In Nov. 27 Issue

Sometimes it is easy to think of all the bad things—bombings, murders, illness, misfortune the ailing economy —in the world than the good things.

But we must realize that there are good things, even in difficult times, for which we can give thanks.

Now think back to the first Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims endured death, disease and numerous hardships in their quest for freedom. The Pilgrims, being unfamiliar with the New World, knew little of how to grow the crops for food that they so desperately needed.

The Native Americans showed them how to grow and harvest the necessary crops. The Pilgrims, given what they had been through, could have taken that knowledge and run with

it, without giving a second thought to the graciousness of the Native Americans. Instead, the Pilgrims invited them to share in their bounty as a way of expressing their thanks. And so as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, let us reflect on our reasons to be thankful and resolve ourselves to give thanks—both in word and in action—even after our Thanksgiving celebration is over. The following is the proclamation

of President Abraham Lincoln which initiated the day of celebration we now hold as Thanksgiving.

A Proclamation.

The Year that is drawing to a

close, has been filled with the

blessings of fruitful fields and

healthful skies. To these bounties,

which are so constantly enjoyed

that we are prone to forget the

source from which they come, others

have been added, which are so

extraordinary a nature, that they

cannot fail to penetrate and soften

even the heart which is habitually

insensible to the ever watchful

providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of

unequaled magnitude and severity,

which has sometimes seemed to

foreign States to invite and to provoke

the aggression, peace has

been preserved with all nations,

order has been maintained, the

laws have been respected and

obeyed, and harmony has prevailed

everywhere except in the

theater of military conflict; while

that theater has been greatly contracted

by the advancing armies

and navies of the Union.

Needful diversion of wealth and

strength from the fields of peaceful

industry to the national

defense, have not arrested the

plough, the shuttle or the ship; the

axe has enlarged the borders of our

settlements, and the mines, as well

of iron and coal as of the precious

metals, have yielded even more

abundantly than heretofore.

Population has steadily

increased, notwithstanding the

waste that has been made in the

camp, the siege, and the battlefield;

and the country, rejoicing in

the consciousness of augmented

strength and vigor, is permitted to

expect continuance of years with

large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised

nor hath any mortal hand worked

out these great things. They are the

gracious gifts of the Most High

God, who, while dealing with us in

anger for our sins, hath nevertheless

remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper

that they should be solemnly,

reverently and gratefully acknowledged

as with one heart and one

voice by the whole American

People.

I do therefore invite my fellow

citizens in every part of the United

States, and also those who are at

sea and those who are sojourning

in foreign lands, to set apart and

observe the last Thursday of

November next, as a day of

Thanksgiving and Praise to our

beneficent Father who dwelleth in

the Heavens.

And I recommend to them that

while offering up the ascription's

justly due to Him for such singular

deliverance's and blessings, they

do also, with humble penitence for

our national perverseness and disobedience,

commend to His tender

care all those who have become

widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers

in the lamentable civil strife

in which we are unavoidably

engaged, and fervently implore the

interposition of the Almighty hand

to heal the wounds of the nation,

and to restore it as soon as may be

consistent with the Divine purposes

to the full enjoyment of peace,

harmony, tranquility, and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have

hereunto set my hand and caused

the seal of the United States to be

affixed.

Done at the City of Washington,

this Third day of October, in the

year of our Lord one thousand

eight hundred and sixty-three, and

of the Independence of the United

States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President:

Abraham Lincoln