The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-11-23
BILL ARP.
BIS Long, Woarisome Ride from the Lone
Star State.
AKailta C0nstXufo+'.

|
1t is very old fashioned thing to say,
but I will say it again, "Thsre is no
place like home" When I had filled
my last appointment in Texas snd had
boarded the train with my face turned
homeward I was bappy-my spirits
buoysd me up and I sat lighter on the
volvet cushion and every click of the
whseIu over the joiutsd rails gave vel
come sound, for it meSnt that much
nearer home, II was after midnight
whsn loft the nice little town of Frank.
| lin, and that midnight business has been
the most serious drawback upon my COM
fort and happiness. Most every night
my rent was broken, for I have to leave a
place ia the dark and sleepy hours or
arrive at one, and it made me tired, very
tired. One night / reached my town at
2 O'Clock while it was pouring down rain
and the little bridge over the ditch by
the railroad had uashed avsy and tim
| Der about six inches square had been
throvn across q. substitute. The land.
lord had . lantern and led . woman
across very carefully. Ii seemed to me
| that II she could walk Ii I cosld, but I
had heavy yaliss In ono hand and s
ligh. oas In the other added to my sbuu'
dant corpororiiy and raised my center Of
gravity beyond reason, and worst of all,
just as ths lsdy had put her foot ou she
ground the poliis landlord swung his
lantern before her and left me in the
dark shadow. With oas upasmodic leap
I made last step for tho bank and missed
it about foot. saved by baggage,
however, and only got in about ankle
deep, but it scared me awfully and I
never got over it for an hodr. I wish
that had picture of that scene. The
next night left al the same hour and BY
morning I was sick-sick with threatened
pneumonia-and when reached my des.
tination surrendered and went to bed
and dreamed I was in coffin and WAS
being shipped home in the express car,
and it distressed me beyond measure to
think bow grieved my family would BE-
to receive my mortal remains and how
they would weep and sob and tell each
other of all my virtues and never mention
fault-nary fault. But the good lsud-
lady got hot water and bsthsd my feet
and gave me quinins and nuraed me like
mother, and I survived and got better
and shook off my fears and Kept out of
the coffin, and here I am in the land of
the living where mercy may bs sought
and pardon found. It was long, long
ride coming home, but the drummers
kept things lively, for they got on and off
at every station and are always cheerful.
We all talked politics and banked on
Cleveland. AZ Trinity station man got
on the train to go seven miles to The next
station and rendered the conductor 20
cents. Captain Mitchell told him polite.
ly it would take % cents as he had no
ticket. The man was cross and defiant,
and said he wouldn't pay it. We were
hardly ont Of town when the captain
pulled the bell rope and gently let him
down on terra f,ma. The man had
plenty of small change for we saw it, but
think he wanted to get lawsuit. He
declared that he wouldn't pay but 8 cents
q mile, ticket or no ticket. OF course he
will find lawyer to take his case, snd
all for 5 cents in money and big lot of
laceratcd feelings. There vas poor
sad-faced woman with two children sit
ting not far from me, and as the butcher
boy went to and fro with his basket Of
fruit the little chaps looked wishfully,
but their mother shook her head. They
made no complaint and seemed to under
stand that they we're not In it, while the
rest of US we're enjoying the grapes and
bananas. I didn't like that, and 80 I
whispered the boy to give them each an
apple and 3 banana and paper of grapes
and some to the mother and make no sign
and pass on. 1t didn't cost me but 80
cents, but 1t WAS worth dollar to see the
surprise-the timid looks of wonder and
of pleasure az they glanced around and
ate of their fruit. 1t was little thing
but it made the miles shorter to them aad
to me. Try this on some time when you
travel.
arrived home just before daybreak
and found tho house all dark and still,
and the old dog asleep on the piazza. I
patted him into silence and then stepped
into the parlor and tumbled down upon
sofa and was soon dreaming, but not Of
coAins. 1t was 8 o'clock before I was
found and suddenly was awakened by
soft arms around my neck and a shower
Of kisses on my old rough face. Mrs.
Arp and the girls yelled and screamed
their hearts delight, for it was the long
est absence I had made since the war,
and will never stay away 80 long again.
I felt something like our big mouth Bob
when he had served out his two years in
the chain gang for unintentionally killing
another negro.
Colonel Towers told him goodby and
said, "Bob, you must come and see Us
again sometime" Bob opened his big
mouth and said, "Colonel Towers, dis
here is de longeat visit ever paid any
body in my life, and if you wants to see
me any more I reckon you will have TO
come to my house."
But it Is all over now and / am bask-
ing In the sunshine of home and kind,ed,
On top of it all comes the glorious vic
tory-a victory that is the harbinger of
peace and good will between the sections.