Over the River and Through the Woods

Over the river and through the woods,
To grandmother's house we go;
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh,
Through the white and drifted snow, O!

Over the river and through the woods,
Oh how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes, and bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

Over the river and through the woods,
To have a first-rate play;
Oh hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ling!"
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day, Hey!

Over the river and through the woods,
Trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground, like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day, Hey!

Over the river and through the woods,
And straight through the barnyard gate,
We seem to go extremely slow.
It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the woods,
Now grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

Believe it or not, I can remember singing this song for the first time away back in my first grade classroom. That classroom was a large rectangular space in the little brick schoolhouse, which was over 100 years old even when I attended and that was a good many years ago. There was a wall of huge windows that went from just above the row of bookshelves all the way up to a very tall ceiling. As it was an upstairs classroom, we were always roasty, toasty warm, which is such a wonderful memory on this chilly morning. On the back wall, there was a large framed print of a Pilgrim family hiding behind a great big tree as an Indian passed by. (I have tried without success to find this painting to include, but perhaps some will remember seeing it.)

One blistering cold November day when snow began to spit, our beloved teacher Mrs. Pulsifer taught us this song and we sang it with all the gusto that first graders can muster. Mrs. Pulsifer provided me with my first sense of wonder at the Thanksgiving story. Thanksgiving remains my favorite part of American history and my favorite holiday.

Maybe all of this is why I find myself longing for these bowls. I really don't need the bowls; I really don't have the space for the bowls, but I want the bowls. What do you think? Are they great bowls or is it just me?



Source