{"id":25808,"date":"2017-11-09T21:00:18","date_gmt":"2017-11-10T04:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/?p=25808"},"modified":"2017-11-09T20:56:07","modified_gmt":"2017-11-10T03:56:07","slug":"turkey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"Josiah, His Turkeys and His Sweetheart"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Editor\u2019s Note: This Thanksgiving<\/a> story was published sometime in the early 19th<\/sup> century. Like A Visit from St. Nicholas<\/a><\/strong> it was published as a tradition year after year in many newspapers. We found it in the Boston Traveler from 1836, though we noted it dating back as far as 1824 in another newspaper. This is a delightful look an old American Thanksgiving<\/a> traditions \u2013 as well as a great story of love<\/a>.)<\/em><\/p>\n

Have you ever been in Windsor, Vermont?<\/p>\n

If so, you have heard of Josiah Baker. Indeed, you have heard of him even tho you have not been in the state of Vermont; for he is well known in Boston as the great dealer in poultry in all New England.<\/p>\n

About Thanksgiving<\/a> time, you may see in all parts of Boston Josiah Baker\u2019s wagons, literally crammed with turkeys, geese, chickens, and ducks, together with pumpkins, squashes, and all manner of thanksgiving<\/a> sauce.<\/p>\n

Twas thought by some, if Josiah should die without an heir to inherit his virtues, and perpetuate the stock of poultry, that thanksgiving<\/a> would have to be abolished altogether in that region; for, as to being thankful upon an empty stomach, it couldn\u2019t in the nature of things be expected. In fact, they tried it on one occasion. Josiah didn\u2019t die, to be sure, but twas just as bad for the time being, as you shall see.<\/p>\n

Contrary to all usage, and probably for the sake of doing something wherewith to distinguish himself, the Governor appointed thanksgiving<\/a> on the same day which had been set apart for that purpose in Vermont. Now, no real Yankee will ever absent himself from his kindred on Thanksgiving<\/a> day, not even for gain; and Josiah, though a bachelor, was in the habit of having all his blood relations to make merry with him on that occasion; and you know the habits of an old bachelor are not easily broken in upon. Besides, his worthy sister Hester would have felt herself scandalised, indeed, if she were denied the privilege of lashing, and scolding, and storming about as usual, in the hurry of preparation for this joyous festival. Not that she was ill natured, or given to scolding under ordinary circumstances \u2013 far from it; but there is a time for everything. Then Josiah\u2019s number relatives, (and you\u2019ve no idea unless you have been there how numerous one\u2019s relations are in that part of the country) who were always expect to partake of the luxuries of his farm-yard, and to devour with an appetite which fortunately returns but once a year, Miss Hester\u2019s puddings, pies, tarts, etc. would have felt anything but thankful if Josiah had gone to Boston, instead of keeping thanksgiving<\/a> at home. But he had no idea of such a thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe could as well afford to keep his turkeys, as the Boston folks could do without \u2018em; and he\u2019d teach Governor Lincoln to appoint the same day as the Governor of Vermont.\u201d<\/p>\n

So Josiah kept Thanksgiving<\/a>, as in times past, at home, though his heart was not as light as usual, for he pitied the Boston folks, and he couldn\u2019t help saying now and then as he cut a slice of turkey, \u201cGovernor Lincoln ought to have known better.\u201d<\/p>\n

But though there was this drawback upon his happiness, it was trifling, compared with the consternation of the Boston people. His old customers, who had for fifteen or twenty years relied upon him for supplies, and had never once been disappointed, could not believe he would fail to appear now, and even on the day preceding thanksgiving<\/a>, refused to purchase of others under the full conviction that he would come, though it were at the eleventh hour. But, alas! He came not; and for the first time in their lives, and I hope the last, many of the good citizens were obliged to forego the luxury of a roast turkey, and dine on roast beef; and instead of being thankful, they did nothing but eat, and drink and grumble. But there was no calamity, however great, from which good may not be extracted.<\/p>\n

