THE THANKSGIVING DINNER.
“ISN’T it almost time for Mose to come home?” said George Grimsby, one
day, as he came into the kitchen, where Hesper was at work.
“Almost,” she replied. “Capt. Clark says that we can expect him in the
course of a week or two, though I shall try not to think of it too
soon, for the ship may have a long passage, and then I should be very
much disappointed.”
“What a pity it is,” remarked George, “that he can’t be here next
Thursday! We shan’t have half so good a time without him.”
The day to which he alluded, was the annual Thanksgiving, and the
Grimsby family, with uncle Nathan and aunt Betsey, Capt. Clark and his
mother, with aunt Nyna and Mr. Byers, had been invited to take dinner
with the Greysons. The children had talked of nothing else for the
last fortnight, and Hesper herself had looked forward to it with much
pleasure, though she knew that thoughts of the loved and absent would
cast a shadow over her joy. She was, however, surrounded by so many
comforts and blessings, and the future looked so bright before her,
that she could not repine one moment. With a light step and a smiling
countenance, she went about the house doing all she could to provide
for the comfort and convenience of her expected guests. Her cheeks
grew rosy red with exercise, and as she sung little snatches of songs
while about her work, her voice sounded so sweet and pleasant, that her
mother, who was sewing in the next room, laid down her work to listen.
Every sly corner and piece of furniture was visited with the broom
and duster--the tin ware and the great pewter platters on the kitchen
shelves, shone like new silver, and not a spot could be seen upon the
floor, she had scoured it so faithfully.
She was so much fatigued upon the night previous to the eventful day,
that when she went to her chamber, she fell asleep as soon as she
touched her pillow, and did not awake till the morning sun was shining
brightly into her window.
“Dear me!” she exclaimed, as she sprang from her bed, “how came I to
oversleep myself thus, upon this morning of all others!”
She dressed herself quickly, and ran down stairs in great haste,
expecting that her father would be quite vexed with her, for being
so late; but to her surprise she found the table spread, and the
breakfast nearly ready, though her mother had not yet risen. Her
father had been up some time, and he had attended to these things as
faithfully as she would herself.
“Indeed,” said Hesper, as she warmed her hands by the blazing fire, “I
little thought of sleeping so late.”
“I am glad you did,” said her father, “for you needed the rest,
and I always like to do anything about the house, when I have the
opportunity.”
Hesper could not help thinking how differently he appeared from what he
did a year ago, and just then, it seemed to her as though no one was
ever blessed with half so good a father. As he bent down to turn over
the great back-log, which sent whole showers of sparks up the chimney,
she imprinted a warm kiss upon his cheek.
“Thank you, darling;” he said, “that is the sweetest reward I can have
for my labors.”
Fred and Charlie could scarce wait for breakfast to be over, before
they prayed Hesper to let them have their new jackets, which, with
the rows of bright brass buttons, seemed to them more beautiful than
anything they had ever seen. They had informed the Grimsby boys of
their new possessions in rather a boastful manner, but were somewhat
humbled when George told them, in return, that he and Benny had whole
new suits. At Hesper’s suggestion, however, they concluded to defer
the matter till they had brought some wood to kindle a fire in the
parlor, which was soon done.
During the night there had been a light fall of snow, and now the
ground looked even and white as far as one could see, but the sun was
shining brightly in the clear blue sky, and whole flocks of little snow
larks were flying from tree to tree, or leaving their tiny foot-prints
in the snow as they hopped about in search of food.
As Hesper stood by the window and looked out, a carriage drove up
to the door, and Mr. Grimsby, with his wife, and little Tommy, and
Juliana, and the boys, sprang out, all dressed in their best, and
looking never so happy. Hesper had scarce time to welcome them, before
uncle Nathan and aunt Betsey arrived. Next came Mrs. Clark with aunt
Nyna and Mr. Byers. Mrs. Clark told Hesper that she did not know as the
Captain would come--“for,” said she, “he received word yesterday, that
he must come to the city immediately, on important business. He said he
should be back this morning, if possible, but that you must by no means
wait for him.”
They did wait however, for Mr. Greyson was very anxious that all should
be there, and it was with great reluctance that at last they took their
seats without him. A mammoth turkey--the gift of Capt. Clark, lay like
a fallen hero upon a dish in the centre of the table. His sides, so
nicely brown, were swollen almost to bursting with the savory dressing
within, and the rich juices were oozing from every pore. This was no
ordinary sight to any of these good people, and the boys looked on
with breathless interest, as Mr. Greyson commenced the operation of
carving. George Grimsby carefully regarded each piece as it fell, and
indulged in a thousand secret longings for the portion which contained
the coveted wish-bone, for he had the greatest faith in its power to
bring about desirable results. To his unspeakable joy, it actually did
fall to his share. As quickly as possible he disengaged it from its
surroundings, and polished it without delay.
“Here,” he said to Fred, who was his right hand neighbor--“let’s wish
together.”
Not liking to attract the attention of the company, the boys held the
bone below the table, and pulled with all their might. It did not part
easily, but the boys were resolute, and at last it separated.
“There,” exclaimed George triumphantly, as he held up his part--“I have
my wish, and now I will tell you what it is--I wish Mose would come
home to-day.”
“That is right!” said Hesper. “So do I.” And “so do I” was repeated all
around the table.
