The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1907-01-22

D- X. II. Whitaker
present day, old age has had its rem
Iniscences and delighted in telling its
stories, over and over, again and
again.
do not object, therefore. to hear
ing an old mans story a few hundred
times, even III old three or four times
q day, for ] know it is a pleasure to
him to tell it; nor do / complain if
one Of the old boys repeats a bit Of
q poem, which he wrote sixty years
ago, three or four times while eat
ing dinner, nor if ne tells me every
time see him how many books he
IA G n how many times he has
read each one. No, / Ion object to
the old mans vanities, eccentricities
and p~eculiarities. for | know how he
feels. and it IS but natural that We old
fellows should have a fellow feeling
for each other and turn a blind y
10 each others infirmities. We won't
be mere long to enjoy our reminds
cences; so. while We live let US live.
OF course the young people are
looking forward. Their happiness is
anticipation. To them life is an un-
isles of beauty and pleasure, on one
Of which, if discovered, they expect
u find n Beulah land wherein every
wish is to be gratified and every am
hition is to enjoy its fullest fruitlon.
The alluring voice of hope calls and
the outstretched hand Of faith beck
ons; and thus inspired, youth
launches it's boat ana sets sail in quest
of the isle. not doubling a safe and
speedy voyage
We older people know how they
feel; how enthusiastic their hopes,
how confident they are of success. We
set sail. only a few years ago, in the
81 me- confidence of ccOmDllSnln
great thingS-of discovering and
dwelling on the happy isle. We may
AVE failed, but hat is no reason
why we should discourage the young
people.
on the contrary. we should encour-
age them; give them our blessing;
and, with our prayers filing their sails,
they ma do better than we; and, in
after years, when writing the reminis-
cences OF the voyag they may be
able TO tell future Voyagers in what
latitude and longitude the beautiful
isle may be found and the nearest
route to reach it.
We old people know a right smart,
and. it may be, we think we know
more than we do; but we are bound
to confess that the boys are ahead Of
us, in many things, and, still, are
forging ahead. And, while we are
sometimes annoyed by the little rattle
D11iIlcu uICIllI1S ttdC HUI III IloNl
about US, who seemingly have no re-
spect for age, we must remember that
they are SO many little engines, full
of steam, which, in a few years, will
be able not only to blow off, but move
great rains and run vast machineries
and industries.
Tha little tow-headed. bare-footed.
fr~eckled-faced boy running in the
street, has possibilities in him that we
older people fail to discover, and may
not live 20 admire In a few years
he may occupy the highest place in
the nation. or achieve such results in
the scientific world as to make his
fame worldwide.
No. we old folks don't know it all:
but. what We do know is very valuable
as it gives us something to think. talk
and write about, and therefore keeps
us from having the blues.
But haven't wandered a long way
from my text? l started out on oys-
tiers. and, like sorle preachers | have
heard, I've kept on preaching from
my text until | had we'll nigh forgot
ten it.
heard a preacher once, who. after
abusive TRADE against other denomi-
nations, and went so far and said 50
much. that, when, lowering his voice
he asked: for what does my text
say?" he couldn't tell wha it did say
he'd forgotten it.
I'm a friend of the railroads, for
man. reasons. In the first place,
though for sixty-five years | la
ridden on them they have neither
famed nor killed me. Innumerable
collisions and wrecks have occurred,
but the roads have always had their
smaSh-ups just before or after | went
9lnnp 50 that can HIT he grateful
to them for always carrying and bring
ing me safely.
am q friend to railroads for the
further reason that it is such al easy
matter for a friend who has q half
dozen hills filled with Norton Yam po-
tatoeS, to send me q barrel (freight
PAID; or for some other friend who
has some nice hams or chickens to
ship me a box or crate.
And then it is such an easy matter
for Presiding Elders to travel large
districts and for preachers to go to
their several appointments, n for
boys to visit their sweethearts in dis
tanct counties, and for young people
who are at college to run home to
spend Christmas and Easter.
And, again, it is such a beautiful
sight, when passing through a splen-
didly furnished parlor car filled with
rich-at least we'll dressed-ladies..
some of whom seem to be playing
mothers to poodles and b%ull-pups to
observe how obliging the railroads are
in allowing the dear women and their
angelic pups to occupy the same seats.
In fact, there are many things. l
might mention. which should make
one the friend of railroads. to say
nothing of the transportation of live
stock, cabbages, fruits. melons and
other perishable stuff. on the Sabbath.
just for accommodation.
Being the friend of the railroads
and wishing them we'll, l axe a
friends privilege OF making a e
ton to them. which | am sure will
be appreciated because of the source
from which It comes; for. I fancy that
all the railroads are with me and for
mo in most matters as we'll a in lnfty-