Happy Thanksgiving From Cameo & Phil
The First Thanksgiving Day
by Florence Ray
A very long, long time ago
In England far away
Were Pilgrim folks who thought it wise
To leave their homes one day,
That they might find another land
Where free they all would be
To build a church of their own choice
And worship peacefully.
To freedom, then, across the sea
And westward many a week
They sailed the sturdy Mayflower
In weather rough and bleak.
The voyage was a dreary one,
The days were long and gray,
And restless children on the ship
Found little room to play.
At last the Pilgrims sighted land.
America they found,
Where they could live and worship God
Upon the precious ground.
With homes to build and fields to plow
Their plans were swiftly laid.
It was not very long before
A village they had made.
The colored leaves began to fall;
The ducks and geese flew high;
The setting sun hung red and low
Along the western sky.
While autumn's rich and mellow days
Were at their very best,
The Pilgrims then proclaimed a day
To worship, feast, and rest.
Oh, what a bustle! What a stir!
To plan the feast and bake
The puddings, pies, and loaves of bread,
And even johnnycake,
To roast the turkeys and the deer,
To bake the clams they found.
The air was filled with luscious smells
From kithens all around.
And then the Indian guests arrived
To share the heaping trays;
Their fellowship was Heaven blest,
And friends they all did stay.
The time to feast had come at last
And then a time for play,
All underneaith the autumn sun
That first Thanksgiving Day.
