Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-12-07
Charles City, Iowa, Dec. 2, 1868
Rev. Mr.. Bordwell will preach q
Thanksgiving sermon to-day; (Thurs.
day. at l0} o'clock A. n, in Masonic
Hall.
Thanksgiving Day.

To-day has been set apart by the
President Of the United States I" rs .
day of National Thanksgiving to the |
Creator of the Universe for deliver
ance from civil war, the aversion of
foteign wars, spestilence and famine,
and the blessings Of peace, unity and
harmony, with great enlargement Of
civil liberty" In this appointment of
day of Thanksgiving the Governor of
Iowa, by proclamation, concurs, as do
the Governors of nearly all the other
steadfastly loyal States Of the Union.
1t does seem as if now, more than
ever before in the history of our coun-
try, is fitting time for the American
people to observe and set apart a day
for thanksgiving. The civil war that
for four long years has torn and dis
tracted our beloved country, and hur-
ried to an untimely grave thousands
upon thousands Of her gallant sons, is
now ended, and, we trust, ended forev.
or. Thanksgiving what music is
there even in the namel How many
hearts are gladdened at its sound
Tis day set apart by the civil au.
thorities for the happiness of all the
people. A day appointed for the uni
versal return of thanks to kind and
beneficent Providence for the rich
ness of the harvest and the abundance
of the fruits Of a season of plenty. Not
q day Of fasting in "sack cloth and
ssfesj1 bat dsy for the gathering
together, under the parental roof of
sons and daughters, and the grand
children too, and perhaps the infantile
representatives of generation further
still. A day of reunion and commun-
ion of soul. A time of earthly bliss
when anxious arms shall once more
press the long absent, beloved, closer,
closer yet, to warm bosom and throb- !
bing heart
Thanksgiving! Good old-time hon.
ored institution of our forefathers
how many times have we looked for
ward to its return with anticipations
of delight that nothing else excited
What visions of pleasure started mp at
the sound, with feasts of poultry and
buildings, with cakes and cranberries,
with grandfathers and grandmothers,
brothers and blindman's buff, girls and
jol1ityi But to rs, at least, these
entertainments have lost their spell.
The happy family circle of other days
has been broken once, and again, and
again; and if we would to-day keep
pleasant time with that group Of pa
rents and children, it must be in spirit
only. Yet, with the poet, let US be-
lieve |
They are an here
Even they-the dead-though dead, so dear;
H Fond memory, to her duty true,
! Brings back their faded forms to view:
How lie.like, through the mist Of years,
Each well remembered face appears
We see them as in times long past
From each to each kind looks cast, |
We hear their words, their smiles behold
They're round us AZ they were Of old"
But this now nhtionalized holiday Of
the Puritans is today being celebra-
ted with festive joyousness through
out the length and breadth Of our land.
Absent sons and daughters flock to the
paternal mansion, where the kindling
eye of fathers will beam upon them in
blessings, and the gentle souls OF
mothers will weep out benedictions OF
blissful tears.
The young mother that left her home
a year ago in all the ardent pride and
Joy of a chosen bride, returns with her
husband to bring their 6rst-born for q
benson. The browning beauty Of the
maiden has settled into the holier, If
not more sedate, charms Of the mat
ron. The young bridegroom of year
has dispensed with the frivolities of
earlier days, and is taking rank in the
busy world a. man of business cares
and Q citizen.
The young are ever crowding on
the older, and boys no longer juvena-
ted, and girls no longer lingcrers in
girldom, will kneel at the altar to of.
fer matrimonial vows. With such
there will be happiness, and outgush-
ing bliss, and unutterable thanksgiv-
ings, such as hallowed and requited
love can only prompt and know.
"Young bride smile for theei
10 shine away Thy sorrow,
- Pr Heaven b kind today, and We
9sgst "a VIM hopsss Ven osaorrow.
'iH "ysung brsdei prayer Tor thee
~ That al thy hopes possessing,
,YNG I my sOai nay praise her God, and -
81 Nay crown thee with biz blessing"
But time and space will not permit
us to enumerate as we could wish, the
many Glasses who have occasion for
thanksgiving. All who have stood
like men ct their posts, good and true,
and fulfilled their lot, whether upon
the ensanguined field of battle or in
some civil capacity, be their stations
high or low. are subjects of happiness
today. Be it much and multiplied, Il
our prayer. 's7Id
!, Now is . good time for the delin.
Qnent to begin . new life. Let the
envious man purify his heart. Lot the
backbiter chain his tongue. Let the
profane man become pure. Let the
prOdigal sons return to duty and To