AMERICA'S THANKSGIVINGS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 41, 16 February 1918, Page 13

AMERICA'S THANKSGIVINGS.

WOMEN'S NOBLE SENTIMENTS,; - .OVERSEAS FOR FREEDOM (By Anne Lewis Pierce). -» ~.~ Let us be glad together that the pas- t sionate love of freedom that made the Pilgrim Fathers set sail in fragile ships to brave the unknown terrors of the\ Innoepl- ' table New England coast is driving us baclc over the seas in Dreadnoughts to face tlia known horrors of modern warfare.

When that spirit dies there can be no more thanksgiving in America. As long as this spirit lives ir is always Thanksgiving Day, whatever happens, or whatever; we may have or may not have for dinner.

Let us give thanks mat years of prosperity and fatness, years of peace an<* security, have not served to make us -enr tlrely forget that unless we love freedom more than life, we are already as one deads, unless we know the difference between real peace and selfish security, we are already, a conquered people.

Let us give thanks for our strength, onf wealth and our opportunities garnered under the protection of even a dawning democracy, and for the chance to pour them out without for the spreift of democracy to every corner of our worlds

! THANKSGIVING, 1917. j ; (By GRACE ELLERT CHANNING.) \ Give thanks, give thanks, America, ' ■•■ God calls you forth again! Again he lifts the torch that lights The vision in the brain— The living light that leaps lc flre Of life along the vein.

Give thanks, O mother Country, For sons who, long time lulled Luxuriously, by honeyed tongues, Till youth's fine cars were dulled. Yet heard and answered Freedom when She summoned forth ten million men.

Give thanks—for hearts made one and high ■ - ->-"-irf For the high enterprise; For darkness lifted from our minds. Earth's bandage from our eyes; Thanks—for strong souls made eager fo» The perfect sacrifice.

For faiths re-risen, like a star, For loyalties re-born; For all who shall be—all who are Found worthier; for the cross, the thorn,. The lance of parting in the side; Even for our broken hearts that break j For honour's sake Bravely; they shall be healed by pride In one who makes herself again The star-hope o£ a world of men.

But most—give thauks, America, You come not all too late; God grants you still, to live or die Nobly, one hour of Fate; Give thanks, O land He framed so great, That hour has not passed by!

Give lowly thanks, my Country, With proud and humble head, That you snail share with those whe

share With the immortal Dead; That on the holiest Field of earth, Lives you gave birth are shed.

Thanks!—for this Harvest reaped at last Of sowings long ago;

For strength, from the adamantine Past, Again to nobly sow

Seed nobler, till that richest-reddened field White harvest to a whiter Future ylel4>