The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-12-14
Thanksgiving, Then and Now.

Many Of the States formerly regarded
New England's Thanksgiving with feelings
akin 10 those which move the stiff High
lander TO sniff AT ''the little government
Sunday, that they call the Fast"
But time and the appropriateness OF the
custom have worked the day into general
observance, so that now in almost all the
States, the day IS not only observed, but
the preceding week bristles with prepara-
tlons TO honor the Nations Harvest Home
Thanksgiving originated in the pious
sentiment that 10 the Lord of the Harvest
were due the public thanks of the harvest
ers The Pilgrims of Plymouth began IL
Prompted by their sympathy with the
Jewish Feast OF Harvest" and By the fit-
ness OF things, they set apart day on
which to rejoice together, "before the
Lord for the yield of twenty acres OF
lndinn corn" and "six acres OF barley and
pease."
In the spring OF 1921, "when the leaves
OF the white OAK were as big as the ear of
mouse'-that being the Indian season for
planting-they "sct' the corn and sowed
the barley and peas.
"Squanto," the friendly Indian who had
been kidnapped by lawless Enelishmen.
showed them chow TO set, fish-dress and
tend" the corn
so thoroughly did thew manure the
ground with herrings that their old chron-
lcler writes: "God be praised, We had "a
good increase of Indian corn and our
barley indifferent good; but our pease NOT
worth gathering, for We feared they were
too late sown"
Ii was one year after the PILGRIMS had
sighted from the deck of the Siavioy7er the
sands OF Cape Cod. "Our harvest being
gotten IN, writes the chronicler, "the
Governor Bradford sent four men on
fowllng, that so we might after a special
manner, rejoice together after We had
gathered the fruit Of our labors"
Thus began New England's THANKSGIVING
"a Harvest Home, celebrated when seven
log huts housed its founders
Nine years after, the Puritans of the
Massachusetts Colony observed their first
Thsnksgi wing. 1t commemorsted the ar
rival OF the provision ship which saved the
people from starvation
Gov. Winthrop, seeing that the supply of
food was likely 10 run short. had sent the
ship Lyon 10 England Tor load of pro-
visions. storms and contrary winds de-
tanned the ship SO long THAI the people OF
Boston were forced TO live on clans, mus
cleS, ground nuts and acorns
They became discontented and murmur-
ed. day Of Fasting and PRAYER was APP
pointed: Winthrop had put his last batch
oi bread in the oven, and was distributing
hls last handful OF meal 10 poor man.
Suddenly some one saw ship at the
mouth OF the harbor The half-staryed
people Cooked TO the beach. The good
ship Lyon dropped her anchor. and her
a a6
cargo of provisions was distributed accord
ing 20 each mans necessities The dsy OF
Fasting was changed into day of Thanks
giving.
The festival met the social wants Of our
pious, but precise, ancestors They haG
but little time for merry-making, and thev
rejected Christmas because TO them il was
assoclated with superstitieus notions and
unseenly practices. But some festival was
needed 70 interrupt the nonotonous toll OF
the year and give expression to their social
and pious feelings.
Thanksgiving struck its roots deeply il
New England's soil, because il svmbolizcd
both The Godward and the manward sid,. o.
the peoples life. 1t expressed thankful
ness 10 the Bountiful Giyer; it extended
hospitality and charity TO man.
Associated with the ingathering of harry
cts aud families, il became the climax OF
New Eugland's social life; the crisis of its
feasting rs day OF "holy convocation"
Now, as when first set apart from the days
OF the year, II is both a domestic and y
religious festival Ii is the day that brings
back children and children's children 20
the old home. Its point Of attraction is the
family, that vital unit and subtle nexuS.
whose spiritual gravitati1n moulds a tear,
preserves the man and guides a nation.
Thanksgiving conpacts together these
old homes, new JeruSalems' are thew
scattered throughout the land. Beueath
the family roof-tree pleasant memories ara
revived and old VOWS renewed. Children's
children become sensitive to the family ide.
and glow with the home-sentiment There
the tired heart rests, the diSconsolatc arc
eNhilarated, and the past, with its sacred
moulding associations, becomes the pres
ant
T'housqnds will go ont from this Harvcs-
zr-1f IA hfa~- 4
touch, determined that their life shall grow
into a harvest OF noble deeds and hoI,
charities. The Jewish Feast OF Harvest va.
a time OF dedication. All through The Ian,
the people, Swayed by the generous gifts o
the earth. dedicated the harvest Will
thanksgiving, and themselves with PRAYER
= and holy VOWS, 10 Him who openeth Hi
hand and :illetA all with good.