The leader., 1900-12-12
aHoME. SWEET HOME

Well, we are at home for few days,
and what blessing, Jno. Howard Payne
wrote the song, Home, Sweet Home"
and it immortalized him. No wonder.
Many years ago twenty thousand people
assembled in Castle Garden In New
York City to hear Jennie Lind sing
some of her new productions. After
singing several of her new songs, real
-izing that her audience was unmoved,
The nightingale folded her arms across
her breast and lifted her eyes heaven
ward, when the echoes of her sweet
voice rang out on the evening air as
she sang, "Home, Sweet Home" Al
most in an instant twenty thousand
people were moved to tears. Many old
people upon whom the infirmities OF
age have crept and they are no longer
able to do for themselves, with wrinkled
brow and faltering step are forced to
turn their backs upon the old home
and go away and live with their chill
dren. They no longer hear the cricket
on the old hearth around which many
cheerful faces have so often gathered.
The lowing of their cattle, the bleating
of their lambs, the cackling of their
chickens are all things of the past now.
They have fought their battle and
soon the joyful news will come.
Child, your Father calls. come home"
Sons and daughters who would not
strive to make happy these aged ones,
are not worthy to breathe Gods air.
We have the pleasure of taking care
of our aged mother in her old age. She
is SO years old and the grandest old
woman on earth, except your mother.
She sweeps, knits, dries dishes when
she feels like it, and enjoys remarkably
good health for one of her age. She is
one of the few mothers yet living who
had sons in the Confederate army. 1t
is real interesting to hear her tell OF
her tolls and sacrifices during the SIX
ties, when she would spin and weave
till the chickens would crow for day to
clothe her large family at home and
three sons in the army. Recently she
surprised us when she reached down
in her trunk and drew out large
package of old musty letters which we
boys wrote her during the war. Were
it not for lack of space we would pub
lish one of these letters written 'just
before the battle, mother"
We have, within the past two
months, travelled extensively through
the counties of Lawrence, Pike, Mari
gu, Amite, Copiah and Lincoln. and we
must say that we have never seen ouI
farming people in finer spirits. Many
of them have paid all their debts with
a balance in their favor; while many
othere are able to pigeon hole the pro
ceeds of their entire cotton crop. A
goodly number of them are able tc
pay us cash for medicine and we al
rejoice together, you see I. Eth
"What about the roads," says one
Well, glorious old Lincoln is so fal
ahead on the road question that bel
sister counties can't see her dust. Ii
| travelling over Contractor Evans roaG
| in west Lincoln the other day, having
such smooth drive, we dropped of
to sleep and never walked until oul
buggy wheel dropped into hole and
sounded the alarm that we had crossed
the line and were in Amite county
With one or two exceptions in south
| Lincoln, our contract roads are in fair
ly good condition. But if we were
compelled to tie blue ribbon on what
we believe to be the best road in the
county, we would tie it on Contractor
Evans road in west Lincoln. We have
talked with several prominent farmers
who have hitherto. traded at other
points on the railroad, who have now
turned their trade to Brookhaven be-
cause of the delightful drives over the
Lincoln county roads. They say they
prefer to go s or 10 miles further to
market than to pay a shop bill as a
result of rough roads. j. A. S.