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nd with its constitution and by…laws； who offered the proposal which was adopted。 In the jealousy of the fierce democracy of Boston in the year 1820； when the present city charter was made； it reserved for itself permission to open Faneuil Hall at any time for a public meeting。 It proves now that whenever fifty citizens unite to ask for the use of the hall for such a meeting； it must be given to them。 At the time of which we are reading the mayor had to preside at every such meeting。 At the 〃Cops'〃 club it was highly determined that the names of fifty citizens should at once be obtained； and that the Cradle of Liberty should be secured for the general Thanksgiving。
It was wisely resolved that no public notice should be given of this in the journals。 It was well known that that many…eyed Argus called the press is very apt not to interfere with that which is none of its business。
VII
And thus it happened that； when Thanksgiving Day came； the worthy janitor of Faneuil Hall sent down his assistant to open it； and that the assistant； who meant to dine at home； found a good…natured friend from the country who took the keys and lighted the gas in his place。 Before the sun had set； Frederick Dane and Antonio Fero and Michael Chevalier and the Honorable Mr。 Walk…in…the…Water and Eben Kartschoff arrived with an express…wagon driven by a stepson of P。 Nolan。 There is no difficulty at Faneuil Hall in bringing out a few trestles and as many boards as one wants for tables； for Faneuil Hall is a place given to hospitality。 And so； before six o'clock； the hour assigned for the extemporized dinner； the tables were set with turkeys； with geese； with venison； with mallards and plover； with quail and partridges； with cranberry and squash； and with dishes of Russia and Italy and Greece and Bohemia； such as have no names。 The Greeks brought fruits； the Indians brought venison； the Italians brought red wine； the French brought walnuts and chestnuts； and the good God sent a blessing。 Almost every man found up either a wife or a sweetheart or a daughter or a niece to come with him； and the feast went on to the small hours of Friday。 The Mayor came down on time； and being an accomplished man； addressed them in English； in Latin； in Greek； in Hebrew； and in Tuscan。 And it is to be hoped that they understood him。
But no record has ever been made of the feast in any account…book on this side the line。 Yet there are those who have seen it； or something like it； with the eye of faith。 And when； a hundred years hence； some antiquary reads this story in a number of the 〃Omaha Intelligencer；〃 which has escaped the detrition of the thirty…six thousand days and nights； he will say；
〃Why； this was the beginning of what we do now！ Only these people seem to have taken care of strangers only one month in the twelve。 Why did they not welcome all strangers in like manner； until they had made them feel at home？ These people； once a year； seem to have fed the hungry。 Would it not have been simpler for them to provide that no man should ever be hungry？ These people certainly thanked God to some purpose once a year； how happy is the nation which has learned to thank Him always！〃
THE SURVIVOR'S STORY
Fortunately we were with our wives。
It is in general an excellent custom； as I will explain if opportunity is given。
First； you are thus sure of good company。
For four mortal hours we had ground along； and stopped and waited and started again； in the drifts between Westfield and Springfield。 We had shrieked out our woes by the voices of five engines。 Brave men had dug。 Patient men had sat inside and waited for the results of the digging。 At last； in triumph； at eleven and three quarters； as they say in 〃Cinderella；〃 we entered the Springfield station。
It was Christmas Eve！
Leaving the train to its devices； Blatchford and his wife （her name was Sarah）； and I with mine （her name was Phebe）； walked quickly with our little sacks out of the station； ploughed and waded along the white street； not to the Massasoitno； but to the old Eagle and Star； which was still standing； and was a favorite with us youngsters。 Good waffles； maple syrup ad lib。； such fixings of other sorts as we preferred； and some liberty。 The amount of liberty in absolutely first…class hotels is but small。 A drowsy boy waked； and turned up the gas。 Blatchford entered our names on the register； and cried at once； 〃By George； Wolfgang is here； and Dick！ What luck！〃 for Dick and Wolfgang also travel with their wives。 The boy explained that they had come up the river in the New Haven train； were only nine hours behind time； had arrived at ten； and had just finished supper and gone to bed。 We ordered rare beefsteak； waffles； dip…toast； omelettes with kidneys； and omelettes without； we toasted our feet at the open fire in the parlor； we ate the supper when it was ready； and we also went to bed； rejoicing that we had home with us； having travelled with our wives； and that we could keep our Merry Christmas here。 If only Wolfgang and Dick and their wives would join us； all would be well。 （Wolfgang's wife was named Bertha； and Dick's was named Hosanna；a name I have never met with elsewhere。）
Bed followed； and I am a graceless dog that I do not write a sonnet here on the unbroken slumber that followed。 Breakfast； by arrangement of us four； at nine。 At 9。30； to us enter Bertha； Dick； Hosanna； and Wolfgang； to name them in alphabetical order。 Four chairs had been turned down for them。 Four chops； four omelettes； and four small oval dishes of fried potatoes had been ordered； and now appeared。 Immense shouting； immense kissing among those who had that privilege； general wondering； and great congratulating that our wives were there。 Solid resolution that we would advance no farther。 Here； and here only； in Springfield itself； would we celebrate our Christmas Day。
It may be remarked in parenthesis that we had learned already that no train had entered the town since eleven and a quarter； and it was known by telegraph that none was within thirty…four miles and a half of the spot； at the moment the vow was made。
We waded and ploughed our way through the snow to church。 I think Mr。 Rumfry； if that is the gentleman's name who preached an admirable Christmas sermon in a beautiful church there； will remember the platoon of four men and four women who made perhaps a fifth of his congregation in that storm；a storm which shut off most church…going。 Home again： a jolly fire in the parlor； dry stockings； and dry slippers。 Turkeys； and all things fitting for the dinner； and then a general assembly； not in a caravansary； not in a coffee…room； but in the regular guests' parlor of a New England second…class hotel； where； as it was ordered； there were no 〃transients〃 but ourselves that day； and whence all the 〃boarders〃 had gone either to their own rooms or to other homes。
For people who have their wives with them； it is not difficult to provide entertainment on such an occasion。
〃Bertha；〃 said Wolfgang； 〃could you not entertain us with one of your native dances？〃
〃Ho！ slave；〃 said Dick to Hosanna； 〃play upon the virginals。〃 And Hosanna played a lively A