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Excerpts from Souvenir Submitted by David M. Waid |
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INTRODUCTORY
THOUGHTS "The pen is the tongue of the
mind."
Cervantes.
I am glad I was asked to subscribe for the "History of
Crawford County," in the spring of 1884.
In my sketch therein published reference is made to the 100-acre
meadow on which years of labor and thought have been expended, in order
to make it what it now is--a beautiful and productive field.
In manhood's early days, in my father's family, I began work, and
I take pleasure in saying it has been continued ever since, which is
proof of my enjoyment, and the invitation by Mr.
Harry F. Bancker (one of the agents of Messrs. Warner, Beers
& Co., the publishers), to subscribe for the history of our county
was but an introduction to my first SOUVENIR.
The sketch first appeared in the History in 1885, then in an
enlarged form in my SOUVENIR of 1886, and I have already intimated my
desire to meet the wants of my kindred and friends and the youth of our
land. "Who does the best his
circumstances allow, Does well, acts nobly; angels could
no more." Young.
Inasmuch as the labor and thought given to that field has been
amply rewarded by a kind Providence, still may I ask His guidance in
this undertaking that it may prove a blessing to humanity.
What have you or I, kind reader, in our possession, that we have
not at some time or other received?
Who is the giver of all things?
I ask myself, in what better way can I accomplish the good I
desire than by writing down my thoughts as they come to me, and
publishing them? "Live by labor, love your
neighbor, Would you prosper, that's the
way."
I consider the hours of thought and days of labor, together with
the money expended in book-making, not lost.
It is written--according to your faith be it unto you;
again--all things are possible to him that believeth.
It is a well-known fact that I LOVE LABOR.
This new enterprise opens a field in which I engage in work with
pleasure, so far as I am able, and not until one thousand copies of the
SOUVENIR are distributed FREE, at my own expense, do I want a single one
sold. Faith and works are
like twin sisters--both favor charity.
I love all three--FAITH, LOVE and CHARITY--and on this line my
love goes out to my kindred and friends, and to all mankind.
I do not desire to be robbed of this pleasure--a free
distribution of the SOUVENIR I hope that if the book is worthy of a
wider circulation, there will be a way provided.
I know I have been already well repaid for what little I have
done toward circulating the book, and the many testimonials and letters
(Copies of many of these will be found in the Appendix to this book.),
as well as thanks, received by me, prove beyond a doubt I have the
confidence of my friends. Again
I thank them for their appreciation of my efforts to DO GOOD. "Happy were men if they but
understood There is no safety but in doing
good."
Yet I have a greater consolation, proceeding from a pure motive
to advance the cause of Christianity according to my ability, showing
what the Redeemer has done for one of the least of His followers. "What wonderful things in the
Bible I see, And this is the greatest--Jesus loves
me."
I was once asked what I considered worth more to me, than my
friends: not gold, nor
silver, nor houses, nor lands--but God's promise.
This is something upon which we can lean when tempests rage and
billows roll--it comforts the soul, and this leads me into some pleasant
retrospects, some of which may interest the reader.
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