The Washington herald., 1912-11-28
FIRST AMERICAN
THANKSGIVING DAY
Plymouth Colonies Rejoiced Over
Prosperity in New Land.
By FRANCES sHAFFER

Away back in 1854, after the little band
of Plymouth !colonists had gathered, in
their first harvest. they felt so big.
glad and proud and so very grateful
that Governor Braddock sent out men
to shoot wild fowl, that the people might
gather for a feast and rejoice at the
prosperity that had waited upon them
in the new land. For in the early days
Of the colonies they tasted, feasted
prayed or gave thanks according to their
greatest need.
And just a year afterward, when crops
were watched with fear and trembling
because of a long and severe drought
that threatened destruction to all the
fruits Of their summer work, they as
sembled again, but this time as suppli-
cants- They went early, for a long pc
riod Of fasting and prayer, and there
in that cheerless Puritan meeting
house. dreary within and fearsome
without, they poured forth their hearts
in plea for rain.
Before the day ended, the clouds gath
cred and an abundant shower fell on
the half-baked earth, saving the crops,
renewing their hopes, and bringing fresh
courage for the long struggle that await
ed those sturdy newcomers. And the
day that started in prayer and in fast
ing came to an end in praise and in
feasting.
After Ten Years.
Zen years went by, with their few
pleasures many hardships. Then. in
spite Of a seasons long work, crops
failed and the Pilgrim fathers and
mothers began to fear that they might
look starvation we'll in the face before
the winter was through. They had
done all they could. and their minds
and prayers turned to a higher power.
Again they were supplicants, fasting
and praying for the help and the pro-
lection that were nowhere in sight. And
as they knelt, earnestly asking for de-
liverance, a food-laden ship was speed
ing over the waters just as fast as 1t
could. In due time it reached port, and
once more there was a period Of feast
ing and thanksgiving.
And these Puritan colonists knew what
it meant to give thanks, for they knew
what it was to feel that their protec-
tion, their sustenance. their future, were
held in the hollow OF Gods hand. He
was their refuge, and they held fast
days when they were troubled and feast
days when they rejoiced.
As the years passed along and, one
after another, the agencies for susie
nance became more varied and secure,
the colonists more and more celebrated
the generosity of God rather than his
protection, and the fast days began to
fall by the wayside Of easier living.
They were sort of self-sufficing, self
reliant. and quite confident, so they did
not feel so much need of giving thanks
and rendering praise. And they really
turned the day of Thanksgiving into q
day of pleasure and of eating.
And it mas been a day Of pleasure and
of eating ever since.
One True Way to Give Thanks.
Stern. cold statistics tell us that the
cost OF living is higher now than it has
been for years and years. Some have
not worried about their Thanksgiving
turkey, no matter what the price, be-
cause it is so ordinary thing on their
tables, where goodies are found all the
year round, that one day is no different
from another, so far as a feast is con-
cerned. Others will get one at the cost
OF something else, and some-weIl, for
them the problem has hung in the bal
ance for days and days. They may have
turkey, more likely roast chicken; or
they make a nice, juicy little pork mas
Querade for turkey this year.
But whether they have the choice fowl,
of old. old tradition, or whether they
content themselves with a make-believe
bird and a lot Of spicy. seasonable dish
es there is just one true way TO give
thanks for all the gifts and benefits the
year has brought.
And that is to remember. practically
and telIingly remember, that there are
hundreds and hundreds of folk in their
midst for whom there will be something
more than turkey that will hang in the
balance unless they or some one with
warmer sympathies and a more open
pure. beautifully come to the rescue
And in this connection We might all
call to mind that bit Of foolish verse
whose closing lines end with the trite |
words
Did you ever stop to think that they |
means your
For somehow, in these days OF many |
public and private blessings it seems |
very futile and meaningless. just to |
feast, to say we are thankful and let |
il go at that.