Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-11-28
not lose heart When the Maynower

not lose heart When the Maynowcr
returned to England in April not one
Of the colonists went back with her,
and four months later a number Of
new emigrants arrived. This much
encouraged the others, though their
small harvest, which consisted of
twenty acres OF Indian corn, and six
acres of very poor barley and peas"
did not promise rich living for the
band. But, though bread was scanty,
meat was abundant, and there was no
longer fear Of suffering. When the
harvest had been housed Gov. Brad
ford sent out four men on q fowling
expedition, ''that they might have
more dainty and abundant meat than
ordinary, and after a special manner
be able to rejoice together"
There is no mention made Of Spe-
cial religious services, but it is inn
possible to imagine that these were
neglected. When the young men re-
turned laden with spoil, Massasoit
visited the colony with ninety of his
braves and was invited to share the
harvest feast. After which, to show
their appreciation of the hospitality,
the Indians brought to the colonists a
number Of deer. The harvest of 1922
was not abundant and during the
winter that followed there was a
scantiness of food. The summer Of
1923 was hot and dry and there was
danger that all the crops would be
destroyed by drouth. In July a day
of fasting and prayer was appointed.
While the religious services were 60
ing on an abundant rain fell, and the
governor then appointed day of
Thanksgiving, which was observed
with religious services. \ similar cir
cumstance was recorded in the
Charlestown colony. In 1851 the colo
nists had exhausted their supplies,
and for several days the rations al
lowed to each person had been but q
handful of corn. Then special SER
vice of prayer was appointed = it
would have been a cruel mOckery to
allude to fasting-and when the de-
voted suppliants rose from their knees
they deserted supply ship in the Off
ing.
The Puritan festival was not in
augurated as a regular observance till
many years after these first occur
rences. A number of thanksgiving
days were kept; but these were usu-
ally of special appointment and oc-
cured at irregular intervals. During
the Revolutionary war congress an
nually recommended day for thanks.
, giving and prayer. President Wash
ington issued one proclamation for
thanksgiving in 1889, for the adoption
Of the constitution, and another in
1895, on the suppression OF the whisky
linsurrection. President Madison also
proclaimed thanksgiving day in
April, 1915, on the occasion of the
close of the war with England. But
the official proclamation Of Thanks
giving day was mainly confined to
the states Of New England, where the
day was observed almost universally
with religious services and family
gatherings. The day was not regular
~ appointed In New York until 1917,
and its adoption in the Southern
states was much later. President Lin
coin was the first to institute the ma
tional observance of the Elay. He ap-
pointed special thanksgilpgs for vic
tory in 1862 and 1863, (ihd issued u
national proclamation fos the annual
Thanksgiving day In Jga and 1864.
Since that day tho pre- ident has Is
sued proclamation foIrthe day an
nualiy. and custom Inns liked tho time
for the Inst Thursday IN November
Intcr-OccAN.