Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-11-25


This Annual Festival has not come upon
us unpreparcd for it and without reason to
celebrate it with the usual spirit There
are those who think that Thanksgiving
ought to be purely a spiritual affair without
fixed times and seasons. and observed only
when men feel in the mood of it. Like DIR.
rockingham of New York, they imagine
that il is impossible to be thankful 10y proc
lamatiou: that the formal ordinance is de-
structive Of its spiritual significance; that
the setting apart of a special day for graft
tude is fatal to the emotion of thankiulucss.
But we have not come to this discmhodied
spiritualism, and shall not yet awhile We
have memories and associations with this an
nual and stated festival that can be stirred
byno other event and ON no other occasion.
Our childhood goes back to the days when
Thanksgiving was houorcd in the obser-
vance. The old homestead recalled all the
absent members OF the household from
wherever they had wandered The house
rang with shoutsaud was filled with the pleas
ures Of the family to the very roof tree.
The breakfast board was spread with rare
dainties. The preparation for church had
no sabbath quiet or reluctance The vener-
able clergyman threw his whole soul into
the Joy OF the day, and even attracted and
held the rowing eyes and hearts OF the child
rem as he touched on those festival themes.
which always kindled their responsive spir
its. And then followed the delightful in
terval between the religious and the festa
services which was filed both with the
pleasures Of memory and the pleasures OF
hope. We remember the Jokes that used &c
be made at the expense of Fast Day, the fun
that preceded and followed the bountifu
table, which groaned with the best speci
mems of earthly products and domestic Gull
nary skin. Those old days Of our childhood
with Thanksgiving put into the center Of
the cloth of gold; what would we not give
to bring back theirexubeput JOY and bound
less hope and infinite satisfactious 1t il
all nonsense to say that men cannot be CRATE
full ON such occasions From boyhood &
manhood we have learned that they can, an,
that the annual festyalso of Thanksgiving, il
which we commemorate the hcroism of on
fathers and Christmas, in which we remem
Der the humiliation of our Saviour; both 70
us; bring even to a ripe age a wider an,
deeper joy than they did to our boyhood.
Thanksgiving always finds us ready for it
1t never comes out OF season. 1t belong
to the days Of the full barns, grauaries am
cellars. 1t belongs to a people whom TIA
Almighty has blessed. 1t is fit tribute t
the God of our fathers. II is the day mos
inspiring TO our children. Gratitude edr
Gates MS to mercy. Thankfulncss to Go
helps love to men. And so this day bids Il
remember the poor. It calls forth and eS
cites our charities. It is well kept when
sends us forth to deal our bread to the hungr
and to minister to the comfort Of those VIII
need help and sympathy. We wish on
readers many returns Of this grand old fest
val and trust that the annual joys of thi
occasion may send them forth to the dutic
of kindness and mercy to others less fortr
nate than themselves.