Thanksgiving 2023

We have much to be thankful for. Today we are reminded about a story from 1886 that we shared in this newspaper several years ago.

That year the editor of a Jewell County newspaper lambasted a number of men who failed to attend the community Thanksgiving service. Among those listed was Jerome Berry, however, the editor gave Mr. Berry a little leniency and said, he was forgiven for not going to church as he was still drying out after being tossed into a well.

And now for the rest of the story.

Jerome Berry was at Jim Mizener’s place, standing at the well watering his horse. The bridle rein had slipped over a corner of the well platform and as the horse tried to lift its head, the animal found its head held down. The animal attempted to jerk free and in doing so, the horse pulled over the well house, platform and everything associated.

Jerome had hold of the hitch rein and the same lunge of the horse that uncovered the well jerked him forward and into the well he went, head first.

The well was 18-feet deep.

A little girl, who stood nearby, took in the situation, she began to scream for help. Mr. Mizener was near but by the time he reached the well Mr. Berry was climbing up the rocks, soaked, dripping and with such a look of alarm and astonishment on his face as Jonah must have just after the whale got through with him.

We may not have escaped from a well, but look around, we have much else to be thankful for. But for the grace of God we might be living in Gaza or the Ukraine. We are in the midst of a drought but we have food on our tables, water to drink and snow is in the forecast. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at your newspaper.