The Elbert County tribune., 1908-11-19


Thanksgiving dinner with its Indian guests. Young
pie the sweet story of Priscilla, the Puritan mai
Men and women turning moment in busy lives
to glance backward feel deep satisfaction In the know
of the bravery of their fathers who laid the founda
tions the nation who left them heritage of stur
dy courage democratic ideals
The traditions of country old. They have
perennial youth. Stories and traditions become
bodied in the epochs 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 OF loyalty and of strength
to be of the nations thought and its life They
form ideals toward which the character of the community
grows and develops The story of Thanksgiving is sim
pie from viewpoints but it is so rich in sub
stance that its inspiration is felt to-day all over the Unit
ed States.
In England the Purtans unhappy. They separat-
ed from the Church of England and held services in pri
yate houses in the open air. These called Sep
aratiss They arrested lawbreakers, and fined
imprisoned About the time the jamestown colony
was planted, a band these Separatists Ley
den in Holland, where they could enjoy freedom of
worship. They stayed there ~ years.
These Pilgrims mainly farmers and had difficulty
to their living in the Dutch cities gardens Their
children obliged to attend Dutch schools, and
fast losing the of the English tongue The of
the Pilgrims entered the Dutch army and navy and the
young people began to ntermarry The Pilgrims feared
that IL 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 land The
pany glad to get them for coonsts, and them
charter of privileges.
The spirit had cried against its loss by absorp-
ton sturdy English desired keep intact their
language and their racial characteristics worship
God they deemed right
1t December that they made landing the
coast of Massachusetts,
There with hoary hair
Amidst that pilgrim band
Why had they come to wither there
Away from their childhoods land?
There womans fearless eye,
Lit by her deep loves truth;
There manhood's brow serenely high
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 sol. where first they trod;
They left unstan'd what there they found
Freedom to worship God.
1t was terrible winter they lived through to
the climate away from the comforts of civilization.
the little colony with stores that would
keep through the coming winter. The barbarous
foes of the west had molested .hem although they
lived there tiny colony shut in from friends by the
the and the forest prmeyal stretching
to the north south OF them. They thank
full blessings aside day in which to
express gratitude the Good All Father. They
rich worldly goods but their hearts reached
all humanity and that feast day they invited
their table Massasot Indian chief and 40 OF his
yet they their hearts in the funess of their
gratitude. This sweet and wholesome spirit has become
part national celebration. Thanksgiving is day
festivy family reunion, of feasting and OF glad
An atmosphere satisfaction pervades Il. The
lytica make comparisons OF to-day and yes
terday and speculate the That mind sees
how great caasrophes that fell upon the nation have