The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-12-09

small things-they are part OF every
life. In old time we swung upon the
wagon coupling at corn gathering aud
the delight of being jolted remains
with US as sweet memory. Keeping
the "gap" used to be o horror, but
what would we give TO keep that
gap" again? Gathering hickory
nuts was small thing, but the best
| scholar. perhaps, of our country, Mr.
Bell, has quit everything and goes out
gathering these nuts, sends them north
and makes more than he could raising
,otton at even 10 cents pound. We
used to gather chinquapips, chest.
nuts, muscsdines and 80 on, we
thought nothing of it then, but what
would we give to once again go with
the girls, have them stick briars in
their fingers and then stand to have
US pick these hriare out. Holding
girls hand to pick g briar from her
| finger is small thing and some might
think it painful thing, hut what girl
would not like to have these briars in
her fingers any more and what boy
who would not take delight in hold
ing her hand and picking the br;ars
| out?
But these letters from our boys, at
! distance, that is the question. If all
the boys away from home could know
just the feeling that letter creates
| they would never neglect to write. I
read this letter from this Georgia
boy in Canada read it aloud to the
old father, and I watched the changes
Of his face as I did read. When the
cold and snow was mentioned the old
man shivered and I am sure that he
longed for his boy to be back in Geor-
gis. His oid dim eyes flied with
tears and he stroked "Jaok' with o
tender stroke, while the dog seemed
to hear and understand. There is
something sadly sweet TO old folks in
every one Of these letters. They read
them Or have them road over sud over
again. Memories we'll up and live over
again che daye when che boy toddled
by the side. An old mau 10 sure TO
feel and remember the days whom is
took persuadiug end soolding 70 keep
the boy from following 70 vheFesoever
the father went. Il is one OF the sad
things OF life that fathers spend good
part Of their life TO keep tho children
at home and from troubling, TO long
in s9teF ysers 60 have sheas children
with them. We know that boye must
60 ont in the world, and we know that
great many Of them have other 'fish
to fry" than to spend too much time
writing to old folks, but if they under.
stood just the feeling that still re-
mains for them in the home they left
there would have to be some mighty
pressing business to keep them from
writing.
This Georgia boy in Canada" ia
only one Of thousands Of boys who
have left Georgia to better their con-
ditions and many another one OF them
have gone to lands where snow and
cold abounds. On this December day
the sun shines like day in May down
hers in Georgia. Even now { see the
father OF this boy in Canada strolliug
across the field in his shirt sleeves.
He will return pretty soon with q sack
Of LOCUST. He has already gathered
the persimmons, and will now put in
the locust and little boiled corn and
in a few days We will drink the old
persimmon beer just as this boy used
to drink. AS we drink ve will think
OF Joe" aud may he be spared from
the SHOWS Of Canada to return again
to the,sunny skies OF Georgia, where
simmons beer and ginger cakes and
possums and potatoes still remain and
are his only for his coming.
Sarge Plunkett.
is t E-----'-