The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-09-16
Arp Tells What Should Be Done And
How to do II.
Atlanta Constitution.

Atlanta Constitution.
It is good plan for n man to bal
ance up his books once or twice in a
while and see how the account stands.
I 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 minify his blessings and
privileges. If 100 is the maximum
on either side, then light Affections,
which are but for a moment, as St.
Paul says, should not be set down at
rs. If the cook quits and the COW
runs away, I wouldn't put it down at
all, for both have come back just as I
expected. Hope cancels great many
troubles. My turnip seed have been
in the ground eighteen. days, with not
a drop Of rain to sprout them, but I
am still hoping, and so / won't put
the turnips down as a lost crop-not
yet I won't. Some dog, with two legs
or four, killed my peatowl while she
was setting, and I put that down at 5,
for it was great aggravation, and it
lasts a long time; nothing frets me
more than cruelty to animals, except
cruelty to children. L 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 numerically,
and think it is smart I would like
to see one of those fellows reined up
With bit in his mouth and a check
rein drawn over his head and fasten-
ed 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 so, for that is the greatest bless
ing in life, and perhaps the least ap-
preciated, until we get sick. One of
our boys are sick now from the effects
of sunstroke in Chattanooga 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 cf a
child. But won't put that down at
more than 20 on the trouble side, for
hope comes ia-hope that he will be
better tomorrow. Then, again, we
are all 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 great aAlic-
tion, and mighty nigh takes all the
figures to count the misery. I met an
old man in Arkansas who ssyid: "Mr.
Arp, I am eighty-four years old. Me
and my old 'cman have been livin to-
gether sixty.two years and have thir-
teen livin' children and lots Of grand
children, and nary one hain't been
called to court for anything they've
done-put that down-and you may
say tibet me and her have belonged to
the same Baptist church for sixty
years, and all that time [ have vo-
ted the democratic ticket-put that
down."
"Hain't never been called to court"
Well, that is big thing--no law
suits in the family, no crimes nor bond
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
having a 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 intrud-
ers, and q Jersey cow-these are all
blessings that count up. Then there
isthe privilege Of living in Chris
tian land, under Christian laws and
rulers; and of going to church and
worshipping God according to our
conscience. Our forefathers away
back couldn't do that. Speaking of
worshipping God reminds me of an
ece7tric friend who didn't belong to
any church, but sometimes attended
and paid devout attention. I met
him one Sabbath morning walking
fast in that direction, and I said !:
"Where are you going in such hur-
ry?"
"I'm going to church" said he; "go-
ing to church to worship God-not the
preacher"
Neither poverty por riches!"
That's another blessing. Pinching
poverty we have never known at our
house though it like it is coming, and
is almost in hailing distance
If MIR. Bryan or Mr.. Mckinley or
somebody don't do something very
soon I don't know what will become
of US. somebody is to blame about
all this depression, and if l knew who
it was I would use language Oh them.
A republican friend told me to-day
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
bail to rolling, and it would coll on
from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean,
He believes that, and furthermore,
that he will roll into our little postof-
flee next year. That's all right. He
mnv mt down five for hone On his