood modestly con- fessed he already held three aces ; he'd take two cards ; kings pre- ferred. Holmes allowed he wouldn't buck agin Providence by drawing four cards to an ace. He would draw out of the game. Paul Jenkins said — and he spoke with deep feeling — that on any other day but Thanksgiving he'd just lay down his cards and swear, but "being as it was Thanksgiving he'd buy one card." Matthew Simpson called the boys to witness that he'd always stood pat on the last hand in the last Jack pot on Thanksgiving day. He'd got too old to make any new rules and so he'd take his chances with the papers he now held. There was a moment of silence after the draw. Then Josiah Starn spoke plaintively: "I've got nothin' but five cards of doubt- ful value, but, as a neighborly act, I'll start the music for two dollars." Paul Jenkins said he would follow his first idea. Swear and back out. Scattergood complacently observed : "I caught that pair of kings, and the least I can do, sitting behind an ace full, is to see Josiah Starn's two dollars and rise him a cool ten." It was Matthew Simpson's turn to speak. Starn and Scat- tergood eyed Simpson suspiciously as he toyed with his cards. At last he came to a decision. "Boys, we are all old friends and this is a day of thanksgiving. I'd orter put this hand down. That would be good poker, but I ain't playing poker just now — I'm playing friends, and so I'm agoin' to see Starn's two dollars, Scat- tergood's ten dollars and tip the pot a cool one hundred." Once more it was Josiah Starn's turn to speak. "Boys, I've long been thinking of giving up farming and turning missionary, and when I devotes myself entirely to my fellow-men I ain't goin' to want no kind of property to worry THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 139 about. Now this particular hand in this yer particular game, on this particular pious day, gives me a chance to distribute all I've got. A follerin' this idea up, I'm going to do a bluff. There's Scattergood's rise of ten dollars that uses up all the silver I've got left. Simpson, you've always said them two Alderney cows of mine would be dog-cheap at one hundred dollars. My sorrel horse, Tom, with cart and harness, is good for say eighty-five dollars. Then there's three ploughs and a new harrow — we'll let them go for twenty-five dollars more. Them figures up two hun- dred and ten dollars, and here they all goes into this distribution- pot. That sees your rise of one hundred dollars, Simpson, and lifts the pot one hundred and ten more." Scattergood nervously remarked : "It'll be Simpson's money, sure. But Simpson's cut out to be a rich man ; I ain't. He'll get all my money sooner or later, and to make it sooner, I'll call. My potato crop this year is good for at least $210." Simpson said he'd call that rise of Josiah Starn's by putting up $60 in cash and a due bill for his colt, worth $50. "Well, boy?" he asked Scattergood. "What can you show? I know you were lying about those aces." "I display four queens," calmly stated Scattergood. "No good — four aces here," said Simpson, and he made a move to draw in the pot, but checked himself as a matter of idle form. "Anything to say, Josiah?" Josiah apparently came ,back from a long wander. "Any- thing to say ? What have I got ? Not much, I reckon ; but let's take a look." Carefully he slipped the cards one over the other. "Boys, I've caught a straight flush." Catharine Anne Starn caught sight of Josiah five minutes be- fore he reached home, so that when he arrived he found dinner on the table, and seven hungry little Starns all in their places. "A bit late you are, Josiah." "Sorry, Mother; but you know when I get communin' with Natur' I'm apt to forget the passage of time" ; and Josiah dropped into the arm-chair at the head of the table. 140 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Catharine Anne from behind the great turkey, looked at him interrogatively for a moment, and then asked, "Have you forgot all about saying grace?" "Of course, of course ;" and Josiah, in a voice trembling with emotion, said : "For what we have received this day, O Lord ! make us truly, truly thankful." The dinner was a great success. Catharine Anne regarded her husband with a happier look than she had worn since her wed- ding day, and gave him extra helpings to all the good things. When the plum pudding and mince pies had disappeared and the children had gone out, Catharine Anne came over to where Josiah was sitting and, bending down, kissed him, whispering: "You've made me very glad to-day, Josiah. . I am very, very proud of you." "How's that, Catharine Anne?" '■I've never done you justice, Josiah. Somehow, I never could believe you had the true religious spirit, but, no man with- out that spirit could have put the onction and the fer-ver you did into your blessing to-day. Forgive me, Josiah, for my hasty judgment." Josiah placed his big right hand over his eyes. "Jumping at conclusions is alius risky business, Catharine Anne" ; but, as she hurried away to quell a disturbance among the children, he mut- tered, "Catharine Anne — bless the old girl — has been a good wife to me. I'll buy her that ten-dollar Bible with pictures of all the 'postals and prophets in it next time I go to town — and — I don't believe — I'll ever — play poker — again." Pessimistic Gratitude I don't see much that pleases me, No matter where I turn ; The world is full of discontent, And lessons none can learn. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 141 The weather's always too intense; Too hot or else too cold. One day they tell you you're too young, And next you are too old. Dame Fortune is to me unkind, For even when I score I know that by a different plan I might have gained much more. I've known the pangs of hunger keen, I've felt dyspepsia's clutch — I've either not enough to eat Or else I eat too much. Though punishment is often swift, Reward is very slow ; An enemy is always true, Though friends are seldom so. And yet I'll hail Thanksgiving Day With sentiments devout — I'm thankful for so many things That I can kick about. I'll Be at Home Thanksgivin , By Lu B. Cake. "Pard, I'm better." ■ "Glad to hear it, Jack. I knowed ye'd pull through." "Waal, I calc'lated that ole army wound would drift me un- der. I come nigh throwin' up my claim." "The lead war gittin' mighty blind, Jack. I tried t' ax ye last night whar yer folks war, spectin' to send 'em yer last words afore mornin'." "Pard, I haint heerd of 'em fer fifteen years. I wuz alius wild. Kin ye write, messmate?" 142 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS "Waal, only sorter.'' "Git th' tools an' I'll word it fer ye. Next Thursday's Thanksgivin'. I'm goin' to write my ole mother I'll be home. Draw close to my bunk, pard. Thar now, ye ready ?" "All staked out, Jack. Turn it on slow." "In course. Fust — My ole, throwed-off mother " "Jack," I haint up in styles, but that sounds kinder " "It's jes' th' thing. I run away from her, messmate. Now foller th' lead close I'll be to home Thanksgivin'. I haint fer- got ye, God bless ye. It's fifteen year Thanksgivin' since yer boy run off to the war — crawled out the house like a Injun. But I resked one look at yer lovin' face. I've carried it, like a picter, all these years — that dear face, lookin' like when ye told yer wild boy to say his pra'rs. Somehow it showed up in all the bad places and kept me from goin' clean down. When I got reckless that face come an' follered me as a still pra'r " "Shut down, Jack. Thar, guess th' sun got in my eyes. Per- ceed." "Th' night afore th' battle at Lookout Mountain yer face come to me with tears on the cheeks. I wuz shot next day an' left fer dead. But I pulled up arter while, an' drifted West into th' mines. It's made yer boy rough, but thar's gold in the quartz yit. Nurthin' saved me only jest that face. When I started fer th' lower level, it alius come to coax me back. If I got broke an' everything went agin me, that face come smilin' to cheer me up. It riz before me in th' gamblin' hells, and I. couldn't play; it would come 'tween me an' th' barkeep, an' look so white an' pleadin' I couldn't swoller th' drinks ; it met me at the door of the dive, an' looked so sufferin' an' tear-wet I couldn't go in. Ev'rywhar I drifted all them years that face follered me like an angel's, cheerin' me in sorrer, savin' me from th' bad " "Turn it off, Jack. Somehow my eyes waters lookin' at the letters so keerfully. Perceed." "I hev been sick; my ole army wound broke out an' nearly took me over th' range. That face has been with me soothin' th' THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 143 pain when death made everything look dark. Yes, I'm comin' home with all of yer boy that face has saved — comin' to take keer of ye. I hev plenty of dust, and now I'm comin' to that face ; comin' back to be near it an' make it the peacefulest face in all them diggins. Ye shan't know a want nor do anything; only jest be near me with that face. Good-bye till I come. God bless ye. Don't fergit, I'll be at home Thanksgivin'. "Yer wanderin' boy, "Jack." "How will that pan, messmate?" "Jack — I — thar! Some drops fell and blurred it — Jack — I— ye see " "Pard "Why, Jack! What's th' matter? Worse agin?" "Pard — that face — tell — her " "Jack, don't ye know me? Speak to yer ole pard. Whar must I send it — whar is she ? Dead ! Poor Jack ! ye'll be at home Thanksgivin' sure enough. May that face be 'mong th' angel ones that welcomes ye !" The big, scarred hands closed the eyes with a gentle touch. Something fell on the calm face just as, a moment before, it fell upon the letter ; then Jack's pard went out. The sun shimmered down through a crevice and pictured on the cabin wall, over the dead, what seemed a mother's face look- ing smilingly down upon her sleeping boy. Fancy would say it was ''that face." The Thanksgiving Gourmand Regal turkey, ere I start, I am pledged to do my part; I'll take a slice from off thy breast, And eat it first, for that's the best. Hear my vow, for "here I go," Oh, my hash ! I love thee so. 1*4 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS By those beans in yonder dish, By that bird they call codfish, By that chicken pie sublime Which was deemed enough for mine, By my appetite's fierce glow, Oh, my hash ! I love thee so. By that pie I've longed to taste, But in longing doomed to waste — By all hungry looks that tell When I am waiting for the bell — By my stomach's gnawing woe — Oh, my hash ! I love thee so. Oh, my comrades ! I am gone, Abuse me not when left alone; Though I ate with dire effect, Yet there is a little left. Can I stop much sooner? No! Oh, my hash?