St. Tammany farmer., 1904-12-17

ways 10 nome ana 1TleuQS anu lue O1o
avocations and activities, and forgot to
be thankful. Only one turned back to
acknowledge the blessing which had
come into his life and to recognize the
One from Whom had come this gracious
gift. Only one out Of ten! What
proportion! Does it fairly represent the
amount Of gratitude in the world, to-day.
among the peoples who recognize God
as the supreme ruler and creator and
giver Of all things? May we accept it
as true index to conditions to-day?
These are questions which we may we'll
ponder at this season of the year when
the harvests have been gathered and
prosperity is crowning the land as the
golden harvest moon crowns the star
gemmed heavens. The nation is called
to give thanks; to render unto God graf
itude and praise for His manifold gifts
and blessings. Will you and I be among
the thankful minority, or shall We for
get to be grateful?
THE legend or story is told that two
/ angels were once sent to earth to
gather up the prayers of men. One was
to fill his basket with the petitions Of
mankind and the other was to gather
their thanksgiving. Ere many days they
wended their way back to the Fathers
house. one with his basket heaped and
running over and heavy with the in
Vulnerable petitions of men, the other
with sad and heavy heart, but light and
well-nigh empty basket, for the thanks
giving of men was but seldom heard and
then so briefly that there was little to
be found by the angel. diligent though
his search had been. This legend,
though it be but a story, forcibly en-
phasizes the sad lack there is in the
human heart Of true gratitude to God for
His manifold gifts and mercies., 1t re-
minds us that while the few are thank
full, the vast majority are either care
lessly or willfully ungrateful. The
sweet notes Of the lark never came from
the hoarse, Shiny throat Of the bull frog
In the bog, and the sweet strains Of
Thanksgiving never came from the heart
immersed in the cares and self-interests
g.
be soaring above self into the blue
Heavens Of Gods love and presence be-
fore the heart will swell with new song
and the voice will vibrate with the CRATE
full chords Of praise.
WYE MAY not reach Paul's ideal,
" and in everything give thanks"
We may not realize that state of per-
petual thanksgiving which it is the
privilege Of Gods children to enjoy,
but We may have our seasons Of
thanksgiving, nay we must have them
II the heart is to be kept sweet and
the life free from sordidness. For the
366 days Of blessing OF the past year,
there should have been 366 days in
which grateful recognition was given
unto God for all His benefits and mer-
cies, for not day has come and gone
but has been laden with its gifts for
you. Perhaps you have not realized
it, because your eyes have been holden
by the things of this life. by your own
desires and ambitions and purposes.
and you were not able to see. You
were looking for the thing you had
set your heart on. and because you did
not find it you turned petulently away
and marked the day down in your cal
endar 40 one Of the dark and empty
days Of your life. You were looking
for sunshine when you needed the
darknesb to mellow your life and pre-
pare you to find new beauties In the
sunbeams when they should again fall
athwart your pathway. You had set
your sail for the placid sea and the
favoring breeze, and when your bark
was caught in the storm, and contrary
winds drove it away from the desired
haven into strange and unpromising
harbor, you rebelliously refused to ac-
commodate yourself to the new and
unexpected conditions. The cargo
with which your craft was laden was
Just what was needed in that place,
and it was there you could have found
just what you required ere you set
sail for the harbor you had before
wished to reach. Yes, each day has
had Its treasure for you, and the
spade Of gratitude would have dug
down and uncovered it for you II You
would but have used it.
DUT IL you have not reached the
- ideal and studded each day with the
Jewel of thanksgiving. surely there is
room for one day of thanksgiving, one
dav in which YOU may search for the
blessings and kindle the fires on graft
tude's hearthstone. Don't say that the
blessings are not there; do not declare
that the year has been the darkest of
Ill your life: do not marshal before
you all the black days; do not bid