Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-12-06
From Texas.
pENIEL, Tex, Nov. 26, 1906.

FEN1EL, lex, NOV. 70, I5UO.
We are going up and down in
the land sacrificing our time. We
LOOK on into the future and see
great things that we want to ac-
complish, and think if we can but
bring certain things about, and get
ourselves located in some exalted
position, that we will be much
happier, and that life will be more
pleasant, the hours shorter, and
that we will be settled. So we
start out and press the battle for
our own selfish ends. But alas,
when we have stemmed the tide of
| life, reached the summit of our de-
sires, and gained the position that
we thought would be beautiful,
then, and then only, we can see
that we are sadly disappointed,
and that the pleasures are on
ahead in some other place or basi-
ness. So we start out and again
push every energy for that po-
sition; and when we arrive at it
we find we have made no progress
on the line of happiness. So after
all, life is only what we make out
Of it, and position cuts no figure.
When Twas a STRIPPING boy |
thought it would be SO nice to be
a merchant. After | was a man
with a wife and children, living
happily on a farm, making bread
in the way God said for man to
make it, I let the evil thought of
discomfort arise in my heart and
call me from the farmers pleasant
fireside to public position in the
commercial world, cut off from the
outside pleasures of singing birds
and ripping brooks, green pas
lures, wild honeysuckles and
grapes, to be closed inside the
walls of store life, to be tortured
with the hustle and hustle of a
busy life; at times going at break
neck speed in order to gain the ap-
plause of the public and outrun
competition, climb to the top OF
success and gain a worthy name
in the eyes Of our countrymen and
the world. But when it is all
summed up it is only vanity and
vexation. I had rather be a farm
or boy, and tired upon the sod.
than be a merchant millionaire
and break the word of God.
/ Goodness with contentment il
great gain, and had rather have
it with salvation, than be burdened
with all the possessions this life
could give me and be destitute Of
salvation. I have sought different
ways and means by which to pass
through this life easy. But in my
humble Judgment farming is the
safest way for godly man 10 carr
his living. / have been a farmer
and I earnestly covet the position
once more.
| One word about Texas and | will
close. This is a fine country, and
| the prettiest to look at ever saw
| The people are friendly and good
natured as rule. This is a gooc
place for poor people with large
families, as entire families picl
cotton and make fairly good
wages. | know one boy, II or L
years old, who save and put in the
bank S100 in a month and half
Cotton averaged about one-hal1
bale per acre this year. Land il
high; from $40 to s1OO per acre is
about the way it sells. l would
not be a black land farmer il
Texas, on account Of the mud. i
rains here SO much it would be
impossible for Missourians to get
around; but the natives 60 through
it, wet or dry. Very disagreeable
Indeed. I never could make yor
understand how bad the mud is
Wood is S4.O0 per cord, coal, S7.0(
per tom All kinds Of goods are
some higher here than in Missouri
In fact, most everything is shipped
here from the North.
d. A. WHITE.