* I love thee so. Ingin Summer > By Eva Wilder McGlasson. Jest about the time when fall Gits to rattlin' in the trees, An' the man thet knows it all 'Spicions frost in every breeze, When a person tells hisse'f Thet the leaves look mighty thin, Then thar blows a mellar breaf — Ingin summer's hyere agin ! THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 145 Kind-uh smoky-lookin' blues Spin across the mountain-side; An' the heavy mornin' dews Greens the grass up fur and wide. Natur' raly 'pears ez ef She wuz layin off a day — Sort-uh drorin' in her breaf 'Fore she freezes up to stay. Nary lick o' work / strike Xong about this time o' year I I'm a sort-uh slowly like, Right when Ingin summer's here. Wife an' boys kin do the work, But a man with natchel wit, Like I got, kin 'ford to shirk, Ef he hes a turn for it. Time when grapes set into ripe, All I ast off any man Is a common co'n-cob pipe With terbacker to my han'. Then jest loose me whar the air Simmers 'crost me, wahm an' free! Promised lands ull find me thar; Wings ull fahly sprout on me! I'm a-loungin' round on thrones, Bossin' worlds f'om shore to shore, When I stretch my marrer bones Jest outside the cabin door ! An' the sunshine seepin' down On my old head, bald an' gray, 'Pears right like the gilted crown I expect to w'ar some day. 146 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS A Thanksgiving Sermon My Friends: Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year ; to the hon- est man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow, which may mean every day, or once in seven days, at least. I know that occasionally, in meeting, perhaps, a person confesses that he is a poor, miserable sinner, but you tell that person the same fact, out of doors, and he will get mad and tear round dread- fully. We are all honest, good, conscientious people, my friends, no matter what anybody says. Now, I propose, my friends, to state a few of the things for us to be thankful for — when we are in the mood, of course ; for when we are not inclined, who can make us give thanks for any- thing? We should be thankful that we know more than any- body else ; for, are we not capable of talking and giving lectures upon every subject ever talked of? I should like to see the male or female in this audience, who didn't know a great deal more than anybody has any idea of ! We should be thankful that we are all good-looking. Aint we? Just lock around this audience, and see if you can "spot" the person who is, in his own estimation, not good-looking. It would be a curious study, to be sure, to find in what particular some people are good-looking; but it's none of our personal busi- ness if a man has carroty hair, eyes like a new moon, nose like a split pear, mouth like a pair of waffle-irons, chin like a Dutch churn, neck like a gander's, and a body like a crowbar ; compara- tively, he is good-looking; that is, there are homelier men and animals than he ; so everybody is good-looking and has a right to put on airs. Let us be very thankful, my friends, that this is so ; for, otherwise, some of us would be shut up in "homes for the scarecrows," which government would have to provide. We should be thankful that we are more pious than anybody else. That we are pious is evident from the manner in which we treat poor creatures who have most unfortunately been driven THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 147 to sin; from the fact that we pay our preachers occasionally, and always require them to be unexceptionable, in all respects ; from the fact that we don't work on Sunday, and eat the big dinners which it has made the women-folks almost tired to death to pre- pare. Who is the person in this room that is not pious? I do not care to know him for the present. We should give thanks that our house is, in many respects, superior to our neighbors'. True, it may not be as big, nor as fine-looking, nor, indeed, as attractive generally ; but it is superior, nevertheless, as we always inform any man who wants to pur- chase, — we should be very thankful that we can turn things so favorably for our own interests. We should be thankful that our teachers, and editors, and doctors, and lawyers, are such superior men, as we learn that they are when they come to die and have their epitaphs written. We should be thankful, in fact, that this world was especially created for our own comfort, convenience, and use ; that we have a perfect right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, no mat- ter if these do conflict with some other persons' wishes, and happi- ness, and rights. I hope you will thank me for this recognition of your good qualities, your rights, your glory ; and trust I shall be permitted to say of myself, when I retire, "Here lies an honest young man." Thanksgiving By Amelia E. Barr. "Have you cut the wheat in the glowing field, The barley, the oats, and the rye, The golden corn, and the pearly rice ? For the winter days are nigh." "We have reaped them all from shore to shore. And the grain is safe on the threshing floor." 148 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS "Have you gathered the berries from the vines, And the fruit from the orchard trees? The dew and the scent from the rose and thyme In the hive of the honey bees?" "The peach and the plum and the apples are ours, And the honeycomb from the scented flowers, The wealth of the snowy cotton field, And the gift of the sugar cane, The savory herb and the nourishing root, There has nothing been given in vain. We have gathered the harvest from shore to shore, And the measure is full and running o'er." Then lift up the head with a song! And lift up the hands with a gift ! To the ancient Giver of all The spirit in gratitude lift ! For the joy and the promise of spring, For the hay and the clover sweet, The barley, the rye, and the oats, The rice and the corn and the wheat, The cotton and sugar and fruit, The flowers and the fine honeycomb, The country, so fair and so free, The blessing and glory of home, "Thanksgiving ! Thanksgiving ! Thanksgiving !" Joyfully, gratefully call, To God, the "Preserver of Men," The bountiful Father of all. A Miner's Thanksgiving 'Twere out in Dead Man's Canyon, where we was diggin' gold, We'd washed a pile o' dust, but 'twere gittin' mighty cold. Our branch was frozen up, an' we only had our spring, So we thought we'd stop our diggin' an' every other thing. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 149 / There was only two pair ov us — Jim Smith an' Bob McKee, An ornery little chap called Ned, an' Silas Jones — that's me. We hed a cosy camp o' logs, an' firewood stacked sky high, An' grub enough to feed us all till winter'd passed us by. One day — an' 'twere a lovely morn — when we was loafin' 'round A-smokin' an' a-gassin', an' a-listenin' to the sound Ov the squirrels' barkin' shatter, Jim Smith, he made this play, "Say, Si, y' lazy fellow, d'ye know what day's to-day?" I vum, it knocked me silly, for 'twere Thanksgivin' Day, An' my thoughts were roamin' backward to when I used to play Around the ol' man's homestead, 'way down in dear old Alaine, Which I hed left in anger an' hadn't seen again. I remembered ol' Thanksgivin's, an' a mist came in my eyes As I thought ov ma a-bakin' those mince an' punkin pies ; An' I saw the big, fat turkey, a-sizzlin' hot an' brown, An' the foamin' jugs ov cider with which we washed it down. Then says I : "We ain't no larder for ter rightly celebrate, But we'll do the best we can, an' we'll try ter do it straight. Now, Bob, you shoot a sage hen, an' Jim, you bile that squash, An' I'll make a pie ter please yer." An' so I did, b'gosh. The hen weren't quite a turkey, but still 'twere stuffed with sage ; But the pie, it were a corker, for as cook I held the age. We didn't have no cider, but we made the bugjuice flow, An' we drank the toasts in bumpers to Thanksgivin's long ago. An' as the firewood crackled, we talked ov days gone by — An' then there'd be some silence, or a deep an' long-drawn sigh. An' so in Dead Man's canyon, 'mid mountains capped with snow We hed a real Thanksgivin' like we knowed long years ago. 150 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Elder Sniffles's Thanksgiving Dinner By Frances M. Whitcher. "Elder Sniffles, let me give you another piece o' the turkey." "I'm obliged to you, Mr. Maguire ; you probably recollect that I remarked in my discourse this morning that individuals were too prone to