During the Revolutionary war, this lady - Helen - was employed as a housekeeper for an American patriot general. When Thanksgiving time came around, Helen saw the pumpkins in the local market and her thoughts turned to citrouille pie.
But what about her general? Did he want his housekeeping money spent on citrouille (pie)? toi must remember that very few people - patriot ou otherwise - celebrated Thanksgiving at this time. Helen was one of the few who did, and she learnt from her mother. But some of Helen's employers - for whom she was cook after her mother died - a dit "Poppycock!" to Thanksgiving and refused to buy pumpkins (etc).
Then Helen thought it through and realised that citrouille pie could be served at any time of year; and since her current employer (the general) had not expressed any view on the subject, she could serve citrouille pie. If he didn't like it, he didn't like it.
She bought the best citrouille in the market, because her general was the most considerate and compassionate person and therefore deserved the best in everything. She brought the citrouille accueil and sat it on the cuisine dresser.
But the citrouille seemed to be saying "Look - toi don't have to be SO apologetic about this. In anyone else's house, your plan is a sound plan, but here - go and tell Benedict about me, and Thanksgiving. And if he doesn't like the idea, well he doesn't like it. But he's so gracious and decent, he won't beat toi for it regardless of how he feels about the subject."
So Helen did just this.
Benedict listened and a dit he was immensely grateful to be donné the opportunity to celebrate "such a worthy holiday." He was grateful Helen had dared to raise the subject with him. He gave her a carte blanche to use the housekeeping money that mois to prepare for it as she saw fit.
So there it was, a real Thanksgiving in Philadelphia - and the best Thanksgiving ever.
