The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-03-24

nave and so 1 will wait. She has al
ways given me everything that came
to her except the children. She claims
all of them and still speaks Of tn em as
..my children-my boys and my girls.
Evan Howell, my old friend, came to
our wedding and brought his good 4,
wife with him. You see, was ct his
fathers wedding long before he was
horn and wanted him here, but when
he was called upon to respond to Judge
Akin's beautiful speech, I thought he
went little out of his way to say that
syery man was made better by his
wife and that he had reason to believe
that his friend, Bill Arp, was indebted
to Mrs. Arp for his fame and name
and good repute-that she was the
mower behind the throne--the guid-
| ing star-the pilot at the helm, the in
spiration and all that sort OF thing.
NV wife was standing meekly by my
side and heard it all, and it seemed to
me she Strengthened up little and
seemed taller as he spoke.
He continued on that line until
began to feel that 1 was nothing but
an old ship that my wife was steering
through the breakers / saw that his
, remarks were very grateful TO Mrs
, Howell, for she stretched up little,
too. and as looked around upon the
/ matrons they we're all stretching up
D and nv fear is that they will stay SO.
/ don't think I will invite Evan to our
. next wedding. -,
2 And now comes the aftermath-the
, second reaping Of this harvest OF love.
s We must answer all these kind letters.
r and we must thank the donors Tor all
V these beautiful gifts. 1t will take
o fine. but it will be labor of love.
Many of the letters are in verse, ana
r what is remarkable, most IF the poems
$ ,re from our aged friends. Just take
# note Of this from DIR. Alexander, the
A veteran physician of Atlanta. Who
If would have thought that he would
T.. have turned bard in his seventy-hfth
u wear? He sent me n beautiful cane,
# and the following verses were wrapped
is around it. May the good Lord lead
- him down gently to the grave:
= Il never can forget it-whatever time "e'
Il. S.''!s -. ,n.o m youths sweet prime
whrn Bill and were boys.
~" 1t IL the one bright memory no earthly
= dross alloys.
,' For sweet bells chino of that dear tire
When Bill and l were boys,
\, ? Il WAS there when Bill was married. il
ar the pleasant far-away,
~ To the fair and noble woman
y" Whom he weds again today.
-" His goldcn-marriage time it Is. All, tim
lr no love destroys,
For they lovo each other better than
rs When Biz and were boysl
Il" We'll, here's n greeting to you. Bill
And blessings on your life,
And love and joy forever
To your jewel Of Il wife.
To me you're both n memory
No earthly dross alloys,
he .-. -.-- ~.'.... ~ r-i'n on, BILL
.N For loves your staff and guide,
Is And :ovc has led you safe thus far
:, And love is by your sidc
L But take this staff, old comrade,
- With your golden wedding joys
/" And lean upon it for those days
When BIZ and l were boys!
I'l JAMES +. ALEXANDER
~ March 7. 1899"
-, oh, the dear memories that thcs,
:, lines crowded on me--the branche:
:, wnere we tishcd for minnows an,
49, perch and hornyheads, the shoal creel
! where we seined and the mill pont
~ where we jumped from the spring
! board and the water seemed mil,
deep, and the trees we climbed fo,
-, chestnuts that seemed mile high
> What fine coon dog was Rover ant
l.. what good rabbitalog. was TAGn sGno r I6e
:, mill pond is but little. pool and thc
trees have been cut down and the docs
q. we hunted with are dead. Alasr how
: cruel is time nv"
, And here before me are some tendo,
, iihes IRON old Colonel Gibbons. who
! mas passed his four score years. He
ADDS another verse to '.John Andar.
son, My Jc." SO does nv dear oId
!, partner, Judge Branham, and he saws
mat Dr Deems wrote it, And an old
lady from Washington. d. c., sends
sun another verse and says it was
written by man in Ohio. Here ore
three different additions to the poem
ana all are beautiful. And mere ore
several loving verses from our cher
iShed f'lend, Captain Calhoun. who
Is no spring bird or bard, but is old
enough to write poetry. There is n
man who always brings sunshine. His
NE Is struggle and a strain. bnt
like the son of Alknomok, he never
complains"
Ihen there is the double hearted
gem from our unknown friend, "Dupne
brown, with its graphic illustrations.