THANKSGIVING DAY by Frances Eugenia Bolton

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 28, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 46.

THANKSGIVING DAY.

By Frances Eugenia Bolton

The first veil of winter floats soft in the air, The dun colors blend with the gray of the sky, A spirit of tenderness broods o'er the mere, To flowers and to sunshine we've said our "Good-by."

"Hush! Hush!" seems a voice through the welkin to say, And footsteps grow silent in soft-falling snow. "It is time for returning and rest and to pray; It is time for thanksgiving ere onward we go."

The bins are all bursting, the apples are stored, The pumpkins and squashes laugh 'round in the stall, The fagots are plenty, and loaded the board, And the gay, merry winter is coming to all.

"Hail, friend! Hail, old comrade! Hail, relatives dear! My heart, like my barn, is too full for my need, Eat with me; drink with me; God gives for our cheer, Food, raiment, love's treasures, and the fair future's seed."

Now, bowing the head, while the heart overflows, Rememb'ring the chorus, the word, and the psalm, Forgetting our cares, putting by all our woes, To-day we will pour out Love's comforting balm.

Spread it out, pour it out, to the famished and sad; Take baskets and bundles and bless every soul. O, merry our hearts! Aye, so merry and glad, Let the day go to joy under Heaven's control!

"We bless Thee, O Father of light and of love; We bless Thee; we praise for December and May; We join with the angels in anthems above, And tune up our hearts for this Thanksgiving Day." FRANCES EUGENIA BOLTON.