The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1899-12-21
SO1E SEASONABLE REFLECTIONS
Suggested by the Spirit of Gratitude,
Which All Mankind Should Feel
Toward the Giver of All Good.

The world owes me a living, says
the shiftless man. Never was a more
nsolent or more ungrateful saying
invented. The first man sinned and
was driven from Paradise with the
curse upon him that he should earn
his living by the sweat of his brow.
In his act of disobedience he forfeited
every claim that he had upon the
bounty OF Providence and neither the
Lord God nor the world which He
created are under obligations to sim
Gods kindness and his liberality that
the earth yields her increase in re-
Spouse to mans endeavors. Yet God
is gracious and has not only provided
| bountifullv for the necessities Of the
flesh but for our mental and spiritual
| demand as well. Never an age when
man had so many of the luxuries Of
life, and we of this country know
nothing absolutely of famine. No
man starves to death here except from
his own neglect or pride. Every
where throughout this land the earth
is generous and the great question
with the people Of this country is,
| what shall we do with our surplus
| products? Our capacity to create is
far beyond our capacity to consume.
But this is also the age of mental
| feasting. Never time when print
| ing was so cheap, -" hen literature was
| so abundant, when publications Of all
| descriptions were so attractive in
matter and illustration. From the
| penny newspaper with its pictures Of
| daily life to the great works of Shake
| speare, throughout the whole realm OF
| literature there is such an abundance
of reading matter that the mind fairly
tires in its contemplation. No ex-
| cuse for Ignorance in these days. The
public schools are open to all and any
| boy who desires an education may
| have it. Never time when the re-
ligious world was more attractive.
! Our beautiful churches are not only
| comfortable but most inviting in APP
| pearance, the songs Of Zion are sung
| by artists in music, and the Gospel is
preached by devout men who have
been educated in the profound mystic
ries of theology and in the graces OF
oratory.
From whatever standpoint viewed
| the earth to-day fairly blossoms with
the blessings of God. Man was never
| so exalted, never were there so many
agencies to lift him up, never was so
much of the world in enjoyment of
liberty and civilization. Let US there
| fore at this blessed season, not only
| give expression to our thanks, but
to cultivate within us the true spirit
of gratitude. If we shall all have d
reckoning with ourselves, if we shall
| honestly make up an account between
ourselves and our God, otf-setting the
good things that we really deserve,
we shall be overcome with a sense Of
| our unworthiness and there will be
an expression of honest praise from
our hearts.
Gratdute finds its reflection in ma
| ture, made manifest in her every ex-
preston, and shall man, the noblest
| of her creatures, be ungrateful? The
germ which lies dormant in the cold
earth is bye and bye warmed into life
| by the kiss Of the sun, and blossom
and fragrance and fruit are but the
expressions of it's gratitude. A prac-
teal thought. 1t is meet and right
that we show forth our praise not
only with our lips and in our hearts
but that we honor the Lord with the
first fruits of our labors.-Baltimore
Sun.