Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1908-11-26

Thanksgiving dinner with its Indian guests, Young peo
pie all love the story 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 ot the nation and who left them heritage of
az 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 and literature from
which the latter generations find sustenance The tales
of the brave men 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
grows and develops The story of Thanksgiving is sim
pie from many viewpoints; but so rich in sub
stance that its inspiration felt today all the Unit
ed States.
In England the Purtans unhappy They separat-
ed from the Church of England held pr-
vae houses in the open air. These called Sep
nratists They arrested law-breakers fined
or imprisoned About the time the jamestown colony
was planted, band of these Separatists Ley
den, in Holland where they could enjoy freedom of
worship. They stayed there 12 years.
These Pilgrims mainly farmers, and 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 army and navy and the
young people began to intermary The Pilgrims feared
that they stayed in Holland any longer their families
would become Dutch They decided that they would like
to go to America. They two get permission
of the London company to settle its land. The CON-
pany was glad to get them for colonists
charter of privileges
The spirit had against its loss by absorb
on Inc sturdy English men desired to keep intact their
language and their racial characteristics and Worship
God as they deemed right.
1t was in December that they landing on the
coast of Massachusetts.
There were with hoary hair
Amidst that pilgrim band
Why had they to wtheS there
Away from their chdhood's land?
There was woman's fearless eve
Lit by her deep loves truth;
There manboods brow sereney high
And the fiery heart of youth
What sought they thus afar?
Bright jewels of the mine?
The wealth of seas the spos of war?-
They sought faiths pure shrine!
Ay. call It holy ground,
The soil where first they trod;
They left unstaind what there they found
Freedom to worship God.
It terrible winter they lived through unused to
the climate away from the comforts of civilization.
Better times The summer was a fruitful one
and the little colony with stores that would
keep them through the coming winter The barbarous
foes of the west had not moested them although they
lived there, tiny colony shut in from friends by the
vast TO the east and the forest prmeva stretching
to the north and south of them. They were thank
full for their blessings and aside day which
express their gratitude to the Good All Father They
not rich in worldly goods but their hearts reached
out to all humanity aI that feast day they invited
to their table Massasof, Indian chief of
yet they from their hearts in the funegs of her
gratitude. This sweet and wholesome spirit has become
part of the national celebration. Thanksgiving Is day
OF estyity, of family reunion of feasng and of glad
An atmosphere of satisfaction pervades e. The ana.
"a mind can but make comparisons of to-day aud yes.
and speculate on the morrow That mind sees
cat catastrophes that feii upon the nation have