The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-22
WHAT WE HAVE TO
 BE THANKFUL FOR.

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 My sisters-Let us live one day at a time. Thanksgiving morning let us con over in our minds the things we have to be grateful for. Most of us have a sure and at least moderately comforta- ble living to begin. Nine out of ten will have one of the best Thanksgiving din- ners of our lives. Is not that something to be thankful for? Think of the thou sands who literally starve every year in India, in China. in Russia! Even in the United States scores of human beings, little children, women and sometimes men, have died of starvation since last you and I ate our Thanksgiving turkey. or maybe it was only a chicken. But 1t was good all the same.
 But you have not a sure living, and you don't know what you are going to do? We'll, then, you probably have health The woman who has health has no right to complain of anything in this life. With that blessing she can get the good living for herself. the best kind of liv- ing in this land of opportunity. She can even help other people.
 The woman of good sense and good health can do anything. Health is a kingly heritage. The woman who has it can depend on herself at all times and places. In the industrial world she can take the proffer of any work that comes her way, though 1t be labor with her hands, and carry 1t on bravely till she gets the employment she wants. When others slump from headache. indigestion, weariness nerves or dumps she can stand up glorious and not give down. The woman who has health ought to be ra- diantly joyful because of 1t each Thanks giving day-and all days. Just common l. t--E and favor bestowed on us.
 But maybe for the time, only tempo rariIy you have neither health nor wealth. comfortable, sure living should be ac- counted wealth on Thanksgiving Day. But if you have neither that nor good health no doubt you have dear friends who are seeing you across the narrows in this present pinch. Be thankful with deep gratitude for them. An old English poet wrote:
 I count myself in nothing else so happy As in soul remembering my good
 friends.
 Rejoice because of them and very par ticularly let them know this Thanksgiving season that you appreciate them and their goodness. Thus will you make them hap py too.
 But you haven't any friends who will do anything for you? Then I'm afraid It is your own fault. Have you been al- ways helpful to others when you could be? Have you been to them sincere. kindly and considerate, gentle hammered and sweet tempered. putting yourself al- ways in their places when you thought to chide or blame them? Look back over it all, this Thanksgiving, and reflect whether you have or have not been these things to them. If not then begin now and be thankful with all your soul that you still have time This, next to life itself. is the matter to rejoice most over at Thanksgiving-that we have yet time to mend past mistakes. We always may be what we might have been"
 But maybe you deserve good friends; therefore, of course have them, only they themselves are so poor they can do noth- ing for you beyond giving you a Thanks giving dinner Well. then. eat the dinner thankfully and joyfully; make yourself as merry as you can for the sake of the rest.
 Jane Gray Swisshelm, the pioneer Amer ican woman editor, one of the most he- roic souls that ever helped to bowl this earth onward into the light. said once q could be happy in a poorhouse if 1t was clean"
 Though Thanksgiving days more than one she had supped with poverty, yet she said that. She had mental resources within herself which could have lighted dungeon with radiance. She said, too. "Oh, it is good to live and love and suf- fer, good to know that nothing can harm us so long as we ourselves are in the right
 That, after all. is the best blessing to keep thanksgiving in our hearts for-life itself. Because of life we may learn. While we have 1t. we may yet strive for and gain all that lacks to us
 Oh. my sisters, be glad most of all for life itself this Thanksgiving time. IanA LhnSe2.