The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1884-11-27
THANKSGIVING.

Thanksgiving Day for long time was
wholly New England festival until the
civil war gave, it national prominence.
It needs not executive proclamation to
secure its observance, as it derives ito
charter from custom. It comes at .
time when the years work is done, and
before the rigors Of winter have banished
the recollection of the dreamy beauties
of the Indian Summer. The holiday
had its birth amid scenes Of suffering and
despair, when the God of the hiendless
was invoked to stay the hand of Famine.
But its character has undergone change
and it no longer hears the anguished
voice of prayer wrung from the lips OF
woe.
The heart which does not throb with
quickened impulse to feeling of Joy
on this day, must long have beat time
to sorrows measure. 1t is purely SEQ
uiar holiday. borrowing no feature of
solemnity from clears Of what is to be. -
1t may not 'knit new friendships" but
it thaws the frosts of selfshness from the
heart and quickens sluggish life with the
instinct of good will. 1t crystallizes
prayer into good acts, happy thoughts
and generous promptings. The busy,
busting, cruel world is shut out from
the family group; truce is called and
the soldier in the battle of life, every
where, enjoys the brief respite.
Why should not this pleasurable fea-
ture be an element of all holidays? At
what higher purpose can religion aim
than to bring joy to the heart of child,
rest to the troubled soul of the anxious
parent, and the elevated sentiment of
kindly feeling. regard and charity which
always attend pleasant companionship
The prayer which agony wrings, which
fear inspires or selfshnsss dictates, might
have an intensity Of earnsstness but does
not gladden. the heart. Make man hap
Ply and his life is paean of praise. And
what is the source of happiness? Judi
cious enjoyment of the things that are.
Oh, sad.eyed parent, look at the merry
group which surround you to day, and
ask yourself if you have not found q
surer way to the confidence and hearts
of your children than through gloomy,
lifeless precepts with which you have
clogged their minds, shutting out the
genial warmth of parental solicitude and
establishing a censorship where should
be loving guidance. Man of the world,
when acting the devotee of that e1ag-
gerated fashion of giving large donations
to ostentatious charities, have you at such
times telt that expansion of soul which
you now experience in being one of a
group which number no sad heartsl And
conscientious church-goer, has the cer-
gyman's voice as in studied phrase be
addressed the throne of the Most High,
inspired you with that feeling of "gsod
will to men" that has taken possession
of Oh while you aid in passing around
the we'll filled plates9 The ear that has
never been attuned to any but doleful
sounds, the eye that has never looked
upon any but gloomy pictures, the lip'
that have never syllabled any but sor-
rowful words, have naught to do with
the melody, the sunshine and the swee
communion of this world. Their hosan
mas are choked with sobs; their hearts
fountains of bitterness.
Kind readers, The Pilot has caugh
the gladstone infection from the Spiri
of Joy which is abroad and, moving il
unison with its wing beats, wishes 20,
one and all, good cheer, thoughts un-
touched by sorrow and hearts unburden
ed of care.