The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1859-12-14
Thanksgiving Day.
DoRCHETER, Iowa, Nov. a, 1859.

Mr.. EDITOR - Tsmpora morantur ct nos
mora nur. Yes, indeed, the times are
changed; changed in many ways, but with
us, We especially referred to that peculiar
change Cor want of change perceived in the
region Of the breeches pocket. Change in
deed there is there; once that pocket was
lined-'twas a long time ago, however, and
then only part way up, but we have got all
over that now. Two years at College and
we are teetotally strapped. Not red for
board bill, books or treasurer's bill and
then, if there by chance should be fair
one toward whom we held tender senti-
ment, ride would be out of the question
the livery man won't trust. Yes, truly
times are changed with US, therefore, to make
the adage true, we had to change, and so
we are-changed from college student to
a country administration a bombastic
.Soph, with high hopes, and looking upon
fame and glory as dog-cheap, and right at
hand, to staid, long faced, sharp-eared,
terule-armed pedagogue. Change it is,
truly, and yet what is the difference? 1t
is still life-Gte in general; and if life is
what it is said to be, if life is made what it
should be, there is no difference. 1t con-
sists not in days nor in pleasure, it consists
not in wealth nor in knowledge, but in do
ing good, a noble, worthy action, and
that action an ever-continued one. 1t lies
not in circumstances, but in the man; and
he who is man in one place, is not other
than a man wherever he may be.
But this is Thanksgiving Day the hon.
age day of the year; the devotion hour of
Annus; the day of good old Puritanic
memory, when all men rsjoiced and good
men gave thanks, when children laughed
and turkeys died. Thanksgiving, however,
in the West, is not what it was in the East.
Turkeys We're never kno yn to fall here after
this time, nor pie-crust to be less plenty
No mention is made of gobblers or of hens,
for the price of poultry is greater than mans S
gratitude. Men, in their abundance, seem
to have forgotten to give thanks, and, really,
believe that mans disposition to be thank
full decreases inverscly with the square of
his prosperity. The mountain OF wealth
hides the form Of its giver. And again, as
u schoolmaster, have a personal interest
in the matter, for since l have been initia-
ted into the order have learned that zoe are
specially remembered on that day, and hav
ing received divers invitations, are expected
to ''be wise to-day" in the choice of our as
sociates. But y! IempOra o! Nores!
though it is now nearly dark, and have
watched closely every respectable, well-fed
citizen land his wife) whom have seen, ex-
pecting bid" nary one have had, and
have now given up in despair, and conclud-
ed again that benefactOrs are unrewarded.
Do you feel so, sometimes, MIR. Editor !!
l"Nary time"
\ word about our town. 1t is bound to
be place of some importance, having at
least two primary elements of future city
"a local habitation, and name" 1t is
situated on the north and south sides of
two great big bluffs, between which runs
Waterloo Creek, and is SO far north that on
part of the town the sun does not shine from
November until March. 1t is, including
upper and lower towns and their suburbs,
nearly mile in length, and contains eigh-
teen buildings, besides barns. Of these
former, the public buildings are, first, the
school-house where l keep school, then two
mills, two smith shops, one wagon and one
shoe shop, two hotels, each having q bar,
one grocery, and one dry goods store, where
they also keep whisky. 1t is, you see, a
place OF enterprise and business, ,--every one
doing something for his country,-conse-
quently private houses are scarce, as you
observe. The Inhabitants are generally very
intelligent, large proportion Of them hav-
ing travelled extensively, and are able to dis
course from personal observation concern
ing Germany, Norway, and various coun-
tries Of the Orient. -ta "t
But we must not speak longer thus con-
cerning Dorchester. A reformation is in
progress here, which promises much for the
morals Of the people. lntemperance is
losing its votaries; religious services are