The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-09-24
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
HOPE CANCELS A GREAT Null
TITUDE OF TROUBLES.
Keep Your Books Balanced. But
Don't Record Small Things.


! ance up his books once or twice in
while and see how the account stands.
| don't mean his money accounts nor
his debts and 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 m Nifty his blessings and
? privileges. If 100 is the maximum
on either side, then light Affections
which are but for moment, as st.
Paul says, should not be set down at
/ Is. II the cook quits and the cow
runs away, l wouldn't put it down at
all, for both have come back just as
I expected. Hope cancels a great
many troubles. Ny turnip seed have
been in the ground eighteen days, with
not a drop of rain to sprout them,
but | am still hoping, and so l won't
put the turnlps down as a lost crop
not yet [ won't, some dog with two
legs, or four, killed my peafowl while
she was setting andI put that down
ct 5, for 1t was q great aggravation,
and it lasts long time; nothing frets
me more than cruelty to animals, ex-
"ept cruelty to children. I 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-
cituny, and think it is smart. I would
like to see one of them fellows reined
up with bit in his mouth and check
rem drawn over his head and fastened
somewhere, just to let him feel the
agony for a few minutes.
Good health in the family ought TO
be put down every day at not less than
90, 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 sunstroka
in Chattanooga month ago, and his
mother sat mp with him all night last
njcht, and her anxiety is very great.
Yon see, he is her boy, and she knows
It. There IS never any doubt about
who is the mother of a child. But
won't put that down at more than 90 on
the trouble side, for hope comes in
hope that he will be better tomorrow
Then, again, We are all out of Jail, ami
that is worth something. There are
lots Of folks in Jail or in the lunatic
asylum or in the poorhouse, and that
is q great aff1iction, and mighty nigh
takes all the figures to count the mis-
cry. I met an old man in Arkansas
who said: Mr. Arp, 7 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 ani
her have belonged to the same Baptist
church for sixty years, and all that
time | have voted the Democratic ticket
put tha down"
''Hain't never been called to court. :"
Well, that is big thing-no lawsuit~
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 nl
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 60, and
a faithful dog to warn lntruderR, and q
jersey cow-these are all blessings that
count up. And then there is the priv
lege OF living in Christian land under
Christian laws and rulers; and
going to church and worshining God
according to our conscience. Onr for
fathers away back couldn', do that
Speaking of worshiping God reminds
me of an eccentric friend who didn't
belong to any church, but sometimes
attended and paid devout attention.
[ met him one Sabbath morning walk
ing fast in that direction, and I said :
"Where are you going in such q
hurry?"
''Im going to church," said he
''going to church to worship God
not the preacher"
"Neither poverty or riches" That
, another blessing. Pinching poverty
: we have never known at our hous"
, though it looks like It'll coming, and j.
almost in hailing distance.
, If Mr.. Bryan or Mr.. Mckinley ol
, somebody don't do something vcrv
soon 7 don't know what will become
! of us Somebody is to blame ah""
, all this depression, and if [ knew wh'
I it was ] would use language on them
t Republican friend told me today TIL
I it was the want of protection to ou1
: industries, and that Mckinley woni
t straighten it all ont next year. r.
: said that Vermont had started the bal
s to rolling, and would roll on from III,
. Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. He be,
lieves that, and furthermore, that he
will roll into our little postoffice mex,
year. That's all right. He may
s put down FIVE for hope on h
s credit side and Til sign his pc
r tition if his side wins, for he is abon
e as clever a man as Republican can be
g md that is not fatterinp him ver'
n unnh But Vermont don't prove anr
'' thug, for they all want protection u