Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-11-30
Thanksgiving Day in History

AS we look back across an interval
of nearly three hundred years, to
that first day that was ever set apart
for united Thanksgiving in America
it would seem to us comfort-loving
people that the Pilgrims had little
enough to be thankful for Those
poor Massachusetts colonies were not
only far away from their native
home, but more than half their num-
Der had died during the bitter winter
of 1620-21; for famine and disease
had so beset them that at one time
all but six or seven were sick of the
plucky one hundred English men and
who had started in 1920, from Ley
den, Holland, where they had first
sought the religious freedom denied
them in their birth and.
Three hundred years ago, nothing
could have been farther from ap-
parent possibility than the rise, on
American shores, of a gateway is the
world metropolis.
In the spring of 1921, the settlers
worked hard and planted twenty
acres of corn and six acres of peas
and barley. After their seed was
sown it was watched most anXiously
throughout its growing. For well
they realized that upon this first har-
vest depended not alone the prosper
ity of the young colony, but the very
lives of the toilers and of their wives
and babies.
To the great Joy of all, the harvest
gathered in October was most bounti-
full. After the crops were carefully
ctA prodfnrA nrdnrnd a
three days feast and celebration
carrying out, probably the idea of the
English harvest home ceremonies
Some say as many as ninety friendly
Indians were invited to this first
feast, including Chief Massasoit.
1t was a busy time in Plymouth
settlement. The men secured the
woods for game of all kinds. There
were wild turkeys, geese ducks, water
fowls; fish, especially Goldfish; and
clans were dug from the seaside
Wild grapes, sweet and purple, were
to be had for the gathering, as well
as nuts from the forest trees. And
the Indians brought in five deer as
an offering. They also brought sever.
al baskets of the delicious oysters
for which Wareham is still famous
Meanwhile the busy housewives la
bored faithfully with their primitive
cooking utensils to produce all the
delicacies possible under the circum
stances. Special mention Is made o.
the fine barley loaves, corn bread
vegetables, etc., and of thu Hgh.res.
of their dumpiings; but fear the or
iginal recipiCc ere lost. Fortunatel,
they could not know tee hardship!
ahead of them, nor realize tpat' thu
year 1922 was to be filled with mis-
fortune.
The harvest of 1922 was a failure
A gloomy winter passed and each an(
every one was glad to see the spring
of 1923 come around. The settlers
finished their planting in April. Blu
a drought set in during May, and tn,
growing crop was withered and al
most destroyed July came, end still
the drought lasted.
For relief in their great need, ;
day was appointed for a special feast
ing and prayer. We can imagin,
the great Joy of the Pilgrims when a
last they saw clouds begin to spread
over the sky, from which descended
the next morning, a gentle rain whicl
revived the corn and brought renew
ed hope into the hearts of the hard
working colonists.
The Indians knew what wss goini
on, and declared, 1.-THE God of thu
white men has heard their prayers.
And but few days after this, Captain
Miles Standish returned from q little
voyage he had undertaken in the hope
of obtaining provisions. He was for