This unhappy event led the good people to reflect upon what might be the consequences if Josiah should be removed by death, leaving no issues to keep up the stock of turkeys; and as life is uncertain, even in Vermont, they set about devising means to avert so serious an evil. Accordingly, Josiah began to receive letters advising him to marry; disinterestedly pointing out to him the cheerlessness of his present mode of life; and hinting also, that if he should die childless, thanksgiving<\/a> would be entirely broken up. Now, the subject of matrimony had never entered Josiah\u2019s head. His maiden sister attended to his household \u2013 darned his stockings for Sunday \u2013 washed his neck and ears for him of a Saturday night \u2013 and combed his head in more ways than one. In short, he didn\u2019t see what more a woman could do. However, the subject got into his mind, and it was not easy to get it out again. It was constantly before him. He couldn\u2019t even sleep in meeting, but was constantly looking about, and observing how nice and chirk the young women looked. Finally, he concluded to open his mind to his sister, and ask her advice.<\/p>\n

After weighing the matter thoroughly, and mourning over the prospect of laying down the scepter, she advised him, (with a magnanimity which none but a sister could exhibit,) to comply with suggestions of his friends, and marry; stating that she was willing to resign her authority to another for the sake of promoting his happiness, but in order to secure the latter, she must make the match herself, at least so far as to point out a proper person for him to court. This was great relief to him, but he would have been better pleased if she could have settled the whole matter. For he had a great horror of encountering one of the sex face to face, having never beein in company with any but his relations. However, his sister, who was in the habit of gossiping in the intermission with all the women that came to meeting, soon made choice of a wife for her brother, in the person of Sally Jepson, who lived but a couple of miles from his farm. She was (as she told Josiah) of a rugged make, thick set, wholesome looking, and as smart as as steel-trap. So it was agreed upon that on Sunday night, Josiah should commence his courtship.<\/p>\n

Accordingly, after supper, he mounted his horse, and started with much fear and trembling, for Squire Jepson\u2019s. He rode very slow, that he might con over what he should say to Sally; but after thinking over many forms of speech, he arrived at the home quite at a loss for how to open his heart. Having tied his horse to the fence, he thought he would reconnoiter the premises before going in; but although there was a light in the sitting room, the paper curtains were down, and nothing could be discovered. After walking around the house two or three times, and going as often to the fence to see if his horse was fastened securely, he finally made a desperate effort, went to the well, and took a drink from the bucket, and then gave a rap on the door.<\/p>\n

\u201cWalk in\u201d bawled out the Squire. After fumbling round some time, he finally raised the latch, and entered.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Josiah Baker!\u201d exclaimed the Squire. \u2013<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy Mr. Baker!\u201d echoed his wife, \u201cIs that you? Set to the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sally said nothing, laid her hands upon her lap, and looked in the fire. The three younger children, who were sitting on the hearth, commenced whispering together respecting the object of his visit; for it being Sunday night, they suspected he had come a sparking. Silence continued for some minutes, till the children could contain themselves no longer, but snickered out a laughing. \u201cNow pick up your legs, and go to be for your manners,\u201d said the Squire, the dame at the same time giving them a slap which helped them on their way considerably.<\/p>\n

After the confusion, arising from this sudden movement had subsided, the dame asked, \u201cHow is Miss Hester, Mr. Baker?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cReasonable, I thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n

After an interval of a few minutes the dame broke out again, \u201cI think Deacon Spring\u2019s wife must be poorly, for I see she had sat down in the last prayer, and didn\u2019t get up for the blessin\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, now, I didn\u2019t mind that,\u201d said Josiah.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere, where was your eyes, Mr. Baker?\u201d<\/p>\n

Josiah made no reply; for the fact was, his eyes was fixed upon the corner pew on the right hand side, where sat Sally Jepson.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur little man was unusual solemn today. I thought the self-righteous was pretty well cut p. The shoe fitted a good many of \u2018em\u201d<\/p>\n

Josiah replied, \u2018Yes\u2019. The truth was, he would have given the world to change the subject, if he had known what to say, for his thoughts had been with his eyes, upon Sally, and he had not heard a word of the sermon.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven the singers seemed uncommon balked up,\u2019 said the Squire. \u201cI\u2019ve never heard \u2018em sing louder. But I do wish they\u2019d give up the new collection, and to Mear and bray, so that a body could jine with \u2018em. Twould be more edifyin\u2019. And then they\u2019ve got to openin\u2019 their mouths so wide, that none of the sound goes through the nose at all, and seems to lose all the solemnness as twere\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t you think, Mr. Baker, that the little man was uncommon lifted up in prayer,\u201d said the dame.<\/p>\n

