28 of burden—then Ethiopia may begin to lift up her hands to God and herald the millenium of Christ. If, while I speak thus, there comes before any of you the image of bereaved households, and the thoughts of bleeding hearts, and of the fresh-made graves of the slain in war, yet even these are not incompatible with thanksgiving. Often does gratitude grow out of the .grave. Its roots dive down into the mould of the loved dead, hero, or martyr, and hug, and kiss, and feed upon the very bones of their decay, and so gather nutriment for the sweet blossoms of remembrance, and the mellow fruits of thanksgiving and praise. So let it be with us. Honored is that father who can to-day name a martyred hero in the person of his son. Blessed is that mother who has given the nursling of her bosom to save the life of our common mother from shame and death. And now need I add a word to remind you of those for whom your charities are asked to-day— the wounded and imprisoned soldiers, forced to share in rebel destitution, and so almost starving with the leavings of rebel poverty ? The living are worse off than the dead. While you remember these with gratitude, remember the others with your generous pity.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=