The great dinner had been eaten and cleared away. The short day was coming to an end when Uncle Sam spoke of a reason for Thanksgiving Day. "Sleepy! I guess not. A story is just the thing before the lamps are lighted and we play games," said Lucy. "Just the thing," repeated her cousin Mabel. She was a year younger than Lucy and copied everything the older girl said and did. "We all like stories," added Arthur, a tall boy of ten years. He was quiet and fond of books—very different from noisy Joe, who loved him the best of all his cousins. "Once upon a time," began Uncle Sam, "there were some people who lived in England. They were good and honest, but they could not do just as they wished. The king said everyone in the country must worship God in a certain way. That way must be the same in every church. "It happened that some of his people did not agree with the king. They said: 'Everyone ought to worship God, but all should be free to worship in the way they like best.' "These people gathered together, and every Sunday they met in their own little churches. This did not please the king and he made their lives very unpleasant. "Of course they were not happy. They thought: 'Why should we stay here in England where we are treated so badly? Holland is not far away and the Dutch people are kind and friendly. They are willing that everyone in their country should worship as he likes. Let us go to Holland where we can be free.' "The plan seemed good. A small company of men, women and children left England for a home among the Dutch. "At first, they were happy and contented in Holland. The boys and girls became men and women. The babies grew up into boys and girls. One thing grieved their parents. Their children were fast forgetting the English language. There were no English schools where they could learn their lessons. "'This is not right,' said the older ones. 'No people could be kinder than our Dutch friends, but we do not wish our own children to grow up and forget their own country and the beautiful English language.' "'I will tell you what we can do,' said one. 'We have heard a good deal about America. Some of our people have settled in Virginia. They write that it is a fine place and that the air is soft and pleasant all the year. Let us go to America. We will seek a home not far from Virginia.' "The others thought these were wise words. They left their Dutch friends and went back to England. They wished to visit it once more before they bade it good-bye forever. "Two ships were soon ready and one hundred pilgrims sailed for America in the year 1620. "'We are like pilgrims,' they had said to each other, 'for we travel from place to place.' From that day to this they have been called by the name of the 'Pilgrims.' "They had not sailed far before one of the ships began to leak. Its captain said: 'It is not safe to cross the ocean in such a poor boat.' So he turned back to England.