An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott - Part 2

"An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving" is a short story written by Louisa May Alcott, the author of the beloved novel "Little Women." This charming and heartwarming tale is set in the 19th century and revolves around the Bassett family. When the mother falls ill on Thanksgiving Day, her children must take charge of preparing the holiday feast. Despite their initial mishaps and challenges, the children's determination and resourcefulness lead to a heartwarming Thanksgiving celebration. The story explores themes of family, tradition, and the importance of coming together during the holiday season. It is a delightful and nostalgic narrative that captures the spirit of Thanksgiving in a simpler time.

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Part two of an Old Fashioned Thanksgivingby Louisa may Alcott. This is a
LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings arein the public domain. For more information
or to volunteer, please visit LibriVoxdot org. Part two. When they
woke like early birds, it stillsnowed, but up the little bassage jumped,

(00:22):
broke the ice in their pitchers,and went down with cheeks glowing like
winter apples. After a brisk gruband scramble into their clothes, f was
off to the barn until he senhad a great kettle of mush ready,
which, with milk from the cows, made a wholesome breakfast for the seven
herdy children. Now about dinner,said the young housekeeper, as the pewter
spoons stopped clattering and the earthen bowlsstood empty. Moss said, have what

(00:46):
we liked. But she didn't expectus to have a real Thanksgiving dinner because
she won't be here to cook it, and we don't know how, began
Prue. Doubtfully, I can roasta turkey and make a pudden as well
as anybody. I guess the pawsare all ready ha't boiled vegetables and so
on, we don't deserve any dinner, cried Tilly, burning to distinguish herself
and bound to enjoy to the utmostto brief authority. Yes, yes,

(01:08):
cried all the boys. Let's havea dinner anyway. I won't care,
and the good victuals will spoil ifthey ain't eating right up. Paul's coming
tonight, so we won't have dinnertill late. That will be real genteel,
and give us plenty of time,added Tilly, suddenly realizing the novelty
of the test she had undertaken.Did you ever, asked Roxy, with

(01:30):
an air of deep interest. Shouldyou dares try? Said Rody in an
austricken tone. You will see whatI can do, Ma said, I
was to use my judgment about things, and I'm going to. All you
children have got to do is keepout of the way and let pruin me
work. If I wish you'd puta fire in the best room so the
little ones could play in there,we still want the settin' room for the
table, and I won't have thempicking round when we get things fixed,

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commanded Tilly, bound to make hershort brain a brilliant one. I don't
know about that mar didn't tell usto began cautious F, who felt that
this invasion of the sacred best parlorwas a daring step. Don't we always
do it Sundays and Thanksgivings? Wouldn'tall wish the children kept safe and warm?
Anyhow can I get up a nicedinner with full rask was under my

(02:13):
feet all the time? Come now, if you want roast turkey and onions
plum pudding in midst pie, you'llhave to do as I tell you and
be lively about it. Tilly spokewith such spirit, and her last suggestion
was so irresistible that f gave in, and, laughing good naturely tramped away
to heat up the best room,devoutly hoping that nothing serious would happen to
punish this audacity, The young folksdelightedly trooped in to destroy the order of

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that prim apartment, with housekeeping underthe black horse hair sofa, horseback riders
on the arms of the best rockingchair, and an Indian war dance all
over the well wax furniture. Ffinding the society of the peaceful sheep and
cows more to his mind than thatof two excited sisters, lingered over his
chores in the barn as long aspossible, and left the girls in peace.

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Now Tilly improve it in their glory, and as and then as the
breakfast things were out of the way, they prepared for a grand cooking time.
They were handy girls, though theyhad never heard of a cooking school,
never touched the piano, and knewnothing of embroidery beyond the samplers which
hung framed in the parlor, oneornamented with a pink mourner under a blue
weeping willow, the other with thispleasing verse, each word being done in

(03:19):
a different color, which gave theeffect of a distracted rainbow. This sampler
neat was worked by me in mytwelfth year, Prudence be both rode up
their sleeves, put on their largestaprons, and got out all the spoons,
dishes, pots and pans they couldfind, so as to have everything
handy. As Prue said, now, sister, we'll have dinner at five.