indulge in an excessive indulgence in creature comforts on thanksgiving occasions. In view of the lamentable fact that the sin of gormandizing is carried to a sinful excess on this day, I, as a preacher of the gospel, deem it my duty to be unusually abstemious on such occasions ; nevertheless, considering the peculiar circumstances under which I am placed this day, I think I will i,r aive objections and take another small portion of the turkey." "That's right, Elder — what part will you take now?" "Well, I'm not particular ; a small quantity of the breast, with a part of a leg and some of the stuffing, will be quite sufficient." "Pass the cramberries to Elder Sniffles, Jeff — Elder, help yourself; wife, give the Elder some more o' the turnip sass and potater." "Thank you, Mrs. Maguire. I am an advocate for a vegetable diet — and have always maintained that it is more congenial to in- dividuals of sedentary habits and intellectual pursuits, like myself, than animal food." "Jeff, my son, pass the bread. Sister Bedott, send your plate for some more o' the turkey." "No, I'm obleeged to ye — I've had sufficient." "Jeff, cut the chicken-pie." "Sure enough — I almost forgot that I was to carve the pie. Aunt Silly, you'll take a piece of it, won't you?" "Well, I don't care if I dew take a leetle mite on't. I'm a great favoryte o' chicken-pie — always thought 't was a delightful beverage — don't you, Elder Sniffles?" THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 151 "A very just remark, Mrs. Bedott— very, indeed ; chicken-pie is truly a very desirable article of food." "Allow me to help you to some of it, Elder." "Thank you, my young friend ; as I before remarked, I am entirely opposed to an immoderate indulgence of the appetite at all times, but particularly on thanksgiving occasions — and am myself ahvays somewhat abstemious. However, I consider it my duty at the present time to depart, to some extent, from the usual simplicity of my diet. I will, therefore, comply with your request and partake of the chicken-pie." "Take some more o' the cramberry sass, Elder ; cramberries is hulsome." "A very just remark, Mrs. Maguire — they are so ; neverthe- less, I maintain that we should not indulge too freely in even the most wholesome of creature comforts ; however, since you desire it, I will take a small portion more of the cranberries." "Husband, dew pass that pickled tongue — it hain't been touched — take some on't, Elder Sniffles." "I'm obliged to you, Mrs. Maguire — but I confess I am some- what fearful of taking articles of that description upon my stom- ach, as they create a degree of acidity which is incompatible with digestion. Is it not so, my young friend? You are undoubtedly prepared to decide, as you are, I believe, pursuing the study of the medical science." ''I think you are altogether mistaken, Elder Sniffles. We should always take a due proportion of acid with our food, in or- der to preserve the equilibrium of the internal economy, and pro- duce that degree of effervescence which is necessary to a healthy secretion." "Exactly. Your view of the subject is one which never struck me before ; it seems a very just one. I will partake of the pickled tongue in consideration of your remarks." "Take a slice on't it, Sister Bedott. You seem to need some tongue to-day — your oncommon still." 152 THANKSGIVIAG CELEBRATIONS "What a musical man you be, brother Magwire ! but it strikes me when an indiwiddiwal has an opportunity o' hearin' intellecti- ble conversation they'd better keep still and improve it. Ain't it so, Elder Sniffles?" "A very just remark, Mrs. Bedott ; and one which has often occurred to my own mind." "Take some more of the chicken-pie, Elder Sniffles." "Excuse me, my young friend; I will take nothing more." "What ! you don't mean to give it up yet, I hope, Elder." "Indeed, Mr. Maguire, I assure you I would rather not take anything more ; for, as I before remarked, I am decidedly opposed to excessive eating upon this day." "Well, then, we'll have the pies and puddin's. Jeff, my son, fly round and help your mar change the plates. I'll take the puddin', Melissy — you may tend to the pies. Jeff, set on the cider. So here's a plum-puddin' — it looks nice — I guess you've had good-luck to-day, wife. Sister Bedott, you'll have some on't?" "No; I'm obleeged to ye. I've got ruther of a headache to- day, and plum-puddin's rich. I guess I'll take a small piece o' the punkin-pie." "Elder Sniffles, you'll be helped to some on't, of course?" "Indeed, Mr. Maguire, the practice of indulging in articles of this description after eating meat is esteemed highly pernicious, and I inwardly protest against it ; furthermore, as Mrs. Bedott has very justly remarked, plum-pudding is rich — however, consid- ering the peculiar circumstances of the occasion, I will for once overstep the boundaries which I have prescribed for myself." "Am I to understand that you'll have some, or not?" "I will partake, in consideration of the time and place." "Jimmeni ! wife, this is good puddin' as I ever eat." "Elder Sniffles, will you take some o' the pie — here is a mince- pie and punkin-pie." "I will take a portion of the pumpkin-pie, if you please, Mrs. Maguire, as I consider it highly nutritious ; but, as regards the mince-pie, it is an article of food which I deem excessively delete- THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 153 rious to the constitution, inasmuch as it is composed of so great a variety of ingredients. I esteem it exceedingly difficult of diges- tion. Is it not so, my young friend?" "By no means, Elder ; quite the contrary — and the reason is obvious. Observe, Elder, it is cut into the most minute particles ; hence it naturally follows, that being, as it were, completely cal- cined before it enters the system, it leaves, so to speak, no labor to be performed by the digestive organs, and it is disposed of without the slightest difficulty." "Ah, indeed ! your reasoning is quite new to me, yet I confess it to be most satisfactory and lucid. In consideration of its facil- ity of digestion, I will partake also of the mince-pie." "Wife, fill the Elder a glass o' cider." "Desist! Mrs. Maguire, desist, I entreat you! I invariably set my face like a flint against the use of all intoxicating liquors as a beverage." "Jimmeni ! you don't mean to call new cider an intoxicatin' liquor, I hope. Why, man alive, it's jest made — hain't begun to work." "Nevertheless, I believe it to be exceedingly insalubrious, and detrimental to the system. Is not that its nature, my young friend?" "Far from it, Elder — far from it. Reflect a moment ana you will readily perceive that, being the pure juice of the apple — wholly free from all alcoholic mixture — it possesses all the nutri- tive properties of the fruit, with the advantage of being in a more condensed form, which at once renders it much more agreeable, and facilitates assimilation." "Very reasonable — very reasonable, indeed. Mrs. Maguire, you may fill my glass." "Take another slice o' the puddin', Elder Sniffles." "No more, I'm obliged to you, Mr. Maguire." "Well, won't you be helped to some more o' the pie?" "No more, I thank you, Mr. Maguire." "But you'll take another glass o' cider, won't you?" 154 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS "In consideration of the nutritious properties of new cider, which your son has abundantly shown to exist, I will permit you to replenish my glass." "So you won't take nothin' more, Elder?" "Nothing more, my friends — nothing more whatsoever — for, as I have several times remarked during the repast, I am an in- dividual of exceedingly abstemious habits — endeavoring to enforce by example that which I so strenuously enjoin by precept from the pulpit, to wit — temperance in all things." Farmer John's Thanksgiving Day By Isaac F. Eaton. Thanksgiving Day came chill and bare, The fields were brown, the trees were sere. And snowflakes gathered in the air Foretold the winter of the year. But bright the fire, and full the bin, Each thankful heart kept glad within. But Farmer John, with darkened brow, Felt not the gladness of the day ; Not to his hopes had sped the plow, And cherished plans had gone astray. The wished-for gain in crop and herd, The blight and murrain had deferred. And to his wife he murmuring said : "You need not spread the feast for me; Let others lift the thankful head Who for their gifts can thankful be. My neighbors can enjoy their feast With herds and flocks and stores increased. