The Russellville Democrat., 1886-11-24

es into whirl of pleasure, and To! within few short years life has lost it's savor for him, and he sighs, poor fellow, for some new delight, and finds his days drag wearlly along. But the ploughman whistles at hls work; the sturdy blacksmitll's arm keeps time to merry tune: the mariner sings as he sways upon the halyards; the merchant rejoices as the days roll by. Observe that fret ful, peevisn, discontented child, with frowning brow, and idle hands, and listen to her complaint: "She has nothing to dor' Give her work Tn moderation, work that must be done; impress her with sense of respon- sibllity, and her frown will melt into a smile, her fretfu.ness give way to mirth, her discontented grumbling be exchanged for merry song.
 And though over us hangs ever the awfu! shadow of death; though we know that our loved ones must leave us, that this earth is ours for but time, and that all our pleasures are but transitory; yet to the Chris tian this knowledge brings no sad ness, for the Father who has done so much for us in this life has given us the sure promise of life to come-a life whose joys shall surpass those of this world even as Eternity surpass es Time-a life in which there shall he no anxieties, no parting from our loved ones, no pain or trlbulation, whose course shall flow smooth and joyous forever, and forever, and for ever.
 Yes! God our Father is indeed God of joy! He wants us to be hap py! He begs us to enjoy ourselves! He spreads for us a bounteous, all snfficlng feast, and urges us to par take of 1t! Happiness for time and for eternity is His free gift to us, If we will but accept it. And all He asks from us in return is that we should be thankful to Hlm!
 Yes, this is all! Simply to be thankful! For true thankfulness to God embraces all that He would have us to do. True thankfulness, l say, not a mere pretence and shad- ow of it. The man who goes me chanically to church on Sunday, sits drowsily through the service, and then returns home to spend the next six days in utter forgetfulness of God and of His laws, has nothing of thankful spirit, not even mock cry of it. He wouldn't show grati- tude to man that way: he wouldn't feel like confering favors on a fellow man who should show no keener ap preciation of them: yet he foos him self with the idea that by such cold, lifeless, empty performance of the outward duties of religion, by such heartless sham, he is showing all the gratitude necessary to his all.bounteous Father. True thankfulness IS the twin sister of Loye-eager to declare and show itself, growing keener day by day, finding expression in good deeds. in kindly works, in steadfast, all-em- bracing faith. Such thankfulness as this 1t is that God asks us to show Him, not with fear and gloom, but with sunny smile wreathed faces. as of happy children who approach a parent with sure trust in his ten der, all. providing love.
 In such a spirit, dear friends, may we keep, each one of us, his joyous THANKsGIvHNG DAY; sure that He who sanctioned by His presence the wedding feast at Cana will look with pleasure upon our mirtb, and accept our joyful feastlng as an evidence of the confidence, and love, and thankfulness we owe Him.