The Rice belt journal., 1907-11-22
8 SPIRIT -
THANKSGIVING

=, side with the "long, un-,
" ,stom handed down to us by
81 ss.u,sfathers" of setting apart an
r. special day for THANKSGIVING
dwelt with us the idea that
I - have as nearly as practicable
70 kind of a feast as that en-
= the first settlers upon these
From a sentimental view
y this theory is undoubtedly cor
.nd would really work out beau
y. ~ we're it not for certain changed
'% ,sions affecting our supply of sea-
uu wa uroyisions. A regulation plan
y a,octions for getting UP a proper
"a upt.giving dinner even this year
suggest the providing of oy-
y. ~ turkeys, chicken for chicken pie,
~ - yogetables, fruits, rich pastries,
~ ,.IIcacies in abundance. The idea
= !. arrange a composite meal which
- comprise as nearly as may be
!. E4+chgN LVN'P
,,rious fruits and products of the
~ And a good and praiseworthy
=. 4 is. too, if only everybody had
vherewithal to purchase these
,s,,t,. hut unfortunately this must be
:. msterless and turkeyless Thanks
,iripg for many persons. The causes
s,,tdbuting to this state of things
,.nnot be discussed here; nor does
. much matter to the man who en-
,.,c q meat market and sees a turkey
rbirh he longs to purchase for his
family but which he knows he cannot
,sord lust why the commodity, with
many others, is so far beyond his
means. The thing is he knows it is
beyond his means, and therefore he
AviIl have to do without it. He must
h some extent give up the idea of try
Ing to initiate that first Thanksgiving
dinner in the forest.
In some respects the preparation of
FRAT feast, or the obtaining the arti-
cles comprised in it, must have been
a comparatively simple matter. The
settlers had but to take down the,
fowling piece, go into the woods, and
bring home the wild game. Well filled
oyster beds lay quite near the shore.
The harvest was fruitful; grain, wild
fruits, such vegetables as they knew,
how to raise were abundant; nuts Of
various kinds were plentiful-what,
then, was to hinder the making ready
a feast that should f1tly supplement
the public Thanksgiving rendered unto
the Lord? There is the point. The
feast Is but the outward sign or token
Of that which underlies the whole !
idea. 1t is the feeling |
in the heart, the sentiment of graft
tude for good received, that, after all,
constitutes the real Thanksgiving. !
With this feeling present the absence |
If the turkey, even though he is every |
where acknowledged to be the king |
II the feast, need not be counted
misfortune.
We are too apt to forget just how
hings were with the settlers. We |
axe the idea of that great historical |
east into our minds, and we overlook
he dark shadows that must have been
d that first Thanksgiving picture. 1t
would be a good thing II we would try
o remember the little graveyard by
be waters edge" and make an effort
D recall what the record says, that
ct one household in the New Massa-
husetts colony but had recently been
isited by death or severe and pro-
acted illness. But still the prepara-
ons for the feast went on, and at
)nVenient time they "solemniZed a
~ of thanksgiving unto the Lord"
dreiy we can learn a lesson from
10 simple faith of these pious souls.
'e are not called upon to-day to suf-
r the priYations which were the lot
our forefathers, but any year may
ing changed conditions which may
'cessitate more or less self-denial on
lr part. If the man who finds him.
II unable to buy material for an
pensive dinner knows that his fam
circle is complete and unbroken,
d everybody in health and fully able
enjoy the dinner when it Is pre-.
red, he surely has good and sufti'
ent cause for thankfulness.
So, even If in some cases the tur.
US place must be filledaby a chick.
, and perhaps not any too large a
icken, and even if a number Of
liner dishes have to be made to an
er for the assortment of rich food
lich we have always considered nec-
;ary for the Thanksgiving table, let
not depart on this account from
of the time-honored customs be-
lging to the day. The family re-
ions can be complete and enjoyable.
e tallest grand child and the new.
baby can each be accorded their
| share of attention, and old and
lng alike may all have part in the
BUSINESS and general good cheer.