The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-12-06

WOrQ-l uOu llhC ~. Aooo AA~"5
night I closed my mission down in
Alabama most delightful week with
baimy weather, moonlight nights and
good people to cheer me. l retired
happy to dream Of home and the little
grandchildren and the light that would
be shining in the window for me on
Saturday night.
The porter was to call me upi in time
to take the 2 clock train for Chatta-
nooga, but alas he did not do it. and |
awoke to find that the train had pass
ed and I was left, left, left. Oh! the
misery Of it. Shakespeare says that
there is no philosopher who can endure
the toothache patiently, and will add,
or being left by train when far from
home. There is a goneness about it,
for the train has gone.
The next train would not connect at
Chattanooga and I would have to stay
there till another 2 o'clock in the
morning. But all's we'll that ends
we'll. About daylight I reached my
home. All was still and silent. The
good old dog was lying at the door and
gently wagged his bushy tail. The
door was locked, but the window sash
was not, and raised it slowly and
softly aud was soon in the sitti-g
room, where there was good comfort
able sofa. [ knew that the door to our
family bedroom was locked, and |
heard some faint, familiar nasal sounds
that assured me that all was we'll. The
diagnose was right. In a few minutes
I was asleep and playing on the har-
monican myself. My heavy bass
echoed to the terror in the other room
and awakened one of the girls, who
whispered: mamma, mamma, there
is somebody in the frontroom. cts
your papa," said she. II know his
tronbone-be still and let him sleep
far I expect he is almost worn out.
It was o'clock when somebody kiss
ed me while 7 was dreaming Of the
soldier boys drilling and the officer
said left. left, left at every step.
Rousing up, received the family en-
braces, and two little children came
running In and climbed all over me aud
made me happy-oh, it beats war, or
politics. or dog law, or anything. |
was escorted into the dining-room to
breakfast. and saw at glance that the
room had been repapered with a tinted
olive green paper and the bordering
matched it beautifully. The doors to
the parlor were wide open, and that
room had been repapered, too, and was
lovely.
Somehow I never could make as
much ado over pleasant surprises as
my female folks expect, but | did my
best, and have expressed my admira-
tion many times since. Before | left
they had talked about the old paper
that had gotten dirty and was falling
off, and said that if I would get the
paper they would put it on, and | as
sented. I am glad that l did, for if
I had been al home they would have
put the harness on me and made me
wait upon them all day, for I am the
boy.
I met man down in Alabama who
said that my letters were demoralizirg
the women Of this country and putting
new burdens on the men. "Why,
said he, ''just look at me- am fifty
five years old and weigh nigh on to 200
pounds, and my wife wanted me to
climb up step-ladder yesterday aud
fix the curtains back, and told her |
couldn't, and wouldn't, for the lad
der was old and rickcty and [ might
fall and break my neck or some of my
arms and legs. Well, sir, she laugh
ed and said: Bill Arp climbs ladders
for his wife; and plants flowers, aud
strawberries, and nurses the grand
children, too. Yes, said I, that S what
he writes, but don't believe word
Of it. He thinks that you women are
going to be allowed to vote pretty
soon and heis just fixing to be elected.
Now. see here, Mr.. Arp, l fought four
years in that dogond old war, and now
am gettin' old and fat, and I'm not
gwine to climb ladders and tend the
flower garden just because you do;
that is, if you really do it, which |
don't believe. And the good, jolly
old old veteran laughed immensely.
Next day I made acquaintance with
a conductor on the Alabama Great
Southern and he comforted me by say
ing that my letters gave good example
and good cheer and pictured what home