The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-11-05
What Will You Leave Behind l..

Talking with an old farmer once, he said
"Whcn die | am going to leave behind me,
as a heritage for my children, the home where
! they were born, made ~ beautiful ~ my
means and uneducated taste will allow pleas
ant memories Of the home freside and Of the
sunny summer days, and Il true regard for
the dgnitv and worthness Of the calling
which their father followed" The old man
vas so full Of emotion when he talked in this
wise, that he had to use his handkerchief to
prevent the tears telling their tale Of manly
SensilivcncSs. His boys were widely scattered,
having varied experience N life; but there
WAS not one of them WI, did not honor the
old farmer they called land rcyerentlv, too }
"Fathcr;' nor one Of them who was not glad
to visit the old homestead once a year.
Now: VIC repeat the question, What will
you leave behind ," Money? 1t will do your
children little good, comparatively. Money
is easily obtained. But HOMES are scarce.
The association which the men of the world
value most are the associations with their early
homes. No man, no matter what his position,
circumstances or relations in life who has
had happy and pleasant home in his youth,
fails to remember. love and long for it. 1t is
the haven he seeks, one toward which his
heart goes ont whenever he is in trouble; it Is
the shrine to which he makes pilgrimage
whenever he has means and opportunity; it is
the one spot on earth upon which he is willing
to lavish he wealth III may have acquired,
and where he desire, to die and be buried.
What will YOU leave behind, good friend
of til. iarnl: Shall the homestead be your
monument? Shall the children return thithcr
is the pilgrim seeks the shrine Of saint ?
Shall each tree tell its story Of your taste and
good sen>c-rcvivc in the minds of your chill
drcn the time and circumstances Of the plant
ing Shall it symbolic by its growth, and
extended and extending branches, the growth
of YOUR chldrcn's affections for YOU, and the
influence Your example and prcccpt> are cX
erting through them? Shall each stone in
the wall, addition to the barn. the house, out
buildings, improvements, orchard, garden and
field, speak to them of the love you once bore
them, Of the labor you once performed that
thcv might be fed, clothed and educated :?
Shall each blade of grass lift itself up toward
heaven and testify TO your providence and
care? Shall each appleblosson in the orchard
shed It's perfume in memory Of the maj who
planted the seed from which they spranr, or
the tree on which they bloom and laugh in the
sweet May air? Will money compensate your
children for the loss Of such 4 heritage? No,
sir E. cmpi,ajic;lly, No.
Let IL, try to leave behind Us something
that shall soften the hearts of men and women
when they remember u>--bc they our children
or not; but especially let us who have homes.
who are blessed with Il title to portion of
God : green earth, see that it is rendered 80 beau
tiiul in the eyes Of our offspring that their
hearts will always find anchorage there when
ever the lonyings of loneliness come over
them whenever the rough elbows nt an un-
feeling world o>tIc them oui Of humor with it.
lie! the coming Spring witness some effort to
leave the old farm better and more beautiful
in the .Autumn Let the boys AND girls feel
that we have ivlt something behind that money
cannot purchase: ard or w.::ch j! can be no
substitute.