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Nine o'clock a.m.
I'm thankful I was bright enough, this year,
To have my turkey bought a week ahead!
Oh, what a bird it is! 'Twas awful dear,
But, thank the Lord! the turkey's been well fed.
Ten o'clock a.m.
There! I've forgot the oysters. Thank the Lord,
There's time enough with early church; Old Grimes,
I hope, will pity us today; he's bored
A hungry crowd so many, many times.
Eleven o'clock a.m.
Oh. what a crowd! Hallo! Another man!
Well, thank the Lord, twill be a change, at least;
I suppose he'll aggravate us all he can:
And that's so easy just before a feast.
Twelve o'clock a.m.
Oh, what a bore! He's worse than Grimes by half;
So slow! That turkey will be done to rags
I'm famished! I could eat the fatted calf.
There! Thank the Lord! He's winding up; he fags.
One p.m.
Give me the knife. Be quick, my love, be quick!
I never was so hungry in my life!
Well, thank the Lord, that tedious old stick
Did let us off. Oh, hang this carving-knife!
Two p.m.
I wish 1 had not eaten quite so much;
But, really, the mince-pie was so prime!
You gave it just the real, old, fancy touch.
There! (Thank the Lord, I got the meat in time.)
Three p.m.
My eyes! how sleepy I have grown since noon!
Some wine or music, now, would make me gay;
Come, Anna, let us have a little tune
There! thank the Lord, there's no more work to-day.
Four p.m.
What was it, Anna? I was sound asleep;
I rather think I had the nightmare, too.
I feel half sick; cold chills around me creep.
Well, thank the Lord, Thanksgiving is all through!
-- This poem, from Punchinello, is one of many 19th century publications included in Cornell University's "Making of America" collection in cooperation the Preservation Reformatting Division of the Library of Congress.
