The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-01-02
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THE IDLER.
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This has been a very quiet Christ
mas and am glad that it has. l new
er could see any good sense or any
reason in making, this season one IN
which to do ali kinds of wild and
foolish things. such as drinking egg
nog and~cther Hilarious antics. l nave
long time heard of the Christmas
dram and l can remember when the
old darkies on the plantation would
not feel that it had been Christmas
unless the old master had the christ
mas dram for them, but then they
never abused it and you seldom say
one who was drunk. SO far as I have
heard there were very few drunks in
and about Newberry, but then I did
not get out very much. have heard
that there was a lot of whiskey that
came in and that the express was
very heavy. And the worst part about
this whiskey is that most of it IS
chemically made and if you drink
much of it they tell me it will soon
get the best of the, most robust con-
stitution. But l am not going to
write about whiskey. am glad that
the sentiment against the drinking OF
it is growing so strong and so fast
that it is no longer fashionable or
smart to drink. And that there was
no visible sign of much drinking here
about during the sweet Christmas
time.
-
7 don't mind saving that am ham,
mering my old tvnpwriter-machlne
on the night of the last day in the
year., and it reminds me of the long
ago. when on the last night of the
year the young men and the young
women of this community. and many
others in this beautiful Southland
of ours. would go out and make new
year eve calls. and as they went from
home to home there would be good
cheer and goods,, fellowship every
where. And then they wousa' remain
up to see the old year go out and to
welcome the new year come in. Well,
those were the good old days when
we didn't think so much OF money and
the making of money as the main pur-
pose in life We thought little more
about the social side of our natures,
but this Southland is becoming COM
merciaiized along with the yankees.
and the whole creation Is going
through a great transition period, and
what the outcome will be l do not
know. But Of this I am certain, 1T
will all be for our good in the end
o.
And this reminds me that I read a
beautiful little poem the other day
which was really meant as Christ
mas greeting, but which l think ia
more appropriate as a new year
greeting, or rather foreword for the
new year. It was written by George
B. Griggs OF Texas and 1 am going 70
quote it. Could you have :cur way
TINS year, reader. what would you
do? l would try 70 maize everybody
just as happy as I coni1 and keep
them happy all the time. And you
can do 1t, and / can contribute a mite
to It myself, but the trouble with you
and me Is that we are so everlasting
iy selfish, and more especially, 80
thoughtless. that many times when
we could make some one else happy,
and without any cost to ourselves Of
money or effort, we just fail to do
it. Had you ever thought Of that?
Suppose ne day you stand On the
corner Of the street and watch your
self go by and then you will begin to
realize just how thoughtless rou are.
But here is the poem:
~Could I Have Ny Way"
Could I but have my way this year,
I'd take all children for a day
To fragrant fields and meadows near.
Where they could srolic, romp, and
play;
Gather "posies," pluck sweet flowers,
Free as the sunshine from above,
With ne'er thought of passing hours,
Beaming. growing, and growing with
love.
Could but have my way this year,
I'd seek the weary, helpless ones
And fill their lives with goodly cheer
And for them make bright, happy
homes
Just like they had in years gone by.
And coax them back to brotherly love
Where lifting cloud-rifts in the sky
Reveal Gods mercy from above.
Could but have m Y way this year.
And do just what I'd like TO do,
I'G spread my arms out, far and near,
And grasp your hands and pass to you
The pulse-beats of fraternal love
Which warns the hearts and sets
aglow
The spark divine from high above
And guides US up from paths below.