The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-11-19
THANKSGIVING.
Appropriate Reading Anent This Fes.
tive Day.
What 1t Means-The Many Duties, Les
sons and Pleasures 1t
Brings to Us.

Thanksgiving! From basement to
attic the word resounds. Were
sounds ever sweeter than those
made by happy children's voices?
The tones proclaim the joys that be
and joys that are to last throughout
Thanksgiving Day. We watch their
happy faces and listen to their
merry voices intermingling with
mirthfulness.
What does it matter if the cur
tains are awry, the legs of chairs
where seats are wont to be, and pic
ture books, forgotten, lie in all con-
venient places, and tents of rugs
aud tablespreads wherein the occu-
pants are re-enacting the hair
breadth scenes of old? Now they are
gathered around the glowing CRATE
where mind pictures of the long ago
are wildly portrayed, and from
their countenances we infer that
they are beholding the Mortimer as
they view from afar the wonderful
new world, and the Icelanders as
they land upon New England 8 shore
in the year 1000 and realize the pri-
vations which they endured, and,
too, the sailing of the Santa Maria,
and later the Mayflower, laden with
the Puritan fathers, and see the
landing at Plymouth Rock. Were
there ever more interesting stories
than those relating the incidents
which make up the history of this
our new world? And can lips other
than those of the gray haired father
or mother picture so clearly those
scenes? Nor do their joys lessen at
sight of the Thanksgiving dinner,
where epicurean skill appears to
have reached its highest develop
ment. When the lateness of the
hour cOmpels them to don their
white robes, we hear mingled petit
tions and thanksgivings more fer
vent than usual, and when their
eyes are closed in slumber our
thanksgivings arise to God above for
the preservation of our little ones.
Thanksgiving to the housewife has
a host of meanings. For several
days turkeys, pumpkin pies and in
Vulnerable edibles have passed be-
fore her mind in stately procession.
Cooked? Oh, no, waiting for her in
vitation to come, waiting for her
busy brain to devise methods of pro-
cedure and her deft fingers to aid in
the preparations, waiting for her
aesthetic taste to approve or con-
denim and for her look of relief
when at last the word ready" is
pronounced, waiting for her look of
satisfaction as the guests gather
around the ample board while the
Thanksgiving of year are concen-
trated into one grand thanksgiving.
Until now she has scarcely consid-
cred its import, for often the weight
of our cares drag us to their level,
but when a respite comes we view
them from above and with sense
of freedom wonder how we ever be-
weeks, months and years bring their
burden of cares, and at the closing
of each we bid them adieu, expect
ing to awake at their bidding on the
morrow.
Thanksgiving to the men of our
cities and the country means not only
day of feasting and mirth, but a
time to review in detail the bless
ings received during the past year.
Oftentimes rich blessings are freely
scattered in our path and we with
averted eyes recognize them not.
Search your homes, search care
fully, lest you overlook the little
blessings which, taken severally, APP
pear to be very small, but when COM
bined make your home comfortable
and beautiful, and with the atmos-
phere of love enveloping it, make it
| > ha naPfh InhnIn
the atmosphere until your very be-
ing is pervaded, until such a one, as
pure as delicate, as invigOrating as
ethereal, and, withal as enduring, is
shed abroad by you. Nor look with
disdain upon the clouds, for many q
cloud has sIlvery lining. Look
thoughtfully from the status which
obscures your horizon to the high,
floating cirrus with tints so fair. The
shadows they cast over your way
may prove to be blessings in dis
guise.
Glance through your account
books. Is the bank largely your
debtor? Are your stOrehouses filled
with grain ready for the marketP II
so, offer thanksgiving to Him who
I gave you strength that you might
/ prosper. Have you enabled some
> unfortunate one to rise above the
difficulties which surround him? Ii
so, give thanks. Thank God for the
r friends you have in heaven, the re-
= membranee of whose love draws yov
nearer that happy home where the
atmosphere is never clOuded anC
Z the sun never sets on Thanksgiving
day.
THANKsGIVING DINNER.