The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-11-20

laugh in merry glee the first
Thanksgiving dinner with it's Indian guests. Young peo-
pie all love the story of Priscilla the Puritan mai
den. Men and women turning moment in busy lives
glance backward feel deep satisfaction in the know
edge bravery their fathers who laid the founda
tons of the nation and who left them heritage of stur
dy courage and democratic ideals.
The traditions of country grow DID, They have
a perennial youth. Stories and traditions become
bodied in the epocs of nations life and literature from
which the latter generations find sustenance The tales
of the brave of country, of their sacrifices and
noble deeds of courage of loyalty and of strength
to be part of the nations thought and its life They
form ideals toward which the character of the community
and develops. The story of Thanksgiving is sim
pie one from viewpoints; but it is rich in sub
stance that its inspiration is felt to-day all the Unit
ed States.
England the Puritans unhappy. They separat-
ed from the Church of England held services pri
vae houses or in the open air. These were called Sep
arasts. They were arrested awbreakers, and fined
or imprisoned. About the time the jamestown colony
planted band of these Separatists went to Ley
den, in Holland where they could enjoy freedom of
worship They stayed there II years
These Pilgrims mainly farmers and had difficulty
to their living in the Dutch cities gardens Their
children were obliged to attend Dutch schools and were
fast losing the of the English tongue The of
the Pilgrims entered the Dutch and navy, and the
young people began to inermarry. The Pilgrims feared
that they stayed in Holland any longer
would become Dutch They decided that they would
to to America They sent two to get permission
of the London to settle it's land The
pany was glad to get them for coonsts and gave them
charter of privileges.
The spirit had cried against its loss absorb
ton The sturdy English desired to keep intact their
language and their racial characteristics worship
God they deemed right
1t was in December that they made landing on the
coast of Massachusetts,.
There were with hoary hair
Amidst that pilgrim band
Why had they come to wither there
Away from their childhoods land?
There was womans fearless eye
Lit by her deep loves truth;
There was manhood's brow serenely high
And the fiery heart of youth.
E.- 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 it holy ground
The soil where first they trod;
They left unstan'd what there they found
Freedom to worship God.
winter they lived through unused to
the climate from the comforts of civilization.
Better times came The summer fruitful one
and autumn the little colony with stores that would
keep them through the coming winter The barbarous
foes of the had not molested Them although they
lived there, tiny colony shut in from friends by
vast to the east and the forest prmeva stretching
to the north west and south of them. They thank
full for their blessings and set aside day which
express their gratitude to the Good All Father
rich in worldly goods but their hearts reached
out to all humanity and that feast day they invited
to their table Massasoit Indian chief and 40
braves great undertaking for that group,
yet they from their hearts in the funess their
gratitude. This and wholesome spirit has become
part of the national celebration Thanksgiving day
of festivty, Of family reunion of feastng of glad
An atmosphere of satisfaction pervades it, The ana
lytica make comparisons to-day and yes
terday and speculate the morrow That mind
how the great caasrophes that fell upon the nation have