The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-12-16

anu kEohJ Bdluoithk " BO' % 4u.i" HnoNNANl
but the fact was that good neighborhood
was quilted, warm sympathies were quill
ted, and warm friendships were formed,
and they stayed late. Yes, fathers and
mothers, although you look so grave to-
day, you stayed latel And such plays as
you had in the back parlor, whel you
Joined hands, and of the loveliest stood
in the ring, what a circumference to
what centerl Thank God for the mem.
cries of old time quiltings. Then you all
remember the boys coasting of morn
ing like this when we looked out of the
window and shouted, ut SHOWS, 1t SHOWS
it snows!p And wrapped in tippet, and
with mittens knit by fingers that long
ago forgot their cunning, half dozen
gay boys vent to the top of the hill with
your sleds, PROSTATE yourselves, face
down, with your face for PROV and
your foot as a rudder, you sailed down
the hill. Clear the track, you boy with
clumsy runner. One after another in
quick succession. The hard ascent of
the hill was more than compensated by
the feet descent. And 80 you gather up
exuberance for the steep hill OF life,
where, for every ride you get, you must
first do some climbing. Thank God for
the memories of the boys Coasting. At
this time OF the year, or little earlier,
was husking time in the fields; two men
laid hold of the shocks of corn, upset 1t,
the ground moles and field mice that hid
under it sCampering in every direction.
The two workmen were seated face to
face, each with husking peg fastened
TO his haRd. There is q thrust and rip
and tear and snap Of the cob at the
end, and the toss of golden ear. Those
were the days when the Workmen told
each other all they knew, and we, the
boys, listened. As the nubbings Of corn
we're thrown into the trough, how the
swine crunChed them. Ia longer winter
nights the hard corn put over the fire
popped and snapped and skipped, and
set all the household in gleeful excite
ment. With what skillful regularity the
grains are set in the cob; and how we'll
the whole ear is rounded. To this JOB
compared the death of good old man
shock of corn that cometh in it's sea-
ION. Some of this corn came from she
neighborhood Of my nativity. Blessed
be the God that, in David's time, 30 this
autumn, the valleys are covered with
corn. Thank God for husking time rem
inisCenCes.
One more happy memory | recall in
Thanksgiving. You were to be married.
All the neighbors for long time knew
you would be, though you thought you
had kept it profound secret; some sup
posed it would be a good match, and 9TH
ers thought not, especially those who
would like to have been one Of the part
ners. But you have both thought it the
best thing possible. 1 hope it was not a
runaway match; that there was no COM
ing down the ladder at midnight, and |
getting into a closed carriage. In ninety
nine out Of hundred runaway matches
the couple run one way and their hap
piness runs another way. But in your |
case the families of both assented. You
went to the alter two, and came away |
one-grandly, beautifully, dlvinely mar.
ried. Through all these years you nave
iourneyed, sometimes over mountains of |
Joy, and then through valleys of humili-
alton, across gardens and graveyards, |
hope you may get old together and die |
about the same time, and be buried in |
the sams sepulcher, the Bible inscrip. |
ton over you: Lovely and pleasant in |
their lives, and in their deaths they were
not divided"
But l must step into your house and |
see what you are doing this Thanksgiv
ing day. You say, "Good morning, take
seat" No, thank you, | can't stay
long, You say your house is small. That
is nothing. A large house is great
trouble to keep clean. Small rooms are
cozy. Great houses spoil children, gives
them lofty expectations. When mar
ried, and they have to take smaller one
they are all the time disconnected say
ing: II wasn't raised in such cramped
apartments" Children always do bet
ter ifnot started too grandly. l step Into
your parlors; these chairs and sofas were
not always empty. Seated here were
those who came to comfort you in your
trouble, and those to make merry in
your joy. These lights have flashed on
many joyous scene, and if the walls
could speak. they would tell of social
party, and Christmas tree, and neigh.
borhood merry.msking Those keys
have thrummed, and carOled, and wept
under the touch Of your children; and
the portfolio on the musC.raCk has many
a well worn song of "0aken Bucket, "and
"Old Arm Chair" Instead Of the rough
hewn rafters and bare walls, among
which your grandfathers entertained
their guests, your walls bloom with pic
turs wrought by painters pencil, or en-
yraver's knife, or sCulptor's chisel. Stan
ding amid these evidences Of refinement
and culture, in Gods name l call you to
thanksgiving 1 step into your nursery,
and am greeted with the song and mer.
rying of your children. They romp, and
clap their hands, and hide, aud bound
away. What bright eyes and qIick feetl
What happy heartsl God bless them.
Their little troubles dissolve in one tear.
Their enmities are gone in moments
pouting. Busy all day, without fatigue,
they fall asleep gently and wake up joy
ous. And the baby, too, must have it's
realm. From its high chair it wields It's
3Cepter over the parental heart. Look
ing into the depths of its wonderful eyes
you see worlds Of promise and comfort.
You expect those hands will smooth your
ucks when they are gray; and those
'eet will run with kind ministries when
you are sick, and those eyes will weep
Tor you when you are gone Hush him
1t nightfall with holy song, and let him
know the name of Jesus long before he
ian pronounce it. Be thankful to. day
hat upon your household has come all
he brightness of childhood, and drop q
word OF prayer for those who weep over
/ despoiled cradle and toys that will
never be caught up by little hands clos.
ID foreverl
l step into your dining hall. l see no
ign of famine. Men grew weary and
worn to make that carpet for you; Cabi-
let makers toiled faithfully in fashion.
ng this furniture; farmers were faint in
'eaping the harvest that yielded that
bread. You had a we'll filed larder, and
lona of vonr family went hungry.