The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1896-06-11
Letter From Ringweod.

hlNuNoOD, ~. u, u ulc ON, 1COO.
Crops fine; acreage OF tobacco in
creased, say 10 per cent; cotton, 10
per cent; corn an average and looking
better than ever saw it for the time of
year.
Politics dull. Not much interest taken
now but the Office seekers will soon be
around and stir up the voters to a sense
of their duty in saving the country.
Many men who cannot pay their own
little bills know exactly how to run the
governments finances and talk free-silver
when they wouldn't know it if they met
it in the road. This ''free silver hum
bug is on the lips of every political
knave for selfish purposes, because any
thing free will take with the average pa
triOt; is less understood and more absurd
than any ignus fatui offered by the po-
litlcal poltroons OF the age. Why two
thirds of them are for free silver which
they will faunt in your face as soon as
they commence to talk, they can't tell
nor do they know save on general prin-
ciples. They are for anything free that
hobs up. But enough on this line. We
have some Of the finest corn in the State,
said to be by those who have travelled.
l.. Vinson and C. A. Williams and Tyree
and Simpson have large fields of it wav-
ing in beautiful folds that is Joy to
look on.
No local news. Everybody at work as
they should be
A wise man ought to hope for the best,
be prepared for the worst and bear with
equinamity whatever may happen.
If we never speak OF a mans virtues be-
fore his face nor bis faults behind his
back there would be an end to fattery
and defamation.
An old Scotch proverb says:
IT'S good to be merry and wise;
lis good to be honest and true, love,
lis good to be off wi the auld
Before one is on wi the new.
''Fine clothes and fattering words
don't pay honest debts"
Our section has sustained great
loss in the premature death of W. p
Simpson. Esq, which sad event occurred
on Wednesday night. Mr.. Simpson lived
with his family in Wilson where he was
president of the banking house OF Branch
4 Co. and of the Cotton Mills, and was
connected with various other business
interests. He had large farming inter
ests in this section, owning several thou
sand acres of land, and the Wood Lawn
farm and residence which he had beaut-
fled and enriched and the finest crops of
corn, tobacco, clover and grapes with
many fine thoroughbred colts and other
stock now on it. He was on q visit to
this farm for a few days when the fatal
stroke OF apOpleXy came suddenly and
without any great premOnition, and the
strong mind, the manly physique, the
genial and clever Willie Simpson was
taken from his field of great usefulness
and honor into the shadows OF death.
He was 46 years old and leaves a wife
and four children whom he could not
recognize though they were at his bed
side II hours before his death, and to
them and many Others his loss was ire
parable. Mr. Simpson was one of the
finest business men in the State and of
the strctest integrity; generous hearted
and KIND to those who appealed to him
tor help. Indeed he was a man that
came truI Y up to this description: "Give
us a man young or DID, high or low on
whom We know we can thoroughly de-
pend-who will stand firm when others
fall-the friend faithful and true, the ad-
wiser honest and fearless, the adversary
Just and chivalrous." 1t should be and
no doubt is great consolat ion to his
family to know how universally regret
ted his death has been He was taken
to the beautiful cemetery at Wilson
where he rests well.
There is no death-what seems so is tran
Sition;
This life Of mortal breath
Is but suberb of the life elysian.
Our friend so regarded it. Having been
SO true and faithful in all the relations
OF this life, he now sleeps the sleep OF the
Just and will receive the reward OF the
faithful Servant. 1t must be so of one
so kind and gen erous and true that
he never made brow look dark
Nor caused tear but when he died.
G. F. NJ