Thursday, December 6, 2012
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Belated Thanksgiving Post
Sarah Had A Little Wish
By Tammi J Truax
Actually,
that isn’t all too accurate. History shows that Sarah had a big wish, that she
worked very hard to make it come true, and it did.
The Sarah
that I refer to is Sarah Josepha Hale, born in 1789 on East Mountain at
Newport, New Hampshire. Her father, Gordon Buell, had been a revolutionary war
captain. Her childhood there was typical for girls of the period, without a
formal education. Her brother, Horatio, was atypical. Formally educated at
Dartmouth, he in turn educated his sister at home, and she was a most willing
pupil.
Sarah is
probably most well-known for writing the popular children’s rhyme, Mary Had
a Little a Lamb, but it is
probably the least of her accomplishments.
At the
age of 24 she married lawyer David Hale, and continued her home studies. Nine
years later her husband died, and Sarah found herself without an income, four
young children, and a fifth on the way.
It wasn’t
long before she saw her ability to write as a potential means of support, and
with the assistance of her husband’s Freemason lodge, she published her first
book; a collection of original poems titled The
Genius of Oblivion. It was followed by her first novel, published in the US under the title Northwood: Life North and South. It made her well-known; as one of the
first American women novelists and one of the first of either gender to write
about slavery. A job offer as editor of the new Ladies’
Magazine resulted. Sarah accepted it and moved her young family to Boston.
She did
well in there and from the years 1837 to 1877 she was the editor of the very
popular Godey’s Lady’s Book,
sometimes called the Victorian bible of the parlor. It is still famous for its hand
painted fashion plates.
From her
editorial positions the woman from a small New Hampshire town yielded
considerable influence on the nation. Both in matters small and trivial, such
as how to set the table, to matters large, that women often did not voice any opinion
about.
Ironically, Sarah denounced the growing women’s right movement, even as
she did a great deal to advance it. Much of her lifetime’s work was clearly
intended to promote higher education, professional career opportunities
including in teaching and medicine, and social reform of all kinds for women,
while heralding the importance and dignity of motherhood and homemaking.
Overall
though, her great loyalty was to her country. She worked tirelessly to ensure
the completion of the Bunker Hill monument, for the preservation of Mount
Vernon Plantation, and to give us something we should all be thankful for.
Over a
period of at least seventeen years, Sarah implored no less than five presidents
to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. Previously it had been celebrated
primarily in New England and at different times in different states. Sarah felt
strongly that a national and official holiday would help to heal and unify the
country after the civil war. Finally President Lincoln agreed and proclaimed it
so in 1863. Clearly they were right, it still seems to be the one day of the
year when we all come together as a nation, put our differences aside, and
count our abundant blessings.
Here
is the transcript of one of Sarah’s letters to the president:
Abraham
Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress. Transcribed and Annotated by the
Lincoln Studies Center, Knox College. Galesburg, Illinois.
Courtesy Library of Congress.
Courtesy Library of Congress.
Philadelphia,
Sept. 28th 1863.
Sir.--
Permit
me, as Editress of the "Lady's Book", to request a few minutes of
your precious time, while laying before you a subject of deep interest to
myself and -- as I trust -- even to the President of our Republic, of some
importance. This subject is to have the day of our annual Thanksgiving made a
National and fixed Union Festival.
You
may have observed that, for some years past, there has been an increasing
interest felt in our land to have the Thanksgiving held on the same day, in all
the States; it now needs National recognition and authoritive fixation, only,
to become permanently, an American custom and institution.
Enclosed
are three papers (being printed these are easily read) which will make the idea
and its progress clear and show also the popularity of the plan.
For
the last fifteen years I have set forth this idea in the "Lady's
Book", and placed the papers before the Governors of all the States and
Territories -- also I have sent these to our Ministers abroad, and our
Missionaries to the heathen -- and commanders in the Navy. From the recipients
I have received, uniformly the most kind approval. Two of these letters, one
from Governor (now General) Banks and one from Governor Morgan are enclosed;
both gentlemen as you will see, have nobly aided to bring about the desired
Thanksgiving Union.
But
I find there are obstacles not possible to be overcome without legislative aid
-- that each State should, by statute, make it obligatory on the Governor to
appoint the last Thursday of November, annually, as Thanksgiving Day; -- or, as
this way would require years to be realized, it has ocurred to me that a
proclamation from the President of the United States would be the best, surest
and most fitting method of National appointment.
I
have written to my friend, Hon. Wm. H. Seward, and requested him to confer with
President Lincoln on this subject As the President of the United States has the
power of appointments for the District of Columbia and the Territories; also
for the Army and Navy and all American citizens abroad who claim protection
from the U. S. Flag -- could he not, with right as well as duty, issue his
proclamation for a Day of National Thanksgiving for all the above classes of
persons? And would it not be fitting and patriotic for him to appeal to the
Governors of all the States, inviting and commending these to unite in issuing
proclamations for the last Thursday in November as the Day of Thanksgiving for
the people of each State? Thus the great Union Festival of America would be
established.
Now
the purpose of this letter is to entreat President Lincoln to put forth his
Proclamation, appointing the last Thursday in November (which falls this year
on the 26th) as the National Thanksgiving for all those classes of people who
are under the National Government particularly, and commending this Union
Thanksgiving to each State Executive: thus, by the noble example and action of
the President of the United States, the permanency and unity of our Great
American Festival of Thanksgiving would be forever secured.
An
immediate proclamation would be necessary, so as to reach all the States in
season for State appointments, also to anticipate the early appointments by
Governors.
Excuse
the liberty I have taken
With
profound respect
Yrs
truly
Editress
of the "Ladys Book"
My
research of Victorian thanksgiving menus such as Sarah would have espoused
showed that our traditional foods really are traditional with just a few
exceptions. I share the following recipe that was popular then which I think
should be re-introduced, especially here in an oystering community. Happy
Thanksgiving.
OYSTER FRICASSEE from
the Boston Cooking-School Cook Book of 1896
1 pint oysters.
Milk or cream.
2 tablespoons butter.
2 tablespoons flour.
1/4 teaspoon salt.
Few grains cayenne.
1 teaspoon finely chopped parsley.
1 egg.
Clean oysters, heat oyster liquor to boiling point and strain through double thickness of cheese cloth; add oysters to liquor and cook until plump.
Remove oysters with skimmer and add enough cream
to liquor to make a cupful.
Melt butter, add flour, and pour on gradually
hot liquid; add salt, cayenne, parsley, oysters, and egg slightly beaten.
(Tammi’s note: A dash or two of white wine may
be added while cooking. Can be served this way as a first course soup, or can be
baked with buttered cracker crumbs to be served as a side dish, but be sure not
to overcook delicate oysters.)
Tammi
Truax likes to write on the subjects of home, hearth, and history. She can be
reached at T4tu@comcast.net.
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