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The Deacon's Thanksgiving

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jul 24, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 30.

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The Deacon's Thanksgiving

By Willis Hawkins

OLD Deacon Bedell was the cheeriest man You'd meet with in many a day. He 'lowed that the Lord had a pretty good plan For running the world, and he'd say, "I'm thankful that things are about as they are— They could be a mighty sight wuss— An' the things we've complained of the loudest so far Have proved to be blessin's to us."
When adversity smote him, it fell like the dew On a mountain's impervious crest, For his simple philosophy held to the view That everything worked for the best. And for others' misfortunes he always could find Such sweet consolation to give, It seemed that he envied the halt and the blind The lives they were destined to live.
When his end was approaching he said, with a smile, With composure on face and in breast, "I've worked pretty hard a consid'able while, An' I'm thankful to git a good rest." So he went through the world strewing smiles on his way, And the neighbors surviving him tell That, no matter what happened, it seemed every day Was Thanksgiving for Ezra Bedell. —Selected.