The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1886-04-15
ADriI in the Country.

Wife and the larger children have
taken drive in the neighporhood, and
I, the "man O. the house, remains at
home to keep our little urchin quiet.
While the baby quietly plays on the
floor, sitting in the airy piazza, the
thermometer Indicating IS degrees, l
find that a pleasant, dreamy kind Of
feeling steals over me as the con-
slant hum of the hundred insects of
the various species of the bee family
fall upon the ear mingled with the
lazy, soothing, dream-provoking, con-
slant signing of the gentle zephyrs as
they softly brush their. way through
the yielding branches of the stately
pines, which return their salutations in
q thousand graceful bowings and gentle
swayings of their lofty tops.
The Spirea, wisteria, jonquil, &c,
being in full bloom in the front garden,
the butterfly fits gleefully from flower
to flower, presenting its long bill for
sweets; and each busy bee buries its
tongue and head deep among the floral
petals for its share Of nectar; While
Just below the stalk or vine the planta-
tion hen is industriously scratching for
some tiny, delicious morsel in the shape
Of a worm, insect or seed, her dependent
brood Of sixteen chicks signifying their
appreciation by happy satisfactory
twittering, quite different from the
disagreeable hungry chirrup. Now
she finds worm and half dozen try
to get it; but only one is lucky enough
to get this one. Away she scratches
again. No time to lose with sixteen
young ones to feed. Look ! She darts
off. There. She springs up in the air.
All yes. She has il fine big bug. Now
they all pull and peck at it; but she is
scratching again--good example FOR
some Of us to follow. She intends to raise
those chickens, and she will succeed if
the hawk lets them alone. Yes, busy
bee, flowers do not bloom all the year;
and you are making the most OF the op-
portunity to store away the honey. Let
idle, thriftless farmers learn a lesson
here. Real life with happiness is ac-
tivity. No activity-no life. How
thankful man should he for life, for
health, and the opportunity to he en-
gagged in active, useful and honest em-
ployment. How insipid, miserable and
DEGRADING an idle life is without any
definite object in view. After all
there is more enjoyment in the hopeful
pursuits Of an object than in its pos
session or acquisition. How we all
farmers, merchants, doctors, &c, strove
last year; but we were all disappointed
in net realizing what we expected as
the material result Of our labOrS. The
merchant was hopeful and happy while
advancing his goods on credit, the dill
gent farmer enjoyed the planting and
filling Of the soil, and the good physi-
clan rather enjoyed the labor, toll and
anxiety incident to his practice when
he saw the happy results in the relief
of suffering. But all labored in the
hope Of getting Il substantial reward
for their labors; and nearly all were
more or less disappointed when the
wear ended. But was there not happl-
ness in hopefulindustry? Would there
not have been misery in hopeful idle
ness? Then cheer up farmers. y
merciful BcnefactOr whispers hope in
the gentle breeze Of Spring.
Nature is clothed in vertlant foliage
again. Then let hope spring up in
your heart as the tender leatlct Springs
up from the seed which you are plant
ing. Let the merchant trust the hon
est farmer again; but the farmer should
learn to practice economy and gradual
Iv discard the debt system of farming.
Let the physician not he tempted to
think some of his patrons are stingy
and ungrateful; but let him bury his
disappointment, and, under the inspira-
tion of hope, with the renewal of Ma
ture's verdure, renew his efforts to
soothe and remove the pains of at1lic-
ton. and gently lead his patients from
the groanings of sick despair to the
iovous bloom Of healthful life.
But here comes the family vehicle as
faithful grey cheerfully trnts it home,
and this reminds me of my little charge
the baby, whom had almost forgot
ten. Why it's been 'dood little boy
to let pa write so long!
MUDETTA.
Dantzler, 5. G., April, 1856.