The First Thanksgining-day A. D. 1622

"And nou," Haid the ü-overnor, azln? abroad on the piled-np store Of the sheavestbat dotted the clearlngs, and coverod the meadows o'ev, '"Tls meet. that we render praises beeause of this yieldofgrain; 'Ha meet tbat, the Lord of the linrvpqt bp thanked tor i!' : un and rain. '■ nd thercfore, I, Willlam Bradford (by lbo grace ol God lo.day, And the franchise of this good poople), Govpruor of Plymouth, say Tliro' virtue of vested power- ye, sbail gather witu oue aceard, And hold, in the noonth Noveü her, tbttnksICtylng wilh the Lord, "He hatli granted us peace and plenty, und tbequiet we'vo sought so long; Hohath tliwartedthe wily savage, and kept hliu from doing us wrong; And unto our Teasl the dachein shall bn blddeu, that he moy Ituow We worship hls own Great Spirit wlio ni ilcelh the harvests grow. 'So boulder your roatooJocki, masters: there is hunting of all degrees; And nshermen, lake your tackle, andsoour lor spoll the seas; And maldens and dames of Plymouth, your delicate crafts employ, To honor our First Thxnksglving, nnd niake it a Fei-stf Joy ! "We fail of the lïutts aart dat mies io oj( our band in l)evou ; - Ab.ttieyare the llglitesl losses we Kuiter for 88 Ke of Heftvcn! But see, lu our open clcarings, how golden the melous lie; Enríen them wltu sweets and spices, and givo us the Pumpktn-Pie !" So, biavely the preparattons went on lor the autunin Feast; The deer and the bear wero slaushiered; wild game from the greatest to least Was heaped in the Colony cabina: brown home-brew served for wlne, And the plum and the grape of the forost, Tor orange and peach and pino. Al length came theday appointed: tho snow had begun to fall. Bul the clang from the meeting-house bellry rang merrily out for all, Aud snmmoned the folks o( Plyraouth, who hastened with glad accord To listen to Klder Brewstor as he forvrntly .thankid theLord In hisseal saté Governor Bradforti : men, matrona and maidens fair; Miles Btaudish and allhis soldie, wil h corsletand sword, were there; And sobblngunu tearsaudgladness had enen In lts (urn the sway, Forlbegraveoflhe sweet RoseStaudlali a ershadoned Thanksgiving Day. And when Massasoit, the Sachem, me down with his huudred braves, And ate of the varicd riohes of gardens and woods and waves, Andlooked on the grananed harvesl- witha blow on hls brawny chest, He niuttered, 'The good Greal. Spiril lovos his white ohllrtren best!" And tben, as the Feast was endec!, with grave]y oftlcial air, The üovernor drew his broadsword out Irom itascabbard there, And siniting the trenober near nina, he cried in Lieroic way, _ "Hall! De of ihe Fumpkiu! I dub thee Prinoe of TlmnkssilvinB Da;!"