Thanksgiving Day explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Community and Neighborliness

  The Joneses and other neighbors help provision the Bagley family, showing a shift from hostility to support.

• Family and Parental Duty

  The narrator reflects on his mother's teaching about giving people a chance, and the family works together to prepare and enjoy the feast.

• Self-Reliance and Hard Work

  The family grows and prepares their own food, and the narrator spends time on farm tasks like storing turnips and covering raspberries.

Characters to notice

• Winnie

  Helped as waitress during the Thanksgiving dinner and maintained interest in poultry.

• Merton

  Assisted with stock and firewood, and went hunting with Junior after a quick lunch.

• Bobsey

  Ate steadily after church and enjoyed the feast, including soup, turkey drumstick, and pudding.

• Mousie

  Served as a waitress and decorated the table with blooming plants and dried grasses.

• Mr. Jones

  Dined with the family and humorously summarized the past year, praising the reformation of the Bagleys.

• Mrs. Jones

  Dined with the family, assisted with clearing up, and mentioned that the Bagleys had been provisioned by neighbors.

Key passages

• “Well, we owe you and Mrs. Durham a vote of thanks for reforming the Bagley tribe. That appears to me an orthodox case of convarsion.”

  Mr. Jones thanks the narrator and his wife for helping to change the Bagley family's behavior, calling it a true conversion.

  Mr. Jones humorously credits the Durhams with the Bagleys' reformation.

• “my good old mother taught me that it was God's plan to give us a chance, and help us make the most of it.”

  The narrator recalls his mother's lesson that God intends for people to be given opportunities and supported in using them.

  The narrator reflects on his mother's wisdom in response to Mr. Jones's praise.