Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-03-30

TO be in my own country" was really the
cry of both hearts.
Once i'm Japan I had the pleasure of
entertaining a fine girl from Australia.
and let me tell YOU right now that the
English people who nave emigratsd
there and have built ip homes aud
raised families are more like our south
ern people than they are like the pres
ent day English people You know tina.
the better class in australia spring
from the younger sons. nephews and
nieces OF the best in England just as
we southern people did
This girl said that her father remem-
hered a faVorite apricot tree near 4
sunny southern exposure. and often Won
dered IL the birds still used the crotch
of a certain tree. He enjoyed his Aus
traIian life. but you remember that
April. May and June weather in England
IS the opposite 10 the weather in Aus
traIia.
She said when they would be swelIer-
ing in December he insisted on typical
Christmas dinner, though the family
preferred about the same things we
Americans eat in July.
I once knew a family who spent their
winters in Florida. one year they spent
there without going TO their northern
home. They kept talking about things
back in Gods country. The next
summer a FIoridian was in what they
had termed Gods country and when
he returned he laughed and said that
hrs idea OF heaven was entirely differ
ent from that state. Why he said
seriously. there never was a finer place
than right here" I had TO laugh at
him. and quote that beautiful thought
OF Longfellow's.
..u-,-h mans chimney is his golden
mile stone,
The Mace from whence, ne measures
distance"
The English poets have given US
some beautiful pictures of that cum
try. and those pen pictures have helped
US enjoy the actual scenes when viewed
by the ewes as we'll as the mind. But
wait until this cruel wal is over and
we get the crystallized thoughts that
the exigencies of war have helped TO
form. we Will then indeed read of deeds
OF .yalor and also see the home coun-
tries, as each nation will portray its
beauties War may devastate the land.
but IN the mind OF the soldiers Will
linger the scenes as they were in hap
pier days.
IL is we'll TO love ones native land,
10 cherish memories of pleasant events.
beautiful scenes and balmy seasons, but
let us try to work those happy fan
ctes into any prosaic present. Many a
time when in various lands and under
all sorts OF skies 7 have had TO get
busy and weave bright CLEANS of Flori-
da sunshine into dull days and irritat-
ing circumstances. AS I mixed the
roses and rapture OF another day with
the monotony of the then I have
thought OF these words, II feel more
pity for the people who have waited on
the bank and caught cold i'm their
hearts and souls through standing still
too long, than for those who have been
bruised and buffeted by the full force
CT the stream"
Work is the safety valve for all Of
us. In Japan. Atlanta. Alabama, be
circumstances what they may. to the
nornal-minded man or woman ones
home is fairest and home skies are
bluest.
There are nettles everywhere.
But smooth green grasses are more
common still:
The blue OF heaven is larger than the
cloud"
Until 1 finished this last quotation
did not realize that in a way this is
full of the Browning family. The be-
ginning is what the husband has to
say and the last is Mrs. Brownings
helpful thought.
Nettles are disagreeable one must
admit. and where one can do so they
are to be avoided the human nettles
as well as those growing i'm the unkept
fields. but let US thank God and take
courage. There is so much that is
pleasant. beautiful and lovable 10 take
out the sting If one is so unfortunate
as to come i'm contact with a nettle.
Finish every day and be done with il,
avoid the nettles and enjoy the sun
shine II the shine Is not today. re-
member that there will surely be some
pretty days after a while and that
there have been glorious days even in
this year OF grace.
Faithfully yours.
LIZZIE q THOMAS