The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1898-07-16
bill APPS WEEKLY LETTER.
u BIT OF USEFUL ADVICE FOR
TIMES OF TROUBLE.
IT is 4 SIN TO ALWAYS GRUMBLE.
We Have Much to 30 Thankful For, and
Should Try TO Be Content, Says
william.

to try to be content with our situation
and surroundings. Good Lord, what
sight of time is wasted in longing
for what we haven't got and in appre-
hending trouble that may never comeI
Ambition for fame or wealth or power
is mistake. It is worse-it is sin,
for it is founded in selfishness. Burke
tried them all and acquired them all
and deserved them all, and yet in his
old age he said, in letter to friend:
Solomon was right, for they are oil
vanity. My time is nearly out and.I
would rather sleep in the corner OF
little country churchyard than in the
tomb of the Capulets.
was Eliminating about this because
Singer sewing machine agent visited
my house today and when he found
we didn't want another machine he
sat In tie veranda and we talked
about the war and about the beautiful
region and the lovely weather and
about inventions and progress and the
restlessness and discomfort of the
people. He was q philosopher and
had travelled. We agreed that if 9
man was making fair living here he
ought to be not only contented, but
thankful and happy. "This is the
most attractive part of Georgia" said
he, land have not found region SO
signally blessed, and yet your people
do not seem to know it or to appreci-
ate their good fortune"
That is true. What good idea it
would be for man to keep O debtor
and credit account with his Maker and
charge himself with every good thing
his health and strength, his sun
shine and shower, the pure air and the
trees and fruits and flowers, the pictur-
esque views of hills and valleys, the
fast flowing streams, the songs of the
birds and the music that cheers the
hearth and home. Then there is the
daily greetings and meetings with
kind neighbors and friends and the
merry voices of the children and the
peaceful, inviting sound of the Sab
bath bells-and the blessed privilege
of worshippi-g God according to our
conscience, with none to modest or
make us afraid. Then there is the
daily morning prayer that is daily
answered. "Give us this day our daily
bread" and Ho gives it, for we have
neither tramps nor beggars to af1ict
us and nobody suffers for bread or the
necessaries of life. Above all, we have
peace within our borders, and Pope
says that, "All the joys of reason and
of sense lie in three words-hcalth.
peace and competence. Good graci-
GUS! what debtor account we could
run up against ourselves, and every
item would be God-given.
Well, OF course, there would be
some things to put down on the other
side-such as sickness, o death in the
family, or some afflicted child, or what
| is worse, some son or daughter who
has disappointed our hopes or brought
grief to broken hearts. But most Of
these things are not chargeable to
God, but rather to our own imprudence
or lack of duty. Fire and storm and
pestilence come through His laws, but
they rarely come.
There is more suoshiAe than cloud
in our life il we only lock at 1t right,
for we are tho most helpless creatures
on earth, and helpless man ought to
be thankful for everything he gets.
We don't know where we came from
nor where we are going nor when we
will have to go, and yet we see folks
strutting around and swelling up with
consequence. The best way is to carry
our sunshine along with rs and divide
with our nelghbors, ana if they have
got any to spare let us get little OF
theirs and mix it. Heard fat woman
say at a picnic: s'Needent bother about
a cushion for me; always carry mine
along with me-" That's good idea.
/ can pick out dozen men in this
town who carry sunshine. and you are
glad to meet them. There are many
moro who carry clouds and still many
more who don't carry anything. 1t
has been forty years since old Uncle
Billy Bangh died, and still treasure
his memory, for he carried sunshine
everywhere he went and never COM
pleincd. Ii he couldn't sell his water
melons lie gave them away He raised
the best in the world, at least it seems
SO to me nova small, long, white,
thin rind melon with red meat and
white Sends. He peddled them around
town, and like old General Bethune Of
Columbus, talked to the pretty women
and looked at them through his spec
tacles. If they dident wish to buy, he
would shy: 'sWell, I would like to
give you one if you will come after it.
But it worldent do to send servant
He said he wanted the sweet and pref
ty women Ia come l.ish enough for his
old eyes to zee them good, and so they
generally accepted the compliment and
went. Ny wife, she always went.
"When is it gcing to rain, Uncie
Billy?" you'll know by waiting" he
would reply. think of that nowadays
when anybody asks me what will be
the outcome OF this old war. sYou'l:
know by wai,ing;;" and the days are all
coming this woy. But the eager peo-
pie don't want to wait. Aunt Ann, our
old Guinea African cook, came up this
morning wild with excitement She
declared that two trains went mp the
road "'boui sayb -cak dis mornin' eli
loaded down wild 400 dead soldiers
carryin' EN- to Chatanooggy to bury
'em. Dey just killed in de fust battle
and hadn't hoon mt in no collins