The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1885-01-08
BILL ARP AT HOME.

The Young Folks Give q Candy Pulling,
Which Affords the Philosopher Much
Enjoyment, Not Unalloyed with Dis
comfort.
Candy pullings are a nuisance, but ]
suppose we have to have them. / have
now arrived at that age and frame OF
mind that 1 submit to anything
anything to please the children. And
so when they got their mothers con-
sent the matter was all arranged and
the company invited without consulting
me. There was a spare room in the
house. and, as l had some writing to
do, l adjourned myself there to have a
quiet time. While l was Eliminating
before the fire and smoking the pipe OF
peace and tranquility, the young folks
began to gather, and, before 1 knew it,
the young ladies were ushered into my
room as a reception room, and / was
kindly informed that l would have to
vacate. With a sigh of resignation I
retired and poked around generally. ]
wish l had a room-a room of my own
and Mrs. Arp says she wishes she
had a room-a room of her own. But
she can't have one. She never will
have one, for children and grand-chil-
dren would be lost and | would be lost.
She can't slip off to Nabor Freeman's
but what a dozen want to know where
she is and when she is coming back.
The dog and the cat follow her-no,
she will never have a o to herself.
But l found good company at the
candy pulling and had a good time any
how. for l do love these naborly visits.
l love to see the young folks happy
and | love to discourse politics and
crops and naborhood news with the
older ones. But this candy business is
not all serene: n of the girls burned
her hand dreadfully and is still carry
ing it in a bandage. And then it is SO
messy, as Mrs. Arp says. The chill
dren get candy all over the floor and the
tables and bureau. Its sticks to my
stockings yet when I get ready to go
to bed. 1t melts and smokes OH the
hearth. The dishes are all daubed and
hard to clean up again. The door
knobs and dipper handles are sticky and
they keep sticky as long as the candy
lasts. But every pleasure has its
drawback. After every dinner the
dishes are to be washed. Aftes
every repose the bed has to be
made up. We ride and drive and
then the horse has to be put up and
fed. We dance to sweet music and
have to pay the fiddler. We go on a
picnic or an excursion and come home
tired and weary. Every pleasure seems
to be followed by pain or by trouble
just as the night follows the day. But
still it is right, for it is nature. : We
live in contrasts and enjoy them. Sup
pose we do hunt all day and find nc
game. Hope is a good thing, and it was
one of the questions we used to debate
when i was a boy, whether the pur.
suit or the possession gave the most
pleasure" ] took the affirmative one
when / was pursuing my sweetheart
with love and hope and devotion, and
argued my side with earnest e%loquence
But when 1 lost her and another fellow
got possession, l Topped e to thu
other side. In a year or so l recovered
and pursued Mrs. Arp with fear ant
trembling, and when 1 possessed her
was happy. The pursuit is a lively, in
teresting and uncertain business wher,
a young maiden is concerned, but tn
possession is solid and sure and neve
gives Out.-AHdntH Constitution