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Paul will be here by that timeif he's coming tonight, and be
so surprised to find us all ready, for he won't have had any very
nice victuals. If Grandma's so sick, said Tilly, importantly, I shall
give the children a piece of noon. Tilly meant luncheon doughnuts and cheese with
apple pie and cider will please them. There's beans for f he likes cold
pork, so we won't stop towarm it, for there's lots to do
when. I don't don't mind sayingto you, I'm dreadful, dubersome about

(04:01):
the turkey. It's all ready,but the stuffing and roasting as easy as
can be. I can base firstrate. Ma always likes to have me.
I'm so patient and stiddy, shesays, answered Prue, for the
responsibility of this great undertaking did notrest upon her, so she took a
cheerful view of things. I know, but it's the stuff, and that
troubles me, said Tillie, rubbingher round elbows as she eyed the immense

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fowl laid out on a platter beforeher. I don't know how much I
want, nor what sort of yardsto put in. And he's so awful
big, I'm kind of afraid ofit. I ain't I fed him all
summer and he never gobbled at me. I feel real mean to be thinking
of gobbling him. Poor old Chaplaughed, Prue, patting her departed pet
with an air mingled affection and appetite. Well, i'll get the puddin' off

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my mind first read all to bileall day. Put the big kettle on,
and see the spit is clean.Well, I get ready, Prue
obediently tugged away at the crane withits black hooks, from which hung the
iron tea kettle and three legged pot. Then she's selled the long spit in
the grooves made for it in thetall and irons, and put the dripping
pan underneath, For in those daysmeat was roasted as it should be,

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not baked in ovens. Meanwhile,till he attacked the plum pudding, she
felt pretty sure of coming out righthere, for she had seen her mother
do it so many times. Itlooked very easy. So Anne went sew
it and fruit, all sorts ofspice to be sure she got the right
ones, and brandy instead of wine, for she forgot both sugar and salt,
and tied it in the cloth sotightly that it had no room to

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swell, so it would come outas heavy as lead and as hard as
a cannon ball if the bag didnot burst and spoil it all happily unconscious
of these mistakes. Tilly popped itinto the pods and proudly watched it bobbing
about before she put the cover onand left it to its fate. I
can't remember what flavoring Mot puts in, she said, when she had got

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her bread well soaked. For thestuffing, Sage and onions and apple sauce
go with goods. But I can'tfeel sure of anything but pepper and salt.
For a turkey. Ma puts insome kind of mint, I know,
but I forget whether it is spearmint, peppermint, or penny royal,
answered Prue in a tone of doubt, but trying to show her knowledge
of yarbs, or at least theirnames, seems to me it's sweet margerber,

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summer savory. I guess we'll putboth in, and then we're sure
to be right. The best isup in the garret. You run and
get some while I mash the bread, commanded Tilly, diving into the mess
awake trotted Prue, But in herhaste she got catnip in wormwood, for
the garret was darkish, and Prue'slittle nose was so full of the smell
of the onions she had been peelingthat everything smelt of them. Eager to

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be of use, she pounded upthe herbs and scattered the mixture with a
liberal hand into the bowl. Itdoesn't smell just right, but I suppose
it will when it's cooked, saidTilly, as she filled the empty stomach
that seemed aching for food, andsewed it up with the blue yarn,
which happened to be handy. Sheforgot to tie down his legs and wings,
but she set him by till hishour came. Well satisfied with his

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work, Shall we roast full pigtoo? I think he looked nice with
a necklace of sausages. As Mafixed one last, Christmas asked Prue elate
it with their success. I couldn'tdo it. I love that little pig,
and cried when he was killed.I should feel as if I was
roasted a baby, answered Tilly,glancing towards the buttery where Piggy hung,
looking so pink and pretty. Itcertainly did seem cruel to eat him.

