Rocky Ford enterprise., 1907-11-22
THE SPIRIT
AND FEAST OF
THANKSGIVING


broken custom handed down to US by
our foreiathsEs" OF setting apart an
nuaily u special day for Thanksgiving
has also dweit with us III. idea that
We must have as nearly AZ practicable
tho same Kind of feast as that en-
ioycd by III. first settlers upon these
shores. From n sentimental view
point this theory is undoubtedly cor
rect. and would really work out beau
ufuliy were u not for certain changed
conditions affecting our supply OF sea.
Sonablc provisions. A regulation plan
Of directions for setiin. up proper
Thanksgiving dinner even this year
wonid suggest tho providin. Of oy.
sters. turkeys. chicken for chicken pie.
with vegetables. fruits. rich pastries.
and d,lieacics In abundance. The idea
In to arrange n composite meal which
shall comprise ms nearly m may be
tho various fruits and products OF the
earth. And good and praiscwosihy
idea II Is. too. II only everybody had
the ~hcrcwithai TO purchase these
fruits: but unfortunately this must be
an oysterlcss and n turkcylcss Thanks
Eivins for many persons. The causes
contributing to this state Of things
cannot be discussed here: nor does
Il much matter to tho man who Gu.
tcrs meat market and secs . turkey
which he longs to purchase for his
family. but which he knows he cannot
afford. Just why the commodity. with
many others. In no fnr beyond his
means. The thin. In he knows II In
beyond his means. and therefore hc
will have to do without II. Hc must
to some extent give up the idea Of try.
ins TO Initiate that first Thanksgivin.
dinner In tho forest.
In some respects the preparation Of
tina. feast. or tho obtainin. tho arti.
clcr comprised In II. must have been
. comparatively simple matter. Tho
settlers had but TO take down tho
fowling piece. 20 into tho woods. and
bring home the wild game. Well flllcd
oyster beds lay quite near the shore.
The harvest was fruitful: grain. wild
fruits. such vegetables MS they knew
how to raise were abundant: nuts OF
various kinds were plcntiful-what.
then. was TO hinder the making ready
n feast that should fitiy supplement
the public Thanksgiving rendered unto
the Lord? There Is tho point. The
feast IL but the outward sign or token
OF that which undcrlies the whole
Thanksgiving idea. II Is the feeling
In the heart. the sentiment OF graft.
tudc for good received. that. after all.
constitutes tho real Thanksgiving.
With this feeling present the absence
of the turkey. even though he is every.
where acknowledged TO be the king
Of the feast, need not be counted
misfortune.
things were with the settlers. We
take the Idea OF that great historical
feast into our minds. and we overlook
the dark shadows that must have been
in that first Thanksgiving picture. 1t
would be good thing II we would try
to remember the little graveyard by
the waters edge" and make an effort
to recall what the record says, that
not one household in the New Massa.
visited by death or severe and pro-
tracted illness. But still the prepara.
tions for the feast went on, and at a
time they "solemnized a
day Of thanksgiving unto the Lord"
Surely we can learn n lesson from
the simple faith OF these pious souls.
We are not called upon to-day to suf.
Ter the privations which were the lot
Of our forefathers. but any year may
bring changed conditions which may
more or less self-denial on ,
our part. II the man who finds him.
self unable to buy material for an
dinner knows that his fam.
ly circle is complete and unbroken.
md everybody In health and fully able |
o enjoy the dinner when 1t is pre-.
Jared, he surely has good and SUN.
lent cause for thankfulness.