The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-25

tSoH SOHSets"St1"'
princes and lords may flourish or may
fade,
4 breath can make them-as a breath has
made,
But a bold peasantry-our country's
pride,
When once destroyed can never be sup
Piled"
1 thought of this at Warren, for there
stood before US 100 unpretending, honest
people all from one family. The fair had
offered a premium of a large and beauti'
full family Bible to the head of the lar
gest family that assembled upon the
grounds. Mr.. Benjamin H. Parnell ard
his coed wife were there with ninety eight
living descendants. DID you ever see
100 people In a fJck? Just think of a
military company Of eighty men and you
cen Imagine what a show 100 people
make. It was o rare and novel spectacle.
The old patriarch was q clean shaver,
active, erect man, with a rudy, honest
face, and his wife a we'll preserved mat
ron, who looked as though she would
rather be at home, and had doubts about
TIE proprie'y Of exhibiting herself to the
curious gaze of so many wondering peo-
pie. She wss a good looking matron
without the usual signs Of decay. Her
hair was silvered over, but there we're 10
wrinkles or crows feet or sunken cheeks.
She had her husbands arm in the good
old way, and it was with a timid shyness
that she occasionally raised her eyes to
look upon the speaker who was introduce
ing her and her offspring to the multi
tude. The good DR.. Martin said: "My
friends, here is a man and woman who
are the heads of a family of ninety eight
living descendants. Seven girls and six
boys were born to them, and there has
never been a death under their roof.
Their children are all happily married.
This couple have lived together in loving
and peaceful relations for forty.seVen
years. They and their children have
given the public no trouble. They have
been diligent in business and eaten hon
est bread. Young men, we commend to
you their good example. Go thou and do
likewise. and let us abolish the immigra,
ton bureau"
The Bible wa made to order, and had
plenty of blank leaves to register the
names and marriages and deaths in their
order. 1t was a remarkable scene Some
of the mothers and fathers had infants in
their arms, aud all had children gathered
around them in separate focks, and all
were dressed in clean and comfortable
clothes. 1t was q pleasure to me to be
introduced to them, and, of course, I had
to quote some scripture and tell what
David said:
"Children are an heritage Of the Lord,
As arrows are in the hands Of a mighty
man so are children of the youth,
Happy is the man who hath his culver
full,
They shall not be ashamed, but shall
speak with the enemies in the gate"
That is, they shall be the ambassadors
to make treaties for peace. A man with
numerous children and grandchildren has
more at stake and feels more concern for
good government. He ought to be the
man to speak with the enemy. If [ live
to see another war impending 1 shall
speak a little myself"
And I recited David's prayer, "That
our sons may be as plants grown up in
their youth. And our daughters be as
corner stones polished after the similitude
of a palace.
"That our gamers may be full and our
oxen strong, and there be no complaining
in our streets.
"Happy is that people that is in such
a case. Yea, happy is that people whose
God is the Lord"
That is splendid-isn't it.
Well, I had a pleasant talk with the
old gentleman. He is quick of appre-
hension and said "You may put down
that there is nothing against me mol my
people. None of us have ever been &C
cused of anything wrong or brought into
court. Me and my wife have belonged
to the Baptist Church for nigh onto fifty
years, and I have voted the Democratic
ticket all hat time. l moved here before
there was any railroad in this country
and the people we're powerful scattering.
I have made a good, fair living and am
doing it yet. The Lord has been good to
us and blessed US. Not a coffin hes ever
been brought to my house."
There ia q record of good citizanship.