River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-11-19

laugh in merry glee at the first
Thanksgiving dinner with Indian guests Young
pie sweet story of Priscilla the Puritan mai
den. Men and women turning moment in busy lives
glance feel deep satisfaction in the knowl
edge bravery their fathers who laid the founda
nation who left them heritage of stur
dy courage and democratic ideals.
The traditions of country grow old They have
a perennial youth Stories and traditions become
bodied the epochs nations life and literature from
which the latter generations find susenance The tales
of the brave of country, of their Sacrifices and
noble deeds of courage of loyalty and of strength come
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 many viewpoints but 1t is so rich In sub
stance that it's inspiration is felt to-day all the Unit
cd States
In England the Puritans were unhappy They separat
ed from the Church of England held services in pr
vae houses or in the open air These were called Sep
arasts. They arrested awbreakers, and fined
imprisoned. About the time the jamestown colony
planted, band of these Separatsts went to Ley
den in Holland, where they could enjoy freedom of
worship. They stayed there - years
These Pilgrims mainly farmers had difficulty
their living the Dutch cities gardens Their
children obliged to attend Dutch schools
fast losing the of the English tongue The of
the Pilgrims entered the Dutch army and navy, and the
young people began to intermarry The Pilgrims feared
that if they stayed in Holland longer their families
would become Dutch They decided that they would like
to to America They sent two to get permission
of the London company settle its The COM
glad to them for colonists, and them
a charter of privileges.
aDSOrp-
ton The sturdy English desired keep intact their
language and their racial characteristics worship
God as they deemed right
1t in December that they made landing the
coast of Massachusetts.
There with hoary hair
Amidst that pilgrim band
Why had they to wither there.
Away from their childhood's land?
There was womans fearless eye,
Lit by her deep loves truth
There 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
Az, call it holy ground
The soil where first they trod;
They left unstan'd what there they found
Freedom to worship God.
1t was terrible winter they lived through unused to
the climate away from the comforts of civilization.
Better times came The summer was fruitful one
and autumn the little colony with stores that
keep them through the coming winter The barbarous
of the west had not molested Them although they
lived there, tiny colony shut in from friends by
TO the east and the forest prmeva stretching
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 They
rich worldly goods but their hearts reached
humanity, and that feast invited
their table Massasoit, Indian chief and 40
braves 1t great undertaking for that small group
they gave their hearts in the funess of their
part the national celebration. Thanksgiving is day
Of fesvity of family reunion of feasng glad
An atmosphere of satisfaction pervades it, The ana
ytica mind can but comparisons to-day yes
terday, and speculate the morrow. That mind
how the great caasrophes that fell the nation have