Mireleh's Thanksgiving

Early in November, Princess Mireleh received a letter from her
American pen-pal, Caralee.

 

Papa,Mama," Mireleh went running to her parents, King Lester and Queen Beta. " My American friend Caralee and her parents are coming to visit. They will come for the American holiday of Thanksgiving. They want to show us what a real Thanksgiving celebration is like!"

 

"Oh, I know all about that!" said King Lester, and added, " I'll prepare the whole thing as a great surprise for them. Anyway, guests should not work hard on a holiday visit."

 

"But papa," Mirieleh exclaimed. "We never had a Thanksgiving celebration before. How do you know what to do?"

 

"Mireleh,darling, I study up on these things. Leave it to me."

When King Lester left the room, Princess Mireleh looked at her mother and tears swelled in her eyes. "This is a problem for sure, " she wailed.

Queen Beta looked at her daughter, trying to calm her down. "Mireleh,you know that your papa has a great big heart. He always means well. I am sure he will do his best."

 

A week later, Caralee and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fussy arrived in their Kingdom. Princess Mireleh was so happy to meet her pen-pal at last. They spent the next few days playing and having the greatest fun. Mr. and Mrs. Fussy were so happy speaking to King Lester and Queen Beta.

"Don't worry about a thing," King Lester told his family and guests. "I
have everything under control. I know all the right foods and ordered the chefs to prepare everything."

"Oh dear ," mumbled the Princess hearing what her papa had said," I am sure the main dish will be beef stew or something!"

Thanksgiving Day arrived. The cooks were very busy in the kitchen fixing the Thanksgiving dinner. Before the meal, King Lester said that he would tell the Thanksgiving story for all to hear. Mr. and Mrs. Fussy and Caralee Fussy were so proud that he would talk about their country's history.

 

King Lester got up to speak, and of couse, tripped on his robes. His crown flew on to Mr. Fussy's head. King Lester slid across the room and bumped into a lamp. The lampshade was now on King Lester's head. "Nevermind," said King Lester. " Mr. Fussy should be 'king for a day' since it is his and his family's special holiday. I am quite happy being a lamp today!"

Then King Lester began to tell the Thanksgiving story.

 

"Well, it all began in 1492 when Columbus led the Palegrapes on a mighty ship call the Maria Santa...."

At that point Caralee raised her hand. "Your Majesty, excuse me, but the people were called the Pilgrims , not Palegrapes, and they came over on the Mayflower, not the Maria Santa, which was really called the Santa Maria!"

 

"Oops, whispered King Lester, "My mistake."

"OK, then--Columbus led the Pilgrims on the Mayflower to South America and..."

 

Caralee politely raised her hand again. "Your Majesty, while it is true that the Pilgrims went on the Mayflower, they did not go to South America. They went to North America."

"Yes of course," said King Lester. "A mere slip of the tongue.
So they went to North America and landed at...Washington D.C. and..."

Princess Mireleh was able to correct him this time because Caralee had told her. "Papa, it was called the Plymouth Colony."

"You're right!," said King Lester. "Hmmm, I always thought that Columbus,sea captain as he was, should have had a better sense of direction. But then, it was way back in 1492 , and in those days perhaps the maps weren't too clear."

 

Caralee's hand went up again. "Excuse me for butting in again,Your Majesty, but the Pilgrims were NOT led by Columbus. The Pilgrims came in 1620."

"Thank you for the corrections, Caralee," said King Lester. "I think I've got it straight now!"

"Let's see," he continued. "The Pilgrims came over on the Mayflower in 1620 and set up the Plymouth colony. They built some houses and a supermarket."

 

"In fact, " said Mrs. Fussy, "when the Pilgrims landed they had to take a long time to build their houses. Many of them slept on the Mayflower for a long while. And they did not build anything like a supermarket. The first thing they built was one common house to be shared by the Pilgrims. They suffered a lot during the first winter, but soon it was spring."

"Yes, yes, that is the way the story goes," said King Lester.

 

"And in spring the Pilgrims got lucky. A Native American by the named of Squinty came to help them and...

"Squanto," called out Caralee, who then apologized for interrupting.

 

"Yes, Squinto," said King Lester.

"SQUANTO", everyone called out.

"Well, Squinto, Suqanto, Squeezy, Squeaky, doesn't matter. He was a really wonderful person, if I may say so myself, " said King Lester.
" What a help he was to those Pilgrims! And what's more, he spoke --Hmm, what's that language called??? well,whichever... it helped a lot."

" ENGLISH!" everyone shouted. Squanto could speak English...and now even King Lester was laughing .

"Yup, English--Hmmm. I'd better get to the end of the story."

"Well," King Lester continued, " In the Fall which came after the spring which came after the winter....or was it the spring which came after summer which came after fall which came after the winter... Or did winter come after spring and fall which came at the same time. Hmmm, I am getting confused!"

 

Queen Beta interrupted--"Lester, dear, it is Spring, Summer, Fall Winter."

"And so you are right," said King Lester.

 

Anyway, in the Fall the plants grew tall--what a harvest they had! The Pilgrims had much more to eat. They decided to have a Thanksgiving Feast which in those days was called a 'Harvest Feast."

Suddenly, everyone started clapping and cheering.

 

"I know why you are clapping," said King Lester, "because a Thanksgiving feast is so great with turkey, sweet potatoes, corn, vegetables...yum,yum,yum--On the table, we want some!"

"Actually, " said Princess Mireleh. We started clapping because you said that a Thanksgiving Feast was called a Harvest Feast and you got that exactly right. And yes, you also are right about the foods we shall eat."

 

At that point they sat down at a big table. While they waited for the wonderful meal with all the foods King Lester talked about... the King sang a Thanksgiving song and everyone clapped along with the rhythm.

song Thanksgiving Songs for Children: I Love Thanksgiving by Susan Maskin  OR click   performed by Bernie Katzman LYRICS   Turkey, turkey yum, yum,yum, On the table I'd like some- With sweet potatoes , stuffing too, I love Thanksgiving, how about you.. How about you... Me too! Turkey, turkey yum, yum,yum, On the table I'd like some- With cranberry sauce and corn to chew, With sweet potatoes, stuffing too, I love Thanksgiving, how about you? How about you... Me too! Turkey, turkey yum, yum,yum, On the table I'd like some- With vegetables that the farmers grew, With cranberry sauce and corn to chew, With sweet potatoes and stuffing too, I love Thanksgiving, how about you? How about you... Me too! Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, A holiday each year, I'm very glad, oh yes I'm glad, Thankgiving 's really here. Thanksgiving is a time to think Of things we have to eat and drink. And also other blessings too, I love Thanksgiving, how about you? How about you... Me too! Thanksgiving, It's Thanksgiving, A holiday each year, I'm glad, yes I'm very glad, Thanksgiving time is here.   Click for the short version of the song   OTHER THANKSGIVING SONGS 1.I'm Thankful 2.Pilgrims Go Out Planting 3. The Pilgrims 4.The Pilgrims Go Hunting coming soon: The Native American Thanksgiving Prayer

 

 

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