Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-14
Aunt Dorothy's Corner

My Dear Children:
BY the time you read this letter you Will
all be looking forward to Thanksgiving
day with its many pleasant features.
L am very glad that this year 1 will be
right here In America instead of being
abroad az was last Thanksgiving. Proba-
bly, you all know that it is only In this
country we are lucky enough to have SUCH
a day of good cheer and fun. No wonder
we have it here, though; We would truly
show ourselves ungrateful. indeed. II we
failed to set aside this one day, at least, TO
thank the Giver of All for great gifts to US.
We all know many wonderful places ana
things this country of ours contains. how
whole cities grow up in few years, how
our commerce increases, magnificent monu-
ments are erected. charitable institutions
founded. etc. We can recall with pardona-
BILE pride the many great and noble men
and women such Washington, Lincoln,
Harriet Beecher Stowe. Mckinley, Philips
Brooks and many others that have been
prominent in our history. We know the al
most incalculable wealth OF our lana, we
can picture to ourselves Its miles and miles
of grain fields. its far-stretching timber
lands and Its great mines.
The thousands of miles of railways. its
mighty rivers, forests and mountains, lakes,
all the wonderful things, which We one and
all as Americans. have our share In. When
we think of all this l hope 1t will be, not
with any DDaStful prize OF Il SeHSt VI ptlliS
delighted we have something better than
someone else but with deep thankfulness
that this dear country of ours has been so
favored and has had all these things given
1t for our use and enjoyment. Last Thanks
giving day / happened to be riding in a
bus through one of the poorest districts In
London. We had gone only few blocks
when an old woman got in with a torn,
ragged shawl over her gray head and face
from which every trace of joy had long
since been driven by bitter poverty and toll.
A friend of mine. at whose house had
been lunching, had given me a magnificent
bunch of red and white roses and l was
holding them up to my face enjoying their
delicious fragrance. when felt timid pull
at my sleeve. i looked around quickly and
found the poor woman's eyes fixed on my
beautiful flowers while she murmured so
low could hardly catch the words: Roses.
oh how fine. lady. can't l smell them real
close Just once?' Her whole face was trans
formed with delight as she bent toward
them. Il think they are beautiful. too
wouldn't you like to take these, l would
like you to have these" Well children. II
you have ever noticed the expression OF
some boy or girl when they get the first
glimpse of the Xmas tree. or received
something they had long been asking good
old Santa Claus for. you can picture to
yourself exactly the expression of this poor
woman when 1 put the flowers into her
hands. Thanks, lady. thanks, she said"
and it was just then that 1 remembered 1t
was Thanksgiving day far away in Ameri-
ca, and somehow, although there was no
such Il fashion in the country / was in.
just felt that l was having little Thanks
giving all of my own-What could be more
truly a matter to give thanks for than hay
ing been shown the way to give so much
pleasure to one less fortunate than oneself?
/ hope you will all have the very incest kind
of a Thanksgiving my little friends. It's
too bad the turkeys won't enjoy it as much
as you will. but they will receive so much
attention think they ought to be satisfied
don't you? Aunt Dorothy will soon write
to you again and in the meantime, l am
yours sincerely.
THE CHILDREN'S EDITOR.