Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-06-09
EXPRESSES HIS GRATITUDE.
Mr.. linkOuS Thanks People for COurtesies
Shown Hin as EnumeratOT and Gives
Advice 10 Our Young People.
Cedar Bluff, Va, June 4

thank the people in this community for
the nice way l was treated while on
duty as census enumerator. l did not
know that l had so many nice neigh
bors, but everywhere | went l found
friends. They just seemed like home
folks, and while live and have a "a
tional mind l will have a warm place in
my heart for them. believe, without
single exception, they answered NV
many questions with a high regard to
the truth. No one seemed to want to
exaggerate in the least, and they did
everything they could to forward nv
work. Everyone seemed to understand
and were quite willing to quit their
work, no matter how busy they were.
Most all the older people knew my
father, who has now been dead twenty
eight years, and they speak respectfully
of his memory. 1t will be remembered
that he was Primitive Baptist preach
er, and was we'll loved by all God fear
ing people.
Now, in ten years there will again be
a census enumeration, but who will be
the enumeration, and who will be living
to be enumerated? Did you ever stop
to think how many of US will have been
laid under the sod long ere that time
comes? Should l live to again travel
over the same territory in 1920, would
l not find things very different from
what they were this time. Would not
find many empty chairs, vacated by our
loved ones? Would l not find houses
empty that were filled-many families
moved away-new ones moved in and
new families built up by our own chill
dren, for as the older ones are called
away new ones are growing up to take
their places; and to the older ones |
want to add word of comfort: that
the troubles of this life are as nothing
to be compared to the joys of a life to
come for those, who, as Paul says. has
fought good fight and have kept the
faith
And, now, little bright-eyed boys and
girls-you who got so well tickled at me
for asking so many questions that seems
ed foolish to you-let me ask what will
you be doing ten years from now? Will
you grow up gentlemen and ladies, and
be blessing TO your country? Will
you be satisfaction to your parents
and friends-those who love you SO
dearly? Will you have respect enough
for yourselves to hold aloof from deera-
dation? Let me breathe word Of pray
er and say: God grant it may be so. -
To the young men on whom the govern
ing OF our great country will soon fall.
what are you going to make of YOUR
selves? Now don't shake your heads
and say: 81 don't know" but brace
yourselves up and think that YOU are
to be just what you make yourself.
Then, what will it be, just human be-
ing with no aim in life? If you choose
to be gentleman, begin by honoring
your parents. Get it in your head that
they want you to be gentlemen, that
they wish you we'll in every respect.
Don't think that they are old and that
you know the best. Don't go into bad
company. Don't swear; don't smoke
cigarettes, in fact, don't use tobacco at
all; don't carry pistol, and above all,
don't drink whiskey.
My God, as 1 write there are many
pictures coming into my mind of nice,
sweet little boys who have been so much
satisfaction to Us around our firesides.
who begin by saying: lone drink don't
hurt anybody; no harm in little whis-
key; just dram won't hurt me-" But
one dram called for another, one step
after another, one drink then another.
until their senses are dulled and they no
longer have control of themselves. They
become slaves, bound and foot, with a
thirst which cannot be Quenched. IT'S
then we see mothers pleading, wives
weeping, sisters clinging to them, but
all in vain. Farther on we see drunken
rows, cards, crimes, prison bars, the
scaffold, drunkard's grave and then
what.
will leave it to you to figure out for
yourselves what's the matter with our
officials. Some States are dry, literal |
ly dry; why could not those around US
and our own be? But some one is ready
to say: tits good medicine" Yes, it
will raise the nerve, but nine times out
Of ten it leaves them in worse condition
than at first. Then, again, if you bal
ance the good against the bad, would
t stand one good mark in thousand.
Nay, l would say far less than that.
Then let US be up and doing. Let us
lsk for vote on this question, and if
We ever get chance at it let US knock
Ter into oblivion.
Again, ] want to thank those who
ook an interest in aiding me to secure
he position of enumerator and those
Who treated me so kindly while in the
discharge of my duties.
w. w. LINKoUs.