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It took a long time to getall the vegetables ready, for as the
cellar was full, the girls thoughtthey would have every sort e f helped,
and by noon all was ready forcooking, and the cranberry sauce,
a good deal scorched, was coolingin the lean to luncheon was a lively
meal, and donuts and cheese vanishedin such quantities that Tilly feared no one

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would have an appetite for a sumptuousdinner. The boys assured her they would
be starving by five o'clock, andsol mourned bitterly over the little pig that
was not to be served up.Now you all go in coast, while
Prue, when I set the tableand get out the best Johnny, said,
Tilly, bent on having her dinnerlook well, no matter what its
other feelings might be. Out camethe rough sleds on with the round hoods,

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old hats, red cloaks and moccasins, and away trudged the four younger
bassets to disport themselves in the snowand try the ice down by the old
mill, where the great wheel turnedsplashed smarily in the summertime. F took
his fiddle and scraped away to hishearts content in the parlor, while the
girls, after a short rest,set the table and made all ready to

(08:24):
dish. Up the dinner when thatexciting moment came. It was not at
all the sort of table we seenow, but would look very plain and
countrified to us, with its greenhandled knives and two prung steel forks,
its red and white china, andpewter plates scoured till they shone, with
mugs and spoons to match, anda brown jug for the cider. The
cloth was coarse but white as snow, and the little Maza seen the blue

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whited flax grow out of which theirmother, with the linen they had watched
and watered while it leached in thegreen meadow. They had no napkins and
little silver, but the best tankardand moss fyw wedding spoons were set forth
in state. Nuts and apples ofthe corners gave an air, and the
place of honor was left in themiddle for the oranges yet to come.

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Don't it look beautiful? Said Prue, when they paused to admire the general
effect. Pretty nice, I thinkI wish mall could see how well we
can do it, began Tillie,when a loud howling startled both girls and
sent them flying to the window.The short afternoon passed so quickly that twy
they had come before they knew it. And now as they looked out through
the gathering dusk, they saw foursmall black figures tearing up the road that

(09:30):
come, bursting in or screaming atonce. The bear, the bear,
F get the gun, he's comin. He's comin'. F had dropped his
fiddle and dropped on his gun beforethe girls would call the children enough to
tell their story, which they didin a somewhat incoherent manner. Down in
the holler coasting, we had agrowl, began Saul, with his eyes
as big as saucers. I seehim first, lookin' over the wall,

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roared Sath, eager to get hisshare of the honor. Awful beak and
shaggy, quavered Roxy clinging to tTilly my rody hidden prow skirts and piped
out skrate. Boss kept glowing atus, and I was so scared my
legs would hardly go. We ranaway as fast as we could go,
and he came growling after us.He's awful hungry and leads every one of

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us if he gets in, continuedSaul, looking about him for a safe
retreat. Oh, oh, don'tdon't let him eat us, cried both
little girls, flying upstairs to hideunder their mother's bed as a sure shelter.
No danger of that, you littlegeese. I'll shoot him as soon
as he comes. Get out ofthe way, boys, and F raised
the window to get good aim.There he is, fly away, and

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don't miss, cried Seth hastily,following Soul, who climbed to the top
of the dresser as a good perchfrom which to view the approaching Fray.
Poue retired to the hearth as ifbent on dying at her post rather than
deserve the turkey now browning beautiful asshe expressed it. But Tillie boldly stood
at the open window, ready tolend the hand if the enemy proved too

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much. For f all had seenbears, but none had ever come the
year before, and even brave Ffelt that the big brown beast slowly trotting
up the door yard was an unusuallyformidable specimen. He was growling horribly,
and stopped now and then as ifto rest and shake himself. Get the
axe, Tilly, and if Ishould miss, stand ready to keep him

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off while I load again, saidF, anxious to kill his first bear
in style and alone. A girl'shelp didn't count. Tilly flew for the
axe and was at her brother's sideby the time the bear was near enough
to be dangerous. He stood onhis hind legs and seemed to sniff with
relish the savory odors that poured outof the window. Whar If, cried
Tilly firmly, wait till he rearsagain. I'll get a better shot,

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then answered the boy. Will Proofcovered her ears to shut out the bang,
and the small boys cheered from theirdusty refuge up among the pumpkins.
But a very singular thing happened next, and all who saw it stood amazed,
for suddenly Tilly threw down the axe, flung opened the door, and
ran straight into the arms of thebear, who stood a rect to receive
her, while his growlings changed toa loud ha ha that startled the children

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more than the report of a gun. It's got hopkins. Tron a fool
us cried f much disgusted at theloss of his prey. For these hardy
boys loved to hunt and prided themselveson the number of wild animals and birds
that could shoot in a year.Oh God, how could you scare us,
so laughed Tilly still held fast inone shaggy arm of the bear,