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 155 ''Their every crop was full in ear, Their herds have gained in foal and fleece, They weigh the balance of the year And laugh to count a rich increase. For me, the months they come and go, They find me poor, they leave me so." And forth into the fields he went, Caring not where his steps might stray, His every thought was discontent, His every word reproached the day. "Let others offer thanks," he said, "Whose paths with blossoms thick are spread." He passed his neighbor's garnered store, With envy marked his thronging herds ; His neighbor met him at the door With bursting heart and sobbing words. His darling boy, his pride, his all, Lay white beneath the funeral pall. A marble mansion rose in state, White-walled, amid its clustering trees. A carriage stood before the gate With shining steeds and cushioned ease. "He sure is blest," said Farmer John, "For whom this luxury waits upon." Within he saw the banquet spread, The board was set with rarest cheer, The waiters stood at foot and head; He saw the owner then appear. Weak and in pain, his servants bore Their master from his carriage door. 156 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Smote with his sin, he blushed in shame, All base repinings now were still, Content he turned the way he came, Back to his own low cottage sill. With joy beneath its porch he sees His wife, and babes about her knees. He kissed his wife, while tears he shed, He clasped his babies to his breast: "While I have strength and these," he said, "More than my neighbors am I blessed. Set forth the feast ! God's gifts shall raise My heart to Him in thankful praise." Freedom's Thanksgiving Day By T. C. Harbaugh. Let Columbia's thankful anthem ring to-day from sea to sea, For 'neath the sky in beauty waves the banner of the free ; Baptized in blood at Lexington, the nation calls it blest, It droops not to a foreign foe, it owns no king's behest ; Its stars reflect new glory underneath the autumn sky, Its wedded stripes of white and red wide to the breezes fly; No more the crimson river rolls between the Blue and Gray, And all the people celebrate the land's Thanksgiving day. The harvest song still lingers where the golden waters run Through far Dakota's acres to the seas of endless sun, The cities teem with labor for the workman's eager hand. Our granaries groan with richest store, no hunger in the land; The cotter's little family on the rugged mountain side Takes up the song of plenty till it echoes far and wide, And we send across the billows as they ceaseless rise and fall This message to the nations : "We have food enough for all !" THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 157 God smiles upon the nation that has set a people free, We worship but at Freedom's shrine from surging sea to sea, The boy who drives the cattle home across the mesa bare Looks up with pride nor feels ashamed beside the rich man's heir ; Our navies ride the oceans with our starry flag unfurl'd, Our traders bear their cargoes to the harbors of the world; Aye, back to us from lands as fair and distant as Cathay Come argosies that helped to crown this glad Thanksgiving day. Old Glory proudly waves to-day o'er battlefields afar, The foreign foe hath humbled been beneath the clouds of war; Aye, every star that dots our flag upon the land and main Recounts the story of the men who crushed the might of Spain ; No longer ride her boasted fleets, no longer flash their guns, The seal of silence hath been placed on them by Freedom's sons ; With victory on our banners fair we grateful kneel and pray, And thank the watchful Father for this proud Thanksgiving day. There's plenty in the southland where in white the cotton blows, There's plenty in the northland 'neath Katahdin's crest of snows, The east has heard the reaper's song o'er countless fields of grain, The golden corn has gathered been in many a western plain; The winter has no terrors for the land we dearly love, The skies that promise happy times are blue and bright above ; Our nation in its splendor can take up the glad refrain: "O Father, Thou hast blessed us. Let Thanksgiving come again !" O bells that tell the story of our country's rise to fame, Ring out the paeans of glory 'neath the flag we love to name ; With plenty all around we can lift the joyful strain, And the harvest song is echoed in the nation's heart again ; Let the benediction sweeping o'er the land from shore to shore Shake the mountains with the chorus : "Praise the Lord forever- more ! Praise our Father for His goodness, reaching far from sea to sea, He has blessed us as a nation ; He has made and kept us free !" 158 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS The First Thanksgiving "And now," said the governor, gazing Abroad on the piled-up store Of the sheaves that dotted the clearings And covered the meadows o'er, " 'Tis meet that we render praises Because of this yield of grain ; 'Tis meet that the Lord of the harvest Be thanked for His sun and rain. "And, therefore, I, William Bradford (By the grace of God, to-day, And the franchise of this people), Governor of Plymouth, say, Through virtue of vested power, Ye shall gather with one accord, And hold in the month of November Thanksgiving unto the Lord. "So shoulder your match-locks, masters, There is hunting of all degrees, And, fishermen, take your tackle And scour for spoil the seas. And maidens and dames of Plymouth, Your delicate crafts employ To honor our first Thanksgiving And make it a feast of joy." At length came the day appointed ; The snow had begun to fall, But the clang from the meeting-house belfry Rang merrily over all, And summoned the folk of Plymouth, Who hastened with one accord To listen to Elder Brewster, As he fervently thanked the Lord. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 159 In his seat sat Governor Bradford, Men, matrons, and maidens fair, Miles Standish and all his soldiers With corslet and sword were there, And sobbing and tears and gladness Had each in its turn the sway ; For the grave of the sweet Rose Standish O'ershadowed Thanksgiving day. And when Massasoit, the sachem, Sat down, with his hundred braves, And ate of the varied riches Of gardens and woods and waves, And looked on the granaried harvest, With a blow on his brawny chest, He muttered, "The good Great Spirit Loves His white children best." My Tumick's Got a Pain' Fer Thanksgiving dinner we Had the best you ever see — Took no breakfast — not a bite — Jes' saved up my appetite, Till they filled my dinner-plate, Nen I jes' sat down an' ate. Turkey ! Turkey ! Such a lot ! An' purturnups, steamin' hot, An' purtaters ! stuffin', too ! Celery, an' ist a few Lima beans, but they wuz grate, An' I ate, an' ate, an' ate. 160 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Ma ist gave me everything, First a drumstick, nen a wing, An' some dark meat, an' some light; Pa he said it wasn't right ; But I was feeling just first-rate, So I ate, an' ate, an' ate. *- Nen we had plum-puddin', too ; Ma she said I'd have to do Wif ist four slices — pa said, "My! Hate to be you by-an'-bye !" But 'at mince-pie ist wuz grate — An' I ate, an' ate, an' ate. Nen we had some nuts an' cake — Seemed somehow I couldn't take Very much, but rather die, An' not eat a lot, so I Jes' sailed right in an' done first rate, Ate, an' ate, an' ate, an' ate. Nen, by-an'-bye I fell asleep, First thing chased me was a sheep, Nen a lion chased me, too ; An' a tiger says, "Say, you, Guess I'll start in wif your feet, Little boys is good to eat." Nen a big black snake it came, Said to me, "Say, what's your name?" Told it "Tommy," — snake said, "Oh! Guess I'll eat you awful slow !" Nen I cried a dreadful lot — Snake said, "Eat you, cry -or not!" THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS itii Nen I waked up an' I saw There was ma an there was pa, An' the doctor shook his head — "Indegestum," doctor said ; "Get him all right soon again." Oh, my tumick's got a pain ! Tit For Tat By Laura F. Armitage. "Turkey, how mad you grow !" Said little Tommy Snow, "You seem to think this place belongs to you. You want no one about, But you'll not drive me out, My grandma owns this yard and owns you, too. "You look so very proud, And with a voice so loud, You scold at me whene'er I come this way. You needn't feel so grand, We'll soon take you in hand, For very soon will come Thanksgiving day." And soon the day had come, And at his grandma's home The uncles, aunts, and cousins, all did meet. Mr. Turkey was on hand, No longer proud and grand, But stuffed and roasted brown for them to eat. 162 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Such puddings, pies, and cakes No one but grandma makes, And Tommy ate, and ate of every one. But when 'twas time for bed He had an aching head, And this he did not think was any fun. And when he closed his eyes, He heard, to his surprise, The sound of "gobble, gobble," near his bed. And looking up, he spied The turkey, big with pride, With spreading wings, and angry, shaking head. "Now, Tommy Snow," said he, "You thought you'd eaten me, But once you see, you thought what wasn't true. My day at last is here, Well have you cause to fear, For soon a dinner fine I'll make of you." Then Tommy gave loud cries, And opening his eyes, He saw his mother standing by his side. "O mother," Tommy said, . "Where is he? Is he dead? The turkey did not eat me, but he tried." "Ah ! Tommy, do not fear, There is no turkey here, You were but dreaming then," his mother said. "And next Thanksgiving day, Don't eat so much, I pray, And then you'll not see turkeys round your bed." THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 163 A Child's Thanksgiving By Kate; Whiting Patch. I thank Thee, Father in the skies, For this dear home so warm and bright; I thank Thee for the sunny days And for the sleepy, starry night. I thank Thee for my father's arms, So big and strong to hold me near; I thank Thee for my mother's face; I thank Thee for my dolly dear. I thank Thee for the little birds That eat my crumbs upon the sill; I thank Thee for the pretty snow That's coming down so soft and still. O Father, up there in the skies, Hear me on this Thanksgiving Day, And please read in my little heart The "thank you's" I forget to say. The Turkey of Life By Wilbur Duntl,ey. Now it doesn't seem right to sing a song to make you all feel blue, But, speaking of turkey and Thanksgiving-time, did it ever occur to you That for years and years, as well as to-day, Dame Fortune has whetted her knife To carve and distribute in unequal chunks the hot, steaming