The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.


The Wisdom Of Barnyard Bruke: "Don't Throw A Rock Inna Hornet's Nest"

Greetings to Readers of The Quill,

I'm a hopin' this paper does not find any of you with the latest flu bug which is goin' around (Norovirus).

As I hear tell it, some folks felt as though they might only last thru just one more clean shirt and feel lower'n a dog's belly.

Some sez they felt like a cross betwixt a runt hog with the scours and a fresh ate sandwich made of poor meat about to make its appearance from whence it entered.

They feel like they've been run thru' a wringer and are feelin' lower'n a mole's bellybutton on diggin' day.

By now, I suppose most of you'ns has some garden in. The potatoes are comin' along and the wet weather has allowed time to prune all your fruit trees and grape vines.

Rakin' leaves and pickin' up sticks and limbs in the yard is good exercise getting in shape for field work. Plantin' corn and field work started many places on Monday.

Many folks are complainin' of the late spring, but Cornelius says, "You gotta take th' fat with th' lean." (be positive when negative things happen)

Myself, it appears man has made a calendar to tell nature when she should be ready for his schedule. But, nature has a way of remindin' us from time to time that she works on her own schedule and she will let man know that not only is she in control, but she will also let man know when it's time to do field work.

We must be patient and be mindful of Ecclesiastes 3:1 "to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

As th' monkey with his tail cut off said, "It won't be long now!" When the weather does straighten around, field work will happen very quickly.

As I was writing this, I stepped out on the porch about 9:30 p.m. with the full moon shining, no wind, and the crickets very active. I realized how fortunate it is to live in the country.

The next morning, birds of many different kinds were singing and carrying on. It was as if they were eager to proclaim God's glory and the wonder of His creation.

Back in the house, I began reading different newspapers. One paper printed a report by an alliance for human needs and human rights in which it named Warren County as one of 44 counties in Illinois on its poverty watch list. The report also stated that poverty violates human rights and implicated Illinois' tax system.

A Monmouth College associate professor stated, "that tax on food disproportionately burdens the poor because they are paying a larger share of their income for food." She suggested "any tax that disproportionately taxes the poor, we should do away with."

Federal Poverty guidelines rate a family of eight making $35,600 annually, as poor. Mrs. Associate Professor made no mention of perhaps limiting family size so the $35,600 would go farther (I'm not against large families-I raised my share).

She made no mention of her volunteering for additional payroll tax deductions from her personal salary to help the poor, as an example for others to emulate; and she made no mention of her employer (Monmouth College) not paying any real estate taxes which if paid might allow the county to help the poor.

It reminds me of a neighbor I visited recently in the nursing home, whom "I'll call Sid, and who was in a sad state of depression.

Normally, Sid was quite a jovial person, but upon inquiring, I found the reason for his foul mood. It seems by his reckoning, he had worked hard all his life, sacrificing to set aside for his senior years.

Another neighbor, I'll call Hank, was reckless and fool hardy in his spending and hardly worked a day in his life, saving for nothin' and livin' as if there was never to be a tomorrow.

The first neighbor, Sid, took satisfaction in his sacrifices that he had provided for his twilight years.

Hank, on the other hand, expressed no concern for his future or provision therein. Work, to Hank, was a bad 4-letter word, and any and all effort he used, was to avoid it.

Sid ended up in the nursing home, utilizing his sacrificial savings to pay for his twilight years. Sitting at his same table at every meal was Hank, utilizing taxpayer dollars, some of which was Sid's, to have equal twilight years, enjoying everything Sid was enjoying. It was almost too much for Sid's emotions to handle.

I read in another paper that the average cost of a wedding today is $30,000 and lavish engagement parties are increasingly popular.

As I drive down the road I notice many things, just to name a few: not many have gardens anymore; the poor, even those using food stamps, utilize cell phones; televisions and expensive entertainment is a must; eating out, even with large families, is quite a common experience; clothing styles and fancy high priced footwear is commonplace (my wife wore dresses made of feed sacks as a child); and on and on the list goes. People use to make do with what they had and lived within their means.

Well, I sympathize with old Sid and his frustrations. He was a very productive and hardworking member of society in his day.

Never mind that old Hank willingly contributed little. I wonder if Mrs. Associate Monmouth College sociology professor would have the right words to comfort, Sid?

Cornelius says, "They is too many people these days wantin' to ride the wagon, and not enough wantin' to do any push'n."

He also has some superlatives to remark on ELITIST sociologist professors that want to make the ridin'' even easier for the likes of men like Hank.

Myself, I sez "don't throw a rock inna' hornet's nest." I cain't do much about ole Sid, or fer ole Hank either fer that matter.

And I can't explain why Warren County is listed on the poverty list and our counties are not.

But, I can step out of my back door, morning and night and enjoy good ole Henderson-Hancock counties.

Thank God for our many blessings.

See ya later,

Barnyard Bruke