The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1905-11-25

III VE:.<l well the lessons Of hui
~. : Tr:SsY man experience, as far
lASyIA &h as you've gone, you Will
answer, 1.-THE best way
to spell Thanksgiving is Thanks
L-i-v-i-n-g."
Josh Billings says: Many peopf,
use their religion about as they would
a lif~e-preserver, putting it on only in
time OF danger, and they generally
wTonG side before"
Part of IL religion is supposed to
he cherishing a spirit of thankful
ness. The president of the United
States calls on us annually to give
thanks. A thousand other voices call
us daily to the same experience.
Do We respond?
Some do, after the style of a certain
expression too common among a
class of young people. Hand a gitt
on the a the handkerchief she has
dropped, and she answers: Thanks.
awfully." Give a waiter a tip. and
he responds: Thanks, awfully." Show
another the way to some Office which
he is looking for, and he touches MS
hat. saying: Thanks. awfully." Now,
isn't that absurd? Certainly it is I'M
1efined, undignified and utterly inap-
prOpIIate slang.
Yet to ME it expresses too force
fully the manner of much professedly
Christian thought. For example: A
man thinks a grOwl, because his baby
has had the whooping cough, though
he's nearly well. Why does he not give
thanks because the baby lived. H;s
neighbor's died.
"Rained for -four days steady" says
another a How about the II days
of continuous sunshine and balmy air
preceding? WELL" he says, Il for
got that. I suppose l ought to be
thankful" Now isn't that Thanks,
awfully?"
I'm getting so gray I'm startled
says some Beau Brummel. Wnv
aren't you thankful you've got hair
enough to turn gray? Your partne-
is bald as a quart-cup.
Be thankful, but live it. The nation
is learning this duty fast. Neighbor-
hood is no longer a geographical term
but means human need and ability to
help.
Christ for the world" We sing is in
the hymn book. But so is the next
line. THE world to Christ. we bring"
Here's some more:
The poor and those that mourn.
The weak and overborne,
SinSick and sorrow worn.
Whom Christ can heal"
But He will be pretty apt to do Il
through your word, your touch, your
pocketbook-yourself.
Poor little waif," was said to a little
r%agaruffin by a tender-hearted wom-
an why doesn't God tell somebody
about your needs?" He did" said the
child, pitifully, but Somebody forgot
about it,"
To forget-that is "Thanks-aw-
If the nation is grateful to-day.
it means her citizens are. We've
had the sword, our acrOss-the-saa-
neighbors have had it long enough.
But see! The sabre that cleft a foe
mans skull set wide open the door Of
human responsibility Before the eyes
If Christian men and women.
Thankful were we. for our own
peace. But Thanksgiving means ma
.ional and individual THANKSGIVING,
SO, awhile ago, with a sublime altru-
SIN, Il wealthy nation of 5000 900 lad
Itself at the feet of enslaved Cuba and
aid: Here are we! Our best youth,
)ur aElest generals, u guns, our mu-
lition and fortunes, to set you free"
t cost blood, ever a quarter of a NIL
ion men; it cost treasure; but in 100
lays the foe was conquered, and r.
100. 900 people set free.
Are we thankful for the still more
'ecent treaty Of peace? Yes! But
We are not worthy to stand as Amer
can citizens if We do not prove u
gratitude by meeting the tax assessor
lonorably, the laboring man fairly, the
,apitalist as fairly, and the need as
generously.
Let Us go to autumn's shrine and lay
here our garland Of thanksgiving.
and crimson, and gold. Leave
t there, thankfully, holly.
Then let us go to put crimson glories
md new tints of happiness in poor.
tarved, helpless lives. Maybe ome
,ody Is hungry for a CLINT Of gladnesS
n your office. Maybe in your home.
1ook about. If the people do thus
,ou end | are the people-the .natioI
yill. and the earth will laugh out in
Ter gladness to hail a true Thanks
lving day.
A Thanksgiving Thought.