Literary Feasts: Words to be Thankful for

Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing. ~Harper Lee

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. ~Thornton Wilder

On the eve of this most American of holidays, I invite you to enjoy one of our most American of writers laureate, Louisa May Alcott, with her funny and festive holiday tale, An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving, presented in its entirety at this link. An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving is story of the seven Bassett children's adventures, peccadillos, and final heart-warming "success" (the success may be a bit qualified in terms of actual flavor) in preparing the family's Thanksgiving meal, after Mom and Dad head out to nurse their ailing Grandmother. Whether shared before or after your holiday's more bountiful festivities, this engaging country story makes a perfect family read.

The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving.~ H. U. Westermayer

Thanksgiving Day, a function which originated in New England two or three centuries ago when those people recognized that they really had something to be thankful for - annually, not oftener - if they had succeeded in exterminating their neighbors, the Indians, during the previous twelve months instead of getting exterminated by their neighbors, the Indians. Thanksgiving Day became a habit, for the reason that in the course of time, as the years drifted on, it was perceived that the exterminating had ceased to be mutual and was all on the white man's side, consequently on the Lord's side; hence it was proper to thank the Lord for it and extend the usual annual compliments. ~Mark Twain

Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving