THE FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY.
One spring the Pilgrims planted corn as the Indians had taught them.
Summer brought the sunshine and the rain to ripen the corn.
Such a harvest as there was when autumn came!
“Let us have a day of thanksgiving for this great blessing,” said the Governor.
“A Thanksgiving Day! A Thanksgiving Day!” cried the Pilgrims.
“The Indians have been kind to us. We will ask them to our feast,” said the Governor.
So they began to get ready for the first Thanksgiving Day.
The Pilgrim fathers went hunting and fishing. They carried home duck, turkey, and fish.
The Pilgrim mothers made bread and cake from the corn. They baked plenty of pumpkin-pies.
What a good time the children had getting ready for the feast! They gathered the wild plums and grapes. They put pop-corn in the ashes of the wide fireplace. Then they watched until the “Snap! Crack! Snap!” was heard.
The Indians came, gaily dressed in skins, and paint, and feathers. They brought five large deer to the feast.
The Indians came in time for breakfast and stayed three whole days. So they must have had a good time. They played games, and danced, and sang.
Before the feast the Indians and the Pilgrims thanked God for His goodness to them.
Ever since then the people have kept Thanksgiving Day.