The First Thanksgiving

 "Come let us sit by the window," said mother, "and I will tell you about the first Thanksgiving Day of all. Think how many years ago it was that our Pilgrim¹ Fathers held Thanksgiving Day in America.

 

"You will remember that they landed from the Mayflower in the middle of winter on the cold bleak² shores of Massachusetts. During that winter more than half their number perished³ from cold and hunger. Nevertheless, when spring came they set out bravely to work to clear the land and plant their corn.

 

"A friendly Indian named Squanto showed them the Indian way of making sure of rich soil by putting small fish into each hill, and he taught them many other things that helped them to live in their new country.

 

"When the first autumn came they were so happy at having a good harvest, thanks to Squanto's help, that when Governor Bradford appointed a day for Thanksgiving they invited Massasoit, chief of the tribe⁴ to which their friend Squanto belonged, and ninety of his men to a three days' feast⁵.

 

"So you see our Thanksgiving is very American, for the first one was attended by the Indians, who were here in America long before Columbus discovered it."

1 pilgrim   

n.香客，朝圣者；v.朝圣，参拜圣地，流浪

参考例句：

• They read stories about the Indians and the pilgrim.他们阅读有关印第安人和那些朝圣者的故事。
• But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you.只有一个人爱你那朝圣者的灵魂。

2 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。

3 perished   

丧生( perish的过去式和过去分词 )； 消亡； 死亡； 损坏

参考例句：

• A family of four perished in the fire. 一家四口死于此次火灾之中。
• Hundreds of sheep perished that year because of drought. 那年由于干旱，几百头羊突然死去。

4 tribe   

n.部落，种族，一伙人

参考例句：

• This is a subject tribe.这是个受他人统治的部落。
• Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.这部落的许多风俗、仪式都极其古老。

5 feast   

n.盛宴，筵席，节日

参考例句：

• After the feast she spent a week dieting to salve her conscience.大吃了一顿之后，她花了一周时间节食以安慰自己。
• You shouldn't have troubled yourself to prepare such a feast!你不该准备这样丰盛的饭菜，这样太麻烦你了！