THANKSGIVING HYMN. FOR CALIFORNIA.

 Our forefathers¹ gave thanks to God,

In the land by the stormy sea,

For bread hard wrung² from the iron sod

In cold and misery³.

Though every day meant toil⁴ and strife⁵,

In the land by the stormy sea,

They thanked their God for the gift of life—

How much the more should we!

Stern frost had they full many a day,

Strong ice on the stormy sea,

Long months of snow, gray clouds hung low,

And a cold wind endlessly;

Winter, and war with an alien race—

But they were alive and free!

And they thanked their God for his good grace—

How much the more should we!

For we have a land all sunny with gold,—

A land by the summer sea;

Gold in the earth for our hands to hold,

Gold in blossom and tree;

Comfort, and plenty, and beauty, and peace,

From the mountains down to the sea.

They thanked their God for a year’s increase—

How much the more should we!

1 forefathers   

n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人

参考例句：

• They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left. 它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All of us bristled at the lawyer's speech insulting our forefathers. 听到那个律师在讲演中污蔑我们的祖先，大家都气得怒发冲冠。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 wrung   

绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水）

参考例句：

• He has wrung the words from their true meaning. 他曲解这些字的真正意义。
• He wrung my hand warmly. 他热情地紧握我的手。

3 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

4 toil   

vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事

参考例句：

• The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。
• Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

5 strife   

n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争

参考例句：

• We do not intend to be drawn into the internal strife.我们不想卷入内乱之中。
• Money is a major cause of strife in many marriages.金钱是造成很多婚姻不和的一个主要原因。