Fortunately for Josiah this was a leading question, and that blessed monosyllable came to his relief. Just at that moment the clock behind the door began to strike nine, and before it was done, the Squire and his wife had taken the candle and gone to bed, cautioning Sally not to forget to cover up the embers after Mr. Baker was gone.<\/p>\n

Now though the sudden departure of the old folks had relived Josiah from one dilemma, it left him in a worse one; for here he was alone with Sally without a single idea in his head, and his tongue cleaving to the roof of his mouth, which was as dry as a powder horn.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe my horse is a little uneasy,\u201d he said, after a silence of several minutes; and he jumped up and went out to the fence, and walked around a little, took another drink from the well, and then rushed into the house, determined to make a bold push and broach the subject at once. So he drew his chari up near to Sally, and addressed her:<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Sally! \u2013 darnation!\u2014\u201c<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat \u2018d you say, Mr. Baker?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDarnation!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh! I thought you spoke to me.\u201d Sally picked up the tongs and laid the brands together.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat d\u2019you think of getting married, Miss Sally?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDid you speak to me, Mr. Baker?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCertainly I did\u2014there\u2019s nobody else to speak to as I see,\u201d said Josiah, looking round the room.<\/p>\n

Sally now began to color up, her throat swelled, and she reminded Josiah of one of his turkeys, and thus furnished him with a topic of conversation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMiss Sally, do you love<\/a> turkey?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo do I,\u201d said Josiah.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich do you like best on it, apple sauce or cranberry?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo do I,\u201d said Josiah. \u201cWhich do you think is the sweetest, Sally, honey or maple sugar?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHoney.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThunder!\u00a0 — we\u2019re as nigh alike as two pumpkins. Now, Sally, I\u2019ll you what\u2019s the sweetest thing in nature \u2013 it\u2019s you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNow be still, Mr. Baker; mother says praise to the face is open disgrace.\u201d<\/p>\n

He now drew his chair closer up to hers, for as he told his sister afterwards, he began to get his pluck up. \u201cSally,\u201d say he, \u201cWhat\u2019s the sign, when anybody treads on your toe?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a sign they love<\/a> you. Oh! Mr. Baker, you\u2019ve mashed my foot all to pieces!\u201d<\/p>\n

Upon this he threw his arms around her neck, and gave her such a smack as Sally Jones got when old Mrs. Jones thought her bottle empt\u2019ins had burst.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhats the matter, me dear,\u201d said the Squire, who was awaked out of a sound sleep by his wife\u2019s jumping up in bed.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothin\u2019\u201d, said she, \u201cOnly I heard a great cracking just now. I thought at first twas your shootin\u2019 gun went off, but I guess it\u2019s only the frost coming out of the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the mention of the gun, the Squire got out of bed, and opened the door to the sitting room. \u201cSally, are you up? What noise was that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwas \u2013 twas: — I jist shut the front door \u2013 that\u2019s all the noise I heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, you\u2019d better put the nail over the latch, and go to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

The next morning the old lady gave Sally a severe scolding for slamming the door so hard, when people were asleep.<\/p>\n

That interesting interview, and above all, that parting kiss, was more than Sally Jepson could stand unmoved \u2013 and on the next Sunday, when she went to church, and got a sly wink and a nod from Josiah, for her life she couldn\u2019t tell whether she had a heart left among her good and chattels, although she tried all meeting time to decide the doubt. Josiah repeated the kiss on that very evening, and performed more, for he popped the alternative, an infallible symptom that his question had gone straight to her heart, and caused it to flood her cheeks.<\/p>\n

The parson blessing the happy twain, and they became one flesh \u2013 very much to the delight of all the lovers of thanksgiving<\/a> dainties \u2013 who in that union foresaw a perpetuation of Josiah\u2019s incomparable breed of turkeys.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Editor\u2019s Note: This Thanksgiving story was published sometime in the early 19th century. Like A Visit from St. Nicholas it was published as a tradition year after year in many newspapers. We found it in the Boston Traveler from 1836, though we noted it dating back as far as 1824 in another newspaper. This is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25809,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","iawp_total_views":10,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,70,11],"tags":[271],"class_list":["post-25808","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-christmas-past","category-holiday-humor","category-thanksgiving","tag-thanksgiving"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25808","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25808"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25808\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25809"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25808"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25808"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mymerrychristmas.com\/x\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25808"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}