Charles Henry Smith was one of the funniest of the Phunny Phellows. This was a group of local colorists of the South who got their kicks from misspellings and other kinds of tongue-in-cheek mistakes and misunderstandings. Arp's career as a humorist began when he wrote a letter to President Lincoln in response to an order for Southern rebels to 'disperse and retire'. Three years after the Civil War ended, Arp dropped the guise of the illiterate clown and began writing a column for the Atlanta Constitution that lasted until 1903, a short time before his death. It was this column that would make him the most famous humorist in the country.
The following list represents the best of what he wrote:

"A Feast in a Sycamore Grove," about peeling peaches 'just to save Mrs. Arp the trouble' and roasting a pig for a gathering of family and friends.
"Making Sausage," observations on the 'hysterical' nurturing of a mother's love.
"The Stricken Sheep," Arp's 'lightbread' episode, which begins halfway through this piece. This one is highly recommended by David Parker: For a reading of this and the other selections on his page, go to David Parker's Page in History.
"A Country Picnic" describes a gathering of the Arp family, friends, and neighbors in the war-ravaged remains of the city of Etowah, where Major Mark Cooper's iron furnace is today the only remnant of this once flourishing city.
"The Candy-Pulling" relates how the presence of an abundance of children in the Arp home ignite memories of earlier times, and Mr. and Mrs. Arp recall their days as 'runagees' during the Civil War.