turkey of life? 164 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Some folks are born with proverbial spoons, get all the white meat from the breast — When their jackets are stuffed with things that are good they don't care a snap for the rest; Some folks get the wings of joy and content, and soar with them all of their life, And some of them nibble and pick all their days at the bare bone of trial and strife. Dame Fortune is fickle and heartless and cold, she doesn't do the job to suit us, For the way she has dealt out the turkey of life has caused lots of trouble and fuss ; Some are in luck if their Thanksgiving bird is beef-stew and bread on the side, And lots of us now are content with a pull at the "wish-bone" all brittle and dried. John White's Thanksgiving "Thanksgiving! — for what?" — and he muttered a curse; "For the plainest of food and an empty purse ; For a life of hard work and the shabbiest clothes ; But it's idle to talk of a poor man's woes ! Let the rich give thanks ; it is they who can ; There is nothing in life for a laboring man." So said John White to his good wife, Jane, And o'er her face stole a look of pain. "Nothing, dear John?" And he thought again, Then glanced more kindly down on Jane. "I was wrong," he said ; "I'd forgotten you ; And I've my health, and the baby, too." THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 165 And the baby crowed — 'twas a bouncing boy — And o'er Jane's face came a look of joy; And she kissed her John as he went away And he said to himself as he worked that day : "I was wrong, very wrong; I'll not grumble again, I should surely be thankful for Baby and Jane." The Thanksgiving Chicken Come here, my darlin' dollie, my Mary Belle, my dear, I've dot some'n the funnies' to whisper in your ear. I couldn't tell nobody, my darlin', 'cep'in' you, For mamma said not tell it ; but she won't care for you, Because you couldn't tell it not even if you wanted to, For no one can understand your talk but your darlin' mamma true. It's 'bout the very chicken we have for dinner to-day ; And, oh, my dear, it came about in the funniest sort of a way ! There was once a 'ittle chicken, not near as big as two eggs, The pittiest 'ittle white chicky, with 'ittle yellow legs. When the 'ittle sweety chicky was a tiny wee bit of a one, It would come right f roo the crack in the fence to play ; and had lots of fun, A-playin' with our chickies, and eatin' with 'em too. And would you b'lieve, you could almost see it as it grew. At night it went home to sleep under its mamma's wing. But all the time, my dollie, it grew like anyfing ! So, once, Thanksgivin' day, the little chicky came To play wiv our chickies, as every day the same. The chickies had an extra dinner, that bright Thanksgivin' day; So chick took dinner wiv ours in the very same way. So they eat and eat and eat, and had the mos'est fun. I'll tell you what, when the chicky went to go froo the crack for home I heard the awf'lest squeelin', and I ran to see what 'twas about, And there in the crack stuck chicky just half way in and out! 166 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Straightway I went up to him — you ought to see him pick — He was in 'at crack, I tell you, and oh, how he did stick. So then I pushed him one way, and then I pulled him back, And, dollie, I tell you the chicky come out on our side of the crack. And so the little chicky couldn't get froo the fence again, And it grew up with our chickens ; and, Mary Belle, then, when Thanksgivin' come round this time, my mamma says : "Why, that Is the nicest chicken of 'em all ; it's so pretty and fat." So she told the cook to prepare that chicken for dinner to-day, And, dolly, 'bout that chicky was just that very way. Thanksgiving By Edwin Markham. I thank Thee, Father, for this sky, Wherein Thy little sparrows fly; For unseen hands that build and break The cloud-pavilions for my sake,— This fleeting beauty high and wild, Toward which I wonder as a child. I thank Thee for the strengthening hills, That give bright spirit to the rills ; For blue peaks soaring up apart, To send down music on the heart ; For treetops wavering soft and high, Writing their peace against me sky; For forest farings that have been; For this fall rain that shuts me in, Giving to my low little roof The sense of home, secure, aloof. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 167 And thanks for morning's stir and light, And for the folding hush of night; For those high deities that spread The star-filled chasm overhead; For elfin chemistries that yield The green fires of the April field; For all the foam and surge of bloom; For leaves gone glorious to their doom, — All the wild loveliness that can Touch the immortal in a man. Father of Life, I thank Thee, too, For old acquaintance, near and true, — For friends who came into my day And took the loneliness away; For faith that held on to the last ; For all sweet memories of the past, — Dear memories of my dead that send Long thoughts of life and of life's end, — That make me know the light conceals A deeper world that it reveals. Tanksgibbin Turkey By Jean Havez. On de night befo' Tanks-gib-bin — Oh, I tells yo' things looked blue; I Dere was Mose an' me an' Bill an' John, an' ole Aunt Liza, too — Since de day dat I was bo'n yo' see, we alius looked ahead An' watched fo' dat ere turkey wif a putty comb so red. But Mose an' Bill was out o' work, an' me an' John had spent Mos' every nickel dat we had to pay th' shanty rent — An' as we sat dere thin-kin, sah, th' tears waz in our eyes, Dat turkey grew an' grew, sah, till it reached a monstrous size, 168 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS An' up spoke Mose — jus 1 wait fo' Sam, he'll fix th' matter right — If he goes out fo' turkey, he'll fetch it sho to-night. Den in come Sam, an' Mose spoke up : "We've got to hab sum game ; . To-morrer is Tanks-gib-bin, we mus' preservate de name, We ought to hab a turkey, an' we waited yer for you, To see if yo' knowed any fing in dis world we could do." Den Sam he grabbed de bigges' bag an' out de do' he went, An' Mose said, "Whar's that niggah gone? why he ain' got a cent." But putty soon we heard a noise an' Sam came trampin' in, His eyes a kinder lafhn and his face chuck full o' sin; He dropped his bag an' looked aroun' an' den he closed de do', An' out steps Mistah Turkey, an' he struts aroun' de flo'. Well, we didn' ast no questions, an' ole Sam he didn' say Jus' where he got dat turkey dat we ate Tanks-gib-bin Day. The Gossip of the Nuts Said the Shellbark to the Chestnut, "Is it time to leave the burr?" "I don't know," replied the Chestnut, "There's Hazel Nut ; ask her. I don't care to pop my nose out Till Jack Frost unlocks the door; Besides, I'm in no hurry, To increase the squirrel's store. A telegram from Peanut says That she is on the way, And the Pecan Nuts are ripening In Texas, so they say." Just here the little Beech Nut, In his three-cornered hat, Remarked, in tiny, piping voice: "I'm glad to hear of that, THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS ■■ 169 For then my charming cousin, So very much like me, Miss Chinquapin, will come with them, And so happy I shall be." Then Butternut spoke up and said: " 'Twill not be long before I'll have to move my quarters To the farmer's garret floor; With Hickory and Walnut Good company I'll keep, And there until Thanksgiving Together we shall sleep." Said the Shellbark : "I am tired Of being cooped up here, I want to go to see the world; Pray, what is there to fear? I'll stay up here no longer, I'll just go pouncing down; So, good-bye, Sister Chestnut, We'll meet again in town." Signs of the Times By Paul Laursncs Dunbar. Air a-gittin' cool an' coolah, Frost a-comin' in de night, Hicka nuts an' wa'nuts fallin', Possum keepin' out ob sight; Tu'key struttin' in de ba'nya'd — Nary step so proud ez his, Keep on struttin', Mistah Tu'key, You do' know whut time it is. 170 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Cidah press commence a-squeakin' Eatin' apples sto'ed away, Chillin swa'min' 'roun' lak ho'nets Huntin' aigs among de hay. Mistah Tu'key keep on gobblin' At de geese a-flyin' souf. Umph, dat bird do' know whut's comin'; Ef he did he'd shet his mouf. Punkin gittin' good an' yallah Make me open up my eyes ; Seems lak it's a-lookin' at me Jes' a-la'in' der sayin' "pies." Tu'key gobbler gwine 'roun' blowin', Gwine 'roun' gibbin' his sass an' slack; Keep on talkin', Mistah Tu'key, You ain't seed no almanac. Fa'mer walkin' throo de barnyard, Seein' how t'ings is comin' on, Sees ef all de fowls is fatt'nin' — Good times comin' sho's you bo'n. Heah's dat tu'key gobbler braggin', Den his face break in a smile — Nebbah min', you sassy rascal, He's gwine nab you atter while. Choppin' suet in de kitchen, Stonin' raisins in de hall, Beef a-cookin' fo' de mince-meat, Spices groun' — I smell 'em all. Look heah, Tu'key, stop dat gobblin' You ain't larned de sense ob feah; You ol' fool, yo' naik's in dan j ah, Do you know Thanksgibin's heah? THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 171 The Night Before Thanksgiving By Eva Lovett Carson. 