The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1901-12-12
BILL ARP'S LETTER
Discusses a Visit of Mrs, Arp to
Daughter and Grandchildren.
TALKS IN A HIGHLY PLEASING STRAIN
Reverts to Many Matters that VIII Re'
Jolce His Better Halt When
She Returns Home.

! spend the day with one Of our daugh.
I tiers and her children. We expected
her TO return that evening, but got a
message 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. 1t 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
err 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
out 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
ZOOS granma amt here" Everything
looks like a funeral. Lonesome isent
the word for 1t, There isent any word
for 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
ment or reading over again the last
letter from the far away boys.
But the girls gave me hint and
said now was a good time to paint the
kitchen and surprise her, for she has
/ haan talLln0 about Aboea ola dtrfv
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 morn
ing. He came and did nice Job Of 1t
In a day. The kitchen looks like a
parlor, 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
gave her a kind welcome, but made
no sign. She was glad to get home
and INDUCED In more hilarity than u.s.
ual. She cruised around looking at ia.
miliar things and places. Soon she
wandered toward the kitchen and we
kept In halling distance and watched
her. Suddenly there was a scream Of
delight as she looked in at the open
door. We'll, do declare. Did ever"
That is all she said just then, for she
turned and came 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
the painting. These little sweet sur
prses are the best part of domestic
life. They beat wealth and high life
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 hame.o
These are the songs of birds In the
trees-the flowers by the wayslde 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 :,
OF course, the human family would per.
lsh without them. But the birds and
flowers are extra gifts TO minister In
our senses, our emotions. How forum.
ate Tor us that as we grow older we
love them better. When I was a very
busy man and had ambition to rise in
the world and advance my wife and
children cared attic for birds or flow.
ers, but now they are my especial
pleasure NOW understand the mean.
ing OF that beautiful verse, "Considei
the lilies how they grow. They toll
not, neither do they spin, yet Solomon
In all hls glory was not arrayaed like
one OF these" He who provlueth food
Tor the ravens and takes notice of ev.
cry sparrow that falls to the ground
VIII surely take care OF US II we trust
Him. believe there are but two kinds
OF flowers named in the Bible-the
rose OF Sharon and the lily Of the val.
ley-and these two stand pre-eminent
today for beauty and fragrance. OF
late have been watching the rinse.
buds as they unfold their leaves and
open into beauty. How wonderfully
they are folded upon the little cone
and every layer is waiting for its time
and turn to come forth and breathe
the air and take on coIors from Gods
sunlight. No human fingers could re.
ioid them and make bud again. The
pirtn OF beautiful rose is a miracle.
Il paseeth comprehension and excites
OIYF VUoudaw ouI..