The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-12-20
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING.
ceaunt of tIle OrIgin of the FestiHa

Il.
II was in the autumn of 1923. The
little village of Plymouth, in its Life of
9lFthree years, had crown from its oriai-
nal number of one hundred and two per-
sons, who were divided into nineteen
fsniiIies for the better distIibutioni of
building lots, to that of one hundred
4 and eighty inhabitants, who were now
living in thirty cabins. .
On high hill could be seen the fort,
built of wood, loan and stone, on the
roof of which were mounted thef gums.
lfwas here that all the religious SER
vices were held, for not tilhtwenty-fve
years later was the first meeting-house
built. At a short distance were the
graves of those who had found. the
hardships of the new country too much
for them. The fair watch-tower looked
out upon the town which compassed
only about half mile.
In the plans for. the government of
the people. this autumn had seen the
trial by jury of twelve honest men"
become an established law. In the
spring before the plan had been adopt
ed for each man to plant and cultivate
his own corn, The. people had previ-
ously, but with some dissatisfaction,
worked in common. and shared all
things. But now, in this spring of 1923,
in the midst of great discouragements
s'f0r all their sietuals' were ospont and
they were only to rest on Gods proyi-
denee, at night not many times know
ing where to have a bit of anything the
next day." they had planted twenty
acres of corn and dressed it with fish;
but the long-continued drought threat
ened such great evil that In July Gov
ernor Bradford appointed a day. of
fasting and prayer that they might be
blessed with fan. The rain came
ahundantlg, the eropsweEe BLESSED and
the harvest was very plentiful This
caused great rejoicmgs among the peo-
pie wbichlso warmed the heart of the
good Governor that he determined to
have good time in honor. ofAit. So.
after the gathering of all the harvest,
be sentoata company into the woods
% procure all the game possible. In
the meanwhile he sent for Massasoit,
the chief of the Pokauoket tribe of In
alans-which inhabited the territory
from Cape Cod to 'Narragansett Bay
70 come with.as m~ny of his followers
as possible and join with him and his
N general feasting and thanksgiving.
Massasot accepted the invitation and
came with ninety of his followers to the
lestal board, where was cooked and
ready to be eaten the game which the
party had been able TO procure, as well
e all the good things which the land
could produce for them. %
itis pleasant to fancy the little com
paay OF men, women and children
gatnered together to entertain so hos
4 FL knfaply this great Sachem, that first
llinsaanEFgiying Day in New England, in.
'aesSyi Governor Bradford, who had
hlled his present office for two wears
was Va then only thirty-fve years old.
~ wife had died, soon after the arrival
u the Pilgrims. He had, as vet, no
sounell, for it was not till the follow
ny year that, at his request, a Council
u rive was chosen, which was after
wards increased to seven. So the honor
u sounding our Thanksgiving Day rests
solely upon his shoulders. There was
- wish the consent Of the Council''
WHEN has become so familiar to our
i es1s5 - Il 4 r u o.
Inc mantle of John Robinson-their
.gallief snf pastor in Leyden, who was still
ssse sn ana doing good. work, there had
,ssllen = upon Elder Brewster. Ever since
ss.ls departure from the old land he
aa a@q peen the lay-preacher to the little
Sso'4ny' As he had never been ordained,
tA0 always declined to administer
sle ao sacraments, much to the sorrow of
~ people; but he always preached
sl;u; sE,Ge every Sabbath, persistently de-
s s.ui 70 take pay, but choosing to
y uuik Tor his bread with his own hands
Twas ~ was, at this time, nearly sixty-three
sests Ole, and, doubtless. was present
~,.t = 'pese festivities, which he opened
= s'.h prayer, thus leading their minds
W cgntenplation of higher things
sasass ~ snelE me music was limited to a few
aaa ,aaics ahf nearly all musical instru1I
ax ssus We're banished, their musi n
~ sshsptessien must have been peculiar TO
~; 10y own time and place.
IL, : 8 probable that the children of
~ ~ sood Elder ''Fear. ,.Loven and
o,,s ieseling, were among the Govern
be ns saests that autumn day.- It.may
tbe ssseessary s,.s. to say, in passing. that |
Ia. s ''lS9 s.. two were of the feminine aen-
tbs history gives no mention that
sEn.a. ~ as..-named was a full and UNIQUE |
wss ,p'essie'n es,e ofthey name with which he /
nses sss alnllcted. Possibly there was also +
Nssns or cla . little JoY or Mercy, a Hone /
IA .hhafIty' marty Prudence or Thankful: /
Mlss ss St names were then common. /
ss ofts.. ssulndlsh was, without doubt. one /