The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-23
The Peoples Journal.
PICkENS 8 Q.
A HAPPY GOLDEN WEDD1NN"'
BILL ARP,S COUItISHf.
How He Won the Partner VIZ 49,
Celebrates the Joyous .ooo"'''''
ypfeb Him.

How He Won 'tho D,,,o,,
Celebrates the Joyous "oo'''
wtsh Him.
r,b;s is TO be playa drama IN
wbich there are but two actors--a nero
and a heroine. Fifty years ago they
were the bright particular stars In thls
same play and were the cynosures OF
,,,arv aves and received the warm con-
Dratnlations of kindred and friends,
bnt now tho role Of the drama Is re-
yersed. The stars have faded and lost
their dazzling light. Thv actors can no
longer strut or pose upon the stage
and the sympathetic audience must do
the playing. Passive, pensive, sub
dued and grateful, my wife and can
only receive our friends, listen to their
salutations, rejoice with those who re-
joice and sympathize with those who
have had sorrow. Fifty years ago
there was not a cloud hovering over
our horizon--no apprehension of
tt ouble or grief or death or war or any
dire calamity. Bright hopes and fond
expectations filled our cup to the brim
and Loves young dream made every
thing to seem beautiful. We breathed
the poets grateful prayer,
1.-THE world is very lovely. Oh my God
thank Thee that live"
The memory OF those halcyon days
Is sweet and fingers with us, but in
course of time the unwelcome contrast
came. Affections and anXieties in
vaded our humble home. Sickness
came, and death, and then war with
all its horrors. Then our dear parents
passed away and left us to fight our
battles alone, and we have long since
learned that life's victory is to sulrer
and be strong--to look upon the bright
side-to enjoy tho blessings Of the pres
cnt rather than lament those wo have
lost or borrow trouble that may never
como.
In looking backward over our wooded
life L can say that We have had moro
comfort and luXury.--of health and
strength moro than usually falls to
the lot Of mortals. AS VIC look around
Or read the public press we learn Of
misery and distress, sickness and want
all over this blessed land, and thcrc
are thousands OF unhappy creatures
languisning in tho prisons whilo their
wives and mothers and children sullor
and grieve in brokcn-hcartcd homes
1t grieves us to think OF these, and We
can but rejoice that Providence has
granted to us better fate. We still
have liberty and neither we nor our
children nor onr childrcns children
have ever suffered for tho comforts OF
life.
Some years ago, at Il county fair in
Arkansas, | was introduced to an agcd
couple who had been awarded the
premium for bringing upon the ground
tho largest family and tho most num-
crous posterity. Each Of them had
passed the 1Our score mark, and while
l WAS taking notes tho old man said {:
And you may put down that nary one
OF our ten sons or seven s0ns-in-law
have ever boon brought into court for
anything that they have done. And
Mr.: Arp you may put down that me
ana my wifo havo lived together sixty
one years and both joined the Baptist
cnurch sixty years ago, and onuurin'
Ill that time | have voted tho Dcmo-
cratic ticket put that down, Nh =.
Arp"
II were asked what is the l9ver thai
m 5ves the world, I IWMnnltid WnntiSda answer. :" It
i. is . love-" Tbs eeJJet says: '"0 ~
" WhaesGA Agnts, all passions, all delights
q ! sIstever stirs this mortal framo,
3 Ssil are but ministers OF love
s And feed It's sacred lame"
s. Education and religion and invcn.
tion are all levors, but stronger than
parents for their children and their
children's. children--the love of hus-
band and wife, of young mon for their
sWeethearts Or Of our girls for their
lovers, the love OF friend for friend and
OF the generous and philanthropic for
humankind, thelOve Of homo and coun-
try and OF the scenes of our childhood
the hills and wales and springs and
streams, the trees and flowers that
adOrn them. Walter Scott mover wro @
stronger or truer verse than whom he
said
I" Loves rulos tho camp, the court, tho
grove,
And mon below and saints above:
For love is heaven and heaven Is love-"
Fond memory goes back to nv own
youthful days when | was o schOolboy
and loved n pretty lass OF twelve sum
mers and she knew 1t, and whom at our
books on opposite sides Of tho room
ever and anon she glanced at mo and
always blushed whom | returned her
gaze. 1t was an incentive to mo to
study and keep up with her, for she
was a good scholar. At tho weekly
spelling bee, when all of us stood in q
semi-circle half round the room shc
generally got head and stayed there,
ana l generally got next to her Gnd
slyly held her hand in mine aud STAYED
there, too. That was but school bows
love and with time and separation It
faded away. Then | went to the iu-
stitute and was prepared for college
and in due time became sophomore
at what is now called the University
of Georgia. l found many sweet and
pretty girls in Athens, and during my
second year fell desperately in love
with one Of them. All, how gently she
tolled me- along and how sweetly she
toyed with me and sang the came old
story "Will you walk into my parlor,
said the spider to the Ay"-and |
walked In. She was kind, very kind,
and said she would always love mo as
o sister. Alas, these sisters who are
OF no kin. My addresses were rejected
and all could DO was to smite upon
my breast and exclaim
"Maid of Athens, ere We part,
Give, oh give me, back my hcart."
But time is good doctor and in o
few months l was we'll and ready for
another spider.
When nearing tho close of my college
fo To- 1xy&x