The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-11-23
THANKSGIVING DAY
4 CHRISTIAN CUSTOM THAT IS Pc
cJiLlARLY AMERICAN.
WHAT ITS ANNUAL REcuRRssNcE
MEANS no THE NATION Ann
THE HOUSEHOLDS.

\
THE HOUSEHOLD.
The words OF the greatest Of writers,
I. Or any i'll escaped or good attained,
let us remember still Heaven chalked
the way that brought us hither. Z pre-
sent most strikingly one Of the pre-.
dominant traits in the American char,
acter. And the federal government,
ii the very infancy Of the nation. was
auick toAgive public recognition TO
this characteristic Of ours, for during
the Revolution Congress was wont
to set apart days for thanksgiving, and
also for fasting. e4sa
This great festival u not q sectional
festival, religiously orpolitically speak
ing, which is q noteworthy fact. Tie
day is one Of genuine, general thanks
giving. whether it be in Texas or
Maine. It is one national holiday
when political and geographical lines
are erased, and as one people Of one
country all evidence their remem-
brance that "YIeaven chalked the way
that brought us hither' by returning
thanks to common God for past
blessings. To-day the families ofethe
South look forward to the home-con-
ing of their various members, at this
season as do their brethren who are
geographically north Of them. Thanks
giving Day is now the common prop
erty Of all, and is an appropriate step
ping stone to that greater day which
soon follows it-Christmas and the
locating of this thanks and feast day
in November, is most appropriate, for
the year is then rapidly waning. Men
can then pretty well balance up their
annual accounts moral, political and
financial and, or \. i'll escaped Or good
attained give due thanks to him who
doeth all things well.
Aside from the religious features Of
the day, it being an official acknowl-
edgement by the governmental a high
er ruling power, it is especially notice
able for the family observance Of it.
Aged parents now living, in way de-
serted at the old home place, lookwith
longing eyes to its coming for then,
many, if not all, Of their own flesh and
blood, now grown-to mans and wom-
ans estate, will retrace their steps back
to their birthplace and make the old
rooms and halls 50 resound with their
voices and laughter, now grown deep
er in tone, that when once more the
aged couple, left agarnlalone and seat
ed at night in their comfortable, but
perhaps not elegantly upholstered
chairs, looking for the familiar faces
in the dying embers of the ere, their
echo viii well nigh still be heard, and
the joyous day be lived over again,
and the feeling Of loneliness be more or
Tess alloyed by the remembrance that
he or she, while older in years, was
still to them nothing but children.
But the Thanksgiving Day possesses
not merely national and home side%
There a. on eating side which DlayS a
most important part in its celebration.
For, though all may in spirit return
heartfelt thanks for blessings received
during the past year, yet the most re-
Iigiously disposed would hot be as
hearty in their religious exercises on
that day or as patriotic in feeling. did
they not believe there awaited them at
home dinner that would more than
satisfy the physical appetite.