Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-01
shall I tell you how / learned the wayp

Shall tell you how I learned the wayf
Two weeks ago and the very word
Thanksgiving" filed my heart with bit.
terness.-W What was it all to me, thought
Let others be thankful whose hearts
had not been crucifed, and whose shrines
were filled-my house should be a house
of mourning and not of feasting.
What had the year done for me? Had
it not torn away my blue-eyed birdie
from my loving heart, and left me nought
but the shadow of his little facet Had il
not taken a part of my very life away and
left me crushed and bleeding heart
How should give thanks--it seemed tc
me a mockery. Alas tears were blind
ing my eyes, and the gray mists hung as
heavy between me and the Fathers King.
dom, that I did not see my darling grow
ing strong under the pure sweet infu.
ences of Heaven. fingered here and was
clasping the little stiffened form to nay
breast. was trying to kiss into life and
warmth the cold lips. 1 saw only the
waxen face--the clasped hands-the
beautiful lilies whose purity had at last
found rival-the casket born away
the moss-covered grave. Oh! God could
be thankful But tears do not last for.
ever shadows do not always enshroud
us the clouds separate and how won.
derfully the little riffs of sunlight trans.
form US. The time was coming when ]
could give thanks that he had passed
into angel-keeping my only secure prop.
erty-my beautiful boy forever. From
out the gathering sunlight God seemed to
speak. BY faith saw my child pointing
with his tiny hands towards earth and
saying, "Look my mother' Where he
pointed I saw hosts of little children
cold, pinched and starving and far above
all seemed to hear Jesus saying, ''Inas.
much as ye did it unto these my little
ones ye did it unto me-" In my blind and
selfish love had clasped my dear ones to
my heart as if they had been the only
earthly claimants of my love, and care.
God took my wee one back again-un-
clasping the tendrils of my idolatrous love
so that the plants of human affection
might have more vigorous growth. He
had not left me childless-he could re-
peat the lesson-I dared not refuse it.
God does not always bring us opportu-
mites of doing good to our very doors
we must seek them, in the highways and
hedges if need be. When found one of
Gods little ones shivering in the cold, L
drew out the clothing which L had so
saoredly guarded to clothe him. "No"
said my mother-heart "not these" but
keeping back the toys of nay darling and
a little half worn shoe, my Offering was
made and accepted.
The way was open, one after another,
cares came to me straight from Gods hand,
until have learned how to be thankful
for the blessing and beauty of life that is
left me. Very shrinkingly have opened
the inner sanctuary of my heart to you,
very feebly have I told my story, but most
earnestly do I urge you to improve this
day.
Remember this day to give thanks
through Gods poor. Do not content your
self by waiting until some beggars come
to your door to carry away the spoiled
fragments of your feast, bearing in mind
that the most needy do not always come
to us and that what is entirely useless to
us, ia not always the best for others. Give,
not only from basket and store, but from
heart and mouth. Give, carry, do not al
ways send. Our Saviour did not sit on
high throne and send out his disciples to
missions of love; shall we initiate him
Do not limit your charity to this day, nor
think this society nor that will take care
of these things remember it is you, as an
individual, who will be accountable if
you fold your hands and let the poor suf-
fer. Give, give, and God will accept your
gratitude and your life shall be one grand
Thanksgiving Day. B. S. D. e.