The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-11-04
TmANKsGIYINa DAY.

The Governor of our Commonwealth ha |
Issued his annual proclamation calling upon |
The people Of our land to return thanks to |
Almighty God for the manifold blessings |
which He has vouchsaied to our nation. Some |
ofour citizens who are slightly tinctured with
melancholia can see but little to be thankful
for, and cannot see the hand of God guiding and
blessing the nation He has chosen as His "pe-
cular people" From such we would ask few
moments attention, while we recount the
numerous kindnesses and ceaseless care with
which the Lord has strewn our path during
the year which will shortly close.
He has blessed our State with the greatest
gift that Heaven vouchsafes to man-perfect
health. Look at the experience of years that
are gone; look at the devastations which have
laid waste so many homes by those
frightful epidemics, the cholera, yellow fever,
and smallpox. But, say those who murmur
at the acts of Providence, "our landis afflicted
with war-sad ,unrelenting war-which carries
loved one out of every house, and fills thou
sands Of homes with mourning surprising
that OF violent disease" But is it not better, oh,
father and mother to have your sons die in de-
fense oftbe most sacred rights Of man, than to
see them lnger away and at last fall into the
grave exhausted by some loathsome disease?
To every one upon this earth death come b
soon or late
"And how can man die better than by facing
fearful odds
"For the ashes of his fathers and tho temples Of
his Gods ?"
Murmur not at the dispcnsationS Of Provi-
dence, for "the ways of the Lord are not as our
ways"
Again--Is there no cause for thanksgiving
In the abundant crops which fill our barns to
overfowing, and say to the poorest of our
land, "Eat, drink, and be merry" When we
see Ireland groaning beneath the dread of
starvation, when other lands are filed with
apprehensions Of coming despair, it is a
pie asant thought, o iarmeri as you scatter
your seed, that for every handful which you
cast the cries of your lellow-beiugs in Other
climes are changed into thanksgiving, ant
their sadness into joy. Should we not bC
thankful that our teeming fields enable US t
supply the wants Of our army, and ease thu
pain Of the sick and wounded? Ceres ha
proved the truest friend to Mars. Surely fo
this we ought to raise our songs of thanks
giving.
Again-In our national afTaiIs, have we no
cause for joyP Have not the prospects bright
ened since last we read the Governors call fo
thanksgiving? Has not victory perched upo
our banners in every battle, both on land an
seap Are we not nearer to-day the consuu
nation Of our hopes?
When, says ancient mythology, the fl
woman opened the Pandora-box, out few d
ease, famine, pestilence, and war. She quick
closed the lid, but all had escaped to desoll
the earth, except Hope, aud it remaiGed alo
forever in the human breast.
But in tho hearts of the American peoI
there remains one other quality besides ho
that is, determination. And these tw
attributes of great nation will lead US on
victory and permanent peace. Can any O
say, after thinking over what might have be
our lot, after seeing with his minds eye c
State deSolated by the foot of the inyad
barns empty, and the populace crying
bread; defeat happening to our armies;
struction TO our nation, and disease at hoI
that We are not blessed? Can any one, al
these things, hesitate TO return his thanks
a complete preservation from such horrors
Thanksgiving Day! What fond imagiuil
1t calls upl The reunion of long-separa
friends and relatives. To the mind Of CHI
hood, the vision Of gigantic turkey looms
before the delighted mind; and truly turk
with proper surroundings, is cause in it:
for a special thanksgiving.
Happiness is the prominent feature of
day, joy fills every heart, and the soul Of Il
sends up its thanks TO It's Creator.
Upon such day, it is proper to give 10
poor, help the needy, free the oppress
and offer to the Almighty our sincere thai
for all the goodness He has shown to
children OF men.