The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-11-24
THANKSGIVING REvERIEs.

The autumn OF 1921 waned on a pros
porous community, that of Plymouth,
Mass, was both healthy and wealthy.
Sickness, although it had destroyed one.
hall OF the company of Pilgrims had
ceased, and the crops, as whole. had
been good, the peas alone failing. All
OF the houses in the settlement had been
put into condition and a goodly stock of
furs and prepared lumber had been made
ready for export to England by the next
ship. The waters swarmed with fish and
sea fowl were abundant. The call of the
wild turkey was heard in the woods and
the patter of the feeting deer was moth
ing sti ange. The summer was past;
the harvest ended. The Pilgrims de-
cided upon period of recreation. The
Governor sent out four huntsmen. who
in one day secured enough game to last
the colony whole week Hospitality
boring settlement, who brought ninety
people with him. The guests remained
for thirty days. The company engaged
In rounds of amusements, in which mill
tary drills and religious services formed
part. Thus heartily and loyalty. was
inaugurated the great New England fes-
tival Of Thanksgiving. For two centur-
les it has continued to be observed, at
first mostly in the Eastern States, but it
now has become national, its annual
return finding a welcome from boundary
to boundary, both at the top and bottom
and either extremity of the nation.
X y
Thanksgiving Day is the one dav in
the year when the nation turns to heaven
IN thanks for its preservation. The life
OF the nation is the principal considera-
ton; not only in life but its health, and
its preservation in that condition in
which it was established by the fathers
of the country. Men can thank God for
their accumulations or suppcate Him
to tighten their burdens, but that is not
the purpose of national thanksgiving.
The nation itself, the political structure
which was framed and handed down-it
is the preservation of this for which the
people are thankful
The Thanksgiving Day of a nation is
an act of grace truly impressive in its
significance The more thoughtful lead
ers of our people will lay less emphasis
upon the material prosperity of the
United States than upon its tremendous
social and moral opportunities. For
bountiful crops and heavy exports for
high wages and increasing values, it is
well TO be thankful for, in so far as these
things minister to the life of the spirit,
the makings of manhood, and the en-
rlchlng OF the average experience. But
for the enlargement of our ideals. the
raising of the standard of public duty,
the increasing care for the weak and i'm
mature. the recognition of responsible
tiles higher than the mere piling up of
individual fortunes and a government
suplus-for these. things we may we'll
give thanks.
OF all our national holidays none is
more universally or more joyously cele-
brated than that of Thanksgiving Day.
Though of New England origin and for
many years confined almost exclusively
to that section. it has slowly but surely
extended itself all over our great coun-
try.
1t is fortunate that the world cannot
discern the hidden things of the heart
There we can store our grief to ponder
over 1t at our leisure and give to the
world only the smile that a benehcent
Providence may impart to our souls and
that will strengthen us to sing hymn
OF thanksgiving. While sorrow may
reign within, yet may peace and hope and
confiding trust surround every reader
of this column. Heaven bless you all
this Thanksgiving Day of 1911.
1T cannot be that earth is mans only
abiding place. 1t cannot be that our
life is only bubble cast up by the
ocean of eternity to float moment upon
its waves and then sinks into moth
ingness. Else why is it that the high and
glorious aspirations which leaps like
angels from the temple of our hearts are
forever wandering unsatisfied? Why is
It that the rainbow and the cloud come
over us with beauty that passes off and
leaves us to muse of their loveliness?
Why is it that the stars which hold their
festival around the midnight throne are
set so high above the grasp of our limited
faculties and forever mocking us with
their unapproachable glory? And finally,
why is it that the bright forms of human
beauty are presented to our view and
then taken from us, leaving the thousand
streams of our affections to flow back
in an Alpine torrent upon our hearts?
We are born for higher destiny than
that of earth. There is realm where
the rainbow never fades. where the stars
will spread out before us like the islands
that slumber on the ocean and where the
beautiful beings which pass before us like
shadows will stay forever in our pres
ence." In these beautiful thoughts we
can all find much to be thankful for, even
if vacant chair is in our home and the
dark side of life seems turned towards us
They will place silver lining back of
any cloud. AS matter of fact we all
have much to be thankful for