Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-09
MAY DAY THOUGHTS.


The first day of May. Is there not
thrill in the very bought? Is there not
a mysticism in the in-change that a few
short hours have wrought? April dews
and sunny hours, Aprirs chills and
ApriPs showers warmed the earth and
chelled her. But May, that harbinger Of
springs promises fulfilled. There's no
hating in her mood all to her is fair
and good, Phoebus thrills her. Birds are
singing verwhere-redbirds, Knockers,
bIuejays share the ecstacy of Maytime.
Flowers are blooming. buds are swelling
in the woodland, this is Natures gay
time and 'all the world is glad.
Behold sower went forth to SOW;
and when he sowed, some seeds fell by
the waySide.:
Some fell upon stony places; ard
some fell among thorns; but others fell
into good ground, and brought forth
fruit"
This is the planting time. as well as
the playtime. And from the farmer we
may learn this lesson: Not only must
the seed be good, the soil fertile and the
season just right, but there must have
been previous cultivation or prepara-
ton. The sod must have had a stir
ring, turning over, even deep blowing
to hold the sunshine, froStS and dewS
of heaven before the seed are sown.
Then one needs patience and hope
There must be confidence in the meth
cd, in the seed and in the soil and as the
days come and go there must be no les
SEEMING of labor nor patience.
Sow with a generous hand:
Pause not for toll or pain;
Weary not through the heat of sum-
mer,
Weary not through the cold spring
rain:
But wait till the autumn comes,
For the sheaves of golden grain.
Then sow, for the hours are fleeing
And the seed must fall today
And care not what hands shall reap t.;
Or If you shall have passed away
Before the waving cornfields
May day. All, the thrills that have
possessed the children. My mind goes
back to Atlanta and 1 see the streets
gay with happy children. 1 see cars
loaded until l wonder If those boys can
really hold on until they get to the park
Then If one takes another car, for those
are specials" chartered to take Sunday
school classes, family parties or or
phan children to the place decided on for
the days outing, one will see thousands,
1t looks like, of children enjoying the
great gifts of a large hearted man. For
GRANTS park was an immense tract of
land given to the city of Atlanta for the
purpose of making people happy. 1t
comes ahead of any other gift, I think.
for Gods great outdoors is getting to
be luxury to be enjoyed only by the
fortunate.
The taxpayers of Atlanta keep the
park beautiful and have added all sorts
OF animals and flowers, a skating rink,
a vast place to spread dinners or sup
prs if there is threatening weather,
and the street car company has put the
special cars at picnics within the reach
of any organization or group. Some time
When planning a rip to Atlanta see If
you cannot. steal time from the marts
of commerce to visit that retreat to
simplicity and sane living
But May day and picnics, May time
and sowing time, May time and flower
time is not all We shall think about this
week. There comes Childrens day in
the Sunday schools, and Mothers day
everywhere. I am ashamed to say that
for the moment I've forgotten the name
of the woman who started this tribute
to mothers. Sufficient to say, however,
is that she builded wiser than she knew
in getting her friends and associates
to write a letter to their mother to
send flowers or to wear a white carna-
ton in honor of the day. She organized
great movement.
Sometimes when 1 see gnarled, twist
ed, toil-worn hands lovingly laid on the
heads of little children choke up, and
my eyes fill for who but a mother
knows the hours she has spent, the
hopes and plans she has cherished as
she toiled for the young people who
now tread on her toes in their efforts
to be close to her. And a prayer goes
up to the Father who spared not his
own SON. that she may rule wisely and
lovingly, yet keep her poise and keep
them close to her, that they may never
tread on that mother-heart in their eff
forts to get away from her. White
carnations have been chosen for that
Sunday and in my gallery of memory's