| WHO WERE THE PILGRIMS ? | | | | hunting game. |
| | | | |
| COLUMBUS | | | | Arriving in Virginia they came ill-prepared |
| | | | In search of gold and a route to the South |
| When Columbus sailed into the unknown It | | | | Seas What they found were hostile Indians, |
| was not to prove that the earth was round. | | | | Insects, starvation, and disease. |
| He wished to find a sea route to Asia Where | | | | |
| gold, jewels and spices were to be found. | | | | "Virginia is Earth's only Paradise!" The |
| | | | laureate of England would proclaim!" However |
| Columbus was born in 1451 And was the son | | | | by August of 1607, Every day there was |
| of a weaver of wool. With is heart set on | | | | anguish, and pain. |
| dreams and adventures, He listened to | | | | |
| yarns, till his ears were full. | | | | They ate their horses, dogs, cats and rats |
| | | | One man ate his wife and hid her bones in the |
| At 14 he sailed the Italian cost, And | | | | ground. Despite their hardships, half |
| studied map making and geography. Later he | | | | managed to survive Becoming America's first |
| married a captain's daughter, Who's dad had | | | | permanent, English town . |
| maps and charts of life at sea. | | | | |
| | | | THE FIRST THANKSGIVING |
| King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Decided | | | | |
| to grant him three crew filled ships. On | | | | The Pilgrims held their first Thanksgiving |
| August the 3rd of 1492 His tiny fleet | | | | At Plymouth in October 1621. The bitter |
| sailed with prayers on their lips. | | | | winter of 1620, was over With a loss of many |
| | | | father, mother, daughter or son. |
| The months passed by and no land was sighted. | | | | |
| Though his ships had traveled three | | | | Life for survivors was much better now As a |
| thousand miles. At two am on October the | | | | good harvest improved what was rationed |
| 12th A sailor shouted "land" with tears and | | | | Settlers enjoyed good health and prosperity |
| smiles. | | | | As homes were raised from the logs they |
| | | | fashioned. |
| The entire voyage took 224 days Till he was | | | | |
| safe, back in Spain once again. After three | | | | They walked unafraid and safely in the woods |
| more trips into the New World. He died not | | | | For they had made peace with the Indians. |
| knowing where he had been. | | | | After the signing a long-lasting treaty |
| | | | Natives and Pilgrims shared the land as |
| AMERICA 1606 | | | | friends. |
| | | | |
| America's East Coast in 1606 Was mostly | | | | Sending four men to shoot waterfowl and wild |
| unbroken wilderness that thrived. Except for | | | | turkeys The Pilgrims decreed a holiday of |
| a small fort called St. Augustine, Where a | | | | good fortune A chief was invited who brought |
| handful of Spaniards, somehow survived. | | | | 90 braves And five deer to increase the |
| | | | portion. |
| From Florida to the frozen Arctic wastes, | | | | |
| Rivers flowed down through the forests to the | | | | It was an open-air roast and festival Held |
| sea. Foreign settlements were nonexistent, | | | | along the north bank of Town Brook. Where |
| For the Indians to trade with, attack, or | | | | there were games of skill, chance and dance |
| flee. | | | | While everyone gorged on the feast they |
| | | | cooked. |
| Not one European footprint marked the earth, | | | | |
| Or voice echoed down across the forest floor. | | | | From then on Thanksgiving spread through the |
| Only the murmur of the wind through the | | | | colonies Though each region chose its own |
| trees And the sweet sent of nature and | | | | date. Till in 1789 President Washington |
| nothing more. | | | | proclaimed November 26 a day to give thanks |
| | | | and celebrate. |
| Sooner than later, one way or another, | | | | |
| Eager pilgrims swarmed forth from the open | | | | The theme of Thanksgiving has always been the |
| seas To practice their faith and to harvest | | | | same. Though its date has changed many |
| new land, As Indians were conquered and | | | | times. A day for giving and remembering the |
| brought to their knees. | | | | less fortunate Expressing thankfulness with |
| | | | our prayers, hearts and minds. |
| JAMESTOWN 1607 | | | | |
| | | | It is our duty as a nation to acknowledge |
| Four hundred years ago high-born Brits sailed | | | | providence Of Almighty God, and to obey his |
| to America Seeking fast fortunes, adventure | | | | will. To be grateful for his blessings, and |
| and fame. Many would never endure their | | | | protection As we humbly partake in the |
| first year here Cultivating, foraging, and | | | | tables we fill. |