Subject: Childwrite: (fwd) 2 stories Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 18:22:09 -0800 From: mcpherso (John McPherson) To: straveca@erols.com, RickAshby@aol.com, mjoyner@botree.com, tazz4@ix.netcom.com, mcole@napanet.net, anakin@dur.mindspring.com, kuene@cts.com, jheflin@mail.portup.com, GeoNelson@aol.com, Frank@gerryts.demon.co.uk, e7750010@tsai.es, tice@writeme.com, win@thebestweb.com, mcpherso, Swcgluck@aol.com I received a couple of stories and will attach them below. The first tells the story of Thanksgiving in a way you may not have heard before, and the second is an interesting political take on _The Little Red Hen_. Enjoy! ... and let the cross-polination continue ... John ===================================================================== >From: http://lynnharper.com/Thanksgiving.html The Plymouth Bay Colony: Some Thanksgiving History Most of us have forgotten that when the Pilgrim Fathers and Mothers landed on the shores of Massachusetts they established a communist system. Out of their common product and storehouse they set up a system of rationing, though it came to "but a quarter of a pound of bread a day to each person." Even when harvest came, "it arose to but a little." A vicious circle set in. The people complained that they were too weak from want of food to tend the crops as they should. Deeply religious though they were, they took to stealing from each other. "so it well appeared," writes Governor Bradford, "that famine must still ensue the next year also, if not some way prevented." Governor Bradford continues: So the colonists began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could, and obtain a better crop than they had done, that they might still thus languish in misery. At length (in 1623) after much debate of things, the Governor (with the advice of the chiefs amongst them) gave way that they should set corn every man for his own particular, and in that regard trust to themselves..... And so assigned to every family a parcel of land..... This had very good success; for it made all hands very industrious. So as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. The women now went willingly into the field, and took their little-ones with them to set corn, which before would allege weakness, and inability; whom to have compelled would have been thought great tyranny and oppression. The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years, and that amongst godly and sober men, may well evince the vanity of that conceit of Plato and other ancients, applauded by some of later time; - that the taking away of property, and bringing in community into a commonwealth, would make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. for this community (so far as it was) was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For the young men that were most fit and able for labor and service did repine that that they should spend their time and strength to work for other mens wives and children, without nay recompense. the strong, or man of parts, had no more in division of victuals and clothes, than he that was weak and notable to do a quarter the other could; this was thought injustice.... And for mens wives to be commanded to do service for othermen, as dressing their meat, washing their clothes, etc., they deemed it a kind of slavery, neither could many husbands well brook it.... By the time harvest was come, and instead of famine, now God gave them plenty, and the face of things was changed, to the rejoicing of the hearts of many, for which they blessed God. and the effect of their particular (private) planning was well seen, for all had one way and other. pretty well to bring the year about and some of the abler sort and more industrious had to spare, and sell to others, so as any general want or famine has not been amongst them since to this day. *** And from Captain John Smith's account, we learn of similar experiences in Virginia: When our people were fed out of the common store, and labored jointly together, glad was he (who) could slip from his labor, or slumber over his task he cared not how, nay the most honest among them would hardly take so much true pains in a week, as now for themselves they will do in a day: neither cared they for the increase, presuming that howsoever the harvest prospered, the general store must maintain them, so that we reaped not so much corn from the labors of thirty, as now three or four do provide themselves. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at LynnHarper.com! Excerpted from Clichés of Socialism published by the Foundation for Economic Education Irvington-on-Hudson New York NY 10533 And the "Liberty!" newsletter from the SDLP 619-530-1776 ================================================================== >From: BZBETSY >Subject: The Little Red Hen - A Libertarian Story for children (of all ages) - THE LITTLE RED HEN Once upon a time, there was a little red hen who scratched about and uncovered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbors and said, "If we plant this wheat, we will have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?" "Not I," said the cow. "Not I," said the duck. "Not I," said the goose. "Then I will," said the little red hen. And she did. The wheat grew tall and ripened into golden grain. "Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen. "Not I," said the duck. "Out of my classification," said the pig. "I'd loose my unemployment insurance," said the goose; "Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did. At last it came time to bake the bread. "That's overtime for me," said the cow. "I'm a dropout and never learned how," said the duck. "I'd lose my welfare benefits," said the pig. "If I'm the only helper, that's discrimination," said the goose. "Then I will," said the little red hen. She baked fine loaves and held them up for her neighbors to see. They all wanted some and demanded a share. But the little red hen said, "No. I can eat the five loaves myself." "Excess profits!" cried the cow. "Capitalist leech!" screamed the duck. "Equal rights!" yelled the goose. And they painted "Unfair" picket signs and marched around the little red hen, shouting obscenities. When the government agent came, he said "You must not be greedy, little red hen." "But I earned the bread," said the little red hen. "Exactly," said the agent. "That is the wonderful free enterprise system. Anybody in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants. But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide their product with the idle." And they all lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, "I am grateful. I am grateful." But her neighbors wondered why she never baked any more bread. ==================================================================