The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-07-24

forth in magic wonder, then linger in
silence. The mind is linked to tele-
phone wires with the kingdoms of the
good and the bad. And each soul has
connections with these two kingdoms,
You can't deny this. Some pretend to
be always good and holy, but still there
are moments when the devils are at
the telephone. Some pretend to be
always bad and evil, but there are
some times angels at the phones. The
good and the bad go hand in hand.
Some times as we sit musing the devils
come to life's telephone and call and
call and sing and sing. At times we
hearken to to their ~entreaties, at times
we protest against them. Often, also,
the angels CINE and sing, sing in our
conscience, sing in our thoughts, and
we listen awhile, but answer not back.
Some times we hearken and do their
bidding, and o, how sweet it is to NOR
tai souls! 1t seems that during cleo
ton times the wire tending downward
does most of the business-the devil
seems to have lots of messages to send,
about this time.
Joe Jackson has given a few chap
tiers culled unconnectedly from the
store house of the brain. Ever and
anon we have snatches of thoughts on
various things, and he writes just as
the humor strikes him-some times
sad, some times good, some times wise
and some times otherwise. A tramp's
thoughts r irregular rs his life is
irregular. He argues some times after
dedUctive and inductive forms, some
times a priori and some times a pos
%teriori, and some times a fostori. He
often uses the reductio ad absurdum
argument, and often makes use of the
syllogism. His thoughts are not your
thoughts, SO be reasonable with tramp
reason. He gets weary and often misses
the nail of truth, still that is no reason
why the carpenters of thought should
cease their hammering. The best of
carpenters make mis- ticks now and
then.
After a hard days tramp and a very
scanty fare, I sit down on a grassy
mound thinking. The stars came forth
and by their light take out my note
book and write down my thoughts. If
l should die tonight, what a strange
thought is this! It's not a sad thought
or a glad thought-only a strange,
mysterious thought. Some times I
think I'd love to lay me down and die,
to end the ceaseless struggle the war
fare of life. And then again I'd hate
to die. After all it don't make much
difference. "'Tis not all of life to live
nor all of death to die" Some times
it is a blessing to die when the world
loads US with heavier burdens of toll
and sorrow than we can bear-it's then
a Joy to rest in the grave. It may be
an humble grave, unmarked, unkept,
unknown, or it may be n Of valuable
marble, still it's a joy some times to
rest there. The world has no heart,
no soul, no love. 1t is SO cold, so sci
fish, SO sad. We often smile, but they
are forced smiles-the heart laughs
very seldom. o, how lonely we get
some timesl Nobody loves US, adver-
sity's owl sits and boots its plaintive
cooipgs by night and by day neal our
window, and the clouds grow dark and
dreadful and the lightnings fash and
we long for peace, for rest. 1t is joyous,
some times, to die and end the troubled
dream of life. Our hopes die one by
one, and like the flowers Of spring
time fade sadly away. Ambition
charms US for a while, but oOn We
hate its very mention. Love comes to
soothe our weary spirits and we are
glad, but soon it's voice of joy turns
into weeping and we long to die. I
wonder should l die to night if any
heart would weep that I am gone; if
any one would kindly mention my
name in sweet, sad tones, if any one
would plant a tender f0wer of love
above my grave7 All, if knew this
how glad I would bel If I should die
to night I wonder if all who fight me
here would say a kind word about me
and forgive and forget9 All, we can't
tell. 1t would be a grand thing to so
live in other hearts that when we die
they would feel our loss, breathe our
name in sorrow. Love is the greatest
thing in the world. 1t is greater than
life. greater than death, greater than
anything. God is love. If I should
die to night 1 wonder whepe I'd go
When the death angel taps at our