'Twas the night before Thanksgiving, And the turkeys that were living Sat a-mourning in the hen-house for the turkeys that lay dead ; For the dawning of the morrow, That to them brought only sorrow, To the inmates of the farm-house brought a jolly time instead. There was Billy and his brother, His four sisters and his mother, And his father, who's the master, although we place him last ; And his aunts, and all his cousins, By the dozens and the dozens, Come to eat Thanksgiving dinner, as they'd come Thanksgivings past. There was running to and fro, then, All the folks were on the go, then, And they turned out cakes and puddings, and pies, too, by the score ; For when uncles, aunts and cousins, By the dozens and the dozens, Come to dine, you always find you wish you'd made a little more. While Thanksgiving Eve was dying, While the turkeys sat a-crying, Little Billy stole through pantries to gaze at goodies rare ; Where the rows of tempting dishes, Made to suit all kinds of wishes, And the sauces, jams and jellies gave a fragrance to the air. 172 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Billy stood with mouth wide open, Though a word he had not spoken, But his sighs of satisfaction were as eloquent as speech; And he crept a little nearer, As to see a little clearer, And with grimy finger lifted he began to sample each. Jam, cakes and pies he rifled; With the jellies, too, he trifled; Of the custards and the sauces he took such a taste to try, But a sudden stopped, espying, On the shelf above him lying, A larger dish, close covered against his prying eye. 'Twas the queen of all the dinner ! Billy wished that he felt thinner, As he gazed on the plum pudding, in its beauty and its pride. And he whispered, "Now, I wonder, If a little bit from under Would be ever missed — a tiny bit from off the under side !" But one piece led to another, It was strange he didn't smother, As he filled himself with pudding in a most amazing way; Till he feebly muttered : "Dear me ! It's queer they didn't hear me ; But I think perhaps I've had enough — until Thanksgiving Day!" But, alas ! when dawn was breaking, Little Billy lay a-quaking, For the jams, and cakes, and jellies had been haunting him in dreams ; And the pudding had been dancing, And retreating and advancing, In a way that isn't nearly half so funny as it seems ! THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 173 Well, to make the story shorter, When his mother brought cold water, And bathed her darling's face and hands, and gave him bitter stuff, He said, weeping, "Ah, I see how Much better it would be, now, When you're eating pudding, not to try to eat more than enough." And when all the aunts and cousins, By the dozens and the dozens, Met to eat Thanksgiving dinner, little Billy lay abed — Lay and thought, in -bitter sorrow, That the dawning of this morrow, That should bring a glorious dinner, brought a dose of oil instead. And while Billy lay a-groaning, All the turkeys stopped their moaning, For they said, "This gleam of comfort has come to soothe our moans. That detestible young Billy, Who has chased us, called us silly, Will never get a chance to gloat o'er our relations' bones !" A Thanksgiving Wooing By Minna Irving. The frost was on the cottage pane, The skies were gray and chill ; But with a trembling hand she smoothed Her kerchief's dainty frill. For then she saw the youthful squire Dismounting in the snow, In velvet coat and buckled shoes, Thanksgiving long ago. 174 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS While with her wrinkled sire he talked Of weather and of wheat, His ear was ever strained to catch The music of her feet. Her dimpled arms were deep in flour, Her rounded cheeks aglow; — Her father slept ; — he stole a kiss, Thanksgiving long ago. His stately mother and her guests Were waiting at the Hall Before the feast in silver served ; But he forgot them all, And at the farmer's humble board, With curly head bent low. He called a courtly blessing down, Thanksgiving long ago. Clear rose the moon above the woods And twilight veiled the farm ; But still he lingered at the gate, The bridle on his arm. "Oh, bake and brew for me alone, Be mine for weal or woe; — I love you, dear," he softly said, Thanksgiving long ago. In yonder carven frame she stands, In pearls and blue brocade ; And still tradition fondly keeps The pumpkin pies she made, And tells again the story sweet, When granaries overflow, — Of how the squire a-wooing went, Thanksgiving long ago. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 175 Thank the Creator, Not the Created A little boy had sought the pump From whence the sparkling water burst, And drank with eager joy the draught That kindly quenched his raging thirst: Then gracefully he touched his cap, — "I thank you, Mr. Pump," he said, "For this nice drink you've given me!" (This little boy had been well bred.) Then said the Pump, "My little man, You're welcome to what I have done; But I am not the one to thank, — I only help the water run." "O, then," the little fellow said, (Polite he always meant to be,) "Cold Water, please accept my thanks; You have been very kind to me." "Ah!" said Cold Water, "don't thank me; Far up the hill-side lives the Spring That sends me forth with generous hand To gladden every living thing." "I'll thank the Spring, then," said the boy, And gracefully he bow'd his head. 'O, don't thank me, my little man," The Spring with silvery accents said, — > "O, don't thank me; for what am I Without the dew and summer rain? Without their aid I ne'er could quench Your thirst, my little boy, again." "O, well, then," said the little boy, "I'll gladly thank the Rain and Dew." "Pray, don't thank us ; without the Sun We could not fill one cup for you." 176 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS "Then, Mr. Sun, ten thousand thanks For all that you have done for me." "Stop!" said the Sun, with blushing face; "My little fellow, don't thank me : 'Twas from the ocean's mighty stores I drew the draught I gave to thee." "O, Ocean, thanks, then!" said the boy; It echo'd back, "Not unto me, — "Not unto me; but unto Him Who form'd the depths in which I lie; Go, give thy thanks, my little boy, To Him who will thy wants supply." The boy took off his cap, and said, In tones so gentle and subdued, "O God, I thank Thee for this gift; Thou art the Giver of all good." His Riches By Lillian Grey. " 'Tis a poor Thanksgiving," said Farmer Jack ; "For the crops have failed and my pet horse died. My heart's too bitter for thankfulness; There is nothing but trouble and loss !" he cried. "Oh, no !" said Mary, his cheerful wife ; "You have me and the children left beside!" A^smile swept over the husband's face; "We will keep the feast ; there shall be no lack. The Lord forgive my hasty words ! Forget them, Mary, I take them back. Since you and the children my riches are, I'm a millionaire !" said Farmer Jack. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 177 A Country Thanksgiving Harvest is home. The bins are full, The barns are running o'er ; Both grains and fruits we've garnered in Till we've no space for more. We've worked and toiled through heat and cold.. To plant, to sow, to reap ; And now for all this bounteous store Let us Thanksgiving keep. The nuts have ripened on the trees, The golden pumpkins round Have yielded to our industry Their wealth from out the ground. The cattle lowing in the fields, The horses in their stalls, The sheep and fowls all gave increase Until our very walls Are bending out with God's good gifts. And now the day is here When we should show the Giver that We hold these mercies dear. We take our lives, our joys, our wealth, Unthanking every day ; If we deserve or we do not, The sun it shines alway. So in this life of daily toil, That leaves short time to pray, With brimming hearts let's humbly keep One true Thanksgiving Day. 178 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS And if there be some sorrowing ones, Less favored than we are, A generous gift to them, I think, Is just as good as prayer. Give Thanks ■By Doane Robinson. The drouth hez burned the corn up but there hain't been any flood- Give thanks. The frost hez ketched the fodder, but it's soddered up the mud — Give thanks. The hosses died with murrain an' the hail hez tuck the wheat, But their value wouldn't winter 'em, ner tuck the grain to mill, An' we've got enough provender fer all the folk to eat, An' there's tol'able fair walkin' out along the pike-road still — Give thanks. We are ruther short fer firewood, but the weather doctor he Is a-stavin' off the winter, an' the 'commodatin' banks Each hez tuck a chattel morgige fer the interust thet we Wuz compelled to stand 'em off fer, an' fer that we're givin' thanks — Give thanks. We hev done the best we knowed how, an' our consciences are clear, We can sing instead of cryin' an' yit can shed a tear Fer the poor destrestful critters thet are rasslin' with the cuss Of trouble an' misfortunes which the Lord hez kep' from us — Give thanks, give thanks. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 179 Tommy's Dinner By George Cooper. Wee Tommy sat down to his holiday dinner ; You saw by degrees that he didn't grow thinner. The dishes before him grew lighter and lighter, The buttons behind him pulled tighter and tighter; Yet there at his ease he was gloriously munching — A sight for the hungry to look at him lunching ! Pumpkin pies as yellow as gold — Melting lusciousness untold ! Puddings, pickles, sauces various. These to tender lads precarious ! Last of all — by no means least — Crowning all the jolly feast, Making all the air quite murky, Smoked the plump and light brown turkey. The dinner is finished, and Tommy now tries To jump from the table — he cannot arise! He really has grown such a wonderful size ! The viands are smoking right under his nose, And somehow, he falls in a sort of a doze. "Rat, tat, tat! upon the door, In come turkeys three and four, Then, in pairs, a hundred more ! Gobbling, strutting up and down, The elite of Turkey town ! Round the room they take their places With the most imposing faces. Shouts a gobbler ('tis their leader) — By his paunch a splendid feeder — "Tell us what the present case is !" 