Verner Column: Over the River

I like Thanksgiving. What’s not to like about a holiday that involves eating a lot of food and then lying around in a stupor from overindulging? There are no gifts to buy or wrap, no presents to exchange
when it’s over. Decorations are minimal — maybe a pumpkin, a cornucopia if you must or a plush stuffed turkey. We have one that I cleverly named Tom Turkey. He’s a jolly reminder of good times.

I’ve been thinking about Thanksgiving songs, of which there are not too many. There are the hymns we sing at church services, “We Gather Together” and “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.” And then
there’s about one other I can think of, “Over the River and through the Woods.” I learned this in elementary school, and although no one I knew went over any river or through any woods, it was a joyful
song that we enjoyed singing. The verses we learned didn’t mention Thanksgiving as such:

Over the river, and through the wood,

To Grandmother’s house we go;

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh

through the white and drifted snow.

Over the river, and through the wood-

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 wood —

And straight through the barnyard gate,

We seem to go extremely slow,

It is so hard to wait!

Over the river, and through the wood —

Now Grandmother’s cap I spy!

Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!

Two omitted verses made it clear it was a Thanksgiving song:

Over the river, and through the wood,

To have a first-rate play.

Hear the bells ring, “Ting-a-ling-ding”,

Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day!

Over the river, and through the wood

Trot fast, my dapple-gray!

Spring over the ground like a hunting-hound,

For this is Thanksgiving Day.

There are some versions which call the song “Christmas at Grandmother’s House,” with the corresponding lines, “Hurrah for Christmas Day.”

And then there are the lost verses which are rarely sung:

Over the river, and through the wood.

with a clear blue winter sky,

The dogs do bark and the children hark,

as we go jingling by.

Over the river, and through the wood —

no matter for winds that blow;

Or if we get the sleigh upset

into a bank of snow.

Over the river, and through the wood,

to see little John and Ann;

We will kiss them all, and play snowball

and stay as long as we can.

Over the river, and through the wood —

Old Jowler hears our bells;

He shakes his pow[head] with a loud bow-wow,

and thus the news he tells.

Over the river, and through the wood —

when Grandmother sees us come,

She will say, “O, dear, the children are here,

bring pie for everyone.”

The song was originally published as “The New England Boy’s Song about Thanksgiving Day” in a book entitled Flowers for Children, Vol. 2 in 1844. The author was Lydia Maria Child, one of the earliest
American women to earn a living from her writing. She was known in her time as the writer of one of the most popular domestic advice books, “The Frugal Housewife.” She also published other popular
advice books, including “The Mother’s Book” and “A Little Girl’s Own Book.” She later supported anti-slavery efforts, Native Americans and women’s rights with her writings, although her treatment of these
subjects alienated some of her readership.

So, sing the Thanksgiving song! And I hope your travel is safe and your Thanksgiving a joyous one!

Dan Verner is a Manassas resident. He ordinarily contributes his thoughts to the opinion page every Friday.