Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-11-26

Thanksgiving Dsyl How many happy
memories leap into life in cur hearts at th'
uttsranos Of these magical Wordsl How
bright the pictures that each ones fancy OF
remembrance paints, IS he hears their sound
pictures Of days long gone by-o; the
s1untry meeting house where the ROrshippers
have gathered to pay the tribute Of their
praise and thsnks,-Eith It's high backed,
uncomfortable seats, with lite stoves away Of
in far corners throwing out their faint and
uncertain heat, with its white washed cell
ing and pulpit, of antsdiluviAn architecture,
whence the white haired .midister droned
forth suoh a long, long sermOn,-Of the
homestead, and the big FIRE roaring
in the fire place, and the table heap
ed and loaded with its dainties,-of fam
lily gatherings, and the meetings Of dear ones
long parted, rtjoicings, welcomes, sweet
kisses for the liv ng, and tear of mourning
for the dead,-Of the long November eve
nings spent in happy, homsly games, or on
the CLASSY ice, or in skimming over the
frozen and snowy road to the merry music Of
the sleigh-bells. Ah, those happy days
those haloyon hours
"The Past will slwaysEfn
glory, from its being far;
And orb into the perfect star
We saw not when we moved therein"
Thanksgiving Day What mighty events
have flashed like meteors across our zenith
since last we kept our national day Of Thanks.
The old flag goes down at Fredricksburg,-
1t rises again in lustrs unbedimmed, from amid
the smOke-oIouds of Stone River, borne by
the herO-chief of the Army of the Cumber-
land. At ChaneellOrsville 1t is again swept
bsek-abOvs that bloody field of Gsttys-
burgh, above the fOrtiRcations at Vioksburg
and Port Hudson, 1t waves free and fair
again Time passes on and the thunderOus
advance of our legions Is checked on the
field of chickamsugs. But yet, even as we
write, as If to give US fit matter for thankful
prayer and praise upon our holiday, tie
lightning brings the news Of glorious success
upon the heels of this repulse.
At home, too, treason has tried to raise Its
head and dart its venom. The gallon OF in
vading squadrOns have been heard along the
highways Of our own fair State. Riot,
raPine and murder have ruled, red handed,
the great met opOlis of our country. But on
this Thanksgiving Day let US praise God that
the invading chieftain is now pOwerIsss for
harm, that order rules whore anarchy was
once most potent, and that the voice of the
people, in tones of crushing unauimity has,
at the ballot box, declared that the great
heart Of the nation is true.
But in all our joy there is shade of sad
ness, in our merriest accents a certain mel
anehOIy tone. This great and bloody war
hangs like q cloud bstwixt US and the
sun. . all our happy festivities the thought
of 8 country divided, of red War in the land,
Of desolate fields, and burning hanIsts, and
hecatOmbs of slain will make US grave and
sorroWful. All mourn some fallen hero.
a. There is no flock, however watched snd tended
But one dead lamb is there,
There is no household, howsoe'er defended,
But has one vacant chair"
But if we are sad let rs be thankful too.
Let Us be thankful even for war which
briugs SO many blessings in its train,-liber-
ty, honor, national integrity, national cOur-
age, national patriotism, national strength.
Amid all the sorrow of this civil war let US
be grHvely and serenely joyful
LEF-Us GIVE THAEEs