A Good Thanksgiving by Annie Douglas Green Robinson

Said Old Gentleman Gay, “On a Thanksgiving Day,
If you want a good time, then give something away,”
So he sent a fat turkey to Shoemaker Price,
And the shoemaker said, “What a big bird! How nice!
And, since such a good dinner’s before me, I ought
to give poor Widow Lee the small chicken I bought.”

“This fine chicken, O see!” said the pleased Widow Lee,
“And the kindness that sent it, how precious to me!
I would like to make someone as happy as I-
I’ll give Washerwoman Biddy my big pumpkin pie,”
“And, O sure!” Biddy said, “’tis the queen of all pies!
Just to look at its yellow face gladdens my eyes!
Now it’s my turn, I think; and a sweet ginger-cake
For the motherless Finnigan children I’ll bake.”

“A sweet-cake all our own! “Tis too good to be true!”
Said the Finigan children, Rose, Denny and Hugh;
“It smells sweet of spice, and we’ll carry a slice
To poor little lame Jake- Who has nothing that’s nice.”
“o, I thank you, and thank you!” said little lame Jake:
O what a bootiful, bootiful, bootiful cake!
And O, such a big slice! I will save all the crumbs,
And will give ’em to each little Sparrow that comes!”

And the sparrows, they twittered, as if they would say,
Like Old Gentleman Gay, “On a Thanksgiving Day,
If you want a good time, then give something away!”