The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings to ever one in western Illinois and all readers of The Quill.
The celebration of Independence Day is over and a number of folk used the good weather ta cut their first cutt'n of hay. Actually by now the hay be'n cut has in it both first and second cuttn's of plant growth.
With all this rain we has been a have'n there's a lot a chores on the farm a lagg'n behind schedule. Hay'n, spray'n, and in many areas plant'n are way past their ideal time of perform'n the job.
A mother was walk'n by their families rabbit hutches one morn'n where her son, as part of his daily chores, was feedn' the rabbits. She heard him talk'n, and stayed ta listen.
Unaware of her presence, he was drill'n the bunnies in demand'n tones. "One plus one," he said. Then, "Two plus two". He paused each time as if expect'n a response.
The mother stepped around the hutch "What are ya do'n?" she asked. Her son jumped up frown'n. "My teacher yesterday said that rabbits multiply fast, but my bunnies can't even add."
Obviously the little feller had misunderstood the teacher's meaning. But he was correct in assume'n that one should know how ta add before learn'n ta multiply.
Some fellers are good at multiply'n. They can sniff up a wiff of a story here and there and multiply it many times over.
It reminds me of Eliejer the cat. He is quite skilled in the language of sniff'n. His nose lifted high will tell him if'n the neighbors dog is upwind, or held close ta the porch floor will tell him if'n the maraud'n tom has visited the food dish.
Penny the dog is even more adept at this language. At a rapid trot with his nose in the grass, he can work out last night's zigzag of a visit'n possum.
Amongst us humans there are vary'n degrees of proficiency in this language.
Sniff'n can be either constructive or destructive, depend'n on the sniffer's purpose. The language of sniff'n is not a direct language. The sniffer must be able ta collect and interpret clues that give him the information he seeks.
Some resort ta the language of sniff'n ta gather unsavory information about others in order ta support a gossip habit.
They become skilled at sniff'n out scattered bits of information which they assemble inta a story, use'n imagination and speculation ta fill in the gaps. The language of sniff'n used in this manner becomes extremely destructive.
Other folk utilize sniff'n in a beneficial way. These fellers tend ta be quiet, sensitive individuals. Though they are very observant, they never gossip about their conclusions.
These people are able ta sniff out the discouraged and bestow on them a sunny smile or an encouraging word. They sniff out the weary and the overworked, ta whom they lend a help'n hand. They sniff out the disillusioned and the misguided and offer prayer or a few words of counsel.
As long as the world stands, dogs and cats will sniff footprints, and gossipers will ply their malicious trade. But there will always be a need for more folk who exercise the language of sniff'n in a constructive way.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
-Proverbs 20:3
It has been said you should treat folk as you do your pictures by place'n them in their best light.
No one has ever made himself great by show'n how small someone else is.
Kindness is the evidence of greatness. If anyone is glad you are here then you have not lived in vain.
A feller should watch what ya say.
Max Lucado put it this way with 3 points:
1) Never tell jokes that slander
2) Never criticize in public unless you: have already expressed your disappointment with the other person in private, have already taken someone with you to discuss the grievance with the person, and are absolutely convinced that public reprimand is necessary and will be helpful.
3) Never say anything about anyone in their absence that you wouldn't say in their presence.
Life's Choices
With that I will remind youn's, as I did in last week's column, that life is about choices.
If'n ya want ta be rich.....GIVE!
If'n ya want ta be poor....GRASP!
If'n ya want abundance....SCATTER!
If'n ya want ta be needy....HOARD!
There ya have it then fer this weeks column. I'm a hope'n the rest of yer week goes well.
Hope'n ta see ya all in church this week.
Wherever ya is, what ever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
BARNYARD BRUKE