World Stories Retold for Modern Boys and Girls / One Hundred and Eighty-seven Five-minute Classic Stories for Retelling in Home, Sunday School, Children's Services, Public School Grades and "The Story-hour" in Public Libraries

by William James Sly

Are gathered stern men and fair maids,

Their praises are joyfully ringing

And echo o’er high hills and glades.

Thus passed the first day of Thanksgiving,

With thanks that e’er came from the heart,

And no matter how humble his station,

Each person in them took his part.

9. REBECCA AND THE SNAKE

All of this country at first was covered with great forests, except the plains and river-beds. The name “Pennsylvania” means Penn’s Wood. William Penn wanted to name the land on which he settled his colony “Sylvania,” from the Latin word “sylva,” meaning wood, because it was covered with woods. But King Charles II, of England, said, “No, it shall be called ‘Penn’s Wood’—Pennsylvania.” In this great forest William Penn laid out the city of Philadelphia, or “Brotherly Love,” which he wished to make “a fair and green country town, where men might dwell together like brothers.”