Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-22
'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA What We Have to
 Be Thankful For


 MMY SISTERS-Let HIS live one day IWH at a time. Thanksgiving morn ing 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 comfortable living, to be- gin. Nine out of ten will have one of the best Thanksgiving dinners of our lives. Is not that something to be thankful for? Think of the thousands who literally starve every year in h. dia 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 Q te our Thanksgiving turkey, or maybe it was only a chicken. But it was good all the same.
 But you have not a sure living, and you don't know what you are going to do? Well, 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 a living in this land of oppor- tunity. 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 it be labor with her hands, and carry it on bravely till she gets the employment she wants. When others slump from headache, in- digestion, Weariness, nerves or dumps she can stand up glorious and not give down. The woman who has health ought to be radiantly joyful because of 1 1t each Thanksgiving day-and all days.
  the highest good and favor bestowed on us.
 But maybe for the time, only tempo rarily, you have neither health nor wealth. A comfortable, sure living l should be accounted wealth on Thanks giving day. But if you have neither that nor good health no doubt you l have dear friends who are seeing you 1 across the narrows in this present pinch. Be thankful with deep gratitude ! for them. An old English poet wrote:
 count myself in nothing else so happy ! As in soul remembering my good ! friends. .
 Rejoice because of them and very ] particularly let them know this i Thanksgiving season that you appreci-
 ate them and their goodness. Thus will l you make them happy too.
 l But you haven't any friends who will ! do anything for you? Then I'm afraid l it is your own fault. Have you been ] always helpful to others when you
 could be? Have you been to them sin 1 cere, kindly and considerate, gentle
 hammered and sweet tempered, putting
 7urself always in their places when
 .ou 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. 1 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 l they themselves are so poor they can
 do nothing for you beyond giving you l a Thanksgiving dinner. Well, then, eat the dinner thankfully and joyfully; ! make yourself merry as you can for l the sake of the rest
 Jane Gray Swisshelm, the pioneer l American woman editor, one of the most heroic souls that ever helped to bowl this earth onward into the light. said once, T could be happy in a poor house if it was clean"
 Though Thanksgiving days more than one she had supped with poverty, yet she said that. She had mental re- l sources within herself which could have | lighted a dungeon with radiance. She
 said, too, "Oh, it is good to live and ] love and suffer, good to know that
 nothing can harm us so long as we our ! selves are in the right
 1 That, after all, is the best blessing to 1 keep thanksgiving in our hearts for 1 life itself. Because of life we may l learn. While we have it we may yet
 strive for and gain all that lacks to us.
 Oh, my sisters, be glad most of aN 1 for life itself this Thanksgiving time. l JANE MOSES.