The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-11-28
THANKSGIVING DAY.

Last year in New Orleans, at the
carnivai, the month of November was
represented by a great, big turke,
gobbler, standing alone on float
THANKSGIVING and turkey To some
people the terms are synonomous. MOI
thai any of us need sheer at the turkey
| If we did so, il would be affection; al.
most hypocracy. Every one likes a
tsrkey-likes him in his days of nature,
and likes him roasted. His position in
the barn yard of itself commands a
certain amount of respect. He is Eo'
king. II that were the case, his mind
would be harassed with the complicated
affairs of state, aud he would have nc
peace He is rather like an Old Eng
| lish fogy-the owner of a country home,
His social standing is secured; his life
is one of ease and abundance he val
ues the substantial things of life; be is
not ..vexed with thoughts beyond the
reaches OF his soul;' be always gets the
best nuts. the latest gruhs, the biggest
handful of corn that the market can
afford; and these without his stlr.n
How easily he takes precedence OF
the rooster! There is the same differ
ence between them that there is be-
tween middle aged English country
gentIemansssand hot headed young
Italian soldier. The rooster, be he
never SO gay of plumage. isrestless
and unhappy. The turkey gobbler is
above all things else, comfortable. His
voice, his walk. his every attitude, pro-
claim him in good humor with his
own fat self and with the world in
general. The rooster is "touchy >,
He is always bristling up and challeng-
ing some other knight Of the quill" to
a duel. He is''conceited and jealous. and
is ever on the war path. Alackaday
His manners have not that repose
which stamps the caste of Verede
We're" There is solid ambition in
his eyes--a gnawing envy at his
breast. He may. once in a while, ex-
cite our admiration. We may watch
him with interest on some bright sun
shiny day, when all clad in FURNISHED
armor. lie goes a fitting in the field.
We may even sympathize with him in
his entbLs astic Growing over himself
and his triumph, but we can never
give him the constant friendship, the
answering respect wo give the turkey
gobbler.
All OF the foregoing discretion is for
the purpose of proving to the world
We mean no disloyalty, no slight to our
fea.hered friend of the table, when we
say that Webster does not define the
word Thanksgiving as turkey gobbler,
but rather shows Us that the word has
a'depth Of meaning and a sacredness of
association, which entirely separates it
from all things light and frivolous.
Once year the President of the
United States sets apart day in which
all the sons OF men may gather togeth-
er and thank God for the blessings they
have received at His hands. 1t is
strange, this day comes in the dreariest
month we have. November, in the
scale of the year, is like the pause in
piece of music. 1t enables one to
distinctly the notes that
have been struck. 1t prepares the ear
for those that are to come. 1t is also
like the space of time between the acts
of a drama. The curtain has fallen for
ever over the past. 1t has not been
lifted from the future. We stand still
for moment. aud think, think of what
we should thank God for. in the past;
and for what we should pray in the
future. We recall the. words of our
1oxology,
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
raise Him We sinners here below,
Praise Him above, angelic Host.
Praise Father, Son aud Holy Ghost"
But what are blessings3 To most Of
is, they are those events. objects and |
sircumstances.which give US pleasure. |
Viewed in this light. Thanksgiving |
lay often becomes a mockery. How
aver. this is not The true light to throw |
On the subject. There is but one ex-
olanatlon to this mystery of life, and
low old that is! How many. many
lines We have heard it from the pull
pit; how many times we have read it
n the Bible. This life is given us as a
for life eternal. There is
! God in Heaven which considers of |
infinite value every soul on this earth.
lie sends it sorrow, He sends it JOY,
10Th for its everlasting good. How
I'D the truths are! How almost trite
n the REPETITION. and yet how vigor-
'us. of what sustaining strength they
ire to us in the hour of sorrow and
lffiiction. We hear them year after
ear; we repeat them meaninglessly,
,ut some day they become real to us
md we feel as if we had made a dis
overy.
There comes into our hearts solemn
,wful joy as we stand face to face with
hese facts; such joy it is, as that
columbus must have felt when, after
ears of poverty and struggle, he fin
shed the perilous voyage over the
tormy waste Of waters and saw
tretched before him in all its sublimity
nd strangeness. this new. World which
Tas so many ages old.
To him who holds dear the Gospel of
'hrist, Thanksgiving day is fraught
nth blessedness, even though it be
S sad as death. II
To the unbeliever. the very word is
ut a sarcasm on human life and
uman destiny. II
Levee Lettings at Memphis. /