The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-06-14

Just think. two more months. June
then July, and crops will be made and
lay-by time will be upon Us.
What other class Of people than
farmers can claim such blessed sea
son as time for lay-by? Before one
hardly knows it the crops are made
and season Of rest and peace comes
to the farmer One more month S
work will virtually wind up the labor
Of making the crops Of 1899. After Il
month now everything will be easy on
the farm, fruit will be in season,
pleasures will be inauguratcd and the
plow boys and country lasses will be
romping ia joyful glcc while the old
folks will fold their hands in rest upon
the happy faith that God will do the
balance.
How blcsscs are such conditions!
Where else can it be found save in
the rural pursuits? The country fam
lily that has lone it's duty for the last
four months can trust the rest to
providence in Il confidence and rest
fulncss. that no other class on earth
can feel. The mechanics Of the towns
must hammer on. the merchant broods
over dull and heated season and
longs for cotton to hurry in, rich pco-
pie will be worrying to find the sum
mcr resort to give them rest that the
poorest clodhoppcr would refuse to
accept if he were to find it in the mid
die Of the road, the quality Of comfort
and freedom from anxiety that comes
to the farmer at lay-by is found no
where on earth save on the farm.
They vii lay up in the shade at noon
time, play marbles under the big oaks,
cat fruit from the trees and bring
melons from the spring, slipping such
pleasures without price that is found
nowhere else nor by any other class.
Along with the other pleasures will
come the season of big meetings and
campmectings. These are glorious
for old and young. Old people are
like old clocks they need winding up,
and the big meeting season is the key
that touches the old mans heart and
sets him to ticking with stronger
lick and happier purpose. pity the
man that has never known the pleas
ures Of a big meeting in the country.
There you will find out all that has
happened in the past year. Old
friends are renewed Every death
will be talked about. If any are sick
they Will be missed. All the mar
riages will be discussed. New babies
will be there dressed to be admired
and proud young mothers will show
them to their old mates with a holy
pride that only comes through q
mother love. There is no matching
this. Not on this earth is found such
peace as belongs to the young country
couples who come for the first time
with their babies to good old meet
ing house in the country. No matter
how long our fathers and mothers may
live, nor how nor where, there will
never be happier time than through
those years when the children were
small and went and came as the par
cnts did.
The sociability of these big meet
ings is beyond measurement. In
groups they sit around under the trees
swapping gossip till the preacher ar
rives. The arrival Of the preacher
marks an event Of the occasian. After
he has tied his horse to swinging
limb he passes through the groups
shaking hands, With word for this
sister and chat with this "broth-
cr," making impressions and bringing
pleasures that will remain long after
they have passed from their fields Of
action and other generations have
taken the place of the old. The con-
gregation now gathers inside the
church, after the preachers arrival.
A good old hymn is started
"All hail the power of Jesus name,
Let angels PROSTATE fall,
Bring forth the royal diadsm
And crown Him Lord of ALL"
Whoever has sat in one Of these old
churches and watched the congrcga-
tion as they came in and took their
seats has memory to cherish as long
as life shall last. Young boys and
girls, young mothers and old, old
fathers and young fathers, together
with the babies, will remain as mem
ories to sweetcn many bitters of life
and bounce us joyfully over many
rugged ways. God bless these old
churches. The benches were rough