Evening journal., 1899-11-23
THANKSGIVING.
Its Observance Grew Out Of Times
OF Great Peril.

It's Observance Grow Out OF llmea
OF Great Peril
with this season of mists and mel
low frultlessness comes our Thanksgiv-
Ing Day and the festival of the family.
History tells us that this annual cele-
bratlon OF the fireside joys grew out OF
moment OF great peril and marked
dellverance therefrom. This new con-
tinent gave our pilgrim fathers but cold
welcome, for the Mayhower entered
Plymouth harbor midst a driving snow
storm. Nading ashore through ueach-
erOus surf men cleared away the drlits
and erected rude log cabins.
But exposure told heavily upon the
pioneers. already exhausted by a yoy-
age long and tempestu0us. Six OF the
heroes died during December eight Ia
Iauuarv. seventeen In February. thlr-
teen I'm March. and when the last snow
fell IL lay like a soft white blanket
unon the graves Of hMf the Immortal
/ company. NJ the first summer was pro
pifious. the second refused rain, while
autumn sent an early frost. When the
harvest had failed in the field the game
/ departed from the forests. What was
worse. the Indians now became IN
friendly.
Because winter and starvation threat
ened the remnant Of the intrepid band.
Gov. Bradford appointed a day of fast.
ing and prayer. Rut ere the appointed
day arrived the colonists wakened one
morning to find that during the night
O good ship from home had dropped
anchor i'm the harbor bringing letters
food aud medicine for the sick, seeds
and roots for a new sowing-bringine
!. also old friends and new coioniss
Never was deliyerance more dramauc
SO the day appointed for fasting was
changed 10 a day of feastng ant
thanksgiving.
since that first far-On event 3H
autumns have passed over our Favored
land Other Thanksgivings. perhaps
have been unique by reason Of national
peril and striking deliyerances there
|, from But perhaps no other one sum
mer has included dangers so many and
so great. or deliverance and gifts 70
striking. For filling storeh0uses and
barns the sun has been kindly. the
clouds propitious and the soil full OF
divine ardor Each month Of advanc
ing summer has lent new wealth e
meadow and pasture, vineyard and or
chard.
Surprised with unexpected treasures
even now the thrashers surround the
fat wheat stacks and must borrow
from winter some days in which 4
beat out their unwonted harvests. II
the great states where corn is raisee
already the bins and barns are filled
vet many yellow shocks still walt thu
coming Of the huskers. Vineyards anS
orchards have not been less fruitful
How rich the crisp apples, pears an'
r pears and peaches. Sweet Juices hav'
0 filed grape clusters to the point o.
A bursting. Autumn has also plumpe'
q the nuts with their ripe kernels. How
e ruddy the wholesome roots and veg
I etables.
y During some years the poor hay'
g dreaded the long winter-this yea
4 there is abundance for all. But I'm
Z counted wealth, through harvest ant
e mines, through herds and focks, rep
o resent the least OF our national bless
G ings. During this year the scope o
liberty has been enlarged, the infuenc
/ of the republic extended, while tn
b whole world has been made to ponde
L the message of free institutions. If al
L ter 80 years OF peace our flag has bee
e unfurled for war, that war has been I
1 the sacred name of humanity and Ill
Il prfv