Imagining Thanksgiving in the Crane Universe

Let's permit ourselves a measure of Crane canon sacrilege on this overly-indulgent, flash-introspective holiday. Perhaps we can pretend that some of our favorite Stephen Crane stories were set in the context of a Thanksgiving Day celebration?

We can rework The Red Badge of Courage to take place following President Lincoln's 1863 appointment of an annual, national Thanksgiving. If the soldiers in Red Badge were truly written with the Battle of Chancellorsville in mind, that would place them in April/May 1863. Why not set them forward a few months? Youthful Henry Fleming finds himself as a fresh-faced army cook embroiled in a deep inner battle over whether he's chef enough to prepare a scrumptious holiday feast for the men of the regiment. He fails miserably at the potatoes and delegates preparation of the biscuits and pies, afraid he might burn them. But Henry finds inner strength in time to prepare a successful ration of mutton.

The plot of His New Mittens doesn't need to be changed as much. The child Horace still ruins his mittens, and is scolded by his aunt and mother for lying about it. He sulks and refuses to eat Thanksgiving dinner, ruining the holiday for everyone else. Then he sneaks out attempting to run to California, but only makes it as far as Stickney's butcher shop. Stickney is extremely busy thanks to the last minute holiday rush, but kindly tries to ascertain what Horace's problem is. Horace mumbles, cries and whines until the distracted Stickney thinks he's talking about being starved and beaten at home, so he calls the Police, who call Child Protective Services. Horace is temporarily removed from the home and his mom and aunt are victimized by neighborhood gossip for years to come.

The Open Boat, we don't even have to go there. I'd rather not think of the Thanksgiving meal they'd eat. Maggie A Girl of the Streets? Poor Mags has the worst parents of all time, and her boyfriend's a complete jerk. Maybe we could rewrite the story so Maggie, Jimmie, and Tommie are rescued by a Christian shelter on Thanksgiving Day, and they find a loving home. But then i suppose it would be more like a Dickens story.

Personally i'd like to have Thanksgiving dinner at the Stimson household, as per one of my favorite Crane stories, The Pace of Youth. Lizzie and her mother have brow-beaten Mr. Stimson into inviting his daughter-courting-Merry-Go-Round-operator-employee to the holiday meal. Young Frank gazes amourously at Liz, while Stimson fumes with disapproval. By the time dessert is served, Stimson is trembling while gripping his revolver underneath the table, but a few minutes later he's passed out on the couch, thanks to the tryptophan in all the turkey he's eaten. The young couple goes upstairs to make out and Stimson soon becomes a grandfather.

Okay so i've taken liberties here. I'm not familiar with any Crane stories that specifically take place at Thanksgiving. If you know of any, or have any ideas for rewritten holiday plot lines, please comment below.

I did find one poem from Black Riders that talks about charity, and perhaps it can be applied to the sudden generosity of the winter holiday season. Or perhaps not, so don't use this as an excuse not to give to the bell ringers. Happy Thanksgiving!

Charity thou art a lie,
A toy of women,
A pleasure of certain men.
In the presence of justice,
Lo, the walls of the temple
Are visible
Through thy form of sudden shadows.