Ensley High School - Jacket Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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THE GLEAM 31 The First Thanksgiving Day The Pilgrims had been in Holland a long time. They had fled there to escape religious persecutions. Although they enjoyed complete freedom of worship, as true sons of Old England the refugees saw with regret that their children were turning from the native language to that of the Dutch and were losing the manners and customs of England. Some of them were not prosperous in business and desired to seek their fortunes elsewhere, and some were eager to spread the Gospel to the heathen of America. So they decided to become Pilgrims again and seek a new home across the seas. They selected a place on the Atlantic shore. They went gack to England and embarked for their long voyage at South Hampton in 1620 on the Mayflower. The voyage proved a difficult one. They landed at what is now Prov-incetown, Massachusetts. As soon as they arrived they fell on their knees and thanked their kind Heavnly Father for the safe voyage. When they arrived on December 21st at Plymouth, they had enough hardships to waver their faith. Nothing to welcome them but the cold Atlantic shore with its forests in whose depths lurked many a hostile Indian. Many were sick and the boat was packed. The people stayed on board the ship all winter while the few able-bodied men went ashore each day to build log huts. They had many hardships, greatest of all, starvation. The winter passed taking with it the lives of one hundred and two of the people. Spring came finally bringing with it renewed hope and courage. The trees of the forest swayed with the winds covered with a new green covering. The birds were singing and the flowers blooming, and with all these came a friendly greeting from the Indians. Surely the Pilgrims’ hearts grew lighter and happier. The Indians made a treaty of peace which lasted fifty years. They also taught the Pilgrims how to raise the native Indian corn. The spring time sowing had taken place and all summer the fields had been watched with anxiety, for all knew their lives depended upon the coming harvest. The summer crops came to a richness of fruition beyond all expectation and autumn was there. Autumn that had turned the leaves of the trees red and golden brown. And the autumn sunlight was streaming through the beautiful red leaves on the late autumn flowers. One day Governor Bradford sent four men into the forest to shoot wild birds. He said, “We will hold a harvest feast of Thanksgiving.” He invited all the Indians who had been friendly to them to come and rejoice with them. The Indians came, bearing venison. So one day, late in the fall, when the golden leaves wTere falling, the Pilgrims and their friends, the Indians, gathered around the tables laden with delicious foods and thanked their kind Heavenly Father for the first Thanksgiving Day. WILLIE BELLE DAVIS, ’26.

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30 THE GLEAM A Thanksgiving In the far regions of the North there is a small Esquimo village of about one hundred inhabitants called Welcome. This village of twenty huts was about seventy miles from any other. Welcome boasted some of the best and fastest dog teams in the North. During one very cold winter the hunting had not been very good and the supply sled that had been sent to the nearest village was three days late. There was at this time a mysterious disease breaking out in Welcome and the remedy was a serum. And the supply of this serum had become exhausted. Another team of dogs, the very best in the village, and Musta, the best team driver in the North, set out for more serum. The usual time for a run there and back required three days, but Musta said that he could make it in two. He left and had a good wind at his back instead of in front of him. He had very good luck until he was two miles from his destination when a pack of hungry wolves attacked him. He spurred his dogs on and then he turned his rifle upon the foremost of the wolves and brought him down. The hungry wolves tore him into shreds and by the time they had finished him, Musta was entering the outskirts of the village, and as he drove in one end the other driver, sent for the supplies, came in from another. He had encountered a blizzard which had blown him off his course. This village, being closer to civilization, was visited frequently and some adventurers had arrived the day before. And as Musta and the other driver rode in these men were holding a Thanksgiving program because it happened to be Thanksgiving Day. Musta got the serum and the other driver his supplies and both men started out together the next morning. Nothing occurred on the return trip and they arrived in Welcome in about ten hours. They were greeted by the few well villagers. The serum was given to the sick who recovered at once, but before the day was over Musta told them of the Thanksgiving program of the other village, and all the inhabitants gathered and gave thanks for their deliverance. Each year after this they take one day off and give thanks. ALBERT DODD, ’26.

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32 THE GLEAM Thanksgiving Hurrah! Hurrah! Thanksgiving day, A day for feasting and for play; A day for praise, a day to sing; A day to be thankful for everything. Oh! let us give thanks. Thanksgiving day I will always remember, As the last Thursday in November; How the Pilgrims sailed across the sea, And started the land for you and me Many years ago. One cold day late in the fall . The Pilgrims landed, one and all. Upon the shores of New England, And built their dwellings upon the mainland Many years ago. About half the people died that year, And in giving them their wish were buried near The men learned how to use the bow; They learned to plow and learned to sow, Many years ago. The squaws showed the women how to make The Indian bread and batter cake; The women learned to spin and weave, And to make many things from the growing reed, Many years ago. The harvest was gathered by the men, And stored in barn and barrel and bin; The women cooked and the women baked Turkey, cranberries, potatoes and cakes Many years ago. They invited the Indians from far and near, To help them to pray and to help them to cheer, There is no more that I have to say As this was the beginning of Thanksgiving day Many years ago. VIRGINIA RICKS, ’29.