Evening journal., 1909-11-18
AMERICAS FIRST
THANKSGIVING DAY
Bleak Weather When The Pill
grim Fathers Sat Down
to Their Feast
FAMOUS TURKEY SERVED

II was a bleak November day in the
year Of our Lord 1921. The sea was
beating angrily against the shore. and
chill wind was sweeping over the
snow-covered earth. In the little COLI
ony Of Plymouth, the only outward
signs Of life were curls OF smoke ris-
ing from the chimneys Of the rough log
houses. And not far from the little VIII
lage with its hard-won clearing ground.
the forest rose-dark and somber and
threatening.
But &c gloom Of the outside world
found no place within the cabins OF
the settlers For It was Thanksgiving
day-the first the world had ever known.
Within the house of Governor Brad
ford goodly company there was. And.
indeed, the living room was quite filed
with people who had come TO share with
the good old man. in the joyousness OF
the occasion. From the kitchen came the
noise Of great hustle and moving about.
and also was the air filed with most at
tractive odors. causing more than one
of the people assembled TO sterny sup
press exclamations OF most worldly de-
light and anticipation. until at last the
door of the kitchen was thrown wide.
And into the room moved Mrs Brad
ford. holding aloft platter on which
rested the biggest and finest turkey in
the colony.
So was the coming OF the first Thanks
giving turkey.
The first turkey was doubtless a glo-
rious bird. But we who live too late
to taste OF It need not despair for there
are others. Times have changed. and in
this. our age. instead of big brother
Bill taking his shotgun into the forest
after the turkey. mother takes a large
pocketbook and travels to the market.
But, however. the prize is secured, the
result is the same for us and the bird.
The turkey was chosen for the first
Thanksgiving dinner because # was
large and most luscious And it was a
wise choice. so that nowadays Thanks
giving without turkey somehow doesn't
seem just right. Some people eat ducks,
and are quite satisfied Herewith Some
people, OF necessity. eat pork and beans.
and doubtless also are satisfied and
thankful for that which they have But
the turkep is the bird. One might as
we'll dispense with the cranberry sauce,
the pumpkin pie, or many other delight
full things most relshed on this day OF
days.
And for those OF us who can eat our
fill. there is a good object in the Thanks
giving dinner II not only shows us the
fruits of our land. but also It .persuades
us TO eat Of them. And to such an ex-
tent that when the dinner has gone its
destined way We, if we have done our
duty. will find ourselves quite unable to
move. And while in this helpless condi-
ton. how much better could we occupy
ourselves than by giving our minds UP
to the profund meditation upon the bless
ngs which we have received?
Thanksgiving day is a day for all
classes and all people. For there Is
not one OF us who cannot find some
thing, no matter how small to be thank
ful for. And whether we hnd ourselves
before table laden with all good things
to eat. or before soap box on which
rests a bowl of cracker and milk. we
can at least say. Il thank Thee for that
which I have Knowing that it is Thy
will for all things to be as they are
And make me truly grateful"
For a real Thanksgiving prayer is the
best thing about the day, after ALL