Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1845-12-04
fRlHRSelViMe.

terrupt GoF ismIent the feast Of teas0n and the
Cow Of soul" which Fsigned within tlsmtsands Of
venerable hOmesseads id COnnecticdt The storm
without, served bat to fender the Weii-warmed
Henemeats yet more cheerful, and caused the hearts
Of visitors and the visited to thrill with deeper
emotions Of pleasure and graiitude-tiat they were
safely housed from the inclemency Of the season.
with their wood houses well 6lled with fuel. and
their cellars. and granneres. and barns well stored
with the products Of fruitful year. Thanks to
our fathers Gor bequeathing to us such an anDiver-
sary a. this Let il be celebrated and cherished
until PlymyOth Rock and the Pilgrims are forgot
ten.
We were about to give our readers somewhat
extended homily on this fruitful theme, but most
eheertully make way for come appropriate and
timely remarks which we find in contemporary
prints. The following is from the able editor Of
the New Haven Courier:
Almost every nation Of which We read, dedica.
ted some day to rites indicative Of the gratitude
with which they were inspired. by the blessings
layished upon them BY superior power. Au-
tumn, with ts abundance, ito fruits and grain, its
crowded gamers and rejoicing husbandmen, seemed
to the sense Of divine protection and Deno'
6ts, in a peculiar degree; among the Greeks and
Rnnas. affairs were garlanded, professions OF great
IN .saicenre, AID feasts Of unusual liberaly were
made ~ aoaor Of the Goddess, whose insignia were
the golden sheaf and flowing horn Of plenty
Christians throughout the world have ever been ac
cushioned to acknowledge, with profound thankful.
hess. Ine benedicinn bestowed upon their agricul.
turai lAb'rs oy an indulgent providence. and to
c",secrase portion Of their harvests to the TEN.
pies. and Tor the maintenance OF those who minis.
tered in sacred things.
The Pilgrim Fathers Of New England, who
sou sht the depths al a wilderness to enjoy unin.
terrupted communion with their God. discarding
all pomp and idle ceremony, without the solemn
splendor Of MASSEY cathedral, the deep and rever.
berating tones Of the orgAn the voice. of we'll.
srained ami powerful choir, to enhance the subli-
nifty Of their devotions, assembled their little band
at the close of Autumn, and while their hearts
were touched with hallowed emotion, at the mer-
citu dspensatnHs of that being, the light at whose
couatenance ia their isolated state seemed to shine
more fully up them, gave utterance to the feel
inys which swelled within their breasts in hymns
or praise. and in prisons Of thanksgiving, What
scene Of religious grandeur this must have been =
Simple and unosteAtatiOus as their ritual was, the
place and the worshippers. clothed It with rhas
ieaed ignty, dOric stateliness, and an uneafthiy
majesty which, under other circumstances, would
have been untelt and unknown. They stocd amid
the creations OF a new world. and from their lips
the awful name Of its author was first breafhed up
on the air; they were the hrst who reused the
echoes Of the ancient forest with the songs Of an
gels theirs were the hands which built the earli-
est sanctuary, and theirs were the supplication~
which invoked the Almighty to ill it with his
glory
The first Thank sgiving! how different, was i:
from the hypocr,iical fe DEAN, with which some
ruthless conqueror sancties his crimes, and cove'>
with the mantle OF religion the accused spots upon
his soul laying his bloody plumes upon affairs sa-
cred to peaee and virtue. and sending ~ to heaven
i've miasma Of death, with the incense OF devotion
"lgy were heroes and victors without the sword !;
-.. we're triumphant over suffering, by sea and
tn,y wers valiant and indomita5le in defense
which involved the rights Of man, the
CO .scIence, and 40 they believed tina
49,. 0. the Ruler of the Universe. Here,
go. y :. midst of natures solitudes they called
.-,.- ..;'.. d. I'd together, and poured out from
Nv --.l.vrls hearts their Acknowledgements, and
their ss,tuis to the great leader who had gu ided
them ,lither converted the waste places into gar.
dens, and turned the rocks into bread. And what
were the witnesses Of their solemn devOtions p
Not the Haunting crowd OF sumo luxurious metro.
yoiis-nst The digmtaries Of wealthy and power.
fnl >sate-nnt the giittering ranks Of laurel.
wteashed ar'nv-Hot the great ones Of the earth.
pride -inaated philosophers, NOR b"ok.ieasned ped.
aats-these did not give the sanction OF eciat OF
their presence to the humble assembla&e. Around
and above them lowered the Datriarchs OF the,
yvo1d-the hills that bent their arches to the sky
the rocks which sheltered the untsmed aud fer"-
cic,,s tenants Of the wld-and these responded I"
their prayers and repeated with mystical tones int
deep Gmra. The painted savage, t"0, leaned upon
hi. rudaly ed bow and scanned with stern but
curious eve the ceremonies Of the pale faces. d"bt
ing whether he should summon his warriors and
extermnase the intruders. or barter away his lands
70 a people who thus communed with ~ Great
Spirit.
how differently do we celcbrate Thanksgiving
from those by whom il was instituted! The land
swarms with busy and enterpris'ng population
cities cover the plains Instead OF low building
of logs, q thous and churches erect their spires
through the length and breadth OF ie.t'!,zed and
productive country The famine which threaten
ed the Pilgrims. has terrors for us-we have
enough fr ourselves. and to feed the perishing OF
less fAvoeed regions.
with this increase Of prosperity. il behooves Us.
on this occasion. to cherish a stronger sense OF
msrcies bestowed-to impart sometnihg from our
abundance to the needy and afhicted-to be mo-
d.rate in our indulxeneies. and to bear IN mind.
that, though enjoying greater benefits. and sor-
rounded with more Of comfort and luxury. We are
not less dependent for safety and happiness upon
Omnipo,ence shan were the Pilgrim Fathers at the
Tans. let this New England holiday b cslebsa.
ted and honored--
"Till where the sun, with softer hsess
Looks on the vast Paci6c's sleeP.
The children of the Pilgrim sires.
This hallowed day like % shall keep"
To the Columbian Register We are indebted Tor
the following well.timed remarks:
Blessings on the word honest Saxon. genuine a.
ever uttered, full Of glad thoughts and gc things!
Home, the House Of God. fathers, mothers. broth.
ers sisters unces sunts, eousins: turkeys. chick
ems. vuddings: who does not think Of these, and a