That Long Ago Harvest

 The First Thanksgiving

N.C. Wyeth

When the harvest comes I always think

Of that first good harvest so long ago.

After the perils and after the labors,

Then the Pilgrims made their valiant show.

They took their little, and here in the new world

They celebrated with heartfelt joy.

Glad was every Pilgrim grownup,

And every Pilgrim girl and boy.

Little they owed and few their comforts,

But they were glad for what they had.

Here in this primitive land they dined,

And had good fellowship and were glad.

And the reason why they were so joyful

Was because they'd won their great desire:

Freedom to worship and freedom to live!

And thus their songs leaped high and higher!

So let's be thankful for what we have!

Let's be thankful for work and play!

Let's be thankful as were the Pilgrims

On that first Thanksgiving Day.

"That Long Ago Harvest"

Taken from "The Giant Thanksgiving Book"

(1935)

By Lenore Hetrick