Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-11-25
A MATTER OF THE HEART,

The thanksgiving period is at hand.
What we have to say concerning it it is
preferable shall be said now. If the day
set apart for special Observance is to be
treated as nothing more than a conven-
tionality, it were better to let it pass with
out recognition. But We have faith in
humanity that for an exceeding large
number of men and women it has mean
ing, based on sincerity That is to say,
they sincerely welcome the date on which,
by common agreement, there may be made
a common effort to step up and out Of the
ordinary daily rut Of selfshness and IN
charitableness in which so many lives move
on; step up and out of the channel of
mere worldliness If we can rise out of
these grooves for a single day in thankful
ness that we are even able to make the
effort, it is an act of thanks, a sincere and
acceptable offer to the Ruler Of the uni
verse. Nor need those whom tyrannical
duty prevents from abandoning the cease
less round for the day, feel that they are
excluded from the benefits, since the rising
out of the rut is Il mental exer-
else and spiritual effort. The
test and proof for any man that
he has shaken off something of selfshness
and has lifted himself out of the channel
OF worIdliness, is the mental attitude in
which he finds himself towards his fellows
If he discovers it in his heart to be more
forgiving, to look more mercifully upon his
fellows, to rejoice with those who have
cause, and to feel for those whose woes are
unassuaged, he has profoundest reason
for thankfulness. And there is no man
who may not experience the pleasure of
these emotions if he viii but give the
humanity inherent in him opportunity for
expression. In so far, then, rs a set period
of thanksgiving relaxes the sellishness of
the man of the world, end gives freedom
10 the man Of humanity its measure Of
usefulness is unreasonable. Since there can
be no honest and sincere approach to the
higher power, which men under various
titles call God, except through the avenue
of charity of heart for our fellows, those
who take comfort in the consultations of re-
ligion and lift up the soul in prayers Of
thanksgiving, must first experienced the emo
lions described. And SO it is that
charity of the heart, mercifulness of
soul and kindliness of expression lie at the
foundation Of all thanksgiving. If we
have not this week the means to give ex-
preston in material form to such charitable
convictions, there are none of us so poor
that we may not dispense countless bless
ings in charity of soul toward our fellows.
Whether we draw closer the ties of rcla-
tionship and resolve TO love deeper and
more soulfully those of our own household
as we gather at the annual thank
day feast, or cherish the like resolve while
absent from the home board whether our
lot is so cast that for lis there is no place
reserved by loving hands and for us no
waiting hearts; whether we sit beneath
the home tree, or in the shadow of
Loneliness, there is yet for Us the human
race to love, the world to forgive,
Ill our fellow-mon to kindly regard, all
human beings to whom we can extend the
broadest of all charitieS-merey. If by
single smile we can tighten solitary bur
den; if by a single gentle word we can en-
courage one fainting soul; if by solitary
act we can lift dropping spirit; if by the
simplest expression We can make our fell
bowman feel that We regard him more
kindly, we have that much for which to
give thanks, that much more to teach us
that the richest reward is costleSs, and
that if men would but have it so, every
day of the round year might be day of
thanksgiving. But whether or not this
measure of human perfection shall ever be
attained, let at least the set days of the
holiday season be marked by manifestations
of the gentler virtues We have the poor
with us in number, the homeless, the
stranger. It is time to-day to look about
as and see in what material form we can
gladden. some fellow on Thanksgiving day.
There are sad-eyed children who will
gather at no festal board the languishing,