Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1901-11-28

Ia nearest and dearest to the hearts OF
the American people Especially Is
this so in historic old New England.
where family ties associations and
memories. together with the day-by-
day life Of the hardy sons and daugh-
ters of this prosperous AID picturesque
region. are tempered and nodded even
20 this day by the traditions Of their
Puritan ancestry. writes Rev. John
Hall.
Nearly three centuries ago little
band of brave. adventurous pioneers
celebrated the first appointed day of
Thanksgiving. Governor Bradford, at
plymouth. Mass, in the autumn fol
lowing the landing of the Pilgrims, set
apart day to be devoted to thanks
giving. prayer, praise and incidentally
20 various and sundry demonstrations
If good will. good fellowship and
general good time for young and old.
1t was a day of bounty. of openhanded
ness, day when the latch string was
not only altogether out, but the door
was wide open. 1t is said OF certain
venerable Puritans that after the feast
was over, after the hangers-on and the
few poor of the ncighborhood had been
Ted, that they gathered into baskets
the scraps and bits that remained and
went ont through the highways and
byways looking for hungry dogs and
2ats, that they also might be filled on
this blessed day. Failing in this, they
placed the food on some rock or tree
trunk, that the birds and wild beasts
might eat thereof. There are many
holidays around which pleasant memo
lies cluster, but among them all
Thanksgiving Day presents to our view
he most Kaleidoscope pictures. This
day for family reunion. this milestone
on the pathway Of human life. this day
from which many households date
their pleasures and their glieis, the
red-lcttcr days in the calendar OF the
aged and intirm. hoped for, waited for
prayed fog. because 1t brought once
more the smiling faces Of loved ones;
because it furnished one more delight
before the venerable and snow-crowned
heads were lail away in their last long
home. There is one most delightful
feature Of this altogether hoppy occa,
sion Blessed be the roof under which
an unbroNen family circle gathers
Then it is tnat the day can have its ful
significance of thanksgiving and praise
II is hard indeed 10 accept the DEGREES
of Providence when they remove from
us those 10 whom our hearts are close
" united. Try as we may, profess as
V" will, up from the depths Of on,
souls comes the cry for the beloved
who have been taken from us. But
when We cone. one and all N unbrok.
On band and take our places at the ia.
bic filed with the good things Of life
then in the fullness OF our hearts We
can give thanks not only for the plenty
which has been shOwercd upon US, but
for the presence of those without
whom our lives would be incomplet,
and fun Of sorrow.
1t is meet that before we enjoy thu
delights of table laden with the deli
C8Cies and daiuties with which the sea
son has furnished US, that We SHOULD
render our tribute OF praise anl
thankfulneas to the great Provider who
giyeth at the proper time the harves
of field, orchard, meadow forest anC
stream. 1t is but common justice tina
we would do this even to a friend WHIT
has bestowed fayors upon us. How
much more, then, to the great Create
who gives not only the simplest. bu
also the greatest, gifts of our lives
For the gift of life!. What is life
Lie is the spirit of God Himself Whei
God made man He breathed into hi
nostrils His own breath and with /
fragment of mis- own spiritual ant
immortal being