The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-12-25
OOM-GALoRE.
Written for THE. RoANokE TIMES.

Written for THE RoANokE TIMES.
MY stationery bears tho headlines OF
the Roanoke Land and Improvement
Company. When that is exi austed L
can get from the drawer of my desk
ream VI fine linen of the Home Building
and Conveyance Company, and after
that the Roanoke Trust, Loan and Sa %
Deposit Company will supply mo in
definitely.
once was poor young man, working
in tn" Norfolk and Western offices and
earning a fair salary. Now | am a
prosperous business man, clipping
coupons and looking forward to tho
January divideI DIS with some interest,
but not much anxiety
Such position a. | now hold in the
C immunity, in which l was once q worry
small factor, doubtless seems strange to
tho pessimist. but l assure him that
AIN not too proud to associate with nv
less fortunate neighbor, nor inclined to
rail at him because his more sanguine
temperament led him little too far
into tho realms of speculation and
perhaps has, temporarily at least,
placed him in Straitened circumstances.
1t was when first moved TO Roanoke,
in tho early eighties, content TO board
in private house and save few dol.
lars each month out of my salary, but
now am happy, though not boastful,
III saying that my residence bears
every evidence Of cuntentmentand some
say, elegance.
was not married when rst touched
this favored spot, but now have
helpmate who, when at the piano, sings
with the melody and soulful utterancs
peculiar to those who are in position
to do good and who never hesitate.
Christmas finds me this year with my
heart full OF love to my fellow man
and thankfulness to Providence, and in
the selection of presents to distribute
among my relatives and friends, find
my thoughts ever recurring to the little
ones around my own hearthstone and
how they will rejoice in standing with
wife and l at the cornucopia.
Roanoke has been my source of happi-
ness, and while remain one of her
citizens l will BIO found singing her
orai;es and looking for the rainbow
:inis always apparent to the optimist.
| was in the "l'oom," and it was
Though This Allauin's lamp that |
gain' my pre-. ent /: come. 1 was, per
hays, little mere conservative than
'one of my friends ,versirying nv in
veSumcnt-; but ] fave some Of those
MUCH ridiculed boulevard lots" and
mean to keep the taxes paid on them
Y ompt!y, aud wait Tor 10 o, when fifty
Thousand people Will form the census
estlnate for RoaLoke, and real estate
VIII be, as 1t always is, tho basis OF
wealth.
Standing upon my 'front.' porch can
see over the river, the location once
known as Solitude Farm but now |
see the magical results of that boom"
whcsn reverbe rations roll Q up the river
and break against the solid walls al
Saltlu's great indus tries, and ''Solitudem
has given place to factory hum and
hustle and whistle. Electric cars now
speed across magnificent bridge
which leaps the beautiful Roanoke with
single bound, and on they go amor q
the homes of contented workmcn
and the valuable property of men who
arc not afraid of their shadows and
whose i'm aginations are not "puchored"
with the taste of sour grapes.
My wife and l chat frequently about
mutability and it's prominent character
istcs, and we have about concluded that
these things must be and as long as man
be fault finders and disconnected ones
to carp and fret and portray the disma
side of life, and there are also tn ose who
will laugh at a funeral and grin with
Rhoulish glee at the misfortunes OF bet
ter men.
I have neighbor who has been un
fortunate in the selection of
his combination and is Just emerg.
Jug fom the wreck of hopes that
but allured 10 fly; whose cheerful dis.
position never failed TO illumine his
| darkest path and those of many others.
and whose indomitable will, coupled
with his trust in God, must bring to his
home again those brighter days so long
deferred but vouchsafcd to the soul Of
energy.
Roanoke is growing more and more
attractive every day and as these days
weave themselves into years and years
into decades, these men who stood ard
stand by its institutions. will reap a
rich reward and be proud to sing, I'm
the n IN that helped TIA ra-ra Boom
De Ay" RoANoKER.