Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-11-25

laugh in merry glee at the first
Thanksgiving dinner Indian guests Young peo
pie all love the sweet story of Priscilla, Puritan mai
den Men and women turning moment in busv lives
glance backward feel deep satisfaction in know
cage OIL the bravery of their fathers laid the ounda
lions or the nation and who left them HERITAGE of sur
dy courage and democratic ideals
Inc traditions OF country grow old They have
perennial youth Stories and traditions become en-.
bodied in the epochs nations life and literature from
which the latter generations find slstenance The tales
Che brave men OF country of their sacrifices and
noble deeds of courage of loyalty and of strength
10 be part of the nations thought and its life They
form ideals toward which the character of the
BLOWS ana develops The story of Thanksgiving is SIM
PIE one from many viewpoints; but it so rich in sub-
stance that its inspiration felt to-day all over the Init
ed States $3.50 " " '
In England the Puritans unhappy They separat-
ed from the Church of England and held services in nr
waite houses in the open air These were called Son
aratiss They arrested as aw-breakers and fined
or imprisoned. About the time the jamestown colony
was painted band of these Separatists went to Lev
oen In Holland, where they could eniov freedom of
worship They stayed there 10 years
1hese Pilgrims were mainly farmers and had difficulty
70 earn their living in the Dutch cities or gardens Their
children were obliged to attend Dutch schools and were
last losing the of the English tongue The sons of
the Fgrls entered the Dutch army and navy and the
young people began to ntermarry The Pilgrims feared
mat they stayed in Holland any longer their families
would become Dutch They decided that they would like
TO go to America They two men to get permisson
ot the London company to settle land The COM
pany was glad to get them for coonsts and gave them
a charter of privileges ~
Ahe race spirit nad cried against its nv
ton The sturdy English desired to keep intact their
language and their racial characteristics and worsbin
God as they deemed right
It in December that they made q LANDING ~ .h
coast OF Massachusetts,
There were with hoary hair
Amidst that pilgrim band
Why had they to wither there
Away from their childhoods land?
There womans fearless eve
Lit by her deep loves truth;
There was manhood's brow serenely high
And the fiery heart of youth.
What sought they thus afar?
Bright jewels OF the mine?
The wealth of seas, the spoils of war;
They sought faiths pure shrine!
Ay call 1t holy ground
The soil where first they trod;
They left unstain'd what there thew found
Freedom to worship God.
1t was terrible winter they lived through unusad -
the climate away from the comforts Of civilization
Better times came. The summer was fruitfu, ono
and autumn saw the little colony stores that ouId
keep them through the coming winter The barbarons
foes OF the west had not molested them although tbey
lived there. tiny colony shut in from friends hv tbo
vast sea TO the east and the forest primeval stretching
10 tne north west and south of them They were THANH
ui Tor their blessings and day in which 70
express their gratitude to the Good All Fatber Th
were not rich in worldly goods their hearts reached
ou 70 All humanity and so on that feast day they invited
to their table Massasoit Indian chief and AZ ~ h
braves IL was great undertaking for that small groun
Jet they gave from their hearts in the fnnees ~ bo
gratitude This sweet and wholesome spirit has become
part OF the national celebration Thanksgiving 10 o
Of fesVy OF family reunion, of feasting and of glad
An atmosphere OF satisfaction pervades It The ann
Uuca mind can but make comparisons to-day and YES
terday. and speculate the morrow That mind secs
nov inc great catastrophOs t fell the nation have