Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-10-17
IS AWAY FROM HOME
Mrs. Arp Pays a Visit 70 Daughter
and Grandchildren.
HER HUSBAND TELLS THE STORY.
The Barlow Philosopher Discusses
Hatters That Might Please the
Good Woman When She Returns.

Good Woman When She Returns.
My wife went off to the country 10
spend the day with one OF our daught-
ers and her children. We expected her
to return that evening. but got a mes
sage that she would spend the night
and the next day and maybe lonle~
Thinks ! TO myself, she ~ants me 10
send her word TO come home, and |
wont. 1t has been long time nee she
runaway. We missed he-. but made no
| sign. Her chair was vacant. Her famil-
lar voice was no longer heard. The
( pantry keys hung silent on the nail
Nobody called me from the window 10
stop working in the garden and rest
while the sun was so hot Nobody 10
say the flour Is out or the hominy or
the lard or something else, for some
thing is always out at our house. Lit
/ tie grandchildren come to see us and
! don't stay long "CCs gamma aint here.
! Everything looks like funeral Lone
some isent the word FOR it, There isn't
any word for the feeling when the ma
ternal ancestor is not cruising around;
dress, nor the sound of her voice nor
see her stitching away on some infan-
tile garment or reading over again
the last letters from the far away
boys.
But the girls gave me a hint and
said 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 | opened
my big heart and little purse and sent
for the painter to come early in the
morning. He came and did 4 nice job
of it in a day. The kitchen looks like a
parlor. The cook woman caught on -
the surprise party and secured the ia
bles and tin ware and then went home
and put on clean. new dress. Nv
| wife came home this morning. We gave
her kind welcome, but made no sign.
She was glad to get home and indpIG"d
in more hiliarity than usual. She Cruis
ed around looking at familiar things
and places. Soon she wandered to-
ward the kitchen and we kept in hail
ing distance and watched her. SIddon-
Iy there was a scream OF delight is
she looked in at the open door. "Wcll
do declare Did ever" That is all
she said just then, for she turned end
come hastily to me and kissed me-
She took me by surprise, for she quit
kissing me years ago. That Kiss more
than paid for the paint and tn" pa mt
ing. These little sweet surprises are
the best part Of domestic life. They
peat wealth and high life and political
honorS and fame and are the next
thing to religion, for they arc founded
in love.
"AI 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-thc 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 creatures.
We need food and raiment and, pf
course, the human family would peri n
without them But birds and fioWe
the extra gifts to minister to our sen.
ses. our emotions How fortunate for
us that as we grow older we love them
better. When | was very busy N
and had ambition to rise in the world
and advance my wife and children |
cared little for birds or flowers, but
now they are my especial pleasure.
Now understand the meaning OF thtt
beautiful verse. 'CCn5ldeT the lilies
how they grow. They toll not, neither
do they spin. yet Solomon IN all MS
glory was not arrayed like one ot
these" He who provideth food for ra-
vcns and takes notice or every spar
row that falls to the ground Will surely
take care OF US If We trust Him. | be-
licve there are but two kinds or hOwe-"
named in the Bible-the rose OF Saa-
ron and the lily OF the valley-an
these two stand preeminent today Tor
beauty and fragrance. or late / nave
been watching the rOsebuds as they
unfold their leaves and open into beau
ty. How wonderfully they are 10 ced
upon the little cone and every layer is
waiting for its time and turn 10 come
forth and breath the air and take on
coIors from Gods sunlight. No human
fingers could refold them and make q
bud again. The birth OF beautiful rose
is a miracle. II passes comprehension
and excites our wonder only. just so s
tho feather of a bird Tine microscope
shows the most wonderful mechanism
in it's deIicately woven fabrlc-its
strength anG it's gossamer liRhtnes3.
Then look carefully at the frame worh
of the seed pods that shoot up from the
dandeIion. Human fingers cannot ap-
nj NJ 'I'npV
ouisfte and must come from the han
of God. There is limit 10 the pcrltc'
ton OF everything that IS maze D!
man, but there is none TO the WORKS "l
nature. The finest cambric needle looks
like a blunt pointed fifc under the m
croscope. but the point OF bee sung
Is invisible. | wish that the 70 4hB
folks would sometimes stop and thlnH
and study nature. 1t would rehne theH
in thought and feeling and excite
reverence for their Creator. How beau
tifully the great pcetS "iGe an 'u'
flowers. Ons says, THE humbiFst mower
that blooms sometimes gives thought
TN dpeD fer tears" And It's my ta.th
that every flower enjoys the ar IL
breaths.' Some flowers seem van an
some are modest. From ny window
see the rainbow cannas and the proHd
and lofty dahlias struttlntg TO thG
morning sun and not far away are tie
humble violets half hiding from the
light. Tennyson says. Amy ncse can
ravagc the scent of a flower, but only
the pure in heart have d right TO.
am an early riser and every bright
morning I visit the garden and INSECT
the flowers that the night has opene
and cut enough for a fresh vase at ne
breakfast table. The ne!ghbors' chick
ems annoy me. for my g&r1el IS tEei
feeding ground and they scratch the
barn yard manure from my plants. 80.
on yesterday | goi some chicken wire