Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1911-01-19
A BIRTHDAY GREETING
From q Native of Cheraw Calls Up
Memories of Half q Century.

Saturday, January IA, 1854.
Saturday, January IA, 1911.
Fifty-seven years
AS we look at these words and fig-
ures, do they seem to represent long
measure of time?
To the writer, whose lot it was-at
least, so the "old folks" tell neon
the afternoon of the former date, to
first open baby eyes to look upon the
beauties and wonders of Gods handi-
work as set forth in dear old Cheraw,
the answer comes both Eyes" and
mo-.
To no subscriber, I am sure, does
the weekly visit Of The Chronicle
bring more pleasure on the one hand
or more sorrow on the other hand
than to me. Being the one constant
messenger from home, the one un-
failing correspondent from the people
among whom l first lived and loved,
and from the scene of the happy care
free boyhood days, do you wonder that
l say the local page has an ever-in-
creasing facination for the dwaler IN
the smoke and CRIME and noise OF the
far-ofr great city, where from dawn to
dark the day brings Only Visions OF
bricks and mortar, white marble door
steps and black asphalt pavements,
and instead of the joyous songs Of
the birds only the constant anJ nerve
racking rumble of the trolley car is
heard?
Thank God, however, wheE the wind
blows strong enough to clear the at
mosphere of smoke, the bright blue
dome of the heavens is visible-if one
looks up.
From 1854 until early in 1S69-ex-
cept for period of three months Just
after the close of the war in 1856
Cheraw was my dwelling place, and
today, although the great majority OF
those prominent in her daily life at
that time are sweetly sleeping either
| in old st. Davids churchyard or other
ijscitaes Of the dead" and many school
1fEIates sssss haaaf
ory are In widely scattered parts OF
the world fighting life's battles; Che
raw Is still cherished as home, and
on these birthdays, which now seem
to come so frequently, and which are
30 relentlessly checking up the added
years, the heart yearns for sight OF
the old place, the ears to hear the
voices of old friends, and the eyes to
look upon the old familiar scenes.
But, alas! so many of the old faces
have gone forever; so many of the
old voices called hence to help swell
the chorus of the host of the redeem
ed, that a day quietly passed incog,
and with a camera, in the old town
few years ago, brought through the
eyes a greater measure of sadness
than of joy. Thank God, however,
The Chronicle shows me few of the
"Old Guard" still remain, or worthy
sons succeed worthy fathers, and Che
raw leans upon them in triumphant
faith and confidence: to wit, the NAL
loys, Mathesons, Godfreys, Reids, and
others.
Of those who have gone on ahead,
the Greggs, Princes, Kollocks, Will
sons, Colts, McLeans, Powes, McIyers,
Waddills, Grahams, and Sanderses
the latter two of schoolhoue days.,
many blessed memories remain.
To those who still live permit me to
extend fraternal hand, and to eX-
press the hope, as thoughts of. the old
days fit across their memories, that
they may reciprocate with kindly feel
ing for one who, though absent for
forty-two long years, still delights to
be numbered as among the boys or
Cheraw" in the days of "auld lang
syne".
Articles in recent issues of The
Chronicle in reference to the work
of the Civic League, Charming Che
raw" and Mr.. A. G. Kollock's reprint
ed letter about the "Cheraw and Coal
Fields Railroad" have turned loose a
food tide of memories and feelings
which must find vent in this birth
day greeting to cherished friends still
remaining in the place where my first
birthday was celebrated.
Yes, it does seem long time. God
bless us all, each boy and girl of the
then, each man and woman of the
now, and prepare us for the summons
which sooner or later must come to
each; and may it be the happy lot OF
us all to hear Him say to us, well
done. good and faithful servant"