The Southern herald., 1885-05-23


Dear Herald-I have been trying q
snatch a lsW moments % write you
few lines In regard to q day spent at the
residence Of our old friend and brother.
John u. Nulnsly. On that Day April
49,, he had lived to be SS years old. and
his children, most Of them, made up a
union Of the family one time more be-
fore he died. The ola gentleman had
been very near the spirit land but a
short time before, but God in his good
ness raised him up again, and that day
was IN as good health as usual, and
never more cheerful and happy. The
occasion was enough almost to put life
in dead man. But the occasion. His
children determined to give him a sur
prise on his birthday, by having din
ner at his house and not let him know
anything about it. Accordingly the
news spread from one to another to
prepare their baskets; a runner was sent
to the writer requesting his services to
preach a sermon; after due considera-
tion consented TO disappoint his own
congregation and 60 there, as you know
there was something to eat, and never
having attended such a meeting. 1t
took place on this wise: Our old broth
er had set apart that day to go a fishing,
an employment that he is passionately
fond of. He remarked to his daughter
in-law-Mrs. z. Nunnery-that he was
going a fishing the next day. She says,
Grandpa, fix me hook and ] will 90
with you. 1t was agreed to. The next
morning he risss carly, gets his hooks
and bait all ready, and begins to be
very impatient because Mamie don't
come. What is she about2 Why don't
she come along? and he is about to
start off without her. His wife, ap-
prised Of what was coming, insists on
his helping her with some chickens, for
the purpose of OBTAINING him. Soon
after a load of people drove up to the
gate, that proves to be wagon load of
children and grandchildren. Then
comes Zaok and all his family. He
asked Mamie, why did you not come
sooner Haven't you played a nice
trick on me? So the brother began to
think about something else, and when
two or three more loads came, then it
was what should he do to feed them?
But his trouble was soon turned into
joy when he was informed that the din
ner was all right; just sit down and en-
joy himself; and when TIE writer came
he found him full of joy. Soon the
hour arrived when we should try to
preach. Our text was: "Behold and
the children whom the Lord has given
me, &c" +" Isaiah Wills. Good children
make happy parents, Surely Brother
Nunnery has raised good set Of chill
dren. They make the best of citizens,
and those that are members of the
church are very prominent. The great
desire Of his heart is to see them all
converted. In regard TO reunion o.
families, think it so appropriate fol
them to gather around the old hearth
stone once year, and cheer the hearts
of the father and the mother. Some
.. children think it is like burying tn,
parent; but no, if they all could hav,
been present and witnessed the Joy o
the family, it would have dispelled al
such ideas. If there is any thing tina
can make parents happy, it is the affec
ton Of their children, and such demon
strations are the very things to impress
the parent with love. By his first wifi
o he had ten children, eight living; sec
!. ond wife, seven children, making fifteel
q living; grand children seventy, great
!. grandchildren eighteen; making in al
lone hundred and three living souls
\ When he gets up in the other world an
a can say, Behold | and the children tho
d hast given me, ready to enter heaven,
e win be happy time. If there is an
/. thing that can make parent sleep cas-
.e in the grave, it is the love of our chi
dren. Yours, truly,
is w. W. BoLLs.
a Judge Billings, sitting in the Unite
ID States circuit court at New Orleans, 0
y, Il 1rai- - Ii !,