Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-11-29

lie yellow and bare under the wan
ing light of the year, it is fitting
that we would muse upon the past
and, remembering the promise of
spring the beauty of summer and the
fulfillment of autumn, should draw
therefrom hope and inspiration for the
future. Verify, the life of man is as
that of the 'grass which perisheth, {"
and the life of nations is the aggregate
of the existence of its individuals, and
all have within their death the germ of
the after-existing. Not a root of en-
deavor and longing sinks down into
eternity, drops its flower and seed and
is forgotten of earth, but has it's res
direction, and there is not storm that
bows the head nor a lightning flash
that rends the soul with pain but carry
on their wings radiance for the flower
and vigor for the seed.
Tho year over which now the ashes
of remembrance are scattered has been
to our nation time of travail From
the hearthstone of the artisan have gone
up the wall of hungry childhood and
the prayer of destitute mothers. The
hammer and the anvil have been cov-
cred with rust. The heart-beats of
commerce have been so faint and feeble
that timid souls, gazing from afar upon
our afflicted nation, have cried that she
was upon the verge of dissolution. that
her proud editices of Fraternal Love
and Domestic Content were crumbling
to the dust. The seasons have frowned
upon the husbandman, and there has
haan hiStragc nd
and south; fire and famine, flood
and insurrection have touched the
land, and yet the patriot people of our
country, though still thrilling with the
memory of recent grief, can look up to
Heaven and thank God for what the
year has brought. 1t is not in the sun
light of prosperity that the soul real
ICES to the full its blessings, but only
when it has just emerged from the
shadow of calamity is it able to com
prehend the Christening love that
wounds to heal"
Again has that lesson of the immuta-
bility of the law of progressive crea-
tion-the Survival of the fittest"-
been read by those who see in the
events of each passing day the details
of the scheme by which the world is to
be lifted to grander planes of thought
and action. The triumph were barren
were its teachings unheeded. The
winds, signing above the graves of
those who perished in their madness,
or fell victims to the inexplicable fren-
Zy of wanton force, bear to us not only
the sound of weeping, they are fraught
with whispers of promise. Liberty,
our mother, our goddess, our best be-
loved smiles while the tear-drops are
yet wet upon her cheeks. Law, OBJ
scured for moment by the gathering
clouds, still stands in untarnished
glory and dignity, her scepter touch
ing the eastern and western seas, her
garments frightening the whole land,
as the light from the sacred veil, behind
which was God, glorified the temple in
days of old.
BOwing our faces to the dust we offer
up our thanks, and as we listen to the
sweet-toned bells ringing out the
familiar strains praise the Lord, all
ye people, worship Him in the beauty
of holiness cur souls echo the sounds.
Our harvest may be scanty, the CLEAN
ers may not have returned with sing
Ing, but the breast of earth and of
futurity will yield to us treasure all the
richer for the present boarding; gladder
because we have learned our lesson
Alright; swccter, for the fruit will have
been ripened by the storm as well as
the sun. We take our little ones by
the hand and leading them forth, point
TO the barren fields and say: "Remem-
bcr, oh, my son, the Christening of the
Lord; be wise, oh, my daughter, with
the wisdom of sorrow, and forget not
The thanls-oifering that is more CRATE
full to deity than the wealth laid on
golden affairs. High resolves for the
future; repentance for the mistakes of
the past; loyalty to the teachings of
our fathers who scaled their faith in
our country's destiny with their blood;
thc cherishirg of the ideals that have
raised men from primordial chaos and
will elevate them to ideal excellence;
,hese, oh, my children, be thy offer
nGs.' Gratitude which has within it no
'cnunciation of self, no striving after
seciprocal virtue as far as it lies within
human power, no soul dedication, is as
barren as the fallow fields, as unfruit-
tul as the thorns and thistles
Thanksgiving.
TNP Gcvthp Of the rnoNypr-itG r,ucIn &c o,or