The Newtown bee., 1895-12-13
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for the privilege of expressing that which comes out of the heart; as one of them expressively and tersely said, A sup of New England air was better than a whole draft of Old England ale.n The first Thanksgiving, you see, was not 8 thanksgiving so much for the good that had come as 1t was thanksgiving for further. unfolding of God. tI It was not . thanksgiving for corn so much as it was thanksgiving for the pledge cf Gods protection, for the reward of con- stant faith.
 What if Thanksgiving Days were only for the prosperous, the successful, the altogether happy, those who were seeing only the sunshine but not the shadow, only the calm but not the storm! How very few could join in the worship of the dayl How few of us would have any part in being here! The moro I think of 1t, my friends, the more think that our greatest reason for thanksgiving is, not that we have 80 much of good, but that we have 30 much of God. Anniver- sary days, rightly kept, should make those who observe them better. After the Fourth of July we should be better citizens; after Memorial Day we should think more of the union of these States !; after Thanksgiving Day we should be better citizens of that country where our true citizenship lies. I thank God now, mot for what get from Him, but for what am by reason of Him. Without Him I am as chip af1oat on great ocean.
 with no port in view, with no steering power to get me anywhere. He takes hold of me and sweeps me within the impregnable circle of His love. We may have wealth in the morning, at evening it may be gone the sweet pleas ure of to-day may turn into bitter pain tomorrow; friends that stick closer than brothers to our side may be snatched away by sudden death; eyes in whose dreamy depths there shines the pure l0ve-light may turn stheir look away hearts that once beat in fervent glow an- swering the love of our hearts may beat no more; anniversary seasons, which, as we grow older, only seem like
 TREES UPON THE BANK
 of life's river that indicate to us the the end, may come and go: but God abides and amid all these changeful scenes He holds me immovable. I lay my plans tor day; God, who sees through all the days, illustrates my plans I pray for courage and then sit calmly down to wait it's coming; God sends me out into the conflict where the breastplate of courage fs buckled on: pray for patience and think l will gain it as I rise from my prayer; God places
 me under the yoke of affliction and bids
 me bear the strain. am weak, but One is strong; my life Is driven about as rud- derless ships by the winds, but One who
 holds the winds in the hollow of His
 watch and care. Yes, as sons and daughters of the living God, let us thank God today, not for more good brought into our lives, but for more God reveal ed there.
 Alas! how can we sing songs of praise in the valley of Bacap How can we take our harps down from the willows and strike a joyful tune, when there is 90 much cause Tor weepingp How can we feel mirth In the home circle when that home circle is 80 sadly broken
 But what If we get hold the thought that God Is near and Is touching our lives at every point with Ills blessings 1 What If He Is keeping our friends that are gone very near to us, and soon He will lift the thin veil that parts us now What If every tear has in it rainbow, and every cloud has . silver lining! An, no; if we really believe in God, we are not looking for more good, but for more God. In the TRimud we arc told of a stringed instrument 30 hung above King David's bed that when the pleasant north wind blew in the night 1t sounded sweetly of itself; ssand he forthwith arose and occupied himself with the law until he saw the pillars of the dawn" Our lives are envirOned by Gods good ness. tEverywhere about us are untouch- ed hArps of blessing. Let us arise and sweep the strfngs to-day. Praise yea the Lord.n