Visual Education (Jan 1923-Dec 1924)

380 VISUAL EDUCATION November, 1924 A Unique Program For Thanksgiving Time Editor's Note: Dramatizing favorite historical tales is especially valuable when the story is intimately connected with a season or a holiday. By following the simple Thanksgiving story as written by Miss Evans, and appointing children to the various parts, an instructive and interesting program will result. Among the younger children the occasion may be just a big game; among the older ones, able to make their own costumes, a striking pageant can be arranged. THE THANKSGIVING FESTIVAL When autumn comes to the Pilgrims of Plymouth they know that their first long months of suffering and work have brought success. One bright day Governor Bradford looks out across the rich yellow fields with their wealth of harvest and says to the Pilgrims, "Now let us appoint a day for feasting and merrymaking and for grateful prayer to God, who hath poured upon us such rich blessings. Shall we call it Thanksgiving Day?" The colonists all agree and rejoice at the proposal and immediately hasten to make preparations. Bradford wanders about from one family group to another, all busy at work. The hunters shoulder their mviskets and make for the forest after game. The fishermen get their lines ready and the children follow them down to the shore to dig clams. Pumpkins are harvested, corn is husked, and wild plums and grapes are gathered. That evening in the large cabin of Governor Bradford, the women make cakes and puddings while the children cut pumpkins into rings which they string across the room above the fireplace. Then they hide pop corn in the hot ashes and By Marion Evans San Diego Public Schools, California. watch excitedly as the little kernels explode in the air and pop all over the room. Governor Bradford pauses amid all this thrift and merriment to dispatch an Indian runner saying, "Go ye, and bid Massasoit come with his ninety braves that they may know that we too worship their great Spirit — the God that makes the harvest grow." By the time the dawn first appears on the eastern skyline the all seat themselves and the Indians and the white men, women and children all enjoy the best feast they have ever had in the new land. John Alden seats himself beside Priscilla and coaxes her to wish and break a huge turkey wish-bone with him. He wishes again that their life could be a fairy-tale and that he could be the prince to marry the beautiful princess Priscilla. She gets the largest piece of the bone and he is disappointed, The First Thanksgiving Feast Pilgrims know that the great, glad day has come. Elder Brewster and Captain Miles Standish go to Bradford's home ready to welcome the Indians, while Master Winslow's wife helps him to don his festive doublet and hose, and Master Allison speaks bitterly to his girl, Remember, who has forgotten to sew a button on his coat. The people all gather in a beautiful spot near the seashore, where long tables are spread with delicious food. First, Elder Brewster offers a prayer of thankfulness and then not knowing that the smiling Priscilla is wishing the same wish that he is. After the feast the Pilgrims and the Indians play games together and are having a wonderful time, until suddenly Miles Standish and his little army come marching down the hill, firing a salute as they come. This is only part of the program, but the Indians believing they are being trapped run off in every direction and make for the forest. The captain and his men disarm and laughing among themselves