The Virginia enterprise., 1908-11-27
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pa-~, = - laugh in merry glee at the first
Thanksgiving dinner with it's Indian guests. Young
pie all love the sweet story of Priscilla the Puritan mai
den. Men and women turning moment in busy lives
to glance backward feel deep satisfaction in the know
edge OF the bravery of their fathers who laid the ounda
tons Of the nation and who left them heritage
dy courage and democratic ideals
The traditions Of country grow old. They have
perennial youth Stories and traditions become en-
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 part of the nations thought and it's life They
form ideals toward which the character of the community
grows and Develops The story of Thanksgiving is sim
pie one from viewpoints; but 1t is rich in sub
stance that its inspiration is felt to-day all the Unit
ed States
England the Puritans were unhappy They separat-
ed from the Church of England held services pri
vate houses or in the air. These called Sep
aratsts. They arrested awbreakers, and fined
or imprisoned. About the time the jamestown colony
was planted band of these Separatists went to Ley
den in Holland, where they could enjoy freedom Of
worship They stayed there IL years.
These Pilgrims mainly farmers. had difficulty
to their living in the Dutch cities gardens Their
children obliged to attend Dutch schools
fast losing the of the English tongue The
the Pilgrims entered the Dutch army and navy and the
young people began to inermarry. The Pilgrims feared
that if they stayed in Holland longer their families
would become Dutch They decided that they
to go to America They sent two get permission
Of the London company to settle its land The COM
glad to get them for colonists and them
The spirit had cried against it's loss by absorp-
tion. The sturdy English desired keep intact their
language and their racial characteristics worship
God as they deemed right
It in December that they made landing on the
of Massachusetts.
There with hoary hair
Amidst that pilgrim band
Why had they to wther there,
Away from their childhood's land?
There woman's fearless eye
Lit by her deep loves truth
= There manhood's brow sereney high.
And the fiery heart of youth
What sought they thus afar?
Bright jewels of the mine?
The wealth of seas the spols of war;
They sought faiths pure shrine
Ay. call it holy ground
The soil where first they rod:
They left unstaind what there they found
Freedom to worship God
1t 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 would
keep them through the coming winter. The barbarous
foes of the west had moested them although they
lived there tiny colony, shut in from friends by the
vast the east the prmeval stretching
the north and south of them. They were thank
full for their blessings and aside day in which to
express their gratitude to the Good All Father They
rich in worldly goods but their hearts reached
out to all humanity and that day
their table Massasoit, Indian chief and 40 his
braves. 1t great undertaking for that group
yet they gave their hearts in fulness of thei:
gratitude This sweet and wholesome spirit become
part of the national celebration Thanksgiving is day
of festvity of family reunion, of eastng glad
An atmosphere of satisfaction pervades it. The ana
ytical mind but make comparisons to-day yes
terday. and speculate the That mind sees
how the great that fell the nation have