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Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

It seems there were a number of children stranding in Kansas in the later part of 1869, for reasons unknown. As the holidays approached many of those children placed advertisements in local papers seeking a place where they could go to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas. The November 17, 1869, edition of the Lawrence Republican Journal featured an ad from a young man hoping to be taken in by a family not only for a very important now, but for always.

“A Home – A home for the winter wanted by an orphan fourteen- years-old. He is of pleasing appearance: a stranger in this city. Apply at the Providence Association room between 9 a.m. and 12 a.m.. It would be nice to have Thanksgiving dinner with a real family. Perhaps if all goes well, I could stay forever. I have no one.”

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Enter to win a copy of the children’s book

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

According to the November 24, 1927 edition of the Pella Iowa Chronicle, Americans should be more concerned about how to digest their Thanksgiving dinner and there’s only one item that can help do that.

“As overstuffed furniture grows in popularity, overeating retires to the limbo of things that are not done. Discomfort, after dinner, somnolence and overweight are simply not to be tolerated. The problem to be solved just now is how to maintain Thanksgiving

traditions and at the same time guard against the sins end dangers of eating too much. More than any one food, Hawaiian pineapple is capable of leavening the solidity of a rich holiday meal as it can suitably appear in any course. It is a favorite flavor, it stimulates appetite, and aids in digestion. For illustrative purposes let us consider the usual Thanksgiving dinner menu.

Fish or Fruit Cocktail

Soup

Celery Rolls Olives

Apple Cider

Mashed Potato Creamed Turnip

Candied Sweet Potato

Boiled Onions

Roast Turkey Chestnut Stuffing

Cranberry Sauce

Salted Nuts Salads Crackers

Pumpkin Pie Mince Pie

Cheese

Fruits and Nuts

Coffee

Mints

This menu more or less represents the standard home Thanksgiving dinner. Recognizing that one family may omit the cocktail or the soup or both, that other vegetables may replace the old standbys, that a salad may not be served, the above menu is not an exaggeration of American gastronomy.”

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

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Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

Games were an integral part of the festivities at the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621. The revelers had to do something while waiting for dinner. One of the games was the Cranberry Contest. Each player was given a needle with a long, coarse thread, a large bowl of cranberries, (raw of course) was provided and at the signal the players threaded as many cranberries as they could in three minutes. The winner presented the cranberry necklace and a kiss to the person of his or hers choice.

The Corn Game involved five ears of dried corn, symbolic of the five grains of corn said to be the daily ration of the pilgrims during their second disastrous winter. In the game, the five ears of corn were hidden around the house. The five people raced to be the first to strip the kernels from their corn.

For the pumpkin pie race, contestants lined up with small pumpkins, and rolled them to the finish line with a wooden spoon. Pumpkin pie had yet to be invented.

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

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A woman is credited with launching a successful campaign to have thanksgiving declared a national holiday. She was Sara Josepha Hale, editor of a lady’s magazine which was the most widely read periodical of her time.

Mrs. Hale wrote letters to influential people in every walk of life, including public officials, urging a national Thanksgiving Day observation. In 1858, she stepped up her efforts in hopes that such a day would help avert civil war. She persisted, and finally, in 1863, President Lincoln issued a national Thanksgiving Day proclamation. Every President since then have done the same and so have the Governors of all the states.

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit

UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Enter to win a copy of the children’s book

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

The following Thanksgiving poem was written by a rancher’s wife in Pinedale, Wyoming in 1905.

Thanks be to Thee, 0 God ! Not that Thou set the darkened sky with light. Of countless stars, framed in solemnity — But that some soul who suffers in the night. Sees one star through the window’s little pane. And, by that gleam of hope, first prays to Thee. Thanks be to Thee, O God ! For throbbing music which the world’s voice thrills;

But most for melody which sings, alone. The bird in deepest wood-—or song that stills. A child to sleep, far from the grand refrain

Of Fame’s great chorus, chanting tunes well known. Thanks be to Thee, O God ! For wondrous beauty which Thou gave the earth,

But most for loveliness in baron sod; A green spot in the parched grass—the birth. Of some pure, saintly life not lived in vain. In haunts of wickedness which know not God. Thanks be to Thee, O God !

For Autumn harvest men have toiled to reap; For love, for home, for laughter through our tears, But most of all for seeds which, in the sleep Of Winter, wait for sun and Spring-time rain, holding potential growth for coming years.

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

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Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

A thanksgiving proclamation from 1855. WHEREAS, The People of the State of California have, during the past year, been significantly blessed with health, abundant harvests, and all the elements of true happiness and substantial prosperity. AND WHEREAS, It is the duty of a people thus blessed with the protecting care of Almighty God, in an appropriate manner to address devout gratitude, thanksgiving and prayer to the Great Ruler of the Universe, for the manifold blessings He has during the year been pleased to bestow. Now, therefore, I JOHN BIGLER, Governor of the State of California, do hereby appoint and set apart, THURSDAY, THE 29th DAY OF NOV. A. D. 1855, as a day of thanksgiving and prayer to the Almighty God, and all good citizens of the State are hereby requested to observe the same as such. Witness my hand and the Great Seal of the State, at the City of Sacramento this the 5th day of November, A. D 1855. JOHN BIGLER.

To learn more about how Cowboy True celebrated the holidays read

Cowboy True’s Christmas Adventure.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the book go to benefit

UC Davis Children’s Hospital.