Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-11-27
1heuksgfvfne DIV.

SS0AShs0 A1ys
This day Ii one haIIowed to the people
Of New England By many tender asso-
Citations. 1t was here, as the Governor
points out. that the Observance had its
origin on this continent. It might almost
seem az IL the Pilgrim Fathers had very
little TO be thankful for during their first
yesr at Plymouth. Landing upon its rug
ged coast the latter part Of December,
they found themselves forced from the
start 10 fight the rigors OF severe New
England winter. 1t was an ex-
perience they had not anticipated,
and were unprepared for Before
the crops Of the succeeding
spring had all been planted more than
half Of their number had passed away.
Among them was that sterling man,
John Carver, the Governor Of the col
ony, and his aost estimable wife. In the
following autumn the survivors harvest
ed their frat crop. The twenty acres Of
Indian corn WHICH they had planted
yielded good return. The barley crop
was fair, ba. other things were almost
total failure. 10 WIS certainly not
very bountlfHl harvest to rejoice over.
but the coionlsts felt that they had been
specially prospered in ir. Sickness had
disappeared from their ranks. Their
houses had been put in better shape to
resist the cold. They were on friendly
relations with the Indians. and for the
fret time, since they had landed upon the
bleak shores Of the New World, they
we're enabled TO look forward 10 the future
with something Of hope. They felt they
had very much to be thankful for and at
the suggestion Of Governor Bradford,
they assembled together at his house to
eat and rejoice together, and to offer up
prayerful thanks 10 God for his great
goodness.
Although the records are not specially
explicit on this point, there Is reason to
believe that wild game formed the prin
cipal part Of that repast. Certain it IL
that the Governor sent two men into the
woods to hunt with that special purpose
In view.
We can imagine that the occasion was
not without It's sorrows. The colonists
could not forget the sad events with
which the year had been crowded. The
graves upon the hillside told melan-
choly story of sickness and suffering
Yet so firm was the Christian faith OF
this little band that their love Of God
was only strengthened by their sorrows,
and they felt that He would watch over
them and preserve them, and prosper
them In the new state which they had
established in the wilderness Of
a strange and unexplored continent.
How well founded was that faith we,
who look back upon those days through
the mists Of years, well know. From
that little band that gathered about Gov
ernor Bradford's board ia thank giving
and prayer have radiated influences that
have made po werfully for the upbuilding
OF the race. Probably no similar body
of people ever exercised greater or
more far-reaching influence. The Pilgrim
spirit spread itself out to permeate every
part of the New World. From the Ply
mouth colony descended men and women
peculiarly strong in the elements that
constitute true greatness. They were
hardy, resolute, industrious and God
fearing. They were intelligent in their
grasp Of affairs and possessed of won
dprtul executive ability. The Pilgrim
influence was founded upon profound
faith in the Supreme Ruler. To this fact
must be ascribed the great
part which it subsequently, bore,
aud is still Darlington such influences
die-in the affairs of this great
Nation.
1t is well that we of today should read
carefully the story of the past. That we
should come to the observance of this
thanksgiving festival with an apprecia-
tive understanding OF all it implies, and
IF the place it occupies in the annals of
New England and of the nation which
today unites in doing honor to
il. pom the soil of the New
World to which the Pilgrims came
a mighty Nation has arisen to take
its place among the powers of earth,
aud to teach the great doctrines of
tolerance and equality of civil
rights. The doctrines of the Declare
lion of Independence have exerted
mighty influence, and together with the |
splendid example of their incorporation
INTO u government "of the people, by
The people, for the people that has been
by the United States, have
been vastly instrumental in improving
he condition Of humanity the world
over.
Truly the American people have much
10 be thankful for today, and it is to be
hoped that they will not fail in proper
observance of it.