Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1918 — FIRST THANKSGIVING [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FIRST THANKSGIVING

“After the first harvest Governor Bradford declared a day o$ thanksgiving, and, there being but little, food in the town, sent four men out fowling, that they might rejoice the nwo.*'*-Oid. American •MB

(g on an AUtumD if I'l? morning, when, la Two hundred ill years ago, Ilf Four sturdy Plymouth fighting vr men Marched la a

ragged row Adown the winding path that led Far from the sleeping town. To where the teal and mallard sped Across the marshes brown.

.■■mm is Jbwling piece each soldier bore, xK ■ And each besides ■ had got CwSp g Hie pistols and a goodly store Of powder and of .hot; For while they BfWswffili sought the wary game

Within the weedy fen, The savage might begin the same And start to hunting them.

g I MILE along the sandy track Is passed; then I I loudly rings ■ I Each trusty piece; il I the sky is black Lw Ji With swiftly whirring wings.

Down come the victims by the score, And still they blase away, x To slay a plenteous dinner for ,1 That first Thanksgiving day.

IN E volleys W - W through the I raß misty air tw fRw Do echoing o'er the plain, jfßdß® Till from the RjKff IL slaughter they forbear ,2MB To gather up the slain; Then with their quarry laden down.

With step elate and gay. These doughty men of Plymouth town Go on their homeward way.

nows t thou,” cried one with LT vaunting mien, "Upon the Holy ■ Y’W Word, EfeW These savages I’ve ■ never seen, Though much of

them I’ve heard. Methinks they are a sorry ereW, And much would I delight To fall upon a score or two And wage a merry fight!”

WIFT sank each heart in sudden fear. Then paled each ruddy nose. As If in answer from the rear The Pequot yell _ arose. RL- It filled the boasting hunter bund

With overpowering dread; They dropped their arms and oer the sand Incontinently fled.

.4 EESE, ducks and W plover trailed hern hind ■ W Their quickly fleeA ■ ing heels, 1%. > While borne upop J the gusty wind. In terrifying peals,

The war-whoop of the savage came Unto the flying four. And though already spent and lame It made them run the more.

IN VIEW of the grim pursuers spring— A dozen brawny reds. Right merrily the arrows sing About the hunters’ heads. And though their brains are whirling round. And limbs are

waxing sore, On toward their nearing goal they bound Much faster than before.

JW ■ AIN is the painted /II Pequot’s chase—- ’ ■ V Their ruse was 9 ■ ■ badly planned; [ ■■ The musketeers haV« L W set a pace I J The savage cannot stand. *

Speed, speed, ye hunters, speed your flight! The race is nearly won, And show that though you cannot fight You well know how to run.

, NTO town they g fly like mad; Ik The train band rushes out; Er Each man and ■ woman, girl I and lad, I Comes crowding B to the rout. While from behind the stockadt walls The Pur 11 an i

take aim. And drive with showers of matchlock The’red men back again.

itE J OHEROES e'er Lad ■ were welcomed 111.' ■ more. I ■ > Since heroes first > were known. tJ K Than were tne S S g goodly men ana four

That brought the dinner home. For Plymouth cupboards all were bare. Of food they’d seen the last Until the hunters brought the fare To gayly break the fast.

KEEN be the m e m o r y ot these men, V < May Bradford’s flourish, too; A monument sot ■ each of them Would be but SNmsw proper due; For they brought in a merry v/V”" time, A day of feast

Of grateful chant, of gladsome chime.