Daily Republican., 1886-11-15
TIE ORIGIN OF THANKSGIVING.

ASH TO resist the bitterness and sad
ness OF the falling year, the most genial
ano Kindly OF eli our festivals occurs at
the end OF November. Its very name
rhanksgtvinG," betrAys Its pious
brigham origin unmixed with any
prior tradition. Ths great Christian
festival Of Christmas stretches back
ward TO yule logs and mistletoes, 70
Scandinavian and Briton heathenry /:
nor does IL lose by the graceful, happy
sssociatlon. But Thanksgiving IL
purely Puritan. II 10 the good, warm
heart oonQuering the tough head and
ascetio manner Of the old pilgrims.
In Elliott's "New England History"
you may read that In 1923, after the
harvest, Governor Bradstrset sent ont
company to shoot game 10 furnish Q
dainty feast Of rejoicing after the labors
OF the colony. Having followed the d.
rections OF the governor, aud the prin-
cipie OF the excellent Mrs. Glass. they
cooked their game and IL vited Maesa-
sois and eore ninety other wages, and
all fell to and devoured the feast,
thanking God "for the good world and
the good things In It,"
Think Of that little shivering band
clustered on the bitter edge Of the con.
ttnent, with the future before them al
moss as dark % the foreat behind them,
many Of them with such long lines OF
happy memories In Old England fash.
ing across the sea into the gloom Of
their present position like CLEANS Of
ruddy freight that stream far out CT
the cheerful chfmney into the cold
winter highland think OF the same
festival now, when our governors and
our president invite millions Of people
70 return thanks to the great giver of
harvests; and the millions Of people
obeyiDg, sacrifice hecatom bs OF turkeys
and pumpkins and pour out seas of
cider and harmless wine.
II might be dangerous to stake one's
reputation upon the assertion that
Thanksgiving 10 . strictly religious
feast. Tits dav of practical rejoicing
In the good things OF this world, and
there may even be people whose mouths
are fuller Of turkey than their hearts Of
thanks. But every year the area Of the
feast enlargss. Every year there are
moro people who sit down to "groaning
boards" as the reporters happily ex-
press ii, upon occasions Of civic fts-
tivity.
Dear old Thaubsaivingl Long and
long may his hospitable board ba
spread. Esong and long may he stand /,
beuiR naht, at bis door, calling in the
poor and the weary, the blind and the
lame, even 90 the old Puritans called
In Massaseit md ninety other savsses.
Rich In blessings aud reverend in years.
may good old Thanksgiving last with
the continent, Knitting closer the ties
NJ IA L. Aah hAA Fol
ness beaning like the smile of . patri-
arch; Its charity barring like . central
dre, warming all the year and lighting
up every dark day Of care and SORROW.
Eow TO Be THANKFUL.
Consider your blessings and soc II
they do not greatly outnumbe Der. your
trials and sappointments-aad then
give thanks
Look around you and $50 II you can
not make NJ least one heart thankful
among the poor or unfortunnte. Then
DO ye thankful that such an opportunity
10 you're. Remember that: "Blessed
10 he shat oonsidereth the poor; the
Lord will deliver him in time OF trou.
ble.~
90. 70 who bask in Fortunes sun,
And Hopes bright garlsnds wear,
LOuI Dio1btuAb iTom kuo thpu A<oto
Let His poor children shAtei
Cultivate thankful spirit among thu
members of your own household. Nevel
mind the petty annoy anees of life thai
come to all Of us, but forget them In
thinking on the tnnumsrAble blessing n
that are browning, or have crowned
your days.
A clear conscience with q thankful
heart will make q FEAST out of pool
mans dinner, and give to ThanksRivin
Day . rich and lasting flavor, the 70
mem branoe of which will go with you
into other days and other experiences
Let unfeiRnsd love and unselfish 10y
preside at your table and around you
ireside. Then, however humble you
home or meageY your fare, will you fint
your hearts going out In thankfulnesl
| for blessings which wealth cannot pur
chase OF the want of 1t deny.
"Bless the Lord, o my soul, and for
/ get not all His benefits,