The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-10-17
BILL .ARP,S LETTER:
Bill Turns Society Reporter and Writes up
the Event.
Atlanta Constitution.

QOWerS-CO place upOu Gue oaoAeo' "A
mother, wife or daughter was sud
denly called away to rest; called
without warning. A heart that was
loving had ceased to beat and now
there is sorrow in that household and
desolation in that home. [ see the
motherless children as [ pass and the
stricken husband. The good old
father and mother have come from
their distant home and are broken
down with grief.
AS looked upon the lovely wreaths
chat loving hands had wrought to
and sent to adorn the dead, I recalled
Mrs. Hemans beautiful lines
"Bring fowers-pale fowers-o'er the bier
to shed,
A crown for the brow of the early dead
Though they smile in vain for what once
They are loves last gifs-5ring howers-
pale flowers"
As I journeyed home I saw more
flowers that kind friends were sending
to my house and [ knew that they
were for the bridal occasion-not the
death, but the nuptial Of daughter
dearly beloved, and then another verse
of the sweet poetess' came to mind:
"Brlng flowers, fresh flowers, for the bride
tu wear!
They were born to blush in her shining
hair; :,
She is leaving the home of her childhood's
mirkh-
She has bid farewell to her fathers hearth.
Her place is now by another's side
Bring flowers, sweet hoWers, for the fair
young bride"
For time I was sad and my heart
was sick. But I remembered that
life and death and marriage and the
separation of friends is part of the
common lot. It is not good to grieve
over that which we, cannot help.
Certainly there is no cause to grieve
for our house, for it is not far to
where our child has gone-only q
block or two away, and she will come
home every day until we get recon
ciled. She was away at college for
months and we got reconciled to that.
The difference is that then she loved US
better than she loved anybody, but now
she doesn't. He has cut us out, as
we boys used to say when fellow
took our sweetheart away. Ii is
case of larceny after trust. We trust
ed the young man with her until he
began to claim the goods and wouldn't
give them up. Strange to say, we ac-'
auiesced in the theft and endorsed it
in the Church and congratulated him
on his success. We couldn't help
ourselves and concluded it was the
best thing we could do. But she will
be missed. No she won't either, for
she is miss no more. Yes, will be
missed by all Of us and Aunt Ann and
the dogs, too, for everything loved her.
"Dat man no business take Miss Jes-
sic away from here, but [ reckon he
couldn't help it," said Aunt Ann:
Clocks like everybody loves dat child
and everybody sent her sumthin.
Never seed 80 many purity things in
all my-ll life ffs-.~Wonder who her ma
gwine to call on now to get her scls-
sors and find her spectacles."
And all went merry as marriage
bell. It always does. A marriage
fills the Church with good people. 1t
is everybody's business, and there are
eager, expectant smiles on every face.
For time, at least, the bride and
groom have eyerbody's sympathy and
good wishes. There was nothing
sweeter, lovelier, than the scene: The
goodly array of fair women and brave
men as they marched down the aisle
to the altar-marched in stately step
pings to the music of the organ the
pealing, swelling notes that came from
masters hand-for Signor Randeg,,
ger was at the keys. Oh, music |!
What is it and where does it dwell {?
Soldiers can't fight without it;
preachers can't preach without it;
lovers can't court without it. Ithelps
to consummate marriage and to bury
the dead. 1t is the, only thing on
earth that will be found in Heaven,
for it is common to angels and to men.
Well, it is all over. Solemnly,
sadly, sweetly, I gave the bride away
and then took a seat by my wife.
There were no tears upon her cheeks,
but I saw them in her eyes-just a
skim of 'tlachrymal effusion," as DR.:
Calhoun would say-and [ could feel
the tremor Of her hand. Size will
stick little closer to me now, L
reckon. She will let me find her spec
tacles. The old man is not Of much
consequence until the younger props
give way. He is no quarter horse, but
is mighty good on the long run:
Maybe she will take Jessie place and
count my back hair and bathe my
brow with cologne when my head
aches. I'll be her John Anderson my
Joe with my frosty paw and she will
be my Genevieve once more.
But oh, my, what reception we
had What an aftermath with kin
dred and friends-with bridesmaids
and groomsmen-with children and
grandchildren and nephews and
| nieces and cousins. There are new
kinsfolks now amazing, for two large
families have got together by com
mon bond. Old South Carolina stock
has found welcome place in our fam
lily tree and our baby girl has found
another mother-a mother blessed in
her children and the children blessed
in having such a mother. We will
make combine nova trust-and
stand or fall together. What bond
it is when the young people of large
families mate and marry. How often
it unites those who have been es-
tranged and makes friends of enemies.
What q beautiful scene it is-the
nuptials of those who are mated as
we'll as married. What a contrast to
hasty, inconsiderate matches thai are
made in haste and rcpented of at lcis-
ure-bonds that are tied by the
preacher and united by the courts, and
matrimony with it's promises is chang
ed to alimony and tears.
But marriage is not failure. 1t is
the common lot and is ordained of
God and there is more happiness than
misery if we try to make it so.
| Wa bod p,ue;o 1oet n;oht Tho