In 1844, the noted abolitionist Lydia Maria Child published a Thanksgiving poem titled "The New-England Boy's Song about Thanksgiving Day," better known by its opening line "Over the River and Through the Wood." The poem was eventually set to music by an unknown composer. The words have changed over time, with "wood" changing to "woods," "grandfather" to "grandmother," and "Thanksgiving Day" to "Christmas Day." It remains a popular children's holiday song.

Further reading:

• Tabernacle Choir. "The Story Behind 'Over the River and Through the Wood.'" Accessed November 25, 2024.

Austin Ferguson commented on his arrangement:

It sprang from a piano improvisation I did for a virtual Christmas service at a former church job. I thought it was rather good so I made it work on carillon.

—The GCNA