The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-12-17
By CHRISTINE CARpwELL

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 During the reign of Queen Elizabeth the Puritans were divided into dif- ferent parties, and were called the i nonconformists, afterwards called the separatists, because they separated from the church in England.
 Queen Elizabeth was a Protestant and wanted the people to worship as she did. She would cut their heads off if they didn't.
 They left for Holland, where every one could worship as he wanted. They stayed there about 10 years. They were afraid their children would for get their native land and mother tongue. They returned to England again and the same conditions were still going on.
 The Pilgrims obtained grant of land in America. They were too poor to buy the ships. and borrowed the money from London merchants, prom ising to return the money. They could not arrange for all to go. but 100 men, women and children crowded in the Mayflower and the SpeedwelI. They told their friends .good-by, and when they were a little piece on the water the Speedwell sprang a leak and had to return to England. The people were home-sick and seasick. After very long and stormy voyage of three months, they saw some rocks and trees, and landed on, the coast of Massachusetts. The people were very happy because they had reached land at last.
 The land grant had been picked out between the Hudson river and Dela- ware. They sailed again and the wind was so fierce that it blew them to- ward the north. They landed again in 1920 at the place which Capt. John Smith named Plymouth. They began settlement here. Before the Pil- grims went ashore the men gathered together In the cabin of the May flower and signed a compact After they signed the compact the men went out on the land and soon had lots of houses built. They stopped the cracks up with mud and used oilcloth for the windows. Deacon John Carver was elected governor, and the people gov erned themselves They arrived too late to make a crop, and their food had run low. Before the winter was over more than half of the colonists had died. The Mayflower returned to England in the spring and not one of the survivors went with her. The Pilgrims were brave people. and the Indians were friendly with them. The nearest tribe was the Wampanogas. Their chief was Chief Massasoit, who visited the colony very often. He made a treaty with the whites that lasted 30 years. The Indians gave them food and taught them how to plant crops. About the middle of the spring the whites had fine gardens. They planned to celebrate Thanksgiv- ing, and thought it would be great of them to invite the Indians. They in- vited the Indians and had the first Thanksgiving, November 24. 1920. They went to church that morning and when they came back the Tn- dians were waiting for them. They rate a big. fine dinner. What they had was fruits, pumpkin pies, fish, and just back of the village was wild deer and turkey. The Indians smoked their peace pipes twice a day. They enjoyed themselves in the afternoon. too. They played games, runned races, wrestled, jumped. danced. told jokes and played shooting matches with the Indians bows and arrows. That's the way they celebra ted Thanksgiving.
 We must remember the Pilgrims in thanking God because they were the people who had the first Thanksgiv- ing Day That custom has been fol- lowed up to our present Thanksgiving Day. VT. A.. Robinson School. THIS IS HOW SPEND SATURDAY
 AFTERNOON
 I have a very good time on Satur- day afternoon. My cousin and I go to my fathers store and work every Saturday. We fix the shelves and make things look better and cleaner. We wait on people that come in the store. Sometime we go to town to see a show on Saturday. But best Iof all I like to work In the store where I can do something useful
 FLORENCE WOOD, VII Grade Jr., Barker School.