The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill."
Rain
Shore is hard, it seems, to get a good solid rain shower ta help our crops along before late July and the possible crush of August heat comes along. Some have received their fair share of rain from time to time whilst others have come up short.
If'n we don't receive a good rain soon, the tree huggers will be on the farmer's hides for not have'n enough vegetation for them Japanese Beetles ta feed on. Them poor little black bugger's might have ta go hungry.
Big Cheeks
Bet you don't know "Big cheeks"
Big cheeks, a grandson of slaves, a boy was born in a poor neighborhood of New Orleans known as the "Back of Town."
His father abandoned the family when the child was an infant. His mother became a prostitute and the boy and his sister had to live with their grandmother.
Early in life he proved to be gifted for music and with three other kids he sang in the streets of New Orleans.
His first gains were coins that were thrown to them.
A Jewish family, Karnofsky, who had emigrated from Lithuania to the USA, had pity for the 7-year-old boy and brought him into their home.
Initially giving "work' in the house, to feed this hungry child.
There he remained and slept in this Jewish family's home where, for the first time in his life, he was treated with kindness and tenderness.
When he went to bed, Mrs. Karnovsky sang him a Russian lullaby that he would sing with her.
Later, he learned to sing and play several Russian and Jewish songs.
Over time this boy became the adopted son of this family. The Karnofskys gave him money to buy his first musical instrument; as was the custom in the Jewish families.
They sincerely admired his musical talent.
Later, when he became a professional musician and composer, he used these Jewish melodies in compositions, such at St. James Infirmary and Go Down Moses.
The little black boy grew up and wrote a book about this Jewish family who had adopted him in 1907. In memory of this family and until the end of his life, he wore a Star of David and said that in this family, he had learned"how to live real life and determination."
You might recognize his name. This little boy was called: Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong.
Louis Armstrong proudly spoke fluent Yiddish!
And "Satchmo" is Yiddish for "Big Cheeks!"
Never Forget
Your Friends!
A newlywed young man was sitting on the porch on a hot, humid day, sipping iced tea with his father. As he talked about adult life, marriage, responsibilities, and obligations, the father thoughtfully stirred the ice cubes in his glass and cast a clear, sober look on his son.
"Never forget your friends," he advised, "they will become more important as you get older." "Regardless of how much you love your family and the children you happen to have, you will always need friends. Remember to go out with them occasionally, do activities with them, call them."
"What strange advice!" thought the young man. "I just entered the married world, I am an adult and surely my wife and the family that we will start will be everything I need to make sense of my life."
Yet he obeyed his father. He kept in touch with this friends and annually increased their number. Over the years, he became aware that his father knew what he was talking about. Inasmuch as time and nature carry out their designs and mysteries on a man, friends were the bulwarks of his life.
After 60 years of life, here is what he learned.
Time passes. Life goes on. Distance separates. Children grow up and become independent, it breaks the parents' hearts, but the children become separated from the parents. Jobs come and go. Illusions, desires, attraction, sex weaken. People do not do what they should do.
The heart breaks. The parents die. Colleagues forget the favors. The races are over.
But true friends are always there, no matter how many miles away they are or for how long. A friend is never more distant than the reach of a need, intervening in your favor, waiting for you with open arms or blessing your life.
When we started this adventure called LIFE, we did not know of the incredible joys or sorrows that were ahead. We did not know how much we would need from each other. Love your parents, take care of your children, and keep a group of good friends, too.
So there ya have it on "never forget your friends." A Good Friend shared this with me and I'm a pass'n it along ta youn's fer reflection. Me and the boys have dwelled on it for a spell. What do ya thing of it?
Taxes
Illinois just passed a 32 percent permanent income tax hike. This brings ta mind the follow'n subject: "Pay Your Taxes and Smile."
The USA welfare plan fer a guy and his girlfriend with two children..so far..follow these proven steps:
1. Don't get married to her.
2. Always use your mom's address to get mail.
3. The guy buys a house.
4. Guy rents out house to his girlfriend who has 2 of his kids.
5. Section 8 will pay $900 a month for a 3 bedroom home.
6. Girlfriend signs up for Obamacare so guy doesn't have to pay for family insurance.
7. Girlfriend gets to go to college for free being a single mother.
8. Girlfriend get $600 a month for food stamps.
9. Girlfriend gets free cell phone.
10. Girlfriend get free utilities.
11. Guy moves into home but continues to use moms house to get mail sent to.
12. Girlfriend claims one kid and guy claims one kid on taxes. Now you both get to claim head of household at $1800 credit.
13. Girlfriend gets disability for being "crazy" or having a "bad back" at $1800 a month and never has to work again.
This plan is perfectly legal and is being executed now by millions of people.
A married couple with a stay at home mom yields $0 dollars.
An unmarried couple with stay at home mom nets, $21,600 disability + $10,800 free housing + $6,000 free Obamacare + 6000 free food + $4,800 free utilities + $6,000 pell grant money to spend + $12,000 a year in college tuition free from pell grant + $8,800 tax benefit for being a single mother = $75,000 a year in benefits.
It is no wonder our country is $18 + trillion dollars in debt. Some how a good dental plan is missing from the USA welfare plan!
Well, that shore makes a feller feel good as he pays his taxes.
As far our State of Illinois I can't find in the recently passed budget any property tax relief fer families and businesses, any regulatory relief ta grow our economy, and fer sure there is no where ta be found any term limits ta restore confidence in our political system.
Ultimately, more tax increases will be needed to balance future budgets and pay down debt. Illinois will soon become the highest taxed state in the nation.
It would be nice ta know how our local politicians voted on this budget. Have a good rest of the week. Hope'n ta see ya in church.
Remember, Wherever ya are, whatever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke