The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-11-27
On the Wing.

home to resume our visit to our coun-
try cousins, who always hold warm
and near place in the deep recesses OF
our heart. 1t was among them that
We first saw the refulgent beams of the
rising sun; it was with them as a
barefoosed boy we chased the butter
flies over the hills and through the
valleys carpeted with many hued
flowers. We stole fruit from tie
same orchard and robbed the same
mans watermelon patch. We hunt
ed the same woods and 6shed the
same streams. Together We played
ball, shinny, leap frog, picked eggs
and engaged in other juvenile sports.
Studied from the same books, annoy
ed and teased the same teachers to
such an extent that they realized
that this world was no howery bed
of ease to help them on to fame.
We loved and f-ught, and bled and
even died for the same rosy checked
girls who rewarded our heroic deeds,
larcerated feelings and scratched
faces by making goo goo eyes at some
other feller and smiling on him her
sweetest and most bewitching smile.
These incidents were in the days of
the long ago when happy and inno-
cent childhood played around pleas
ure's throne. Later when the re-
sponsibilities of life faced US with
stern and frowing realities, we lett
father and mother, and brother and Sis
ter,lwe together responded to the tocin
of the war god and with martial tread
on Virginia's bloody fields hallow-
ed by the crimson eyed blood of our
countrymen, offered to sacrifice our
live in defense of our country honor.
We suffered the same privations,
braved the same dangers, fought the
same battles, and around the same
camp fires we ate our frugal meals
when we had them. Now, in these
days of the sere and yellow leaf, when
the summit of life's hill has been
reached and passed and the shadows
are lengthening behind, and through
riffs of the rays of life's golden sunset
We can catch glimpses of the peace
and JOY and happiness of that beau
tiful land beyond the great divide,
why should it not be an occasion of
pleasure to visit one and the other oc-
casionally during the few remaining
years of our sojourn?
With thoughts akin TO these we
travelled on the second section of our
tour in the frosty air of that Monday
morning, our destination being Gas
ton, where we arrived on schedule
time. This little town was very
quiet, there being but few taxpayers
to meet the Treasurer. We sadly
missed many familiar faces which
were wont to greet US with well
coming smile in the days gone by.
Upon inquiry we learned that some
were kept at home for many causes;
others had moved to distant lands to
build new homes and form new ac-
quaintances, and not few had paid
the last debt due nature and their
forms now at rest in the bosom of
mother earth to await the dawn of the
millennial Noimprovement has been
made since our last visit bat it's peo-
pie sre hopeful Of better times ahead.
We were greatly refreshed after eat,
ing sumptuous dinner which bad
been prepared by Mrs. Spbaler, who
is queen among housewives.
Night found us at the pleasant
country home Of our old friend, Mr..
Joseph ". Raeder, where we are
always received with genial hospi-
tality that makes US feel at home.
Next morning after serving the citi-
zens who usually meet the Treasurer
st this point, we headed our horse for
our next appointment.
After a pleasant drive we arrived at
the home Of Mr.. J. J. Mack. Here
some of "the men behind the plow"