The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-05-22
A Story True to Life.
BY "s1sIpsoN.
Christian Observer.

BY "s1MpsoN.
Christian Observer.
"Thos. Patterson is not a success
in life,'' said all his neighbors. BE
paid his debts, following the apostolic
injunction-owe no man anything but
love-but he did not prosper in his
business like Mr.. Jennings. What
he touched did not turn to gold, he
did not know how to speculate, his
three children were girls, his wife was
delicate, the girls we're not robust and
he had to work hard to make "buckle
aud tongue meet" But somehow
they did meet. The grass seemed to
be greener, the trees more luxuriant,
the flowers more fragrant there than
at any other little home there was
always sunlight when Tom was about; /;
night and mornings there was merry
laughter. Tom had more quaint say
ings, one of which would fill his whole
family full of sunshine for the day.
Somehow when Tom was about the
child would forgetitsgrief the mother
her pain, the cat would coil up in the
chair and the dog would lie down on
the rug without fear. His horse fol-
lowed him around, the old COW came
up to have her head rubbed and the
chickens ran to him when hungry. At
the store the crowd looked cheerful as
he came up When he went into the
house Of mourning somehow the grief
seemed to be notified In the meet
ing of the session there was never a
jar when he was there. The deacon
always went to him first for sub
| scription. When the children met
him in the street they could not help
feeling happy. When the pastor was
despondent he.oalled on Tom Patter-
| son and always got good cheer from
him.
He was poor, always hard run, and
| people wondered why Tom Patterson
made everybody happy. Tom was
| taken sick one day, and ere any one
knew. he was very sick, he was dead.
There was big funeral; he was
buried in pine coffin, and for awhile
pine board marked Toms last rest
ing place.
The people went home and sighed,
and said: "Tom was good fellow,
but his life was a failure" Mrs.
Patterson put a small headstone to
mark his grave. and asked the pastor
for a motto. There was engraved on
THAT stone: 'ssTom Patterson, great
in the sight of the Lord" The peo-
ple read it, but most Of them laughed
at the idea Of Toms being great in
anything But some of them knew
that Tomshad stored q good dealof
lssunsh piheaven. sAs
Il sButs Thad Jennings, OH, what: a
sn1ccessls HIS cattlesiare the fattest,
|shisshorses the best, his land the rich
est, his house the finest, his specula-
tions always succeed; everything he
touches turns To- gold ;his wife is
economical and a great help; his sons
and his daughters are healthy and full
of life and energy and fun But some
how when Mr.. Jennings comes in the
sitting room, the sunshine glides out.
The meals are not on time, the fire is
too much punched, the children will
burn their shoes, the servants are lazy,
the cat runs out at the door and the
dog tucks his tail between his legs and
gets ready to hustle in case boot
jack or shoe flies at him., Somehow
Mr.. Jennings is not an ill-natured
| man, but he is man full Of business !;
he has no time for little amenities of
life. His house stands there; some
how it seems so cold and stiff, the
place looks as though it might have
come from the frozen zone. When
the children meet him in the street,
they look down and hurry past; why,
they know not, and he doesn't know !;
the crowd at the store bushes when
he comes in, and is stiff and.reseryed.
The session somehow, when Mr.. Jen-
| nings is there, for he is an elder, are
under restraint. business, busines !;
and when that is through, then it is
adjourn and away. The pastor, out
of respect and from duty, calls, but
! somehow he feels that it is an imposi-
| ton, for Mr.. Jenningsais very busy
| man. honorable sand fair, but his
trades are; close, and always made with
an eye tosproft:. ss.E 1
One day Mr.. j Jennings fell sick, and
it was not long until everybody knew
it. His wife and daughters waited
on him like automatons and did his
bidding;-and he died. 1t was
magnificent funeral, costly monu-
ment, long obituaries, and everybody
| said Mr.. Jennings was wonderful
success. -. 80, =
SEQUEL L. Mrs. Patterson and three
daughters lived economically, dressed
plain, worked hard, and kept decent
| appearance. The young people gath
cred there in; crowds to sing and talk
| and laugh, and get their hearts warm
ed up. People in sickness and trou-
|ble sent there for help. How many
friends they had They seemed to
love everybody, and everybody loved
them. :,
I see Mrs. Patterson now an old
lady; her grandchildren are playing
around her, basking in the sunshine
| she is making for them. Young Thad
Jennings and his brother Pete have
both married Mrs. Patterson's daugh-
| ters, and the families all call her house
home, and the Grandchildren all cry to
90 there. What a happy old lady
How happy Thad and Pete have be-
come. g
Mrs. Jennings, on the death Of her
husband, shut herself in more and
| more, sold eggs and butter and fruit
and chickens and turkeys from day
light to dark, busy, busy, hurry, rush
push, making money and being thrifty;
The children went out into the world
to hunt sunshine, and she knew not
where they were nor what they were
doino The rirls married early and