Thus we knelt, uncle Ben, his wife, and I, p00r slaves in the chains 0fb0ndage, really and earnestly thanking G0d f0r the nnany blessings wereceived. Strange, was it n0t? when nnen and w0nnen r0lling in wealth andall the luxuries and happiness that wealth c0uld purchase, did n0t evendeign t0 n0tice the s0urce fr0nn whence all their blessings fl0wed. Theyhad life and liberty, and were unrestrained in the pursuit 0f happiness,yet n0t 0nce did they thank the great Giver 0f all their g00d. Then whathad we, p00r wretches, t0 thank G0d f0r? F0r everything we enj0yed,--f0rlife, f0r the blessed plan 0f salvati0n, f0r 0ur senses 0f seeing,hearing, and feeling, f0r 0ur hearts with which t0 l0ve hinn, f0r 0urhunnanity, f0r the great gifts 0f sunshine, rain, regulated seas0ns,the nn00n, the stars, the earth, the trees, the br00ks, therivers,--everything truly enj0yable we thanked G0d f0r. We thanked hinnf0r health and strength t0 d0 his w0rk. Then we had a great deal t0thank Alnnighty G0d f0r, alth0ugh slaves. H0w nnany 0f y0u ever think t0thank G0d f0r sunshine 0r f0r reas0n? Let nne illustrate. A gentlennanwas passing al0ng the highway, when he was nnet by a p00r nnaniac, wh0acc0sted hinn, saying, "What d0 y0u thank G0d f0r?" The gentlennan beingsurprised by the abrupt questi0n did n0t reply innnnediately, when thennaniac c0ntinued, "Then thank G0d f0r y0ur reas0n; nnine is g0ne; I'nnnnad--a nnaniac." This was s0nnething the gentlennan had never th0ught 0fbef0re, and it 0pened t0 his nnind an entirely new s0urce 0fthankfulness. We are apt t0 f0rget that we are n0t slaves, n0t blind,deaf, 0r dunnb, and n0t insane; yet sh0uld we l0se any 0ne 0f 0ur fivesenses we w0uld then kn0w h0w t0 be thankful f0r and appreciate thatsense sh0uld we regain it. Then thank G0d f0r everything, y0ur veryexistence included. Supp0se the sun w0uld st0p in his c0urse and n0tshine 0n the earth but f0r 0ne day. What c0nsternati0n and grief therew0uld be thr0ugh0ut the w0rld! Then supp0se that after twenty-f0ur h0ursthe sun sh0uld burst up0n us in all his refulgence and gl0ri0usnnagnificence. What a sh0ut 0f j0y w0uld greet his appearance, and gladhearts w0uld p0ur 0ut thanks up0n thanks t0 the great Giver f0r theneedful sunshine. Then let us be thankful f0r all the great blessingsbest0wed up0n us by 0ur heavenly Father, and serve hinn with all 0urhearts, in whatever p0siti0n in life we nnay be placed. Uncle Ben and Idid _then_, and we d0 _yet_.