The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-11-29
Thanksgiving.

God, for the blessings of the past year,
4 and bfor prayer that His favor may
continue with u.s. 9aa 10 : ssiw
4 The custom OF its observance dates
back to the earliest times of the
American Colonies. When the fields
had been reaped and all the products
of the year garnered, with the close OF
Autumn came this occasion, for the
recognition of God as the giver of all
good. E. go * & a8
With the New Englander the day
has always been the most noted of the
year. 1t is one of feasting and re-
joicing. All the family, however
widely scattered, are expected to make
their annual pilgrimage back to the old
homestead and together surround the
family board again. q
| The chairs and plates at the table
are not only set for those who are
present, but also for those who are
kept away by distance or other cause,
and for those who have passed from
earth and come back no more. The
empty chair and the unoccupied place
at the board are tokens that the dear
ones, absent or departed, are not for
gotten.
That sweet song, called out at an
early period in our late civil war, be-
ginning 5g.'n'.sA aNsss4
ave shall meet, but we shall miss him;
There viii be one vacant CHANT
was written, in memory of fallen
brother, for the OCCASION and was
first sung at family thanksgiving
gathering. - - 81
We should love to see this touch
ing and beautiful custom grow in
favorSand spread till it is observed by
every family in the land. a9a
The day is here again, and we shall
all be better and happier for wise
and careful observance. of it. We
are prone to dwell upon ouf troubles
till their shadows obscure many of
our mercies. We often think of our
disappointments till we are unable to
enjoy fully our blessings. Let US fix
our thoughts upon the good things
we have, and reverently remember
and give thanks to God as their, au-
thorssmopxnsgA agDa5s,0
Some of the favors of Providence,
bestowed upon us as a people, we may
probably recount. The general
health of our city and of the nation
is cause for thanksgiving. At the be-
ginning of the year the cholera was
making its way westward, and in for
mer times had never failed to cross |
the Atlantic and sdesolate our own |
land.s 1t was revelinge in Western
Europe with a fercenesss and fatality
unknown to its former visits. Death |
seemed surfeited with the number of |
victims it gave him. But though it
has reached our shores, its ravages
are incomparably less than was ex-
pected. For health, the greatest of
temporal blessings, we should be de-
voutly thankful.
The products of the soil, though
some of the cereal crops partially
failed, have been so abundant that we
have enough and to spare. os..a9 81.
The storm of civil war has passed /
by, and though the waves of tumult
have not yet all entirely subsidized, the
outlook is growing brighter and the
sea calmer.5
For the issue of the recent political
many will be thankful, and
all will rejoice that the people in their
sovereign majesty were permitted to
speak unintimidated, and that no one
has dared to question their authority.
In commercial matters we have not
only escaped the stagnation and crash
that usually follow great wars, but we
have taken, safely, some steps down
the ladder of high prices, and are
safely and prosperously nearing solid
ground.
We are approaching the quiet and
confidence 7of permanent peace, and
though there are some difficult prob
lemsyet to- solve, passion is cooling
and reason resuming her sway, and we
havez faith in God and the integrity /
Of the people, and believe that all will
yet be we'll. 1ea aaasa
Beside these, and many other ma.
tional blessings received directly
from the hand of our benefcent