The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-09-18
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
HOPE CANCELS A GREAT Null.
TITUDE OF TROUBLES.
Keep Your Books Balanced, But
Don't Record Small Things.

1t is a good plan for man to bal
ance up his books cncs or twice in q
while and see how the account stands.
L don't mean his money accounts nor
his debts aud credits, but his blessings
and Affections. In doing this he
should tote fair with himself and his
Creator. He should not magnify his
troubles nor IN Nifty his blessings and
privileges. IL 100 is the maximum
on either side, then light afflictious
which are but for moment, as st.
Paul says, should not be set down at
IS. If the cook quits and the COW
runs away, 1 wouldn't put it down at
oil, for both have come back just as
1 expected. Hope cancels great
many troubles. My turnip seed have
been in the ground eighteen days, with
not drop of rain TO sprout them,
but l am still hoping, and 80 / won't
put the turnips down as lost crop
not yet won't, some dog with two
legs, or four, killed my peafowl while
she was setting, aud put that down
ut b. for it was n great agGravation,
and it lasts long time nothing frets
me more than cruelty to animals, ex-
"ept cruelty to children. see young
bucks driving fast horses past my
house, and they press them to their
utmost speed, and if the horse breaks
they jerk him and whip him unmer-
cifully, and think it is smart. would
like to see one of them fellows reined
up with a bit in his mouth and check
rein drawn over his head and fastened
GnmpXyharn inct ~ LOT hin, f,n1 ha
agony for a few minutes.
Good health in the family ought to
be put down every day at not less than
so, for that is the greatest blessing in
life, and perhaps the least appreciated,
until We get sick. One of our boys is
sick now from the effects of sunstroke
in Chattanooga a month ago, and his
mother sat up with him all night last
night, and her anxiety is very great.
You see, he is her boy, and she knows
it. There is never any doubt about
who is the mother of a child. But 1
won't put that down ut more than 90 on
the trouble side, for hope comes in
hope thnt he will be better tomorrow.
Then, again, we are NIL out of Jail, and
that is worth something. There are
lots of folks in Jail or in the lunatic
asylum or in the poorhouse, and that
is a great affiiction, and mighty nigh
takes all the figures to count the mis-
cry. met an old man in Arkansas
who said: "Mr. Arp, I am eighty
four years old. Me and my old oman
have been livin' together sixty-two
years and have thirteen living child
rem and lots of grand children, and
nary one hain't been called to court
for anything they've done-put that
down-ani you may say that me and
her have belonged to the same Baptist
church for sixty years, and all that
time have voted the Democratic ticke.
put that down"
"Hain't never been called to court"
Well, that is big thing-no lawsuits
in the family, no crimes nor bonds nor
jails. That is worth 10 every day on
the credit side. Then, there is peace
with the nabors, and good will all
around is another big thing. And hav-
ing home and shade trees and vines
and flowers and good water and gentle
breeZes and friends to come and go, and
faithful dog to warn intruders, and a
Jersey cow-these are oil blessings that
count up. And then there is tho Privi-
lege Of living in a Christian land under
Christian laws and rulers; and
going to church and worshiping God
according to our conscience. Our fore
fathers away back couldn't do that.
Speaking of worshiping God reminds
me of an eccentric friend who didn't
belong to any church, but sometimes
attended and paid dcvout attention.
I met him one Sabbath morning walk
ing fast in that direction, and l said !:
where are you going in such a
hurry.
"I'm going to church." said he;
"going to church to worship God
not tho preacher"
"Neither poverty or richest" That's
another blessing. Pinching poverty
We have never known at our house
though it looks like it is coming, and is
almost in hailing distance.
If Mr.. Bryan or Mr.. Mckinley or
somebody don't do something very
soon | don't know what will become
of us. Somebody is to blame about
all this depression, and ii knew who
it was | would use language on them.
A Republican friend told me today that
it was the want Of protection to our
industries, and that Mckinley would
straighten it all out next year. He
said that Vermont had started the ball
to rolling, and would roll on from the
Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. lie be-
lieves that, and furthermore, that he
will roll into our little postoffice next
year. That's oil right. He may