The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-16
For the r. & M.-Household.
From Der the Southern Border.

Our Household would certainly smile
audihly If they could follow me through
these crowded DAYS. And that is ust
why have not obeyed the spirit, which
has along been urging ME to talk to the
family. 1t is a long list of why's and
whercfore's. beginning with sickness
and ending with sewing; and tonight
I've absolutely stolen the time to speak
to you.
Firstly: | want to second IL. B.'s'
motion that the McGregor's wife be
made Mentor. and having seconded it.
| want all of you to vote "aye!' Sure
IL no woman could write more wisely
nor more truly; and the ''McGregor ;
" if. 50 tone is trustuOrhy, isn't It,
friends? Here my hand, dear friend
Helen. l will not permit myself to be-
| rim a re ply to your last Household let
ter. But I'd like to say something on
| that subject of winter scenery mean
something suggested by your words.
| There are three things | want some
4 forcible writer to describe for me-
don't think-I'm pretty sure-l'ye seen
them put into satisfactory words.
| And these things are. the intense still
ness Of an August noOn,-the flight o.
birds Southward across crimson sun
set skv. and that mysterious light
half shadow. half shine,-in which s
spring dav goes to meet the night
Who can paint me these things?
I'm very glad that my words abou
women brought back our wandering
brother. We cannot afford to give yot
Iup. Eugene Hall; now that you have
returned suppose you take an eas.
chair. light Your cigar. and proceed t
make Yourself comfortable. You vii
perceive that | do not belong to tn
dainty sisters who ''cannot bear
smoke Your last little note awoke
sigh in nv heart. it was so sin9ularl
like the voice of a dear, dear friend
His was the purest spirit and stronges
heart have ever known, the keenes
eyes tmentall,.) and the most sympa
the,ic comprehension. / shall neve
forget his ready wit. his unfalllng fun
of pleasant and profitable talk. Ho'
original and quaint were his expires
lsions! What a store-house was h
memory! And this man, who by n
earnest tenderness and his pathet
sel!-torsettunes drew around him
circle of friends. the like of whom
cannot hope again to see,-this gran
man was crippled and deaf cid bach
Tor When | read Eugene Halls Ii
tie letter. aloud to king john"
s,id. why that's just what Mr..
might have said" Hence. friend f.
Gene, | am quite sure you and | wou
Is lind ourselves to be good comrade
h h Will YOU draw your easy chair near
ct to my corner. then?
al And now l want to make Flea f
az the commonplace. Somebody said som
s. time ago that we ought not to wri
ag Is, unless we felt sure we had somethlI
es eleyating to write about. l may ha'
or missed the words, but assuredlv l.
,r. kept the idea. Now. my Fear, Gt was
rst romon who said that. wasn't it! Al
in | can feel safe in calling her dear
or can't I?) Well, my dear. the dltferen
~ between genius and an ordinary m;
- is this: that 20 the former there Is l
yel,ci the beauties which the latt
.annut perceive and these beauties a
con;,a0n-place beauties. There ha
been poor little crossing-sweepers
London from time immemorial. but
remained for Dickens to touch O
hearts and be-dim our eyes with ''pn
i. Joe" There have been trcachero
,rv men trusting women always; but
in wa. the master-worker' touch W
lGn in gave us the living, breathing, sorro
a, ing little Emily" All of which
given us to prove that the day OF sm
- things is not to be despised. He is I
n, greatest genius who can most forcit
c portray human life as it is, not as
e" should be. We can all m0gal1e a