180 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS A dapper little biped rose and spoke an hour or so ; I'm not about to tell you all the fellow said, you know ; But this is in a nutshell what his speech amounted to — It made poor Tommy's cheeks turn white, it made his nose turn t. blue : "First and foremost, fellow fowls, Look at yonder urchin's jowls. See ! the best blood of our race There has found a dwelling place. Lo ! our monarch on the plate — Mark his stern and awful fate ! Turkeys, pause and contemplate. Here we catch a tyrant napping, Let us give him now a rapping !" That noisy, fierce, avenging band, Trussed poor Tommy, foot and hand! As many gobblers as were able Took knives and forks from off the table. They put him on a monstrous platter — There never was a turkey fatter ! Around the board they range in line, And only wait a given sign. The carver stands before the victim, But just before the turkey nicked him — Wee Tommy wakened with a scream And found it all a funny dream ! Made, we think, beyond all question, By a touch of indigestion. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 181 Thanksgiving, Then and Now By M. Alfredda Shirley. Characters Sadie, Ljllie, Sidney, Frank. Scene. — A Room. Sadie and Lielie discovered. Sadie. Oh, Lillie ! just think! To-morrow [next week or any other date, can be substituted] is Thanksgiving Day. I'm so glad it is almost here. We're going to have a houseful of com- pany, and lots of fun. LiEEiE. So are we ; but we mustn't forget what is meant by Thanksgiving Day. I suppose we all have something to be thank- ful for. Sadie. I have. Papa has promised me a new dress, and mamma bought me the loveliest new hat yesterday. [Enter Sidney and Frank.] Sidney That sounds just like a girl, always talking about some finery to wear. I am thankful that we're going to have a few days of vacation. I'm going into the woods and hunt squir- rels and gather nuts and have a jolly time. What are you thank- ful for, Frank? Frank. I'm thankful that I live in the twentieth century in- stead of the seventeenth, that I am right here in the United States and didn't have to spend sixty-three days crossing a stormy ocean to get here, and that I don't have to warm my toes by a fire built on the snow, and keep one eye glancing over my shoulder all the time to see if there's a redskin anywhere around taking me for a target. Sidney. Oh, pshaw ! I'd like to have been there. I'd have left such timid fellows as you snuggled in the cabin of the May- 182 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS flower, and I'd have gone to help find a place for a settlement. I'd like to have been the first one to jump ashore. Frank. Suppose your clothes had been frozen so stiff you couldn't jump? It must have been like wearing a coat of mail made of ice instead of steel. Sidney. Well, I'd have made the best of it, anyway. I think it must have been fine to have lived in those days. Sadie. Oh, Sidney! think of venturing just outside the door and seeing an Indian peeping at you from" behind a tree. Ugh ! I'd want to run inside the house and hide. Sidney. Of course, you would. That's just like a girl. Frank. Guess if you'd been there you wouldn't have thought it such fun. Sidney [indignantly]. What if an Indian did peek at me. Two could play at that game. Couldn't I peek at him, too? And if he came too near, I'd have given him a dose out of the package Governor Bradford sent to old Canonicus. I guess he'd have dodged quick enough. Besides, the Indians got scared and ran away from the white men at first, so I guess there wasn't much danger. Sadie. Perhaps the worst of the sufferings of the Puritans were from cold and want of food. At one time, you know, they had to divide up their little store of corn, so that each had only five grains for a meal. LiEEiE. Sadie knows all about it. She never misses in his- tory. I do believe she could say a whole chapter forward or back- ward, or begin in the middle and recite both ways. Sidney. That again is because she's a girl. Boys don't learn their lessons that way. Frank. But how do you think you'd like living on such small rations ? Sidney. I don't suppose I would have liked that part of it very much, but they made up for it with their plum-puddings and pumpkin-pies when they did get things to eat. That's what they started Thanksgiving for. Wasn't it ? LiftUE. O Sidney, they started Thanksgiving, as you call it, THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 183 because, after being in danger of starving, God rewarded the hard work they had done in the fields by giving them a bountiful har- vest; but the question that puzzles me is what could they do for food in the winter, and while the things were growing. Sidney. Just what I'm going to do to-morrow. Go and hunt for it. They could go fishing too. Sadie. But part of the time it was so dreadfully cold. Sidney. Well, I'd have gotten on the right side of Massa- soit. He was a friendly old savage, you know. I'd have shaken hands with him and traded an old jack-knife for a bear-skin. What was the use of freezing when the Indians had plenty of furs ? Frank. Oh, Sid, you're a smart fellow. Why don't you go West and fight the Indians now? They have disturbances out there every once in awhile, and there's the Filipinos and lots of new proteges to watch. It may be there's a chance for you yet to show how much you can do. Sidney. Oh, thank you, this side of the country is good enough for me. After all, those chaps who came over in the May- flower didn't have the chance to get an education that we have. LilxiE.J It was eighteen years after they came that Harvard College was opened. Harvard, you know, was the first college built in America. The boys must have grown to men by that time. Frank. That was 1638. Whew ! the old school is almost 270 years old. Well, while they didn't have any schools the boys had a rest for a while. They didn't have to cram their craniums full of all kinds of "ologies." Sidney. I guess they were too busy chopping wood, I mean felling trees, to go to school or anywhere else, except to the meet- ing-house on Sunday. Frank. It must have been fun to ride there in that queer old sleigh Deacon Jones made. It was rigged up in such a comi- cal way that everybody laughed. He used the tackling of his boat for a harness, and they say to this day there are people who call "harness" "tackling," but many of them don't know the rea- son why. He took a big load of folks to meeting every Sunday morning. I think I would have enjoyed that myself. 184 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Sadie. But when you think of the elegant buildings we have, the hundreds of nice school-houses, the cities, and railroads, the big stores, and all the lovely things in them, don't you think it is better to live in these times? Lilue. \ Yes, and best of all, we have the same One to care for us who took care of the Puritans. I think we all have a great deal to thank Him for. Sidney. Guess you're right. We needn't forget it if we do go hunting. Come on, Frank, let's get things ready for to-mor- row. [Bxit Sidney and Frank.] Sadie. And we'll go home and help get ready too. [curtain.] Thanksgiving Song for Little Folks By Wm. Howard Montgomery. In safe and restful keeping, Beneath the autumn sun, The fields to-day are sleeping, For harvest-work is done. The blossoms all are dying, Touched by a chilly hand, The birds are southward flying, To find a warmer land. But neither care nor sadness Can mar our song's refrain; Each heart exults with gladness, The spring must come again. The gloomy clouds are breaking, And drifting far away; God's peace and love are making A glad Thanksgiving Day. THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 185 Thanksgiving in Old Virginia By John P. Bocock. Old black mammy has a 'possum on to bake With sweet potatoes, sweeter than a maple-sugar cake ; And her pickaninny's gone, by the light of the moon, With his yellow-bellied puppy to tree a fat coon. The coon lies a-grinning in the hollow of a gum That the yellow-hammer uses for his morning drum; While the gray squirrel chuckles, in high old glee, At the hickory-nuts a-raining from the hickory-nut tree. The gray owl shivers on a dead oak limb And blinks in the sunshine, mellow and dim ; While molly-cotton rabbit gives a half a dozen hops, And hears her heart beating, of a sudden, and stops. The air is so fine and so soft and so clear. That the fences seem far and the mountains seem near; Till the partridges fly to the fences and 'light, And call out a song about "Old Bob White !" "Old Bob White, are your crops all right? Is there wheat beneath the barn for the first cold night? The guinea-hens and turkeys find its shelter mighty warm ; We'll gather in among 'em when there comes a storm." The wild turkey's calling from the far hillside; The foxhounds are baying on the long divide ; There's a fat pig squealing, for life is sweet — But not much sweeter than his sausage meat! 186 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS "Makin 5 Things A-Purpose To Be Et.' By George R. Horton. Directions for Reciting by Mae R. Perkins. I tell you they's strange things doin' In our kitchen these here days ; [Nod head on "I tell you" ; sway head to right and left as if