The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-11-26
THANKsGIvING DAY.

glad by their presence.
Don't you ever think OF how
Thanksgiving used to be In the old
home while you were yet q boy?
There was no school that day, and
the snow had not yet come, but the
creek and the mill pond were frozen
over, though the ice was OF thick
ness just too thin for practical use
In skating. We took dinner at
Grandfsther's house on that day,
and how the dear old gentleman's
eyes used to light up as the children
came trooping in by platoons upon
him. Each succeeding year added
to the number Of grandchildren and
accordingly to his happiness, which
we could not understand ia those
days Of yore, but which we can now
to some extent appreciate. Then we
would all gather round the board
and bow our heads in reverence, as
grandfather returned thanks for the
manifold goodness and bountiful
gifts Of the Creator. All, how those
few words OF his come back to US
now. We did not know the hollow
ness and mockery that is sometimes
encountered In life then. We knew
not what 1t was to have the cold and
profuse results OF our own folly come
upon us all OF q sudden, when we
were most unprepared, and when
we were having such lots Of fun in
our own way. We were not then
aware that we did not know II all,
and that our own inclinations, with
out proper guidance, often brought
us to grief, ponderous and over
whelming.
But we got out again, and that is
why we are thankful, and that is
how 1t comes that Thanksgiving
Day has q special significance to US.
The hand that gives us bitterness
and woe, and makes us feel like
Hamlet when he considered the
desirability Of shuffiing off this
mortal coil with bare bodkin, also
brings us joy. Much as we love to
think Of the times when we Toasted
on grandfather's turkey we did not
know what Joy was i'm those days;
and when we look 1t all over from
this distance, we conclude that the
JOY outweighs the bitterness, the
happiness by far outmeasures the
sadness. We should all be thank
full.
1t has been q long time since the
day we ate Thanksgiving dinner at |
grandfather's, q score or more of
years, perhaps, and we have often |
seen Thanksgiving day come and go
without taking much account Of 1t,
because we were not In q thankful |
mood, when We were pursuing the |
bent Of our own cussedness, or when
we were too busy, and often when
we were among strangers. And yet,
through all the years has lived in all
Of us the impressions we received on
those occasions, In our childhood,
which make US better men aud
women now, and which are destined
to go with us while we inlpart them
to others. Let US be thankful for
the custom that gives US this day in
stead Of counting IL as q day lost.
And how the sorrows of life have
come upon US, and weighed us down
with many griefs. The first perhaps
was when we followed our dear old
grandfather to his last resting place
In the beautiful cemetery that was
his gift to the town, and the object
Of his care in his last years. We
had dinners and family gatherings
after that,-but, they were not the
same because grandfather was not
there. And then one after another
followed him. How our young
hearts ached when our little sister
and brother were laid away; but they
are not dead; no, no, they are better
cared for than we are, and
1.-The dead we love are with us still.-
Then one after another drifted gay,
and we left, too. And often we
think of the days gone when the
heavy hand Of sorrow was upon us,
but so far we have come out as
from a refiner's fire, chsstened and
softened. Let us be thankful for our
sorrows, for they are sweeter than
We can describe, and the means Of
US to better life.
But in the whirl Of time many Of
us will 20 home to eat thanksgiving
to-day. Our children will
gladden. the hearts Of others to whom
they are rs dear rs we were to those
away back In the years gone by.
We ought to be thankful for the
hour that gives to us the privilege
Of taking our children with us and ,
eating dinner with the old folks at
home. We ought to be thankful we
have those dear little copies Of our. ,
selves, who contain all our hopes, ,
md the objects Of our care. II
We don't take the time to think of
Ill the things for which we should
be thankful. II we took the time Z
We often employ in finding fault
frying to discover something for
which we should be thankful, how 1
much happier and better we would I
be. So then, as we gather around q
he board to-day, let rs do % In {
,pirit of thankfulness and gratitude.
All that we have and enjoy, could 4
not have been given ne by the hand &
If man alone. There was higher
power that controlled and shaped our I,
paths and our deeds all the way Z
back to the time when we took din.
ner with grandfather score Of years ,
lgo. Let Us be thankful. {