The New York herald., 1872-11-29
THE GOOD DEEDS OF A DAY
Roast Turkey Being Gebbled Up by
Twenty Thousand Destitute
Children in New York.
SCENES IN THE STREETS.

The most thoroughly American Of all our holL
Aays IL Thanksgiving. 1t appeals to our strongest
TO our pride Of country and our pride
ss race, and awakens the patriotic recolections
sf Olden times. 1t brings before us the heart
thrilling pictures and images Of those early days
when the hardy and sturdy Puritans set foot from
she stormy bosom OF the Wintry sea upon the rock
bOund shore OF Massachusetts Bay. That hard,
cold spot which first knew their presence was not
sRviting to their consciousness, but the longing
for untrammelled and unprecedented freedom in
spiTed them with the heroism that in the conduct
Of o small band OF men and women has not found
ats superior in any part Of history.
PAINT TO YOURSELF THE SCENE
m the bitter midst OF Winter; the dark, frowning
forests, skrted with cold, icy ringes OF snow; the
rocky coast in the nearer perspective bare and
desolate; the harsh, salt waves, dashing with a
MOurnul and chilling music like that OF incessant
woe, and the sky lowering heavily, with cheerless
clouds, and you form faint idea Of the dreariness
and responsiveness OF aspect with which the borders
sf the New ord--the Ell Dorado of their hopes
nrst saluted their gaze and bespoke the character
Df their chosen future. Disappointment must have
nckened their hearts at 1rst after listening to all
the stories and promises OF the smiling beauty and
gorgeous plenty OF the new land tnat further
south had already been partly settled. But that
against the soft allurements OF the time In their
Aevotion to the ideals Of their religion, inspired
sourage which led them to burst inlme diatey into
Ahe mysteries of that strange wilderness
with axe and fire, and the cheerful sounds OF their
sturdy labor awoke the prelude OF
THAT GREAT 0RAToRIo OF CIVILIZATION,
She mighty thunders and harmones OF which are
sti progressing in the full glory of its grand pur-
pose az part ofthe scheme OF the Almighty That the
grim fathers, who first showed in America the un-
niDcbng pluck which still is the pride OF true
born citizens are in greatness the hero-giants
Sf our history, Is fact that cannot be disproyen
although The cynical disposition to laugh at their
Puritanfcal austerty is OF the features OF this
charming age in which we live. But scarcely less
Is the oldtim feeling OF selfgratulatou-that our
common nationality can claim to have sprung
partly fIom this ancient stock OF iron hearts and
noble souls-scarcely less is it present in us to-day
despite the armor OF frivolty that carry about
with them in the crowd than 1t was fifty years ago.
The landing OF that small company OF poor men
and women had a far grander significance for
after generations than even the Day of Indepen-
Aenee, when the bells rang out SO gladly the It'd
snGs OF liberty. II was the first act in the play
Ne are Row Aomewhat nearer the last act.
THE MODERN CELEBRATION.
II s simply and purely fitting about the
f1rred, when the land is full with the gathered
harvest and glad with the JOY OF plenty, that the
day should have been customarily selected for the
common national rendering of thanks to that high
eat Power, upon whom our flnity or our ipfnity
our happiness or our misery is acknowledged In all
mythology and all gospels to depend Since that
cold bitter day Of the arrival of the Mayhower-
shat rai craft which now has more and better fame
given IL than had the one in which the search
was made lor the golden neece-this day has,
with each succeeding recurrence, gained greater
and greater significance and memorial dignity, un-
I'll now II ~ laden with associations that exalt it in
grandeur and soemnity far above the expression
OF tongue or pen. The struggles, the triumphs,
the s0rrows, the Joys OF the nation, have each been
echoed in the deeptoned hymns the solemn
chants, the awful cadences OF earnest prayers and
the accents OF kindly words that have fed the re.
membranes Of the day with myriad reverberatons
Of that which has been.
YESTERDAY IN THE CITY.
But ii Is pleasant thought that most Of the inn
pressions associated with the event are happy
origin call upon rs to ve anu drown all images
and sounds OF regret, sorrow and fear, and 10 let
the heart dwell altogether la the thankful cham
bers OF praise the inner temple of lile into which
ut too seldom it may retire out OF the tumult aud
turmoil.
AZ ii Nature were in coy unison with the joyful
inspiration OF the sion she yesterday was most
bright and cheerful and smiled with the brliancy
OF short-liyed beauty. A clearer sky could not
have been wished Tor; the soft glow CT its azure
depths almost deceived one into the thought that
Time had reversed 100 soon his atal glass and the
sands were running backwards TO keep in countc.
nance the memories in many hearts. But the air
was chilling and sharp, and thck, warm clothing
WAS an appropriate necessity The streets were
cheerful pictures OF bright faces and eyes
and the pavenents resounded 10 elastic and light
hegricd steps all the day long Ii was strange tosee
all manner or people mngling as they passed
along and 10 study the different sortf OF express
sion on the many faces. The Indifference of the
well to-do individual contrasts strongly with the
eager Joy on the features Of some one who is poor
IN purse, emaci9ted from hardship, ili-ciolhed
from poverty, but warm, rich and haDpy with the
smile Of the golden sun and the glorious privilege
OF life. TIE throngs III the churches rerc equal 10
those OF any former Thanksgiving and were
snay tiuthfuy be said ihat the piety OF yester-
day was more universally sincere than on
any other day in The year The awful
and appointed solemnjty oiled every heart
fha' bea, within the grave shadows OF holy walls,
And tne earnest CLEAN OF longing hopes lighted
every bowed head or uptnrned face upon which
zen the rays OF THE sun through painted windows.
But Dot ali tue chorus Of devotion went up from
she soiEDrc sauctnartcs. In Out-of-the.way nooke,
tst Us nope as wei! as in public places Of praise,
SbeIc we're Silent ana singular uiterances poured
AUTO lne Hstehing car Of our unknown God.
1HE FEAST or THANKS.
bo, tne cBtIch hour vas past, and three or four
oms alteT The chilning OF the bells had nrst begun
ns r'.. lus pfoat feature and ceremony OF tile day
tms was the dinner. Traditop ana memory have
connected y intimately with roast fowl
nDn pumpkin pics. The old man with
she ioux white hair ana The bleared
syes ieemsmDeteu with dreamy recollection how In
.s ya'e. ,Ain.lonse. among the hills and groves
e0if, downy snow. how the great wide K,lehan wer"
once aglow WIN roaring lres, the buafis and hurry
went continually on; tIe turkeys wcrn rons,iny
Abd siInmerInR on the spits; The at gene rous MES
f1cte ranged w noble plenty on the pantry shelves.