The year was 1620. The small ship was called The Mayflower. Those on board were called the Pilgrims. Their purpose was to establish self-government and freedom of religion. They set sail with 102 passengers. The voyage took 66 days. On November 21, 1620 they reached the Cape Cod coast. As they sailed looking for appropriate land for settlement, they encountered a horrific storm causing them to anchor at Cape Cod. Before coming ashore, 41 men aboard the ship sign an agreement which would set up a new style government. The agreement was called the Mayflower Compact. It would be the first document of self government in the New World.
With sea weary legs, the men began exploring Cape Cod for suitable land to settle. The women and children stayed on board. Winter was upon them. Temperatures began to plummet at night. Urgency began to set in. The journey was becoming quite difficult, but their toughest days were still ahead!
As they began to settle, natives appeared with arrows flying. The Pilgrims fired back. Knowing they would never have peace, the Pilgrims board The Mayflower and set sail again. This time they would land at the place they called Plymouth. It would be here that they would settle; more out of desperation and urgency, then out of finding the perfect Utopia.
Several members of their group became sick. Others passed away. William Bradford's wife would drown - either by accident or by suicide. No one knows for sure. Being ill-prepared for a harsh winter and all that came with settling a New World, the Pilgrims would began to die at a rapid pace. In no time at all, half of the Pilgrims would pass away leaving them with only 53 individuals counting women and children.
They didn't know where to fish. They didn't know how to grow crops in this new type soil. They didn't have enough housing to protect them from the bitter cold. They didn't know if natives might attack and kill them. They didn't have shipments of supplies on the way or a new group of people to join them. They didn't know how to stop the death of so many. To put it mildly, the Pilgrims were in grave trouble and if they didn't receive some help soon, they would all die only to be remembered as Christian fools looking for freedom.
Then the incredible happened! It would be something that Americans three hundred years later would forget . . . or simply not know about . . . or simply leave out of the script we call "American History."
As the Pilgrims were working in an attempt to survive, a native walks out from the woods toward them. Thoughts of warfare and defense of their families rushed through their minds as cold fingers on the hands of tired men clutched the triggers on English muskets. Would this be the end of the colony and their dream? Are there hundreds of other savage's lurking in the woods waiting for the opportune time to strike? Is the dream of freedom over? Would this be the end?
Tomorrow we will find out and learn about "the story behind the story of Thanksgiving." It will be something that you will want to read. It will arrive to your inbox before 6:00am. It will be a story you will want to read to your family as you celebrate America's oldest holiday!
