The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-11-25
THANKSGIVING,

The festival of the home, the heritage
bequeathed by our New England ances-
tors, and savoring always Of that honored
country and revered people. 1t is the sea-
son when we draw closer around the fire.
side and have keen sense of the blessed.
ness of household joys and lively appre-
citation of the comfort abounding there.
The evening comes upon US unawares in
the midst of our afternoon employments,
and the lamp-light meets the sunrise in
the tardy morn. The aged ones, in the
warmest home hooks, wrap themselves
closer, wondering why the winters come
so early aud what makes them more severe
than they used to be. Thanksgiving near
at hand again! What familiar old word
it is to them! 1t is so long ago since they
were the children and were tucked under
the robes in the old boatshaped sleigh,
and, to the sound of most musical of bells,
drove across the bleak New England hills
to grandfather's, to keep Thanksgiving.
Their eyes grow moist with tender memo
ries, and their hearts are trihe saddened
thinking of the great company of those
who have kept Thanksgiving with them
down through the half century and more
of years, and who could not be found to-
day where mortals dwell. A great hunger
rises in their hearts to see again the rem
nant of their kindred and the newer house
holds given to them.
1t is Thanksgiving day indeed! The
earth has yielded bountiful increase.
Barn and granary, cellar and storehouse,
bear witness to the fruitfulness of the land.
Industry and frugality have brought their
own reward. Affection and bereavement,
losses and disappointment, have triumphed
for time; it is the common lot; but they
keep Thanksgiving truly who recognize
that while "clouds and darkness are round
about them, righteousness and Judgment
are the habitation of His throne" The
mother bushes her petulant child that it
may listen to her words of comfort. To
the complaining grievances of his children
the Heavenly Father responds Be still,
and know that am God"
1t is beautiful custom, that KEEP. up by
families from generation to generation,
going home to keep thanksgiving. Grand
parents, father and mother, children and
grandchildren. In how many homes, to-
day, four or five generations will meet, and
it would be difficult to tell which are the
happier, the old OF the young. The great
hospitable fireplace Of the living room,"
with its big wood and ruddy blaze shining
upon polished andirons and into the long,
old-fashioned looking-glass opposite, in
which the brass candlesticks upon the
mantle were reflected; the firelight also
touching, with tender grace, the family
profiles in silhouette upon the wall, and
the slow-ticking clock in the corner, whose
swinging pendulum the children had
learned to avoid; the sumptuous ele-
gance Of tho "full-slade 4" carpet, with its
home-spun wool dyed by professional;
the hair-cloth sofa, very long and Very
slippery; the Franklin stove of the best
room-what housewifely care was be
slowed upon its spotless hearth and shin
ing tenders! and grandmother's dishes
none Of the white, meaningless pieces of
later times, but every one af them study
The children of today, with all their priv,
leges, have missed some things worth hav-
ing seen and remembered.