. . . An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving
When Ma and Pa Bassett are suddenly called to Grandmother’s house in the middle of Thanksgiving preparations, the six Bassett children left at home, lead by oldest sister Tilly, decide to make a turkey dinner anyways.
Set in 19th century New Hampshire, this is one of Louisa May Alcott’s short stories that found its way into book form. I discovered it when we visited the river town of Stillwater, MN, home to many used and antiquarian bookstores. This lovely edition jumped into my hands and followed me home. I like to take it out and read it around Thanksgiving. The illustrations in this edition, by Holly Johnson, are evocative of the Garth Williams pictures in the Little House books and remind me of Tasha Tudor.
In between cleaning and baking a Jack-o-Lantern Tea Loaf, I pulled the book off of the shelf and browsed through it once again as the pictures took me away to an 1800’s farm in the east, and I scanned the recipes for Cranberry Sauce with Raisins, Johnny Cake, and Louisa May Alcott’s Apple Slump that follow the story in the back of the book.
After I set the table for tomorrow’s dinner, cover the pumpkin bread and pull out the big pans for the turkey and sweet potatoes, I think I’ll make a cup of tea, settle into a comfy chair, and read anew this little treasure, written in the 1870’s, not long after Abraham Lincoln declared a national day of Thanksgiving. It is a good time to sit and reflect on all the things I have to be thankful for, including you.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy thanksgiving Penny. How wonderful to have a book to pull out for the occasion; that makes a lovely ritual. We don’t have thanksgiving in New Zealand, but I know how special it is in America.
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Thank you, Juliet. It is a day for thanks – and for stuffing the turkeys and ourselves.
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Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I love having a book to read for each special day. Taking that book out from year to year is like a visit from an old friend. I love the illustrations too.
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Thanks, Janet. Thanksgiving was wonderful here, though I am very tired today. You put it so well – taking out the book is like a visit from an old friend. I think I was born in the wrong century. Well, except for the indoor plumbing . . . ha!
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What a gem! Thank you Penny, this is a beautiful little book, and what a piece of social history too. Hope you all have a wonderful day over there. Enjoy that relish! Happy Thanksgiving.
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You are so right! It is a piece of social history. We sometimes forget that books, especially children’s books because they are shorter, hold our past in their words and images. It was a wonderful day, thank you.
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What a lovely post Penny, and that books sounds like a treasure! And now I will admit to my ignorance and say thank you for the bit of history about Abe Lincoln being the one who declared Thanksgiving a national holiday!
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Thank you, Janet, and it is, indeed, a treasure. Yes, it was good ol’ Abe, though I think it was FDR who was responsible for making it the fourth Thursday in November.
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What a wonderful feast Penny. You are like Louisa making it come alive for us. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
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Such a wonderful compliment, Joan. Thank you. I didn’t get to most of my comments until just now and, like the sunshine outside, I will be beaming all day from your words.
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What a great find! A nice gift for your Thanksgiving. I’ve been a devotee of Louisa May Alcott my whole life and after reading Harriet Reisen’s biography, I decided to start a blog. It’s now grown into a lively community. I’d like to invite you all over and join in the discussion. The blog can be found at http://louisamayalcottismypassion.wordpress.com/
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It was a thrill to come across this book, Susan, and I’m so happy you visited here and have left a comment.
I love Lousia May Alcott and have posted on her before, especially after the PBS feature on LMA. I loved Reisen’s book, devouring it last year (it was a Christmas present). I have many of LMA’s books and am especially thrilled when I come upon and old edition, no matter if it is tattered and worn, and Little Women has been one of my favorites since childhood.
I spent some time scanning your delightful blog and will be back there for a closer look soon. Do you live in Concord? It was a thrill for me to visit Orchard House and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery there just a few years ago; to see the desk where LMA wrote, using both hands, and all the artwork preserved in May’s room…
Thank you for commenting here and for sharing your love of all things Alcott. Penny
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