The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1866-03-28
For the Herald.
A'UF VIC 14OF UT
The What Not Club.

"Blessed is he that expects nothing for he shall
not be disappointed"
Such was the text of series Of papers written
and published some years ago, before the "ar-
By society of Friends, (not Quakers) calling
themselves the ''What Not Club" -
met the survivors Of the Brotherhood the
other day and my thoughtsimmedi4tely reverted
to that Joyous season, when R. and W.. and T.,
and our old friend Peter, used TO- meet at the
Club.room at the corner, and ma ke old Time him.
self smile at their gay good humor. 1t seems no
longer ago than yesterday, yet the head of S. Is
becoming gray; w. who was once the gayest OF
the gay, and the best dancer in the burgh, now
bobbles weakly on crutches, and is seldom seen
to smile; care and suffering, and Time having
done their wonted work. R. sleeps in name
less grave in Virginia and T. was slain at Allan
ta. Our old friend Peter is about yet; he never
having gone to the wars, being unfit for service
on account of age and infrnity.- c. still hves
but has become morose and surly, Chat is, lie
pretends to be,( and frequently declares that the
world is utterly unit for decent white man to
live in, and wishes for nothing better than for it
to wind up s., the present writer, is still gay at
heart, though his face shows the marks OF Time
and care though his beard'and the hair Of his
head are becoming gray; and though he walks
somewhat fecbly on account Of 8 wound in one
of his legs, and sharp rheumatic twinge in the
o.her. ". and C. and S. and the old man Peter,
are all that now survive of a once large circle Of
friends. We purpose, Ar. Editor, to renew cur
intercourse; 10 meet together again and again,
and to kindle again the fire of friendship that
once so cbeered and warmed and Invlgorated US.
End that my old friend Peter, (althoush stran-
rer might suppose that he already had one foot
in the grave,( is as full of his quips and quirks
! as ever !; and twice in the last two weeks have
/ hurst three buttons off thar waistcoat" laughing
st bis odd Jokes. W, althouth his dancing days
I are oyer has some sap in him still, and smiles
gFimly at the erustiness Of c., and the oddities Of
| Peter and S. - -.
AS ours is a literary club, Mr. Editor, we pur-
nose with your permission, to let our light shine
nooa the outside world through your paper as a
! medium. We believe that we can arnuse and, it
p.ay be. instruct others. Although the School
master is abroad, and we rejoice to know it, yet
the S,hooimaster himself cannot lecture upon all
subjects and let him do his duty faithfully as
se NAV. he finds at last that he has only planted
the seeds of instruction and that the soil must
! be titled, and the young plants carefully weeded
! Nv cher hands. He has several times aeGnowl-
edged to u.s. With tears in his eyes, that the soil
he cultivates is frequently stony and harSh, and
full Of briers and ugly weeds. He has our earnest
| svn,Dathies. His careworn face and stopping gait
are indicative Of one bent upon doing his duty ;
and who feels seriously the weight of RESPONSE
bility that rests upon him. We do not purpose
to take his place. His sphere Is one, Een no
/ one can fl half so well as he. May all the fates
forh;I that we should ever try. We fear that
our orb would become DINNER and DINNER until
i you'd be lost in a gulf of darkness, His orb
shines and grows brighter and brighter from day
to dav and can never grow less So let it be-
Rnt though we cannot presume to take upon our
eeIree the duties of the Schoolmaster, vt we
hone, before long, to count him as one OF u.s.
We hone by our genial sympathy to Tighten DIS
brrdeus and cause smile to light up his counte
nance, and raise gentle ripple OF cheeriuiness
upon mind prone to too serious views OIL Lfe'
No. our views of life cannot be too serious; ou
let il be borne in mind that profound serious
ness is not incompatible with cheerful and nope
fnl spirit. Our motto strikes the golden NEAR
between the sanguine heart that expects every
tbinp, and the desponding spirit that droop'
sbrouded in gloom before every little cloud O
adversely.
Although its language is not very disDl6ed
vet We think it contains profound and truthful
philosophy That philosophy we hope to eliminate
and bg it's wisdom we hope to be guided in thf
lucubrations, Which, by your permission we meaF
to give to the world.
I do not think that in the expression Of thest
r hopes we contradict the spirit OF our motto.
deprecetes ardent and baselesS expectations ou
inculcates a eheerfah and contentsd disposition
With your permission, in succeeding papers,
shall make your readers more fully acquainted
with nv friends ~. and C. and old man Feter
and their views on various subjects that agttatt
the minds OF men. Yours with the most pToioune
ossHect.