The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-10-31
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
HOPE CANCELS A GREAT Null
1IrUDE OF TROUBLES.
Keep Your Books Balanced, But
Don't Record Small Things.

It is a good plan for man to bal
ance up his books once or twice in
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 m nifty 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
Is. If the cook quits and the COW
runs away, I wouldn't put 1t down at
all, for both have como back inst as
+. expected. Hope cancels great
many troubles Ny turnip seed have
been in the ground eighteen days, with
not drop of rain to sprout them,
but am still hoping, and so I won't
put the turnips down as lost crop
not yet I won't, some dog with two
legs, or four, killed my peafowl while
she was setting, aud put that down
at 5, for it was great agerayation,
and it lasts long time; nothing frets
me more than cruelty to animals, ex-
cept cruelty to children. see young
bucks driving fast horses past my
house, and they press them to their
utmost speed, and il the horse breaks
they jerk him aud whip him MINER
cifully, and think it is smart. / would
like to see one of them fellows reined
up with bit in his mouth and check
rein drawn over his head and fastened
somewhere, just to let. him feel the
agony for 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. III
life, and perhaps the least appreciated.
until we get sick. One of our boys lie
sick now from the effects OF sunstroke
| in Chattanooga o 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 child. But !
won't put that down at moresthan 20 on
the trouble side, for hope comes iu--
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 a great eff iction, and mighty nigh
takes all the figures to count the mis-
cry. met an old man in Arkansas
who raid: "Mr. Arp, I am eighty
four years old. Me and my old oman
have been livin' together sixty two
years ard have thirteen living child
rem and lots. of grand children, ant!
nary one hain't been called to court
for anything they've done-put that
down-ani you may say thai 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 mol
jails. That is worth 10 every day OF
the credit side. Then, there is peace
with the nabors, and good will al
around is another big thing. And hav
. ing q home and shade trees and vines
and flowers and good water and gentle
breezes and friends to come and go, land
, faithful dog to warn intruders, and Q
, Jersey cow-theseare all blessings thai
; count up. And then there is the privi
] lege of living in Christian land under
Christian laws and rulers; ani
. going to church and worshiping God
according to our conscience. Our for
fathers away back couldn't do that
Speaking of worshiping God reminds
. me of an eccentric friend who didn'l
|, belong to any church, but sometimes
. attended and paid devout attention.
|. 1 met him one Sabbath morning walk
|, ing fast in that direction, and / said
/ "Where are you going in such
. hurry?"
"I'm going to church." said he
"going to church to worship God
] not the preacher.
! sNeither poverty or richest" That
! another blessing. Pinching povert.
/ we have never known at our hons
!. though it looks like tits coming, and
\ almost in hailing distance.
4 If Mr.. Bryan or Mr.. Mckinley o
I somebody don't do something yer.
= soon don't know what will becom
). OF ne. Somebody's to blame abou
}. all this depression, and If I knew VIII
d it was would use language on them
VI A Republican friend told me today tha
j. it was the want OF protection to on
industries, and that Mckinley woul
straighten it all out next year. H
said that Vermont had started the bal
= to rolling. and would roll on from th
= Atlantic to the Pacific ocean. He be
y = Iieves that, and furthermore, that b
!. will roll into our little postofice nex
= year. That's all right. He ma
i put down Eve for hope on b
9 credit side and I'll sign his p
= tition If his side wins. for he is abo'
n as clever man as . Republican can b
% md that is not hattering him vel
{. much. But Vermont don't prove an
10 thing, for they oil want protection !
there where there is . little mill {
every branch and waterfall makil
kfshhooks or hairpips or jewsharps