But one of the Indian Chiefs was friendly to the English and kept the other tribes from making war on them, and the second summer they had a great harvest and everything was more comfortable.  It was in that autumn, just after the grain was gathered, that the minister spoke to them one Sunday about having a Thanksgiving day.  “It seemeth right,” he said, “God hath granted us peace and plenty.  He has blessed us with a dwelling-place of peace.  He has held back the savage red man from bringing harm to us.  Therefore let us appoint a day of Thanksgiving.”

After that all the people, even the boys and girls, were busy getting ready.  The men took their guns and fishing-rods and went into the forest, and brought home fowl, fish, and deer, and perhaps bear meat as well.  The boys and girls gathered wild plums, and grapes, and corn, and brought in pumpkins from the gardens; and the women made pies, puddings, cakes, and bread, and baked the meat and corn.  They had great piles of cakes, and rows and rows of pies, and loaves of bread and platters of meat, for they all expected company.  You could not guess, I am sure, who was coming!  They had sent word to the Indians near to come and spend Thanksgiving Day with them.

Do you suppose they came?  Indeed they did.  They came before breakfast and stayed until long after supper, and had a good time, and tasted everything the white women had cooked, and nodded their heads and said, “How” a great many times, to say it was good.  Some of the little girls and boys were half afraid of them, but they need not have been; for that day the Indians felt very kindly toward the English.

     Ask pupils to mention things for which they are thankful.

LETTER FROM MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS, TO QUEEN ELIZABETH

Believe, Madame (and the doctors whom you sent to me this last summer can have formed an opinion), that I am not likely long to be in a condition which can justify jealousy or distrust.  And this notwithstanding, exact from me such assurances, and just and reasonable conditions as you wish.  Superior force is always on your side to make me keep them, even though for any reason whatever I should wish to break them.  You have had from observation enough experience of my bare promises, sometimes even to my own damage, as I showed you on this subject two years ago.  Remember, if you please, what I then wrote you, and that in no way could you so much win over my heart to yourself as by kindness, although you have confined forever my poor body to languish between four walls; those of my rank and disposition not permitting themselves to be gained over or forced by any amount of harshness.

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