Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-01-14


ing a great sorrow to loved ones and
saying come at once?'
Well. that W S what I received last
week and if you have ever had such
summons, you can iamgine how l hur-
ried to be ready for the train that would
pass in an hour.
The farmer was off looking after some
corn land, dinner~wSs on the stove and
Aunt Clancy, the colored woman, was at
the wash tubs. l hustled around and
got some clothes in a suit case and was
wondering what sort of note to write
the farmer when a neighbori came in
and offered her services. fortunately
the farmer came up just then and we
just had time to get to the train. On
the way L said, "Oh, my gracious, din
ner will burn up" Maybe the fire
will die down." was the farmers con-
Soling suggestion, and every time my
mind goes back to that hour of hurry
I find myself wondering If the fire did
die out, or if CLANCY went in and look
ed after things. AS fas as the train
would take me 1 travelled to the stricken
home. lust before Christmas / had n
letter from Mamie saying that she was
far from well and saying how much
pleasure our presence would add to the
holiday. We thought that a longer
visit to Atlanta and to Florida could be
arranged later. but when the new year
was less than a week old Gods finger
touched her and she closed her eyes on
earth to epen them in heaven
A mother of seven healthy normal chill
dren has her hands full, no halter how
much her husband may help her. The
reins of government must be held IN
firm hands, and a cool head, with infin-
lite patience and inexhaustable sympa-
mi -.
All of the twenty-one years of their mar
ried life have been spent fight here and
the children certainly are a credit 20
them, They are proof of the fact that
nice families, big families, united fani-
lies may be raised and educated in cities
quite as well as in the village or~coun-
try. - \
As went up the steps of the house
the oldest girl ran to meet me. AS she
threw her arms around me she said
Papa said il you got the telegram you
would surely come" | found the sis
tiers and brothers of both parents there.
Some lived as far away as Orlando, Fla,
but when that little notice reached them
nothing else was considered. Charley
and the children were in sorrow and
needed us-that was enough. And right
here want to say word about the
'in-law." Every one of us, i'm re-
counting our experiences in the hurry
and dazed condition that such a message
throws one into added "and my hus-
band, or my wife, said now stay as long
as they need YOU"
1 have been more and more impressed
with the fact that money is a mighty
poor thing If il is all that one lives
for. A united family comes ahead OF
everything else, and to be united each
on he fro aar ri IL
hood to heed the cali of sorrow as we'll
as Joy. Christmas and birthdays and
family days must be more than an inter-
change of cards, or seeing who may get
more presents than the others.
In our first grief we wonder why
our loved ones are taken, ones that may
be shielded and loved while some other
one enduring the stings and arrows of
misfortune is left, as the days pass and
we look into our future we wonder how
on earth we are to live through the
years without the loved presence. How
ever as we adjust ourselves to new con-
ditionsy the angel presence scenes close
TO US and we rejoice in the fact that
heaven hath neither sorrow nor signing
and that there will be no more parting.
We also find ourselves more careful with
those left behind US We see where
unkind husbands. wives or relatives are
given another chance to change their
lives.
What a blessing it is for Charley to
remember that he never caused his wife
a moments uneasiness That when busi-
ness was over he went as straight home
as the cars would take him. That every
vacation he spent in all his married life
was enjoyed because Mamie was with
him, That her brothers and sisters, her
most distant relatives received the same
cordial welcome that his own did
am glad that 1 have never been one
to sheer at New Year resolutions God
knows our hearts. He\ knows how
prone to evil the human side of our
nature is, and 1 hope that some one
may read this and take upon them
selves new vows. If there has been
unkindness or estrangement, if the
home folks have not heard from you,
sit down right now and write a letter
Don't say to yourself that it's been so
long that they have forgotten YOU or
ceased to be interested. If you have
been even a source of shame to loved
ones, get on your knees and ask God
to forgive you and to help you redeem
the past. Write home and tell them
so. Many a mother losses on her
sleepless bed wondering what sort of
resting place her wanderer has. Write
home and relieve the anxiety Then.
when the telegram finds you and you
gaze on the waxen features, when you
kiss the folded hands that so often
ministered to you, when you look at
the feet that trod a thorny way, that
never wearied in the steps they took
for you, it will be a consolation to
know that, even at the eleventh hour
it may have been. you let your heart
turn back to that patient heart and
relieved its anxiety on YOUR account
When you read this 1 shall be once
more in Alabama. 1t has been a sad
occasion, but my friends in Atlanta
have been so cordial, they have met me
with so much love and affection that
l shall take back a host of pleasant