“There comes Capt. Clark,” said aunt Nyna, who sat nearest the window.
She put down her knife and fork as she spoke--’rose half way from her
seat, then sat down again and glanced smilingly at the company. The
next moment the door opened and Capt. Clark entered, with a young
man--rather tall, with black whiskers, and his complexion somewhat
darkened by exposure to the weather.
“How do you do, good people?” said the Captain, very politely. “Allow
me to introduce to you--“
“Mose! Mose!” exclaimed Hesper, as she overturned her chair in her
haste, and sprang into his arms.
All arose from the table at once to receive him. Tears, and kisses, and
smiles, were mingled together, for a more heartfelt greeting was never
known.
“How are you, my boy?” said Mr. Greyson, with joyful earnestness, as he
grasped his hand.
Mose looked at his father in astonishment, as he replied. Instead
of the sullen, despairing look, which he had worn for years, his
countenance was now radiant with hope and happiness. He spoke, he
looked, and acted, like a man who had confidence in God and himself,
and was both able and willing to do his duty in the world, whatever
it might be. Then, too, Mose looked at his mother--so sick and feeble
when he left home that he feared he never should see her again--but
now she stood there with tears of joy in her mild eyes, and the glow of
health upon her cheek. He had saved every cent of his earnings, that he
might come home and minister to their wants, as far as possible, but
all around him he saw signs of comfort and prosperity, for which he was
wholly unprepared. They had purposely kept their removal to the new
home a secret, and now they fully enjoyed his surprise.
“How has this all happened?” he asked--“What good spirit has aided you?”
“Here, Mose,” replied his father, as he laid his hand on Hesper’s
shoulder--“is our fairy. She labored without fainting when our burdens
were the heaviest. Her faith and patience were both example and rebuke
to me in my despondency. Her never failing love and goodness has warmed
my heart into action, and her truth and simplicity opened the way
whereby others stretched out their hands to help us. God bless her! No
better angel than she has ever crossed our threshold.”
The poor girl blushed painfully at this unlooked for praise, from the
usually silent lips of her father, and she was in no small degree
relieved, when the attention of the company was turned from her by
George Grimsby, who stole up behind Mose, and pulling him by the coat,
asked in a loud whisper concerning the whereabouts of his Guinea
monkey. Upon being assured that the desired object might be expected
by the regular packet, early next morning, he returned to his seat with
a smiling countenance.
Again Mose looked round upon the little group, and then, turning to his
mother, he said in a faltering tone--“all here but one!” His loving
heart missed the welcome which would have come from the little one who
was now slumbering in the dust. That sweet, childish face, with the
clustering ringlets and soft blue eyes, was pictured distinctly in his
memory, and as the thought came home to him that he would behold it
upon earth no more, he bowed his head upon his hands and wept. Hesper
sobbed aloud, for the wound was yet fresh in her heart, and then, for
a few moments, there was a hushed and reverent silence throughout the
room.
“Come, children,” said Mr. Greyson, at length, as he motioned for Mose
and Hesper to take their seats at the table, “let us think no longer of
the grave, but of the bright heaven beyond, where the child of our love
sits down with the angels to a feast of Thanksgiving, far more joyful
than any that earth can know.” At these words the whole company resumed
their seats, and soon the passing shadow had vanished from their
countenances.
“Hast thee brought me no message from my boy Harry?” said aunt Nyna at
length, who for some time had maintained a considerate silence, but
now ventured to speak.
“Aye, that I have,” said Mose, thrusting his hand into his coat pocket.
“Here is a letter and a daguerreotype”--and he passed them over at once
to the good lady.
With eager hands she opened the miniature, while Hesper peeped over her
shoulder.
“Why!” she exclaimed, with a look of astonishment, “how he has
altered!” and Hesper, as she gazed at it in wonder, thought so
likewise. Instead of the merry, frank looking companion of her
childhood, here was an individual, apparently much older, of a very
intellectual cast of countenance, with large, thoughtful eyes, and
a high, white forehead, from which the dark hair was turned back,
displaying to great advantage its breadth and fulness.
Mose started up and glanced at it. “O!” he said, “I have made a
mistake! That is Mr. Clyde, who came home as passenger in our ship. He
is a fine fellow, though rather singular. We became very good friends
on the home passage, and at parting he gave me his miniature. He is
stopping in the city now, and says that if I remain at home till
spring, which I think is likely, he may possibly look in upon me some
day.”
So saying, Mose drew another daguerreotype from his pocket, and
exchanged with aunt Nyna.
“That’s him!” she exclaimed, joyfully--“only looking more like a man
and ten times handsomer.”
The color deepened upon Hesper’s cheeks, and her eye brightened, as
she gazed at it; for in the frank, manly countenance before her, she
recognized at once the companion of her childhood. There was the
same richly clustering hair, above his open brow--the eyes beaming
pleasantly upon her as of old, and the same cheerful smile lingering
about the mouth, which had never spoken any other words to her than
those of kindness and love. Her heart beat quickly, and fearing that
the rest of the company might observe her emotion, she resumed her
seat. Through the whole of the day, in the midst of all the sport and
enjoyment, memory still kept the countenance of her early companion
before her, and when she retired to rest that night, it still looked
out upon her through all the wandering fancies of her dreams.