The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1889-12-12
BILL ARP.
His Experience of the uart!sLtps Of
Travel.
atlanta Constitution,

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Here / am belated trayelerin strange
town. The Memphis train won't 80 until
the Knoxville train comes. Hour and
half late" says the ticketof leave man,
and that means that / will lose connection
at Memphis and fail to meet my appoint
ments beyond. Wish I was at home.
Home is the best place in the world. a
woman with two children said in pitiful
voice, "did be say an hour and a half?"
"Yes, man, "Will that delay me at
Memphis from going right on 2" sit will
man," She turned her face away, but I
aaw her distress and heard her say to her
boy: "I'm afraid we will be too late"
Too late-too late for what, I wondered.
found out afterwards. It was "too late"
to see her daughter, who vas dying when
the telegram reached her.
WHAT A WORLD OF TROUBLE.
That poor mothers trouble swallowed
up my own vexation and disappointment
for time. "Hour and q half late," /
heard again, and northern man bound
for Florence said, "That's the way with
these southern railroads. You cau't rely
upon them. You never know when you
will reach place uutil you get there.
Why dident the Memphis train leave on
time anyhow. Why should it wait on
Knoxville" A big round face Irishman
took up the wager and said: "The Knox
vile train has got some of your kinfolks
on it, and it wouldn't do TO disappint 'em
when they set here. They are from the
north, you know" ,"Hour and half
late," said good natured old man.
"Tbat means two hours and half, and
my little boy will be waiting for me at
Scottsboro to take ME four miles home in
the country. He will feel 80 bad sitting
there in the rain; but it amt as bad as
var, thsnk the Lord" The hour and a
half passed, and two hours and q half,
and I heard the good natured man rscit-
ing an old ditty, pray rope, hang butcher,
make butcher kill OK, make OK drink
water, make water quench fire, make FIRE
burn stick, make stick beat kid, make kid
go-tine kid and l were home hour ard
a half ago." but l knew he was signing
while he sang, for be vas
THINKING ABOUT THAT boy.
What a world oflove and comfort there
is in sympathy. But the belated train
did core at last, and I reckon the trou-
bles are over; I hope they are. While
waiting in the large reception room Of
the Reed house, it was curious TO watch
the busy people come and go-to see the
travelling merchants writing their business
letters and their home letters and their
love letters, at the long table under the
incandescent lights. could almost tell
what kind of letter it was, by looking
upon their various faces and expressions.
"What are you writing, Jim 2" said one.
"Writing to my sweetheart!" what are
you writing ?" Writing to my mother !"
ne said, and they leaned earnestly over
the paper. 1t did me good TO hear him
say he was writing TO his mother. Heard
another say: "This is q hard town for my
business; I did twice as we'll in Birming.
ham-did better in Admission; will
shake the dust off my feet 10 the morning
and try the great city of Atlanta" The
people moved to and fro-every train
brought in some and took out some. The
elevator was all the while riding up and
riding down. Three Italians came in
with harp and two violins and gave us
delicious music, and then passed the hat
around and took in the dimes and nickels
from most all the folks who were not
reading. | have noticed how diligently
some folks read on such occasions.
They
DIDN'T HEAR THE MUSIC AT ALL,
and of course didn't want to psy for what
they didn't hear. The Italians played
"Home, Sweet Home" with variations,
and the sweet melody touched me SO I
put a dime in the hat, for it WAS worth it,
and I remembered that the poor friendless
wanderers who played it so we'll had no
place, no home, aud the deep blue sea
was between them aud their native soil.
It always seemed to me that a fine musi.
cian must have some loving and lovable