Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-11-25
GIVE THANKS.

'e ones, were left by the return,no shins to r,a1A
io' themselves homes Homes of ease homes of
wealth. homes OF comfort, homes of peace were not
Pec'eu ior years. But one condition was antcipated
O'e condition, with tightly drawn lips, was thoroughly
ineu upon Fort that, they were willing to labor
u'ueis so all hardships, suffer all possible physical
All these were voluntarily accepted for re-
ligious liberty
winter came hndng them unprepared. Their
"oHes were not sufficiently warm Their crops all
100 snort tor long winters sustenance Ships bear.
ing cargos of promised supplies were anxously looked
iof' IN Van Day by day the men tramped the woods
IN search of anything to sustain the lives of their wives
ana praitling babes. Day by day mothers, with al
most holy look of maternal love sat down and offered
empty breasts to their helpless babes in whose ewes
couId plainly be seen the gaunt form of Hunger
starvation far from the homes childhood and friends
stared them in the face for months. Death became
FAMILIAR tace looked expectany into their eyes con-
uhually over halt their number died and the coming
OF the ships or OF spring promised to find no one to
welcome them, no one to need the supplies or enjoy
the warm rays of the SUM-
AT last succof came. Hope took the place of
Despair and, with hearts over full of gadness nearly
bursting with gratitude to Cod they set aside day,
and, gathering together knelt humbly and they thanked
Almighty God for His kindness
What scene Could artist paint it? Could
writer describe it? Can you realize the fe.vency
of tter thankful worship on that day? The loftiest
flights of our imagnations fail to do it justice.
Let US with reluctant fngures slowly turn the
page over, leaving corner turned down that we may
more easily find the place, and more often read the
story to the page IS9S
Thanksgiving Day 1898 finds you and living in
Grand Old Oregon. year of fairly good prosperity
ond &c OH oIoe III
hunger We have undergone severe hardships
The liberty forefathers obtained, has been most
iuly enjoyed by We speak the greatest language
in the world. We have the grandes government
the globe. We eenjoy comforts and convenienc
than any other people We live in Of the greatest
states i'll country-one of the best counties in that
and the best city in county Would ye more?
Then for at least in your life go to your closet
go to your barn. go to the woods and humby knee
and solemnly and earnestly give thanks to a Devine
Providence, calling him Father, or by what you
will. No in this great country out that has ample
reason to give thanks. Be honest; be sincere; give
earnest thanks.
DO YOU not cali to mind today Thanksgiving
day of childhood? Can you see in the past, i'll some
humble home in the mountains of Tennessee, the hills
of Hampshire, the broad praires of the Middle West,
or the messy hisides of Oregon the family homestead?
Can you not the old home Kitchen with the mother
Oiu NiSHNi' SNNNN'
See how she zeaously bastes the two fat turkeys now
browning in the oven. See her turning the doughnus
over to keep them from burning the under side.
Now she stirs the rich brown gravy and then turns
the great Johnny cake around, tapping tito see
whether or not it is done Father will you put in
some more wood and Lizzie you may wash those po-
totoes and say Wesley, the WATERFALL empty again
and YOU may fill it, Is it not pleasant memory!
Then look at that long, square-cornered table,
neatly covered with snowy linen, upon whose paded
bosom rests the polished glass and Chinaware and
every old treasured piece of siverware owned by the
family for the last hafdozen generations Every dish
is overaowing. What mince and pumpkin pies! What
wonderful plum pudding! What rich fruit cake, that
has been on the top shelf IN the pantry for four
weeks awaiting to-day's festivities, when Mary and
Matte and Levi and Wilbur with their families come
home to eat Thanksgiving dinner at the old home
stead. :, ,o,.oa .,.,,
Can you not hear the family jokes cracked with
the hazel and hickory after dinnerf Can you not
hear the songs they sang laei they gathered around
the old Mason Hamlin organ, while the little ones
5 ae popcorn and played "hide and seek"F Wouid you
FORGET this scene? Is it not treasured above goldF
Then today be thankful, and assist in painting Tor
9ou babies another just such picture in which iather
d mother are remembered with faults, no faings;
hrt loving, tender, just and true This is one OF the
duties devoving upon you and pleasant one II IS.
re- Iii make YOU more noble You will never regret