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while the other do a dozen orangesfrom some deep pocket in the buffalo skin
coat, and fired them into thekitchen with such good aim that F ducked,
Prue screamed, and Sultan Seth camedown much quicker than they went up.
Why you see, I got opssot over yonder, and the old
horse went home while I was flounderand in a drift. So I tied

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on the bufflers to totem easy andcome along till I see the children playing
in the h I just meant togive him a little scare, but they
run like partridges. And I keptup the joke to see how Ef would
like this sort of company, andgat hat again. You'd have had a

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warm welcome. If we hadn't foundyou out, i'd have put a bullet
through you in a jiffy, oldchap, said F, coming out to
shake hands with the young giant.He was only a year or two older
than himself. Come in and setup to dinner with us. Prue and
I have done it all our staves, and Paul will be along soon,
I reckon cried Tilly, trying toescape. Couldn't no ways. My folks

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will think I'm dead if I don'tget along home, since the horse and
sleigh have gone ahead empty. I'vedone my errand and had my joke.
Now I want my pay, Tillyand Gad to CARDI kiss from the rosy
cheeks of his little sweet heart ashe called her his own cheeks tingled with

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a smart slap she gave him asshe ran away, calling out that she
hated bears and would bring her axenext time. I ain't a feared your
sharp eyes found me out, andif you run into a bear's arms,
you must expect a hud, answeredGad as he pushed back the robe and
settled just for a cap more becomingly, I should have known you in a

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minute if I hadn't been asleep whenthe girls squalled. You did well,
though, and I advise you notto try it again in a hurry,
or you'll get shot, said fas they parted. He rather cristfallen and
Gad and high glee. My sakesalive. The turkeys burnt on one side,
and the kettles are bowled over,so the pies I'd put to warmer.

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All ashes scooted Tilly as the flurrysubsided, and she remembered her dinner.
Well, I can't help it.I couldn't think of victuals when I
expected to be eaten alive myself,could, I pleaded poor Prue, who
had tumbled into the cradle. Whenthe rain of oranges began, Tilly laughed
and all the rest joined in.So good humorously stored, and the spirit

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of the younger ones were revived bysucks from the one orange, which passed
from hand to hand with great rapidity. While the older girls dish up the
dinner, they were just struggling toget the pudding out of the cloth when
Roxy called out, here's bah,there's fogs with'em, added Rody,
lots of'em. I see twobig sleighs chuck full, shouted Seth,

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peering through the dusk. It lookslike a cementy. Guess Gramma's dead and
come appear to be buried, saidSaul in a solemn tone. This startling
suggestion made Tilly, Prue, andf Hasten to look out, full of
dismay at such an ending of theirfestival. If that is a funeral,
mourners are uncommon, Jolly said fdryly. His merry voices and loud laughter

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broke the white silence without I seeAunt Cynthia and cousin Hetty, and there's
Mo's and amos I do declare pause, bringin'em all home to have some fun
here, cried Prue as she recognizedone familiar face after another. Home my
patience, ain't I goad? Igot dinner? And don't I hope it
will turn out good? Exclaimed Tilly, while the twins pranced with delight in

(16:04):
the small boy's roared hooray for Pa, Hooray for Thanksgiving. The cheerers answered
heartily and inking, Father, mother, baby, aunts and cousins, all
in great spirits, and all muchsurprised to find some defestive welcome awaiting them.
Ain't Grandma dead at all? AskedSaul in the midst of the kissing
and hand shaking. Bless your heart, No, it was all a mistake

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of old mister Chadwick's. He's asdeaf as an adder. And when missus
Brooks told him mother was mending fastand she wanted me to come down to
day certain sure he got the messageall wrong and give it to the fust
person passin in such a way asto scare me most to death and send
us down in a hurry. Motherwas sittin' up as chirk as you please,
and dreadful sorry you didn't all comeso to keep the house quiet for

(16:52):
her and give you a taste ofthe fun. Your Pa fetched us all
up to spend the evenin', andwe're going to have a jolly time on
it, to judge by the looksof things, said Aunt Cynthia, briskly,
finishing the tale. When missus Bassettpaused for want of breath, What
in the world put it into yourhead? We was comin and set you
to get en up such a supper, asked mister Bassett, looking about him,

