Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-01

very hard building new homes, ploW-
ing the ground and planting their
|seed. In the autumn of 1922 they had
a fine harvest.
Governor Bradford looked out
across the rich yellow field and said
Let us set apart day for solemn ser
vice of thanks to God, who hath
poured upon us. his chosen people,
such rich blessings
There was great rejoicing among
the colonists for they liked the idea
of setting apart a day to give thanks.
So they began at once to make
ready for feast day. The governor
said again Let &us load down the
tables. Let us feast and make merry
as becomes the people so favored as
we are"
So the hunters shouldered their
muskets and went in search of wild
game. The fishermen made ready
their lines. The housewives cooked
the golden pumpkins, the home made
beers were brewed, the wild plums
and grapes were gathered and every
little cabin made ready for this, their
first Thanksgiving day. They invited
Massasoit and his braves for to in
vite company was custom from this
very first Thanksgiving day.
At length the great feast day came.
Early in the morning the families were
up and at work. First, there was the
breakfast to be prepared for their
Thanksgiving began at breakfast time.
Then there was the sermon which the
good Elder Brewster had prepared for
the day, which lasted several hours.
It must have been tiresome to the
little children who We're restless to
get home to the good things they were
to have. Those pies, cakes and pud-
dings and the lovely venison. wild tur-
key and other good things. Who could
blame these little folks for this feast
day meant SO much to them.
The great Massasoit came early IN
the morning with hundred braves.
They came in time for breakfast and
stayed until after tea" 1t seems
these red men thought there was no
time to be lost. They must have been
strange guests. History tells us that
all day long they visited from one
house to another, \playing with the
children and watching with great
curiosity the cooking Mt was like no
other cooking they had ever seen. The
day was so beautiful, warm and
bright that the tables were set out
under the trees. When it came time
for the eating the Indians showed
their approval of the cooking by
clearing table after table of the food
set before them. This feast day
meant so much to honest, earnest men
and women like these early Pilgrims.
There's no doubt the day was pleas
ant one, both to the red men and the
colonists.
The custom has been handed down
to us and now in few days we will in
vite our company, have our turkey and
other good things and celebrate the
Thanksgiving day of 1916.
Mary Martha Hill, Age 9.
800 f. Carpenter st. Moberly, Mo.
Dear Juniors: thought would join
the Thanksgiving contest.
Thanksgiving is celebrated this year
on the thirtieth of November
We celebrate Thanksgiving because
many years ago some good people I
called Pilgrims came to America from |
!
worship God in their own way but the |
king Of England was cruel to them and
wouldn't let them do as they wished.
So the Pilgrims decided to go to
Holland. They had many hard times
when they got there, trying to worship
in their own way. And too the children
were learning to speak Dutch This
discouraged them SO that they soon
went back to Eangland and got some
more men and women and started with
two ships the Mayflower and Speed
we'll to America, where they knew they
might do as they wished
Many accidents happened to the
Speedwell. while coming to America.
But Just the same they arrived safely
IN the shores of America.
These people were very happy now
hat they had reached land so safely
hat they thanked God.
Then on the last Thursday Of No
-ember after the pilgrims had such
,ood weather and luck with crops
hey gave feast to thank God for his
,indness to them.
And that is why we celebrate
day vet in remembrance {.
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