Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1815-09-21
From tie Harrisburg Oracle.
HARVEST HOME.
HAaarsause, Penn. Aug. le

= .-
HAaa1sauEe, Penn. Aug. le.
Having been favored with an Invitation
to celebrate The Harvest Home WITH a
r.1aber ct citizens Of Cumberland
county, at j. caroshei''s esq, spring,
on the 5th Inst. my thoughts were tor
cibly directed to the scene as 0ne
well calculated to excite sole OF the
best feelings Of the heaft--l therefore
amused myself With the hasty co,opo-
s;fion Of tie following address 49,
Friends Cossatrymen,
We. are assembled to day, not to
commemorate the achievements ct a dis
tinguiislcd i.ei.o--iot the establishment
Of an important political era-not tie
revolution Of an einpire--but to rejoice
at tie Ia gathering OF a beautiful Aar:est.
,. sentiment Of this kind early manifest
ed itseifin the. character of the hunan
family. l,he social expression OF sra-
titude at Tie attainment Of any dist.n-,
gaished public gooa. appears to De na-
sural aud laudaDle principle OF Tie NJ
man raiud. soae Of the anciehts IN
conformity with their iimiSed and imper-
feet views OF lheir relation 10 Heaven,
had their Ceres, the supposed deity who
presided over the ripenins fruits, to
whom religious rights and sacrifices were
offered. Eowever inconsistent this ce-
remedy may appear to eur more ealars-
ed knowledge, and christian morality,
/ vet it fully illustrates the position esas-
snl..e, that fhe public and social express
sion of gratitude and venerasion IS o
rsrinciple congellisl to the human Mid,
But we haFc more rational example
and higher authority to SANCTION t!is
sentiment. as it relates to the q ese {
occasion, ia tie history aid institution
Of the Jews, a socsle highly distinguish.
ed BY Heaven.
Their divine iay-g;ver, ia giving tbem
various Institutions, enjoins among
! sAres;.l feasts that were to be observ-
ed every year The following; and tifoa
3" shalt keen Tie feast 81 ll,nvest, the
first iisl;ts or.'.y labais. which shcn hast
savnd ii thy setl; AID TIE feast of,in-
gathering, vh.eii in the end q me ysar,
shen tllon has catered ia thv lShors
out Of tie fieIi.v NJ doubt tits fsast
was designed TO cherish ia tae jews ser.
timent Of gratitude for tie boantiel o!
Providence. anu 50 remind them that
their temporal PROSPERITY uss Intimately
connected wish tise smiles IF Eeas ea.---
And. although BY no means iiltroduce
this authority as applicable IL establish
;ng tss aaty Of the observance Of this
feast among us. yet I ti,iak il strong
collateral argument to Justify the pro-
pssety 0f a 2i;biic ant decnraus sxpres-
sion Of Joy at az event which 50 eaiaha
tica'!y demands cur gratitude.
I.etus attend very briefly to the cir
camstances, which, On the present oc-
CASTOR. are calculated to Inspire us with
festive 10Y on the celebration OF EAh-
VEST H0siE. a.
TIE first that naturally presents itself
IS. that our barns have Desn atuadaitly
filed with the r:cn sheayes Of we'll RI
peneti and luxu'iant crop. What better
calculated to fll the soul Of the husband
man with substantial joy sl,an lie Plea
sure Of seeing his wheat. his rye, bis
oats, his hay, safely secured from the
destruction Of tie various seasons, white
he reflects these are tie sources OF his en-
ioyrneut during tie chilling blasts Of
winter. and the meaas whic'l contribute
to extend the sphere Of soeisl enjeg~
,ne1t around his Iosn;table beard. ard
alleviate the calls OF ,aiseTr wi'ic', ra7
present themselves af bis coar of ehari-
t.. Flow npcn IS MS pleasure heigh:eE.
ed when he reflects, with what tremu.
!Gus anxiety he watched the enlbryo-z
seed shoot Iarth its tender blade to be
Influenced il IFS progressi'e increase b,
variety Of changes from earth and K.
and soon to be exposed to the rude blasts
of winter, who Genes
{. sullen and sad, wi.s ell hts risias'
strain;
6 Vapoars, and clouds, ead s:oTms."-
Ard how is lis ioy still increased, while
ha looks back Oh the erring ard summer
that are moae. when his fair prospect Of
TIE Iu.l bl5nn head, and the yellow
sheaf night hare been torn FROM his DO
son by the c3rosiag worm, tie blighting