Litchfield enquirer., 1863-11-26
LITCHTIELD, CONN. THURSDAY. NOV. %. 1868.
Tlaanksgivimg.

We congratulate our readers once more upon shs return of this festival dear to the hearts of every New Englander. This time. by the proclamation of the President, it is a National fsast-day, and nineteen loyal States celebrate with us the blessings of the harvest, the pros pcrity of the State and the victories which a just God has vouchsafed to our arms in the defence of the Republic. Not ourselves alone, not the sons Of New England only, gathered nronsd many Q family board. and offering up prayer and praise in the old familiar church which has witnessed these annual gatherings from theirsearlest recollection. not these alone shall celebrate this day in the old, time- e-hon: ored way, but the achole American people, whether upon the land or upon the sea, wheth- CT in camp or on tlfe deck all may unite with us "in offering unto God the acceptable sacri- fee of penitent, grateful and loving hearts,"
 This day finds us still engaged in prosecuting the war for the Union and Liberty. But shall there then be no Thanksgiving for us? If our cause is just one if it is right that we should wage war upon those whose fratricidal hands are endeavoring to overturn the house of our fathers upon our heads if it is noble to battle, bleed, aye and even to die for ones country. for liberty and freedom, then surely there is no household end no heart to-day, but may offer up fervent Thanksgiving and praise, though many members should be missed from those family fcircles, though? many Q heart should look up to God in gratitude, still bleed ing by reason of recent sorrow. -.
 Bat, to susa' OUT thoughts homeward, the dsy ands as in Connecticut, in the enjoyment of peace and prosperity strangely contrasting with the desolation and gloom which prevails in other portions of our land. Menaced by no overhanging danger, defended by no brist- ling forts or garrisons, feeling our surest safety and security in the profound tranquility that obtaiLs among ourselves surrounded by no waters. which to-morrow's sun may see har' assed by hostile fleets, or burdened with the iron-coated avengers of provoked and des- troying government; our daily tasks quietly allotted to each of us, and as quietly per formed; the rewards of our labors crownins the year with Thanksgiving of plenty; safe within the homes we have earned and reared i; secure under tue protection of the laws our fathers and we have made, and which we jeal- ously guard and cherish as our prompt protec- ton and firmest defence VIC are safer still in the well ordained; we'll balanced, we'll defined social and religious freedom, which was ours by birsh,ight. and, please God, shall be ours forever!
 For all this. and more, of public blessings, we have cause to be thankful to God to-day But there are private blessings, innumerable, which we enjoy, for which we have reason to be grateful, and these will give, as of old, the peculiar piquancy and joy to our annual festi Val. lf every heart knoweth its own bitter ness, every heart knoweth its own joys as we'll and who of us will not instantly recall themes for our outpouring of the spirit of thaukfulness to-day, which have rendered the past hapry year in our lives and memories? Let us be thankful, then, for the old homes in which we Eather- 'keS us bc thankful for the dear faces which gather once more around the family ta. ble. Let us be thanktu for our own lives aud health and the innumerable mercies which have crowned for us the closing year. Let us be thankful thas our lines are drawn in pleas. ant places. and that ia the midst of sorrow and suffering and gloom we arc still preserved, as 'spared monuments" Let us be thankful for those who are absent in the field, and that we ure represented there by those who are dearest and loveliest to us. II thero be even n lene grave somewhere on the site of some rece mt battle, or if the graveyard nearer homo con tsins the mortal remains of one of our happy family who has fallen in the glorious fight, let us bc thankful for that also, for so. of old, the blood of the martyrs was sanoti6cd to tl c good Of tho jus. apon earth
 So let us eat, drink and Do thankful! And lot us hope and pray. amid all. that another year may ind our country, purged by its fiery visitation, renewed. regenerated and disen- th,alled iron, every National sin and iniquity, once more reunited and happy and each State, gathered like Q family of children. in unity and love, about the Larcs and Penatcs of our common mother ..
 We cannot do better than give place here to the following appeal in behalf of the U. s. Sanitary Commission, which we have received from the Associate Manager for this County. Lot us heed the earnest petition and upon this day, set apart for Thanksgiving to God, 'es us praise Him through our charities to the SICK and suifering of our soldiers. They are extracts rom letter from the Lady Manager at New York:
 Our supplies of all kinds ara so Inv that ~e want all our Associate Manogars to ,nnLs every effort to revive the SeS;nn !" r:"a'as 'naAe
 What hope can we have from yous con,S.s S,,c.ss
 II our women only knew tho uFpent ouan.y sa tons from the South and South. w essern ITS. pitals which we cannot meet, they wou,a .ss;s os. ever nerve to forward garments and sanr1;ss S,saa There is m overwhelming call for quilts. hlan. kets. slleets, bed and pillow. sacks. wooiisn I" akspka s4rar1S on1o y-..a SssSu