The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-07
REACHES HOME AT DAYLIGHT.
Bill Arp Takes Nap in a Chatr-Tho
Children Think There IL Burglar
in the Housc-His Wife Recognized
tho SnOriuT


Children Think There IL u Burglar
in the Housc-His Wife Recognized
tho Snoring.
Left, left, left That is an ominous
word-l don't like 1t. Last Friday
night closed my mission down in Ala
bama-a most delightful week with
balmy weather moonlight nights and
good people tn cheer me. | retired
grandchildren and the light that
would be shining in the window for me
on Saturday night.
The porter was to call mo up In time
| to take the z o'clock train for Chatta-
nooga, but alas he did not do it, and
awoke to find that the train had
passed and was left, left, left-Oh
the misery OF it. Shakespeare says
| that there Is no philosopher can en-
dlre tho toothache patiently, and |
will add, or being left by q train when
far from bone. There is gonencss
| about it, for tho train has gone.
| Tho next train would not connect at
| Chattanooga and l would have to stay
there till another 2 o'clock in the
morning. But ALPS we'll that ends we'll.
| About daylight l reached my homo.
All was still and silen The good old
dog was lying at the door and gently
wagged his bushy tail. Tho door was
locked, but the window sash was not,
and raised 1t slowly and softly and
was soon in the sitting room, whore
there was u good comfortable sofa. |
know that the door to our family bed
room was locked, and l head some
faint familiar nasal sounds that as
sured me all was we'll. The diagnose
Vas right. In q few minutes | was
no1n nj AL l,1
myself My heavy base echoed to the
tenor in the other room and awakened
one OF the girls, who whispered: MAN
ma, mamma, there is somebody in the
front room" It's your papa" said
she. 81 know his trombone-bc still
and let him sleep. for l expect be Is
almost worn out" 1t was o'clock
when somebody kissed me- while | was
dreaming Of the soldier boys drilling
and the Ci1lccr said left, left, left ~
every step. housing up | received
the family eT braces, and two little
children came running in and climbed
all over me and made me happy--Oh,
it beats war, or politics, or q dog law,
or anything. | was escorted into the
dining room 10 breakfast and saw 1T u
glance that the room had been re-
papered with q tinted olive greon paper
and the bordering matched it beauti-
FULLY. The doors to the parlor were
wide open, and that room had been re.
paper ed. too. and was lovely.
Somehow | never could mako as
much ado over pleasant surprises as
my female folks expect, but | did my
best and have expressed my admira
tion several times since. Before left
they had talked about the old paper
that had gotten dirty and was falling
off and said that il | would got the
paper they would put it on, and | as
sented. am glad that did. for If |
had been at home they would have put
on them all day, for am the boy.
met man down In Alabama who
said that my letters we're demoralizing
The women OF this country and putting
now burdens on the mon. "Why,"
said he, just look at mel am fifty
five years Old and weigh nigh on to 200
pounds, and yet my wife wanted me 10
climb up stop ladder yesterday anu
fix the curtains back, and | told her
couldn't, and I wouldent, for the
ladder was old and rickety and | Nigh
fall and break my neck or some Of my
arms and legs. Well, sir, she laug he'd
and eaid bill Arp climbs ladders
for his wife, and plants flowers, and
children, too Yes" said 'that's
what he writes, but | don't believe a
word OF 1t. He thinks that you women
are going to be allowed to vote pretty
soon and he Is just fixing to be electrd." !"
Now, see here, hr. Arp, l fought
four years Ia that dogOnd old war and
now | am gettin' old and fat and Pm
not gwine to climb ladders and tend
the flower garden just because you do !;
that ia, II you really do it, which
don't believe" And the good, jolly
old veteran laughed immensely.
Next day | mado acquaintance with
q conductor on the Alabama Great
Southern and be comforted me by say
Ing that my letters gave good example
and good cheer and pictured what
nine childron at our house-all under
age, and my greatest pleasure Is In
meeting them wnen my run Is of, and
In helping them and their mother to
fight the battle OF life and be contented
and enjoy what We have got and be
thankful to God for his tender mercies.
Running train half night and half
day is hard work, but enjoy my home
and my family oil the more whom get
with thom, and they are all gladder to
see me-"
L ike that man and that klCd OF talk.
Whom our people realize that homo Ia
the best place on earth, and the moth
er 10 Its dearest inmate we will have
an ideal commonwealth.
Coleridge says
A mother Ia q mother still
The holiest thing alive"
Lyttleton Gays:
"Tne lover In the husband may be lost
But !he wife is doarer thnn tho BRIDE"
;A!i the great poets have paid tribute
to tho home and to tho mother, for
home is net homo without a mother
or course thore are many married wo-
men who orc not mothers and 10 not
| wish to be. With them children are
intruders, and the pity is that their
mothers had not been Of similar mind.
In New England and fashionable
Northern circles the maternal instinct
has been smothered, and has gouc into
| an innOxious desuctudc as Mr..
Cleveland would say. And good gen.
tlo Tom Howard said that Boston
mother wouldn't have but ono or two
children, and she wouldn't have any ii
| slc didn't want an heir tn inherit the