The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-11-26

sewn on to cover the holes. aid
keep out the snow when she went
to her work. She could fluid only
work enough to keep ber busy about
TWO days in each week and this
work Melted her two and one half
dollars. She supported(?) herself
and five children on that meager
sum, and. mind you, she paid three
dollars per mouth for the dingy
appololy for a room. Where was
her husband you ask? Several
months before our visit he had been
detected trying to dispose of sto-
len case Of empty beer bottles. the
outcome was that he went to Joliet,
While his wife had to shift for her.
self aud her children, aud many
a time found them going hungry to
bed with the knowledge that when
they awakened there would be no
breakfast, either.
We asked her how she had spent
Thanksgiving and she replied,
We'll, we didn't eat any breakfast
or dinner, excepting lm,le soup.
but we have saved loaf of bread
and dish of beans for supper, so
il wont he SO tad after ALL" We
next asked her if she had anything
to thankful for and with brlmming
eyes she said, Yes, I've great
deal to he thankful for: l have my
children, aud enough work to give
them food t" keep them with me.
But one thing | am more than
thankful for Is that Tom, my hus.
band, will soou be home again."
Yes, dear reader, no matter
where you go, into the prison. the
mansion, the streets or the most sor-
rowful and wrecked howell, you
will tind that there Is something to
he thankful for. be it ever 80 small.
TO the boys behind the bars we
will say that we all have one thing
to he thankful for. and that is,
That life lies before us with all Its
opportunities to make good, if we
will but WILL to do So! Let us lie
thankful for that. Regrets are USE
less and hours spent in pnndering
over the past are but wasted time.
Plan for the future; opportunity
lies before you. Decide what that
future shall be So far as you are
capable of making it. and then. grit
your teeth, put your shoulder to
the heel aud put your plans into
practical operations: make your the
cries into realities to the hest of
your ability and never say: it cant
lie done!'
When you are ready and willing
to make a change il your plan of
living aud bend all your energy to
the attainment of right living. then
you are taking the first step towards
success when you begin TO carry
out the plans you have laid down to
follow, and when next Thanksgiv-
ing Day rolls around you will find
you have accomplished something
10 I've thankful for.
Don't become discouraged when
you see everything going against
you-the world wasn't made in
day-but buckle on the armor as it
were, and determine to persevere
despite of all the obstacles that may
he thrown down before you. Get
started right and then do not allow
anything or anybody to persuade
you ID devia,e. You will find many
people really TO help you as soon as
you show an incllnation to better
your condition, and get new
start III life. Until you make SER
ious effort To do better aud he bet
ter. you need not be surprised to
meet with the cold shoulder from
people whose friendship and en-
would be- of in.s,im-
able to you.
Why no, decide on this Thanks
giving day that you will be a MAN in
the future; that you will rebuild
where heretofore you have torn
down? If you will 80 decide you
will at least be thankful that you
have taken the right s,ep. and then
keep on going upward. Success
awaits you.