Middletown transcript., 1894-11-24

How the bright star of hope CLEANED
amid the desolation of barren soil and
scanty fields made doubly drear by the ap
proach Of winters chilly breath! and yet, t,ir
the midst of desolation the Pilgrim Fathers
turned with grateful hearts to the Giver oi
all good and established our Thanksgiving
day. Could those men and women have
foreseen the mighty country of to-day.
what rapture would have swelled their
hearts! But no prophetic vision was theirs,
and if through the dense forest there came
the faintest whisper of future greatness, it
found no response, for sickness, death,
hardship and privation was their common
lot.
Our hearts turn back to the Pilgrim
fathers on Thanksgiving day as at no
other time, and from the forests of Maine
to the southern Everglades and treasure
laden California, wherever united families
gather about the smoking board, ten
der tribute is paid to the memory of those
who first planted freedom in the soil of the
new world
The ideal Thanksgiving day is celebrated
only at the old homestead, where father,
mother, sister and brother, children and
grandchildren gather again at the old farm
house home, and while blithe Thanksgiv-
ing bells ring out their merry tones, old
fashioned hospitality, peace and plenty
reign. To many of us such scenes are now
but happy memories, but cen the memory
of them warns the heart with q tender
glow that sends throb of happy pain to
the very centre of our being.
On Thursday the rovers from far and
near will return to join their family circles;
but there will be some vacant chairs. Some
are in far distant lands, and only in spirit
will they celebrate the day. Some have
gone from US forever, and the longing for
the sound of voice that is still makes life
weary desert even in the midst of holiday
gaity: IT'S hard to be thankful with an
aching heart. But as people and as in
dividuals we've much for which to be
thankful Thankful for life, and health, for
friends and home. How few prize the safe
shelter of home until the lack oft sends
them out into the busy market places to |
offer their wares to an over exacting and
mercenary public. We've asked few per-
sons to name their special blessing, and
with rational unanimity the first response
is for the results of the election. That alone |
is sufficient to fill our hearts with Thanks
giving. Thankful for everything that is |
better than it was; that business again be- |
gins to prosper, that the industrial horizon |
is clearing and business men have some |
thing definite upon which to build. |
Thankful that Tariff Tinkering got black |
eye on Nov. 6. Some of US are thankful |
that Prof. Wilson made speech before the
Chamber of Commerce and that Ambassa-
dor Bayard came home to vote. Delaware
Republicans have great occasion to be
thankful
Middletown is thankful that we've had |
no pestilences or destructive fires, and
while money is scare our credit is good
Thankful that our Town Fathers are 'agin"
loafing On the streets, and have established
an ordinance to the effect. Thankful for
the many evidences of the paternal interest
these same Fathers have manifested in the
public comfort and welfare of the town.
Thankful for the water supply we hope to
get from the new we'll, and for the brilliant
arc light and other luminaries the R. R.
Co., will give us-maybe-a the Station.
Thankful that, thus far, no one has been
killed by cars or teams on account of the
Egyptian darkness at the crossing in the
vicinity of our R. R. Stations. Thankful
that in spite of troubles past and present
the future looks inviting-especially for
women.
The school children are thankful for a
holiday, the epicure is thankful for feast
and we all are thankful for "Our Country"
and that we live in it now, when the warm
bright sunshine of modern thought that is
not bound by the narrow confines of sect
or cree dispels the dark shadows of super
stition and doubt, and reveals more clearly
the beauty and glory Of the Christ life.
Gratitude is the fairest blossom that
springs from the soul and Liberality grows
on the same stem.