The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-01-28
Going Back 10 Georgia.

Going Back 10 Georgia.
I met sturdy-looking young farme:
coming out of the Texas and Pacific
ticket Office yesterday with ticket in bis
hand. When he asked me to lend him
my pencil for moment it furnished me
an opportunity to draw him into con-
versation.
"GoiDg home to spend the holidays ?"
asked.
"Yes, sir" he said, as his eyes cleaned
with joy. eyes," he continued, II am
going home in the morning-back to
Georgy. I came to Dallas County fifteen
years ago aud have been workin' hard
ever sence. Pvs got me good farm now,
but times is awful hard and money is
scarcer than I ever seed it afore. Five
years ago I begin to think about going
back to see the old folks-paw and NAV
is lgetting ole now-but somehow or
other I didn't think I was able and [ put
it off, waitin' for better times. I thought
sho' that I was goin' last year, but cotton
got so low I couldn't afford it, so I put it
off until this year. Well, sir, cotton is
lower now than I ever seed it afore, and
it keeps getting lower and lower. So
this year I allowed that if I waited till
next year I mought get nothin' for my
cotton, and then I couldn't go at ALL"
"I expect you will have great time,"
1 observed.
ayes, sir; will be the happiest man
you ever saw. can see my ole nanny
now settin' down at night by the fire, and
an ole hickory backlog on the dog irons,
knitting some socks for sister Jinnie's
children, and paw, he's smoking his ole
pipe, and they are talking about me
coming home. Lord, just to hug my ole
mother again-it makes me feel good to
think about it. And to see that ole
house where I ulster live! I remember
how I uster lay awake of nights and look
out the winder at the stars and think
about comm to Texas, and now / lay
awake of nights thinkin' about home.
Thinkin' about the ole spring down the
hill and the gourd hanging on the rock
l can see the old path just as plain as if
I was there now. Wonder if things have
changed much around there, anyhow? ?
Wonder if paw has ever fixed the old
paster gate? When I git back Pm going
rabbit hunting and 'possum hunting. I
know where all the rabbits and 'possums
are. I'll git there in time to help at hog
kiln. used 10 do the riddin' when I
WAS boy, and when got bigger paw let
me scrape. But yon bet I'll get lots Of
souse and liver pie, and NAV cooks back.
bone better'n anybody I ever saw. They
made plenty of 'simmon beer, too, and
that's the best stuff I ever drunk, except
the water out of that old spring.
Then I'll 60 over to Shady Grove
Church about mile and a half from
home, and see where my sister and two
brothers are buried. Sister died just after
I was born, and my brothers, they was
killed in the war. Upstairs in the closet
is two gray jackets and two old muskets
that's been there ever since can remem-
Der. When | was little feller I recol-
lect seeing my mother going to that
closet. Every time she'd look at them
old coats she would down and cry, and I
uster cry, too, just because she did. l
expect this will be the last time I'll ever
pit to see the old folks alive. Maybe
next year twon't make any difference
whether cotton brings good price or
not. Goodbye, sir, here's your pencil"
The last reflections brought sad ex-
preston to the young mans face. ~
expect this will be the last time I'll ever
get to see the old folks alive" he said.
Ah, yes The hairs on those aged brows
are now very white. Father and mother,
sitting around the hearshstone, look back
over the years that have gone and know
that soon they will join the dust of their
children iu the churchyard. Thele are
many of these old loved ones back there
now, wondering il that boy in Texas will
come and see them once more before they
Join that innumerable caravan that has
gone before There is many boy in
Texas, who, failing to spend this Christ
mas at home with the old folks, will
never have an opportunity again. When
the foliage Of spring brightens the earth
and the birds are singing again, some day
the message will come that mother has
fallen asleep aud that her last words
voiced blessing upon the absent boy
Dallas, Texas, Nevs