The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-12-01
THANKSGIVING DAY.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving day. At /,
the call of cur magistrates, all over
this great nation of ours the people
will gather in sanctuaires, and school
houses. convention halls and other
places where people congregate and
spend an hour in Thanksgiving serv-
ices. This custom is peculiar to the
American people We stop in the rush
of business and turn aside for one brief
hour to return thanks to the giver OF
every good and perfect gift, for mer-
cies and blessings innumerable. We
come to God because we are his crea-
lures. and we realize that he is in
fnitelv good and kind TO all his crea-
lures. He has bestowed upon us the
gift of being. and all the blessings and
mercies that come to us as nation
and as individuals. At this time we
look up to Him with hearts filled with
,thankfulness. and sometimes through
!, our tears We dimly strive to recount
and remember his goodness and mercy.
, In the year past many things have
come to us that were not of our choos-
ing. We that have strayed away and
wandered far afield would like to come
back and try to look up into his face,
and in some feeble. hating way give
thanks for the blessings we have failed
TO recognize when we received them.
At this time the heart grows tender.
and our hard natures are softened and
we long for the guidance of the Divine
hand leading us as it were by the hand
like little children through all the dark
and dangerous places with which life
is beset
Away out toward the Pacific Coast
the train carries one along mountain
sides. and over dangerous passes,
through dark tunnels and over yawn-
ing ulysses ard by and by We come n
sight of the ocean lying out before rs
with its changing wonders and its
limitless expanse. a picture OF peace
the peace that passes all understand
iug. So it seems on these Thanksgiy,
ing days. After the hurry, and hustle
and rush of busy life We pause for one
brief hour to remember and thank the
one from whom We receive every bless
ing. In the year agone there have
been dark days. Loved ones may
have been taken. A father or mother
or mayhap a little child has been givef
up and we have been blinded by tears
But today whole nation turns its face
toward God and We reach out ant
struggle up toward Him, and find com
! fort and happiness in the exercise ]
is a time for deep meditation Whe'
/ We. like tired children who have wand
r cred faA afield during the toilsome dav
~et,-r- ta Give thanks and praise.
Z is said. that away down in tie blu
t DEPTHS IF the ocean there is a place o
, absolute rest and quiet. place that
!. rot affected by the storms that rage O.
! TIE surface. So il should be on thes
i Thanksgiving davs We should be abl
i to get away from the burdens an
Z cares Of the tangled hank OF hums
Z existence, and take an inventory G
i. life. it's manifold ard changing scenes
/. 1t Is good ti~ie for high resolves an
0 noble ambitions. i is said the Engiis
Y iark never sings while sitting rpo
). the earth. but it is when he scars alof
far up in the sunlight that he break
= the eternal stiffness Of the skies wit
II his notes Of giadness. and sings h
4 sweest song. So let Thanksgiving da
r be to all Of us a time or renewal
It faith and a pledge Of better servie
and a better life.