NOT to Pagan ancestors in far-away countries, but to our own Pilgrim Fathers do we trace the origin of Thanksgiving Day—as purely American as our Independence Day. Instituted by William Bradford, the Governor of Plymouth, and first observed by the Puritans, who, suffering from hunger and privation, were truly thankful when the first harvest brought them the means of support for the approaching winter, it has come to us as “the religious and social festival that converts every family mansion into a family meeting-house.” The pleasant New England custom of the gathering together of families to celebrate Thanksgiving is now observed in most of our States. From far and near they come, filling the cars with merry family parties, who chatter away of anticipated pleasures to be found in the old home. Little children taught to lisp grandma and grandpa are instructed by their mammas not to be afraid of the old gentleman who will meet them at the depot, nor the dear old lady who waits with open arms at the door of grandpa’s house.
One Little Indian.
Children old enough to know what a Thanksgiving at grandpa’s is like are wild with delight at the prospect before them. Their eyes brighten at the thought of the great pantry where grandma keeps her doughnuts and cookies; of the cellar with its bins of sweet and juicy apples; of the nuts and popcorn, all of which taste so much nicer at grandma’s than anywhere else. And then what fun the games will be which they will play with cousins, who, though rather shy at first, will soon make friends. The lovely young aunties, too, who help grandma entertain all these guests, will join in the games and suggest and carry out schemes of amusements which the children would never think of.
Pilgrim’s Spectacles.
What a happy holiday it is, how social and pleasant and comfortable and easy! How near and dear all the bright faces gathered around the long table at the Thanksgiving-dinner, seem to be. Truly, we should all be thankful that we have a Thanksgiving.
However, this chapter is not written merely to generalize upon the pleasures of the day, but in order that we may offer something new, in the way of amusement, which will add to the fund of merriment on this occasion. The series of
