The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-11-01
Discusses Visit of Mrs. Arp to
Daughter and Grandchildren.
IALKSN A HIGHLY PLEASING STRAIN
Neverts to Many Matters that Will Re.
Joiee His Better Half When
She Returns Home.

massage that she would spend the
night and the next day and maybe
longer. Thinks to myself. she wants
me to send her word to come home.
and won't. II has been a long time
since the runaway. We missed her,
but made no sign. Her chair was va
cant. Her familiar voice was no long.
er heard. The pantry keys hung ST
lent on the nail. Nobody called me
from the window to stop working In
the garden and rest while the sun was
so hot. Nobody to say the -four is
cut or the hominy or the lard or some
thing else, for something is always out
at our house. Little grandchildren
come to see us and don't stay long
Cos granma amt here" Everything
looks like a funeral. Lonesome iseut
the word for It. There isent any word
Tor the feeling when the maternal an
cestor is not cruising around; when
we cant hear the rustic of her dress,
nor the sound Of her voice nor see her
stitching away on some infantile gar
letter from the far away boys.
But the girls gave me a hint and
Baid now was good time to paint the
Kitchen and surprise her, for she has
been talking about those old dirty,
dingy, smoky walls ever and anon once
or thrice in awhile. So I opened my
big heart and little purse and sent for
the painter to come early in the morn
ing. He came and did nice job of 1t
IN a day. The kitchen looks like a
paFloT. The cook woman caught on to
the surprise party and secured the Ia
bles and the tinware and then went
home and put on clean, new dress
My wife came home this morning We
no sign. She was glad to get home
and INDUCED in more hilarity than US
ual. She cruised around looking at ia
MIliRr things and places. Soon she
wandered toward the kitchen and we
kept in hailing distance and watched
her. Suddenly there was a scream of
delight as she looked in at the open
door. well, do declare. Did l ever"
That Is all she said just then, for she
turned and came hastily to me and
Kissed me. She took me by surprise,
Tor she quit kissing me years ago. That
kiss more than paid for the paint and
the painting, These little sweet sur
prises are the best part of domestic
10Th
and political honors and fame, and are
the next thing to religion, for they are
founded in love.
"All thoughts, all passions, all delights
Whatever stirs this mortal frame,
All are but ministers Of love
And feed its sacred flame"
These are the songs of birds in the
trees-the flowers by the waysIde that
comfort us in the Journey Of life. Song
birds and flowers! There is nothing in
the wide world that gives such empha-
sis to the love Of God for His crea-
lures. We need food and raiment and,
Esh without them. But the birds and
flowers are extra gifts to minister to
our senses, our emotions. How FORUM
ate for 5 that as we grow older we
love Il m better When I was a very
bugy man and had ambition to rise in
the ,,orld and advance my wife and
children l cared nCtle for birds or flow
ers, but now they are my especial
pleasure. NOW understand the mean
ing Of that beautiful verse, Consider
the lilies how they grow. They tot
not, neither do they spin, yet Solomon
in all his glory was not arrayaed like
one Of these" He who provldeth fooC
for the ravens and takes notice of ev
cry sparrow that falls to the ground
will surely take care of us If we trus,
Him. believe there are but two kinds
OF flowers named in the Bible-thC
rose Of Sharon and the lily Of the val
7sy-and these two stand pre-eminen
today for beauty and fragrance. o.
late | have been watching the rose
buds as they unfold their leaves anC
open into beauty. How wonderful!
they are folded upon the little con,
and every layer is waiting for its TIM
and turn to come forth and breathe
the air and take on colors from God
aunlight. No human fingers could re
fold them and make bud again. TIL
birth OF beautiful rose is miracle
II passeth comprehension and excite
our wonder only. Just so is the feath
FTdo roforoooopa cbour