The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1908-11-21


Thanksgiving dinner with its Indian guests. Young peo-
pie all love the story Priscilla
den. Men and women turning moment in busy lives
to glance backward feel deep satisfaction in the know
edge of the bravery their fathers the
lions of the nation and who left them heritage of stu
dy courage and democratic ideals
The traditions of country grow old. They have
perennial youth. Stories and traditions become
bodied in the epochs of nations life literature from
which the latter generations find sustenance. The tales
of the brave men of country of their sacrifices, and
noble deeds of 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 from many viewpoints; but 1t is rich in sub
stance that its inspiration is felt to-day all the Unit
ed States
In England the Puritans unhappy They separat-
ed from the Church of England held services in pr
houses in the open air. These called Sep
arasts. They arrested aw-breakers, and fined
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 ~ 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 ntermarry The Pilgrims feared
that II they stayed in Holland longer their families
would become Dutch They decided that they would like
to to America They sent two men to get permission
of the London company to settle on its land The COM
pany glad to get them for colonists and them
charter of privileges.
The spirit had cried against fits loss by absorb
ton. The sturdy English desired keep intact their
language and their racial characteristics and worship
God they deemed right
1t in December that they made landing on 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 woman's fearless eye,
Lit by her deep loves truth;
There manhoods brow serenely high
glf And the fiery heart of youth.
What sought they thus afar?
Bright jewels of the mine?
The wealth of seas, the spells of war?-
They sought faiths pure shrine!
t Az call It holy ground,
tg The soil where first they trod:
g They left unstaind what there they found
Freedom to worship God.
1t terrible wiaer they lived through unused to
the climate away from the comforts Of civilization
Better times cams. The summer was a fruitful one
and autumn the little colony with stores that would
keep them through the coming winter. The barbarous
foes OF the had not moested them although they
lived there tiny colony, shut In from friends by the
vast sea to the east and the forest prmevai stretching
to the north. south of them They were thank
full for their blessings and set aside day In which to
express their gratitude to the Good All Father. They
rich in worldly goods but their hearts reached
to all humanity and that feast day they invited
to table Massascit Indian chief and 40 Of his
braves II great undertaking for that small group
they from their hearts In the ullness of their
gratitude This sweet and wholesome spirit has become
part OF the national celebration Thanksgiving Is day
Of estvty Of family reunion, OF feasting and Of glad
ness.
An atmosphere Of sadsfsction pervades it. The ana
1ytca mind but make comparisons of to-day and
tsrday and speculate on the morrow. That mind
how the treat casrophes that fen the nation have
at( ~ - f f, ~, n Il