The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-11-27

Thanksgiving should be less a sea-
son than q spirit.
None is so poor hat he has no reason
for thanksgiving. lust to be alive is
ground for gratitude; the bible speaks
of life itself as a reward and a bless
Ing. Then to be alive in this wonder
full world, and in this marvellous age,
should evoke the thanks of even an
unimaginative person. Human COM
fort and human service were never so
easily attainable as at present. 1t la
often been pointed out that to live out
the allotted span Of life in this gener
alton is really to see n do more, in
substance, to live longer, than Methus-
elah.
"If anyone would tell you the short
est, surest way to all happiness and all
perfection says William Law, The
must tell you to make it a rule to your
self to thank II praise God for every
thing tina happens to you"
Work should be one of the reasons
| for rejoicing as we tabulate our bless
ings at this Thanksgiving time. 10
have work to do and to be able to DO
it are two sufficient causes for happi-
ness. Work is the salt of life, keeping
IL HUH ION AZ w biE'
However hard and dreary work may
at times seem, it is nevertheless one OF
the fundamental blessings.
Praise is the habit of heaven; it
should not be merely the occasional
practice Of earth.
And there is God. That he is, and
that he rules, and hat his rule is a
,,1a - -.;cIn,,, a nd lnya chnI1ll set n II
human hearts to ringing, even as the
hnrps of the angels are set to ringing.
God reigns; in that truth there is com
fort for every sorrow, light for every
darkness, peace for every pe~rpleXity.
The p~rofoundest reason thai man may
know for praising God is that there is
a God to praise.
SO long as there is a neighbor whom
we may in any way serve we have rea-
son to thank God that he lets us live.
Thanksgiving day is the only day If
the year by which the government OF
the individual states of the union Of
ficially recognize God, and our nationa
obligations to him. This visible sigr
of the truth that we are a Christian ma
ton, and hat our rulers honor Je,
hovah warrants thanksgiving, as vel
as earnest prayer that ours may be, II
very truth, and at all times, a natio1
whose God is the Lord.
National peace should produce ma
tional praise.
Earth's prayers are likest to heaven!
when they abound more in praise THAI
in petition.
The famous saying of the little boy
that pins have saved many person
lives-by not swallowing them" con
tains a Thanksgiving hint. AS we emu
merate our blessings, let us not forge
the calamities which have not hap
!, pened to US. We have escaped death
disaster. disease. War has not visite'
/, us, nor famine nor plague; floods AM
fire have laid low some communities
: but even in these we have seen tn
, spirit of ~resolute manhood assert itsel
r and the hand of ~brotEerly aid stretche
forth. Our escapes should be a part Q
: our Thanksgiving psalm of praise.
t He who can sincerely thank God i
adversely will some day have oppor
y tunity to praise him in prosperity.
: There is a tomorrow; thank God fo
that. After today's defeat comes tc
morrow's victory. and by the expert
ence gained today after today's labC
S comes tomorroW's rest; after pain, con
h fort; after disappointment, satisfac
e ton; after turbulence, peace; afte
S earth, heaven. For the good storehous
of tomorrow. with its rewards tha