The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-04

the land of death from which they
have come; and they are using the
same argument with which they be-
guiled the negroes VIII Christian
white men be led by them? l think
not.
*
One year ago 1 was asked by the
editor to write sketches of the "Olden
time" for The News and Observer.
| consented, and with this letter |
make the circle. For fifty-tWo weeks
L have kept the pencil busy, and the
reader must decide whether or not
he has been edited. and. in anywise
instructed by the glimpses which he
has had of the days of "auld lang
Sine
Beginning with the Log Cabin and
Hard Cider Campaign of 1910. / have
touched upon hundreds of incidents
and alluded to hundreds of men and
things which, in their day, bore their
shares i'll the making of history; the
bare mention of which has, / trust,
brought pleasure to many man and
woman whose memory still clngs to
the by-gOne. Together, writer and
reader have gone back to childhood,
boyhood and girlhood. Young man
and young WomanhOOd-and laying
cares and sorrows and old age aside,
we have lived over those scenes which
are, of all others. the most sacred to
memory. We have been to that first
school, where the "a b c's'' were
taught, the first speech was made,
the first Sweet-hearts were found and
the first glimpses of the great future
We're presented to the minds eye. We
have had look at the old-time papers
and read of the events, and the men
who figured i'll them fifty or sixty
years ago; we have listened to the old
4 sAglo,N 4
tors; have witnessed the old time
militia drill and the old-time 4th of
July parade; we have been to the old
time camp meeting, heard the old
time songs and the old-time shouts;
seen little Jess Osborn" strolling
through the country and "Aunt Abby
House" in the army, and among the
politicians; and, finally. the changed
woman, rejoicing in a SaviouTs love,
taking leave of the world and going
home to the land of the redeemed; we
have seen and chatted with Governor
Vance, General Branch, Judge Badger,
Weston r. Gales and many others,
who haVe-crossed the river; have gone
back to the old homes where our
childhoodS were spent; to the old
places where we began ife's work;
and around and around we have gone.
for a whole twelve month. as children
would ramble over house and yard,
garden ana nclO, aIlcr a lOll& dDScIlc6
from home. L trust that the reader
has enjoyed, as much as j have. our
year of pleasant intercourse, in these
columns. And. above ali else, l sim
cerely hope that the "reminiscences
which have afforded pleasure may not
have failed of doing something in pre-
serving the bits of history which
might have beeh lost had they not
been written at this time.
Next week we will start out on an
other years rambIe, over the fields
and gardens of the past. cleaning
where we have been reaping; and
should we not be able to find the
bundles of wheat or the larger roses,
l hope that we shall be rewarded. for
our toll, with handsfull and the more
fragrant flowers, if ever so small; and
if God spares writer and reader. |
trust, at the end of the year we may
have been closer drawn to each other
by the ties of a friendshop that will
be as lasting as eternity.
One sad thought comes to me as |
am closing this letter, and that is, SO
many who read the first letter, n year
ago, will not read this. One by one
they have fallen, and their places are
vacant. Homes have been darkened
by the shadows of death. hearts have
been bereaVed and sorrow has cast it's
gloom over many community. Some
of our dearest and best loved friends
are gone to the land from which there
is no return and of them only a mem
orr is left.
But. if they died in the faith they
are happier than we; and while we
are mourning over our loss they are
rejoicing over their victory. May we
live the life of the righteous and may
our last end be like his.
] am making arrangements to have
my book of sketches illustrated and
hope, in a week or two to be able to
announce that the printers are at
work on the manuscript. A dozen
names only are lacking 10 make up
the two hundred. If any one else
would like to have q copy of the book
il would be wei to say so before the
first form is worked off. Now is the
time 10 speak. and a postal card costs
only one cent Who else wants a |
book?
r. II. WHITAKER
Tate Spring, the South's most ia
NOUS resort Are you going this sum-
mer? See advertisement.