The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-12-10

Is 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 and picturesque
region. are tempered and nodded even
to this day by the traditions Of their
Puritan ancestry, writes Rev John
Hall
Nearly three centuries ago a little
band OF brave, adventurous pioneers
celebrated the first appointed day OF
Thanksgiving. Governor Bradford. az
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
TO various and sundry demonstrations
Of good viii, good fellowship and a
general good time for young and old.
1t was q day OF bounty. Of openhanded-
ness, a day when the latch-string was
not only altogether out, but the door
was wide open II Is said OF certain
venerable Puritans that after the feast
was over, after the hangers-on and the
few poor Of the neighborhoOd had been
fed that they gathered into baskets
the scraps and bits that remained and
went out through the highways and
byways looking for hungry dogs and
cats, that they also might be filled on
this blessed day Failing In this. they
placed the food on some rock or tree
trunk. .hat the birds and Wild beasts
might eat thereof There are many
holidays around which pleasant memo-
ries cluster, but among them all
Thanksgiving Day presents 10 our view
the most Kaleidoscope pictures This
day for family reunion. this milestone 1
on the pathway Of human life, this day /
from which many households date /
their pleasures and their grlefs. the /
red-letter days in the calendar Of the /
aged and infrm. hoped for. waited for, /
prayed for because Il brought once /
more the smiling faces OF loved ones, /
because It furnished one more delight t
before the venerable and snow-cr0wned /
heads were laid away in their last long
home There is one most delightful
feature Of this altogether happy occa-
sion. Blessed be the roof under which
IN unbroken family circle gathers
rhen it Is tnat the day can have It's full
Iignidcance Of thanksgiving and praise.
Il is hard indeed 10 accept the DEGREES
II Providence when they remove rom
Is those 20 whom our hearts are close
y united. Try as we may. profess as
We viii. up from the depths OF our
.ouls comes the cry FOR the beloved
Who have been taken from us. But
when We come. one and an. rn unbr0k-
N band and take our places at the ta-
lle llled with the good things OF life.
hen in the fullness Of our hearts we
an give thanks not only for the plenty
which has been showercd upon us. but
or the presence OF those without
'nom our lives would De incomplete
nd fun Of sorrow.
It Is meet that before we enjoy the
elights Of a table laden with the deli
acies and dainties with which the sea-
on has furnished us. that we should
ender our tribuie OF praise and
hankfulness to the great Provider who
iveth at the proper time the harvest
field. orchard. meadow. forest and
iream. Il Is but common justice that
q would do this even 70 a friend who
as bestowed favOrs upon us How
Iuch more. then. 20 the great Creator
no gives not oniy the simplest. but
Iso the greatest. gifts Of our ilvosi
or the gift Of lfe' What is lifef
ne is the spirit Of God Himself When
Cd made man He breathed into bic
Dsirils His own breath and with It
fragment oi his own spiritual and
mortal being