THANKSGIVING DINNERS

 The book is printed in the United States of  America in 1915. In the book- Thanksgiving stories for children- Golden Fund of The American National Literature for American children.

THE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THANKSGIVING STORIES EDITED BY ASA DON DICKINSON Editor of The Children's Book of Christmas Stories etc 

GARDEN CITY NEW YORK DOUBLEDAY PAGE & COMPANY 1915 

Adding the illustrations of the book- The Classics of American Painting of the Beginning of The Last Century- The roaring twenties.

1. "How much do you suppose our turkey weighs?"

THANKFUL- BY MARY E WILKINS FREEMAN 

This tale is evidence that Mrs Freeman understands the children of New England as well as she knows their parents There is a doll in the story but boys will not mind this as there are also two turkey gobblers and a pewter dish full of Revolutionary bullets 

2. THANKSGIVING AT AN OLD TOWN.

HOW WE KEPT THANKSGIVING AT OLDTOWN -BY HARRIET BEECHER STOWE The old- time New England Thanksgiving has been described many times, but never better then by the author of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" in her less successful but more artistic novel "Oldtown Folks," from which book the following narrative has been adapted 

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF THE PURITANS- 1895

9895

"Let children hear the mighty deeds 

Which God performed of old, 

Which in our younger years we saw

 And which our fathers told.

"He bids us make his glories known, 

His works of power and grace. 

And we ll convey his wonders down 

Through every rising race.

"Our lips shall tell them to our sons, 

And they again to theirs; 

That generations yet unborn 

May teach them to their heirs.

"Thus shall they learn in God alone 

Their hope securely stands; 

That they may ne'er forget his works; 

But practise his commands."    

This we all united in singing to the venerable tune of St Martin's, an air which the reader will perceive, by its multiplicity of quavers and inflections gave the greatest possible scope to the cracked and trembling voices of the ancients, who united in it with even more zeal than the younger part of the community. 

3. THE VISIT

THE VISIT A STORY OF THE CHILDREN OF THE TOWER BY MAUD LINDSAY

 The children went back to spend Thanksgiving at grandfather's farm. They got into some trouble and were afraid that they would miss their dinner. 

THE RHYMES OF THANKSGIVING

The turkey was brown, the potatoes were sweet, 

The sauce was so spicy, the biscuits were beat, 

The great pumpkin pie was as yellow as gold, 

And the apples were red as the roses, I'm told.

And I m sure you'll agree,

With the children and me, 

That there's never a visit so pleasant to pay 

As a visit to grandma on Thanksgiving Day.

 

4. AN ENGLISH DINNER OF THANKSGIVING

AN ENGLISH DINNER OF THANKSGIVING BY GEORGE ELIOT 

Americans are not the only people who hold a feast each year after the crops are gathered into barns. The older boys and girls who wish to know more of the jolly English farmer, Martin Poyser and his household will enjoy reading about them in George Eliot's great novel, "Adam Bede."'

The ceremonial quatrains of Thanksgiving

 

The ceremony connected with the song was a drinking ceremony. (That is perhaps a painful fact, but then, you know we cannot reform our forefathers.) During the first and second quatrain, sung decidedly forte no can was filled

"Here's a health unto our master, 

The founder of the feast; 

Here's a health unto our master 

And to our mistress!

"And may his doings prosper, 

Whate'er he takes in hand, 

For we are all his servants, 

And are at his command." 

But now immediately before the third quatrain or chorus, sung fortissimo with emphatic raps on the table, which gave the effect of cymbals and drum together, Alick's can was filled, and he was bound to empty it before the chorus ceased.

"Then drink boys drink! 

And see ye do not spill, 

For if ye do, ye shall drink two, 

For tis our master's will."

When Alick had gone successfully through this test of steady-handed manliness, it was the turn of old Kester, at his right hand- and so on, till every man had drunk his initiatory pint under the stimulus of the chorus. Tom Saft the rogue took care to spill a little by accident but Mrs Poyser (too officiously. Tom thought) interfered to prevent the exaction of the penalty.

To any listener outside the door it would have been the reverse of obvious why the "Drink, boys, drink!" should have such an immediate and often-repeated encore; but once entered, he would have seen that all faces were at present sober, and most of them serious; it was the regular and respectable thing for those excel lent farm-labourors to do, as much as for elegant ladies and gentlemen to smirk and bow over their wine glasses.