(from the collection of Lincoln's
papers in the Library of
America series, Vol II, pp.
520-521).
The year that is drawing towards its 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 of 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 unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes
seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their 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 theatre of military conflict; while that
theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and
navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength
from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have
not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had
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 battle-field; 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 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 ascriptions justly due to Him for
such singular deliverances 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, tranquillity and Union.
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I
have included many of my favorite things about Thanksgiving on the
following pages. Enjoy your visit.
Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving home page.
Do
you know who to thank?
My feelings about what is
really important about this holiday.
Abraham
Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation
Recipes
Some of my favorites and some
new ones that I am going to try this year. there are three pages of these recipes.
How to prepare
fresh pumpkin
You haven't had pumpkin pie
until you have had pumpkin pie made with 'real'
pumpkin
Poetry
All kinds of fun
things.
Jokes
Thanksgiving Word Puzzle
I like to make word search puzzles. Click on the above titles to find that puzzle,
Win my Awards
Apply for one of my awards for Thanksgiving sites.
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