Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg Court House [S.C.]) 1877-1881, 1878-07-13
"BilI Arp" Smokes the Pipe of
Peace.


nabor and hear him say, "how's
craps p | continue to like farmin.
like it better and exsep that the
wheat is sumwhat doutfnl about
maxim crap. A little long bug
with tail at both ccnis has cot in
the joints and sucked the sap out, AMI
is fallin down in patches. Looks like
there is always sumthin preyin on
sumthin, and nuthin is safe from dis
astcr i'll his subloouary world. Flies
and bugs and rust prey on the green
wheat. Wecvils cat it up when its
cut and put away. Rats eat the corn
-molcs eat the guhe:s-ha> ks ct
the chickens the minks killed three
OF nnr ducks i'll one night-cilc.c
kills the hogs -and the other night
"no of my nnbors' mules cum along
with the blind staggcrs and fell up IL
pair Of seven steps right into my
front { te and died without kickin.
Then there is hrinrs and ncttles and
tread salts and smart-weed and piscn
oak and Spanish needles and cnckle
burrs and dog fcnncl and sn axes,
tha,s always III the way on Il farm
and must be looked after kcerfuliy,
especially snakes, which are my cter-
ial horror, and shall always believe
ale sum kin 10 the devil himself.
can't tolerate such long insects. But
we farmers hav tc take the bad with
the good, and there is more good than
bad with me up O the present time.
My corn begins to look splendid.
These warm nights it grows while I
am asleel just like the intrust on
them darn little just debts you owe
excuse ne, Mr.. Editur, l don't know
for sertin that you owe any, but it's IL
reasonable presumption, considerin
your business, and its no disgrace, no
how. Most everybody owes EN- from
the United States of America down
to the umblcst individuals o f which
last l am whom. look upon it as
charitable act to borrow from a
man who has .. surplus. think a
heap of Governor james and Gen
Austell, aud all such, and it would
greve me to hav their money get
musty and would rust and rot fo r
lack of borrowers. I sometimes take
little just to encourage 'em, for they
are human beings, and just as much
entitled to livin' rs the best of US.
Mr.. Editor, it's great comfort
to me to set in my piazzer. these
pleasant evenings and look over the
farm, and smoke the pipe of peace,
and ruminate. Illuminate upon the
rise and fall of empires and parties
and presidents and preachers. 1
think when a man has passed the
Rubicon of life, and seen his share of
trouble, smokin' IL allowable, for it
kinder reconciIcs him to live on a
while longer, and promotes philosofc
reflection. / never knowd a high
tempered man to hc fond of it. Old
Aunt Patience told me she had been
snokin' for 80 years, and I heard her
advisin' Mrs. Arp to try it awhile,
for, sez she, "missus, it makes body
so quiet and peaceaable." But my
wife, you know, was raised a Meth o.
dist, and they are fernent it. Just
like other denominations they max e
close run on sum things, and O n
others q little loose in the socket.
I'm now .liviI' in Methodist sittle.
ment, right under the dripplns of
DR.. Felton's chapel, and they nre
good people around me, and I've
been wonderiD how the doctor kept
EN- all so strait while he was so far
away. 1t does look like a pity to
see his meetin house closed every
Sunday, and maybe when he comes
home again, n kind Providence will
conclude to let him abide with his
flock. But then, on the other hand,
it may be more important for the
doctor to use his influence with the
rascals at Washington to keep them
from stealth and lyin, aud at the
same time attend to our political in
trust and continue to send us reliable