Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-11-23

I
Journey to the New World and
during the early days and weeks
and months in the new land In
deed, their life was a continual
season of prayer, fasting. and
thanksgiving. Now, in the au-
tumn of 1921, having passed
through so many and so severe
hardships, having kept the faith"
and not turned back, it seemed
right to ease up" a little on the
high pressure under which they
had been living and working so
long.
Governor Bradford in his his
tory of the Plymouth Plantation
wrote: by this time harvest was
come and instead of famine now
God gave them plenty, and the
face of things was changed. to
the rejoice of the hearts of many
for which they blessed God. And
the effect of their particular Tin
dividual, and not all in common)
planting was well seen; for all
had one way and another, pretty
well to bring the year about; and
some of the ADLER sort and more
industrious had to spare, and sell
to others, so as any general want.
or famine hath not been amongst
them to this day"
1t is not difficult to picture the
good governor, tenderly regarding
the young people of his flock, and
the girls and boys growing up
with so few privileges and adj
vantages commonly enjoyed in
youth, and saying TO himself as
he recalled the many times when
they had been cold and hungry
and sad. yet patient and plucky
and accomplishing, Let us all
have one grand, good time! Let
us have an old-fashioned harvest
home party, and invite our neigh
5ors, the friendly Indians, TO join
u.s. Let US for a few days forget
, our cares and worries and fati-
CUES, and let us for once have
plenty to eat and nothing to do
but enjoy life!"
Accordingly the governor made
a proclamation, and the occasion
in thus described by Edward Win
slow: Our harvest being gotten
in, our governor sent four men
fowling that so we might, after
a more special manner, rejoice to-
gether, after we had gathered the
fruits of our labors. They four,
in one day, killed so much fowl
as, with little help besides, ser
we'd the company almost a week"
He explains that the festival
was accompanied by sports and
general enjoyments, at which
time, amongst other recreations
we exercised our arms" The par
ty lasted three days, with much
merriment. Religious exercises
of prayer and recognition of Gods
goodness were doubtless conduct
ed on the preceding and follow
ing Sundays and at the regular
morning service of prayer which
the records show were held each
day.
Massasoit and some ninety of
his men joined the settlers in
their feast, bringing five deer as
their contribution; there were
fifty-five of the English people,
of whom there were but four
women with one servant and
young CIR. to prepare the food.
In addition to the wild turkeys
ana the Unison brought by the
Indians, trey doubtless had geese,
ducks, and waterfowl, lobster, cod
fish, bear-meat, "corn-cake, and
Indian pudding"
1t was really a harvest home
festival, and did not straightway
become an annual celebration;
for in the ensuing years there
were many in which crops failed
and spirits dropped, and there was
neither cause nor inclination to
rejoice. Thanksgiving festival
days were thereafter occasional
affairs. appointed as the times
suggested, and it was many years
before our annual Thanksgiving
Day in November became a ma
tional holiday.
In a speech made by Daniel
Webster at a Pilgrim Festival
held seventy years ago, he depict
ed Elder Brewster as addressing