 Purred: Sun Nov 18, '07 2:30am PST |
 | |  | | Dolly’s Journal of History – Leiden
Hi, it’s me again, Dolly. Do you remember my story about the Pilgrims who had landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620? The Pilgrims had come through a disastrous winter, and had emerged as a small, hardened, group of survivors with the intent to survive several more severe winters if need be. They had left England several years before to seek religious freedom in Holland but were not satisfied with that move. They felt that the freedom to worship as they pleased could best be found in a new land. They chose to sail to America on The Mayflower which included the two cats, Speedwell and Leiden.
Speedwell, along with many humans, did not survive that first winter at the settlement they established on the coast of Massachusetts, but Leiden and his human friend, Mary Allerton were among the hardy few that lived to see the summer harvest. As the leaves turned to gold, burnt brown, and brilliant red, and the first frost of the season settled on the ground, the Pilgrims decided to share their autumn bounty with the Wampanoag tribe, the Indian people who lived nearby.
They invited Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoag, to bring as many as he could find to a feast to celebrate their good fortune before the winter snows forced them to spend their time in small homes heated by crude fireplaces. Ninety Indians accompanied Massasoit to the feast which consisted of fish such as cod and bass, water fowl and wild turkey, and venison from deer that had been brought down by Indians. They added barley, peas, beans, pumpkins, and Indian corn that had been grown with the help and advice of the Indians who were adept at growing these vegetables.
Throughout the three days of celebration, Leiden frolicked freely about as he was much admired by the Indians who had never seen a domesticated cat before. There were plenty of wild bobcats, possums, raccoons, and those odious skunks, but never a docile, purring animal such as Leiden. Massasoit said to Myles Standish, “If you can tame a wild animal so as to make him such a loving pet as Leiden, you must have the power of a god within you.”
“We have no more power than you,” responded the soldier.
“Ah, but you have that stick that spews out smoke and a pellet that can strike a deer dead. And you have a mighty blade of steel that can cut off the head of a turkey with one blow. We have only arrows and sharps stones. If I were a cat I would find no quarrel with you lest you sever my head with your blade.”
“You have no fears from us,” said Myles., “nor does Leiden who we treasure for his mouse and rat hunting skills.”
When the feasting was over the Indians returned to their dwellings and the Pilgrims resumed their chores of preparing for another winter. There never was another Thanksgiving feast for the Pilgrims. It was all they could do to survive from one year to the next. And the Indians watched as their land was taken little by little by succeeding waves of settlers.
Leiden remained a favorite pet of the Pilgrims, and the Indians upon their visit to the Pilgrim settlement always stopped to visit with the cat. Some wondered if their visits were for the purpose of discourse upon agricultural and spiritual subjects or to see the animal that had been tamed by the settlers. Others claimed that the Indians looked upon Leiden as a godlike creature and treated the settlers cordially so as to not offend the deity. Whatever the reason, peace lasted between the two parties for many years.
Mary Allerton cared for Leiden throughout his years, housing him in the winters and allowing him to roam free in the warmer weather. He had survived a stormy ocean voyage and several hazardous winters, and had been an honored cat at the first and only Thanksgiving feast of the Pilgrims. Mary lived many years, never knowing another Thanksgiving, but she was the last of the original Pilgrims to pass away.
When you have set the table, invited your friends and relatives to sit down, pause to give thanks for the bounty which you are about to receive, think back to that first Thanksgiving in 1621, and remember that a cat named Leiden was there to share in the celebration and to partake of the food. Perhaps you should seek out your cats and have them share some of the tasty meats you have prepared.
Above all, remember that Thanksgiving was meant as a celebration of life and an expression of love for those who were willing to risk their lives to worship and live freely. All my cat friends wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving. And so would Leiden if he was still with us.
Would you like to read another real story from my Journal of History? |  |  | |  |
|
| my page | msg me | gift me | become friends | |
