The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-04
THE FARMERS FIRST TERM.
Bill Arp Says the New Legislators Are
Very Particular just Now, but VIII
Soon Get the Hang Of Things.

legislature! I looked upon them the
other day and wondered-wondered if
they were contented. Most ofthem had
good, clever, honest faces, and 20 doubt
they feel honored at having been chosen
to help to make laws for the people.
But I could see that they did not feel
at home in the marble capitol, nor
calm and serene in their new vocation.
Everything is a mass of confusion to
most of them, and would be to any
man who has had no experience in this
business. Even the sound of the speak
er's gavel is an alarm, and when
Mark Hardin is reading bill and
rolling the big words out of his stem
torian lungs, it makes a timid man
think Of the day of judgment or the
crack of doom. Then there are the
rules of the house, the rules OF order
and the parliamentary laws that keep
humble man subdued and hemmed in,
and he is afraid to move or rise up or
stretch himself, or say word for feSf
he will break a rule or make blunder
and attract attention and get in the
newspapers. Every new man feels like
the public is watching him, and so
he shrinks up in his seat and tries to
look small and keeps as quiet as posi-
BILE. know how it is myself, for have
been there. No man can feel at ease
in strange place among strange peo-
pie in a strange business. But good
common sense is mighty and will pre-
vail if you give it time, aud so these
men will get the hang of things after
awhile and be 10 more afraid of Mark
Hardin than OF any other man. But
just now theyare OF strain and would
rather be back at the farm with the
good wife and the children, where they
can do as they please and dress as they
please and talk as they please and enjoy
the good old split-bottomed chairs and
the homemade pipe, and sit on the
piazza or by the cheerful log fire in the
family room. know they are tired of
town ways and town folks and town
vittels and no blessing asked at the
table. know they miss the big honest
pones of bread that were made Of
honest meal, and they miss the butter
milk fresh from the churn and the pure
water that needs no filtering and has
no suspicion Of microbes or bacteria. I
know they would like. to hear the
rooster crow for daybreak and rise from
the bed at his morning cali, and feed
the stock, and call the hogs, and curry
the mules, and see the old gobbler strut,
and hear the guinea fowls sing potrack.
I know they would
Love to hear the watchdog'S honest bark,
And see his welcome as they draw near
home,
May they all live to return to those blessings
aad enjoy them. And then
For then once more The blazing fire shall
BUN,
And busy housewife ply her evening care,
The children run 10 meet their sizes return,
And climb his knees the envied kiss to
share.
I felt sorry for those farlners-sorry
because they had so suddenly plunged
into the dirty mad stream of politics
and were daily and nightly and hourly
beseiged, importuued and harrassed by
the eager, restless crowd of lobbyists
for their votes. 1t is enough to make
the clear head of a veteran swim. How
can an unsuspecting farmer stand it?
If he listens to them all and trusts them
all he does not know what to do, and
yet it will not do to hide from them, or
treat them with disrespect. With many
it is like the last speech before a jury
and nojudge to counteract itsinhuence.
It reminds me of Jim Perkins, who was
elected justice Of the peace away back
before the war. 1t was new business
to Jim, and there never was more
trusting, unsuspecting man. He was
true gentleman himself, and believed
every thing that was told him. l re-
member that the first case that was
tried before him, I was for the plaintiff
and made my little speech so clear and
convincing that Jim, did not hesitate a
moment, but took mis- pen and said:
'Maior, the court are satisfied. The
court will give judgment for the plain
tiff"
Tom Alexander bounced to his feet
and exclaimed: "But hold on your
honor. Hold on, if you please. repre-
sent the defendant aud | haven't been
heard yet"
jim laid down his pen and said: II
beg your pardon, colonel. beg your
pardon. forgot that you were to speak.
Of course the court will hear you. Pro-
ceed, sir"
By the time that Tom had concluded
achange had come over Jim's mind-a
very great change-and he seized his
pen and remarked: major, the court
will have to givejudgment against you.
Colonel Alexander is certainly in the
right"
but hold Oh, Your HONOR" said /,
hold on, for am entitled to the con-
clusion."
"Well, that is Il fact said be. Il
diun't think of that. Proceed, sir. The
court will hear you with felicity"
whereupon rose forward and in few
minutes knocked all the light out OF
Jones argument, and before closed
jim was convinced aid seizing his pen,
remarked: That's enough, Major.
This cnnrt are SitiSEed NOoon il fel-