(17:14):
well pleased and much surprised at theplentiful table till he modestly began to
tell, But the others broke inand sang her praises in the sort of
chorus in which bears, pigs,pies, and oranges were oddly mixed.
Great satisfaction was expressed by all,until the improve was so elated by the
commendation of Ma and the ants thatthey set forth their dinner. Sure everything

(17:37):
was perfect, but when the eatingbegan, which it did the moment wraps
were off. Then their pride gota fall. For the first person who
tasted the stuffing it was big cousinmose, and that made it harder to
bear, nearly choked over the bittermorsel. Telly Bassett, whatever made you
put wormwood and catnip in your stuffin demand? It ma trying not to

(18:00):
be severe, for all the restwere laughing, and Tillie looked ready to
cry. I did it, saidPrue, nobly, taking all the blame
which caused pot A kiss her onthe spot, and declared that it didn't
do a mint of harm. Forthe turkey was all right. I never
see onions cooked better. All thevegetables is well done, and the dinner

(18:21):
all credit to you, my DearS, declared Aunt Cynthia, with her mouth
full of the fragrant vegetables she praised. The pudding was an utter failure,
in spite of the blazing brandy inwhich it lay as hard and heavy as
one of the stone balls on SquareDuncan's Great Gate. It was speedily whisked
out of sight, and all fellupon the pies, which were perfect.

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But Tillie and prue were much depressedand didn't recover their spirits till the dinner
was over, and the evening funwell under weigh, Blindman's buff Hunt,
the Slipper, Come Philander, andother lively games soon set everyone bubbling over
with jollity, And when f struckup money Musk on his fiddle, Old
and young fell on to their placesfor a dance. All down the long

(19:03):
kitchen they stood, mister and MissusBassett at the top, the twins at
the bottom. And then away theywent, healing and towing, cutting pig
and wings and taking their steps,and away they could convolse modern children with
their new fangled romps called dancing.Mose and Tille covered themselves with glory by
the vigor with which they kept itup, till fat Aunt Cynthia fell into
a chair, breathlessly declaring that avery little of such exercise was enough for

(19:27):
a woman of her heft. Applesand cider, chat and singing finished the
evening, and after a grand kissingall round, the guests drove away in
the clear moonlight, which came justin time to cheer their long drive.
When the jingle of the last bellhad died away, mister Bassett said soberly,
as they stood together on the hearth, Children, we have special cause

(19:49):
to be thankful that the sorrow weexpected was changed into joy. So we'll
read a chapter before we go tobed and give thanks where thanks is due.
Then Tilly saw the light stand witha big bible on it and a
candle on each side, and allsat quietly in the firelight, smiling as
they listened with happy hearts to thesweet old words that fit all times and

(20:11):
season so beautifully. When the goodnights were over and the children in bed,
PreO put her arm around Tilly andwhispered tenderly, for she felt her
shake and was sure she was crying. Don't mind about the old stuffin and
puddin' dearie. Nobody cared, andMa said, we really did do surprise
an well for such young girls.The laughter Tilly was trying to smother broke

(20:33):
out then, and was so infectiousPure could not help joining her, even
before she knew the cause of themerriment. All was mad about the mistakes.
But I don't care enough to cry. I'm laughing to think how gadfool
laugh and I found him out,I thought, Mos and Amos would have
died over when I told him itwas so funny, explained Tilly, when
she got her breath. I wasso scared that when the first orange hit

(20:56):
me, I thought it was abullet and scrabbled into the cradle as fast
as I could. It was realmean to frighten the little one, so
laughed prue as till he gave agrowl. Here a smart rap on the
wall the next room caused a suddenlaw on the fun and Missus Bassett's voice
was heard saying, warningly, girls, go to sleep immediate, or you'll

(21:17):
wake the baby. Yes'm answered tomeek voices, and after a few irrepressible
giggles, silence reigned, broken onlyby an occasional snore from the boys or
the soft scurry of mice and thebuttery taking their part in This Old Fashioned
Thanksgiving and A Part two and ofan Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa may Alcott