saying, "yes, sir ee, you just ought to see" ; eyes wide open.] Ma's a-fussin' and a-stewin', An' a-runnin' forty ways [Give expression of confusion; bring hands up and make de- scending gesture on "forty."] To oncet, a'most, an' you jes' bet She's makin' things a-purpose to be et. [Face shows the pleasure you take in eating the good things ma makes.] Now las' night I heard her choppin'; So I went out jes' to see [Face expresses a little wonderment ; bend head as if listen- ing; extend hand in direction of noise.] What wuz doin'. Never stoppin', She sez, "Boy, don't bother me." [Shake head; imitate mother on "boy, don't bother me."] But, gee ! I seen, an' you jes' bet She's makin' things a-purpose to be et. [Stand very erect; open eyes wide on "gee" ; shake head on "an' you jes' bet."] She was stirrin' an' a-mixin' [Give in little more positive manner and with increased joy in anticipation of dinner.] Apples, meat an' raisins, too ; "Ma, what is it you'r a-fixin'?" [Face full of joy; go through motion of mixing and stwring.] THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 187 I asked. "Mince-meat," she sez, whew ! Say, ma's all right, an' you jes' bet She's makin' things a-purpose to be et. Wish ma hadn't caught me tastin' [Ask in inquiring manner as a boy zvould do. Give "mince- meat" as the mother said it, as she would say it while she is busy working around table and stove. Give "whew" as if you could smell the good things now. Give "ma's all right" as if saying "indeed she is." Give rest of stanza as if saying, "you ought to taste them, I just can't keep my lingers out."] Of the citron on th' plate ; Gee ! she don't believe in wastin' [Step back as if ashamed and sorry.] Any time ! She didn't wait — But ma's all right, an' you jes' bet [Step forzvard and give as if saying, "she didn't leave any on the plate, anyway. I don't think she ought to be so cross, a boy wants a little taste." If you are good at imitating, you can show how the mother slapped him or pushed him aivay from table on "she didn't zvait — "] She's makin' things a-purpose to be et. "Pa," sez I, "that gobbler's struttin' [Give in more forgiving manner as if saying "she's all right, any way, for if it wasn't for ma I wouldn't get all these good things to eat."] 'S tho' he owned the farm and all." "Boy,' he sez, "the dash he's cuttin' [Point to gobbler and look at pa.] Is the pride that marks his fall. Ma'll find him, an' you jes' bet [Nod head and give in little heavier voice as if trying to imi- tate pa and in a tone that says it is conceit and pride that often makes us fall.] She's makin' things a-purpose to be et." He'll look fine chuck full o' stuffin' [Give in a manner that says "that's the end of him."] 188 THANKSGIVING CEIEBRATIONS Cracklin', roasted good an' brown, Ma'll fill him till he's puffin — [Give as if you could see gobbler laid out on kitchen-table, stuffed ready for oven.] Gee ! I'll get all I can down; [Give as if saying "ma knows just hoiv to fix him."] For ma's all right, an' you jes' bet She's makin' things a-purpose to be et. I should think they'd have Thanksgivin' [Place left hand upon chest near throat as if you could taste it going dozvn.] Oftener 'n onct a year; Then there'd be great joy in livin' ; [Step more towards audience and give in tone that says, "wouldn't you think they'd have Thanksgiving oftener" ; face and head says "novo, wouldn't you?"] P'r'aps it's 'cause Christmas 's near — [In affirmative manner.] Ma's busy then, an' you jes' bet [As if saying "oh, I knozv."] She's makin' things a-purpose to be et. [As if saying, "ma works just the same then." Rub stomach as if saying, "oh, it's so good." Bxit, rubbing stomach. Face shows extreme satisfaction that, your mother's cooking is all right.] Around Thanksgiving Time Snappy nights an' mawnin's, Tendah, yaller noons, Jes' de time fer huntin' Hick'ry-nuts an' coons. Talk erbout yo' summah, Autumn is de hummah, Sets yo' blood er dancin', An' yo' feet er prancin', Jes' fer fun o' livin' These yer nights an' noons, THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 189 When de hull creation's Singin' harvest tunes ! Blue de sky above yo', Red de maple leaves; Nigger crows er callin' Down among de sheaves. Talk erbout yo' paintin' Nature knows it ain't in Any secret colah, 'Cept ter make it dullah, Beside huh maple leaves, When befoh de frost king, Summah sets an' grieves ! Cabin smoke er curlin' — Fried-cakes in de air, Smellin' hot an' crispy A'most everywhere. Talk erbout yo' eatin', Autumn gives de greetin', Ahead of every season, For de bestest reason. Things is growed an' gathered, Cookin's in de air, Settin' hungry fellahs Lookinsr fer a share ! Thankful Frog and Unthankful Cat There was an old cat who lived in a house, and a young frog who lived in a little pond near the rain-barrel. The house-cat had a bad temper, but the frog was very cheerful. One day as the frog hooped past the cat, he was "singing a little tune : "I'm so thankful the sun is a-shinin', My honey, my honey, I'm so glad my coat's got a linin', My honey." 190 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS "Always singing some foolish tune," the old cat snarled. The next day was rainy ; the old frog came along again hip- pity-hop-hippity-hop. He was singing the same little tune and these words : "I'm so thankful de rain is a-pourin', My honey, my honey. For it's just de day to have a scourin', My honey." "Easy to please," the old cat snarled. "Ain't it a fine day !" said the frog, puffing his throat. "Go 'way!" said the cat. "You are a fresh thing." So the frog hopped off, humming as he went : "Golly, but I'm glad to-day is Sunday, My honey, my honey, For dere's possum to-day and pork Monday, My honey." The frog sang so many of these little songs that the old cat said to him spitefully one evening, as he passed near her in his hopping : "Is there anything more you have to be thankful for?" "My land, yes !" said the frog, "a. heap o' things ! I ain't got right well started yet. You ain't really heard me sing yet, Sister Cat!" Then he started off, always with the same little tune: "I'm so thankful de wind is blowin, My honey, my honey. For by and by dere's gwine ter be snowing', My honey. I'm so thankful de ole crow's gone, My honey, my honey; Dat stole de corn from Master's barn, My honey. I'm so thankful de hips and de haws Is gettin ripe fer de pies and de daws. I'm just as glad as I kin be Dat dey're cuttin' down de rosin tree. I'm so glad it's warm in de house, THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS 191 It's good for de folks and good for de mouse. I'm so glad it's cool in de pond, Dat de woods is yonder and de sky beyond." "Oh, stop!" said the cat, spitefully. But the frog did not hear. He had swung fully into the gait of his singing now and he could hear nothing but the sound of his own voice. Finally the cat turned over and went to sleep "on her head." But the frog went right on. "And they do say dat he just sot thar an' just fa'rly busted hisself singin' de whole night long." In the morning the cat opened one eye and said again more spitefully than ever: "Anything more you're thankful for, Brother Frog?" The frog scratched his head. Of course, he had not named nearly all the things, but you see his voice was giving out. His high fine tenor sounded now like a cracked bass. Still, he scratched his head quite thoughtfully. "Yes," he said, hoarsely, "I'm thankful, Sister Cat, I'm thank- ful that I'm thankful!" And they do say dat all de other frogs dey got to sayin' de same thing and dat dey just kep' on a sayin' it and dat dey's a- sayin' it yet ! Thanksgiving Acrostic By Susan M. Best. T is for turkey the biggest in town, H is for Hattie who baked it so brown, A is for apples the best we could find, N is for nuts that we eat when we've dined, K is for kisses for those we love best, S is for salad we serve to each guest, G is for gravy that every one takes, I is for ice cream that comes with the cakes, V is for verses on peppermint drops, I 's for inquiries' when any one stops, N 's for the way that we nibble our cheese, G is for grace when we're done with all these. 192 THANKSGIVING CELEBRATIONS Thanksgiving Toasts "The Two National Fowls of America." — The Federal Eagle and the Festal Turkey — May we always have peace under the wings of the one, and be able to obtain a piece from the breast of the other ! "Thanksgiving." — Reunion Day, and a welcome to the wan- derers who have come back to join the Old Family Group. "Our Opinion on the 'Eastern Question' " — We agree with Russia, that Turkey ought to be "gobbled." "The Puritan Fathers." — They squelched mince-pie and plum- pudding, but they introduced pumpkin-pie as a succedaneum. "The Yankee Girls." — Young May flowers, of the old "May- flower" stock. "The Health of our Venerable Host." — Although an Ameri- can sovereign, he is one of the best grand seniors that ever pre- sided over turkey. "Thanksgiving." — The magnetic festival that draws back er- ratic wanderers to the Old Folks at Home. "The Thanksgiving Board." — While it groans with plenty within, who cares for the whistling of the wind without? The Pastimes of Thanksgiving, and the Present Times in which we enjoy them. "Thanksgiving." — The religious and social festival that con- verts every family mansion into a family meeting-house. "The Great American Birds." — May we have them where we love them best — the Turkeys on our tables, the Eagles in our pockets. Here's to the day when first the Yankees Acknowledged Heaven's good gifts with Thank'ees. ?;■?*«