John Inglefield's Thanksgiving (From: "The Snow Image and Other Twice-Told Tales")

** "John Inglefield's Thanksgiving" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story set in earlier America about a blacksmith named John Inglefield who spends Thanksgiving with his family after a recent death. The day begins with familiar love between John, his son, his daughter, and a former apprentice, but is soon disrupted by the sudden return of his other daughter, Prudence, who had left home amidst scandal. Prudence's presence brings a mix of happiness and old pain, particularly affecting her siblings, as they remember the past and grapple with her unexpected reappearance. Ultimately, Prudence leaves again, highlighting the story's focus on sin and forgiveness, and how past actions can continue to affect a family's sense of peace and unity, especially during a holiday meant for togetherness. **