Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-11-26
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Upon that December day, when
the Pilgrim Fathers fret stepped
foot upon a New England shore,
nature gave the heroes but q scant
welcome. The skies frowned and
the air was filled with drifting sleet
and snow, aud fearing the surf, men
carried women and children ashore.
Some weeks passed before the AK
could clear an opening in the forest
or assemble the logs that offered a
shelter. When q few months had
passed, twelve of the little company
were sleping beneath the snow.
In that dark hour when death be-
gan his attack upon the little band
of heroes, men bowed before the
winters blast, and yet, with stout
hearts, hoped for the coming of
spring. But the second summer
was unpropitious. The skies re.
fused rain and sun refused warmth.
the corn refused to ripen. To crown
all other dangers, the Indians con-
nected the drouth with their new
white friends, and soon the danger
of famine was added the danger of
war.
In their piteous extremity Cover
nor Bradford called Miles Standish
and three young men before him,
and sent them into the forest to
hunt, emphasizing the scant supply
of powder. and reminding them
that all now depended upon the
skill of the hunters. The little COM
pany that remained appointed a
day of fasting and prayer, that God
would give the hunters success and
avert destruction from the little COL
ony. But before the day of fasting
arrived the hunters returned laden
with venison and game. Also that
day, while the sun wac standing
upon the horizon, good ship from
home sailed slowly into the harbor,
bringing provisions. seed corn for
new sowing, a physician for the
sick, with friends aud new colo
uists. Then were fasting and pray
err changed to song and praise, and
day of Thanksgiving was pro-
claimed.
Oft in after years the Pilgrim
fathers assembled their children
about the blazing fireplace to re.
hearse the story of their deliver
ance Ia. the hour of extremity. And
as the years came aud went, bring.
ing new dangers and difficulties,
each new deliverance was cele.
brated with day of Thanksgiving.
Washington proclaimed such day
when the constitution was adopted.
Madison repeated the event In 1918,
when peace was concluded with
England. Abraham Lincoln pro-
claimed Thanksgiving day In 1853,
and since 1854 the custom has been
an annual event. Now, the day has
developed into the festival of the
family, when the pareuts kindle the
fire upon the old hearthstone, when
with the glad hearts. the son aud
da ughter. each with the little flock,
returned to the old home to fan
afresh the fires of affection, to re-
new the memories aud associations
OF childhood. Strange that New
England should have founded this
beautiful holiday.
Iceland has a little flower that
blooms in the midst of winter. The
stem breaks through the crust of
snow, and it's petals push away the
ice morsels. Thus, in stern, bleak
New England. was born this festi'
val of the family, one of the sweet
est flowers that have ever bloomed
in our fair land.
From this brief history the reader
will perceive that formerly II was
purely a New England institution.
but today il is national. Only six
small states first recognized this
beautiful custom. New York EN-.
phasized Christmas from early COL
onial life and the southern pianta-
tions made il the happiest and gay
est of all the year. The birth of
our nation in 1776 gave us our first
national holiday, all the rest are of
more modern date. Thanksgiving-
1854. Christmas still later.
When did our country have more
reasons to be thankful than ia 1887
In 1884 il was divided with hands
deeply dyed in fraternal blood. To-
day we are united as never before.
The Spanish was has removed all
sectional strife and our American
flag never floated 90 majestically
on sea and land as today. Not a
single state in all our beloved land
is 80 poor but what all of their chill
dren may be amply fed. clothed
and educated. When were our gra-
naries better filledr When were 90
many people 90 well clothed and
sheltered as in 1882 If ever a peo-
pie had reason to be grateful to the
All Wise Giver of earthly blessings
II is the American people today.
STOWELL--DAVlS.
Mr.. VIM. N. Stowell of Lyon town.