The Columbian fountain., 1845-11-29
For the Columbian Fountain.
THANKSGIVING DAY.

/ IlNN LA
| So far as we have been able to learn, the
day was appropriately observed by our citi-
zens. Our community united in offering
praise and gratitude to God that milldew
and blight had been avcrted from our land
that the pestilcnce, which walketh in dark
ness, had been turned aside, and the pale mes
sengcr had SO seldom visited our homes
that we had been saved from war--and that
we, rs nation, have been held in remem-
brance, and have been the participants Of
such rich mc.cies We love the associa-
lions of such day; it fills our hearts with
gratitude to the great Author Of our being,
and the giver Of all good-a day Of praise
the offering up Of the purest gift Of our ma
lures to pure and holy Being. 1t enlarges
the affections, when we recollect the free,
full, and boundless character Of the mercies
which we have received at the hand of Him
whose eye is upon lis, and whose ear is
ever open TO oar sincere prayer We turn
to the past, with its teeming associations,
moral, political and social; and have we not
great cause Of gratitude for the innumcrable
moral reforms, which meet us at every pc
Rod Of our history. The last, but not least
reform, the Temperance reform how many
homes has it made happy! How many
fathers and sons has it restored to their fam
lilies and to society praise to Him who di-
reefs the hearts Of men to virtue.
We turn our minds eye to the period
when expressions hand was upon us, when
our fathers pledged their all, to each other,
in the struggle, for civil and religious lib
erty. How fearful the contest-how doubt
full the issue-but patriotism and virtue tri-
umphed. To whom is the praise due? To
Him who gave lis such forelalhers-men Of
iron nerve and hearts ncorruptible. Eler-
nifty alone will fully reveal the great import
of their faithful obedience to the will of
| Him who holds in his hand the des.inies of
nations. Let us pause here and learn les
son. The virtue Of our fathers will not
save us--lct us cherish virtue, cultivate our
minds and our hearts, pursue a course of
| high-minded integrity as nation, and be-
ware how we set at defiance the laws OF
Him who has made us a great people, re-
membering that He is no respecier of per-
sons. If we defy Heaven, the arm of Om-
impotence will crush us to powde., and give
our name to be a byword and q reprcach to
the nations Peace, national virtue, and
moral purity, will make us blessing 10 ths
world the reverse, will point TO us as a
blasted monument Of Hsayen's just dis
pleasure. aress
/ Socially, we have abundant canse to he
| thankful; for our social pleasures have been
great. No people under the sun have been
more favored in this respect than ourselves
True, ever and anon, some dark cloud has
passed by, and for the moment obscured the
bright rays Of the sun; but it has only been
fthat we might feel the full force of our OBJ
legations to cherish with undying affection
those associations which so much tend to
purify and exalt our natures. We look
back to the hour of childhood's first recol-
lection, when all was bouyancy and hope;
not cloud rested upon the horizon; all
was sunshine and beauty. Many have been
the changes which we have Witnessed; and
amidst all the relations Of life, tho hand ol
a kind Providence has ever been outstretch-
ed to direct us. We look around, and here
and there q seat is vacant at the fire-side
circle, and The family board. A shadow
passes over our minds when we remember
the virtues Of those who have gone. Bit
beyond, all is bright; Christianity has its
sanciifying hopes; the future are its tri-
umphs--those fond associations shall be re-
newcd, in home far brighter, and purer
4 than this. Our hearts should be upraiscd
/ in humble alteration TO him who has thus
blessed us. May the principles which he
has written in the great Volume Of Nature
and revelation, ever govern and guide us, as
- 4. ILL. Il II. NJ