Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-12-07
rhanlspivinr Season Is with Us

1lduhSSANAAAS SS0~~A ,-s-,-
romorrov. the 18th. is the day Whieh
r,-s.i5ant Taft and Governor Brown have
anDoInted as the day for our people TO
meet in their churches and return thanks
TO Almighty God for mercies past anu
blessings for the future. and everyone
Vim Is well enough TO attend these serN-
ICES should undoubtedly go and swell the
volume OF praise and thanksgiving.
When We read the history of the chill
dren Of Israel in the Bible We under
stand the frequent calls to return thanks
in times OF prosperity and days OF fast-
ing and prayer I'm evil times OF adVersity-
Our forefathers who came over from
other lands TO escape persecution and TO
enjoy civil and religious liberty appointed
a dav OF thanksgiving because their
hearts were fun OF gratitude TO merciful
Heavenly Father for manifold and gra-
cious blessings. They instituted a relig-
ious anniversary TO witness their thanks
giving and they brought their children
and grandchildren together as Abraham
did his Household TO instruct them In
righteousness and judgment apd 10 show
TO the Lord in Heaven their desire 10 love
and obey him
We have kept along in this beaten path
in appointing days Of thanksgiving ana
going 70 church when We could spare the
NtT1e Lrurn DONG QNnEE rNnluE~ lnAAE peas
ing to Us We have turned Thanksgiving
day largely into a dag Of sports and the
casualties are sometimes as frequent as
on Fourth OF July celebrations. Baseball.
football and shooting accidents are pain
fully frequent
Some years ago / was absent from home
on Thanksgiving day. had made an ad-
dress for the Daughters OF the COnfed-
eracy In a south Georgia town on the
evening before. and expected to reach
home In time for a Thanksgiving supper
instead Of a dinner
But I missed connection with trains.
and dusk caught me waiting in the Ma
con depot for a delayed train to Atlanta
AS ! sat BY the window OF the ladies
waiting room saw a nicely dressed la
dy walking 10 and fro on the outside AS
the evening shades deepened she came
Inside. and took seat not far from me.
II has long been my habit to seek ac-
Quaintance with people I meet because
I rarely fail to find some good thoughts
II not good deeds resulting so we began
70 chat directly.
She was. I discovered. a widow with
one son. he about Is years old. That
morning he had gone to the country with
some companions and was expecting to
return on the trail that ! was anxious
to board
She had never given her consent before
for him to go hunting away from the
city. and the delayed train had given her
much anxiety She smiled fearful smile
when she said. 4 am foolish, suppose.
but this day has been so long. and so
fun Of anxiety that I should dread to
have another Ike H. All the things
which I have heard or read about. con-
rerning accidents with firearms. have
~ Har~a
been so nervous all the afternoon that
i could not amuse or employ myself. so
I came to the depot to wait the boys
return
I did my best 10 engage her mind with
various things. but could see that she
had one ear open for the train or maybe
something worse
As finally got on the train. the boys
got or. and she took time TO call TO me
that everything was right.
/ expect the mother had her Thanks
giving season that night. and I was so
glad for her that she was spared dis
tress but we all know that thousands OF
accidents do occur. with careless handling
OF firearms. and thousands OF homes have
been cloudy with gloom thereby. Some Of
the carefulest boys have met their fate
I'm company with careless ones. and do
think we should devote Thanksgiving day
TO other things beside rude sports.
Happy Is the people whose God is the
Lord" and the mercies we enjoy should
incline us 70 fervent gratitude
Family reunions are eminently right
and behtting the day, and feasting with
good cheer Is pleasant TO all who desire
10 make others happy; but there is dan
ger abroad when men and boys struggle
in rude sports for rivalry and mastery.
and many a story OF disaster has been
written OF the happenings Of other
THANKSGIVING days.