The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1915-11-19
ysaIld Means
of
Thanksgiving

thanksgiving in the Language
from which it is derived really
means thought giving, and that
reminds me of the lines,
There Is nothing, good or bad,
But thinking makes it so.''
II we are not thankful it is our own
fault. There are few OF US whom for
tune has so abused, but on this one day
OF the year we cannot find something
10 be thankful about-if we bat think
I'VE can at least be thankful for the
free blessing of light, the blue sky so
clear and deep in the November days,
the sunshine that brightens the earth
and the life that runs in our veins.
There are few of us too, so poor we
cannot give thought of gratitude for
other blessings we have. There are
Few OF us SO placed in life that we
cannot help someone else to be thank
full II we try.
From the first Thanksgiving day
when Governor Bradford sent out men
to bring in wild turkeys for the feast.
On honor of the first harvest in Ply
mouth, there has been a general opin-
don that this is a harvest festival and
so 1t becomes home festival. That
Is one of the blessings of the day to
mothers and fathers. They can give
thanks In truth when they see their
children and grandchildren around
them. 1t ought to be in the minds of
sons and daughters, pleasant duty,
to pay especial attention to their par
ents on this day. If they cannot be
at home they can at least send let
ter or a telegram of greeting to the
home folks"
The thought of Thanksgiving being
a home festival sometimes is STUN
bling block in the minds of men and
women, who have either no home ties
or are prevented by circumstances
from being in their own home circle or
from Joining the circle of their
friends. So they shrug their mental
shoulders and say to themselves, Why
tshould l be thankful? No one cares.
Something like that was the first
thought Of a young woman, alone in
a large city, making her own way In
the world. Her second thought was
better She reasoned: IF am alone
here with no one to give me Thanks
lgiving dinner there must be a great
many others in the same position. and
maybe some who cannot buy even =
Igood dinner.
II I'm going to show any gratitude |
for the blessings of health and |
strength and courage, III look out for
someone else" She did so, by going to |
the superintendent of newsboy home |
and asking for three boys who had no
relatives or friends in the city who
should be her guests at Thanksgiv
ing dinner The superintendent en-
tered heartily into the plan. On
Thanksgiving day she made these
boys her real guests (not charity
guests, in every sense. There was
a turkey dinner with all the "fxings.'
In the afternoon BIT best of all, she
became acquainted with them to such
a degree that these boys looked upon
her as a friend, and showed in diff
ferent ways later how much they ap-
preciated the Thanksgiving treat.
4 SCHOOL teacher way out on the
N exile She had no friends or rela-
ives within two thousand miles. At
irst she did not look forward with any
pleasure to the first Thanksgiving
lay to be spent among strangers. But
t is her disposition to make the most
Il life. If she cannot have what she
likes she looks for something to like
n what she has. She decided to give
omeone a good Thanksgiving din
Ter. 1t was out of the question for
er to entertain anyone and the idea
4 Just sending basket to a worthy ,
amily did not seem to be sufficient. :,
he wanted a personal touch some :
ow. She consulted with a woman, !.
rho, while not social worker, knew
ne city and the needs of many a fam
y. Through this woman she found a :
idOw with two sons who was just !.
bout ready to give up the struggle
nd break up her home. She had = =
cen sick, was discouraged and lone.
and was losing spirit and energy :,
he school teacher took in the situa- :
on with keen sympathy. A basket of
'oceries, a chicken, vegetables and
uft made a Thanksgiving dinner pos -
BILE. 1t was a dinner that more than y
d the bodies of the mother and chill %
EN-. 1t put new courage into them. :,
ne school teacher forgot her own -
neliness in being thankful she could -
nd hand to less fortunate sister q.
le mother shouldered her RESPONSE ~
titles with new courage which never
eyed until finally a neat and com 10
rtable home for herself and her chill u
en- was the result 81
It pays sometimes to replace For -
lat am about to receive make me AZ
Ily thankful" by another prayer WI
or what am about to give make ID, ve
ly thankful" 'n'
:AD / LOSE, SAID THE TURK de-
oc<
~ N< va