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CHRISTMAS MELODIES.
PICCOIiA’M PBRMENT.
1‘oor, sweet Plccolst Did you hoar
What happened to I’lccolt, chlldreu dear?
Tla seldom Fortune such faror grants
As fell to this UtUo maid of Franca.
’Twm Christmas time, and her parents poor
Could hardly drive the wolf from the door,
BlrlTlng with poverty’s patient pain
Only t<
Every child upon Christmas day.
And so she slept till the dnwn was gray.
And full of faith, when at last she woke.
She stole to hsr shoe as the morning broke:
Such sounds ot el ml nos* filled the air,
’Twas plain St. Nicholas had been there!
ished Plccola sweet, half wild;
;r was seen such a Joyfr*
t the good saint bre
such a joyful child,
— o-xk! saint broughtl" she cried
And mother and fathor must peep inside,
Now such a story who eror hoard?
Tlicio was a little shivering bird I
A sparrow, that In the window flew,
Had crept into Plccola’s tiny shoe I
N How good poor Fleoola must hare been!
She cried, us hunpy as any queen,
While tho starving sparrow she fed and wai
And danced with rapture^ alio was so charm
Children, this story I tell you,
Of PiccoW sweet and her bird, Is true,
k n*!, 0 * ar 0,, l an d •»? France, they say,
0 this very day.
THOME CHRIMTMAM BII.LS.
Those Christmas hills! thoso Christmas bills!
How many a heart with anguish fills,
lien knocks, and rings, and postmen’s feet
Make echoing noises through the street;
And passing round from door to door,
I^ave horrid notes which thus " Implore
Your kind attention; please to pay;
Our books are closed on Now Yea;s’ Day."
ted out
„„ ITS™.
In hideous columns are put down.
The butcher, tool It can't bo that
So many joints of lean and fat
Were nil consumed within this house;
Which cook asserts would atarvo a mouse.
believe It, 1
uch a source
viyt: _
Of tigs and almonds, prunes and spice I
Wo have n’t lived on lnrd or cherae.
Yet rows of figures stand for these,
And here’s the draper! Now my wife
Hus gone in debt, I'll botmy llfo.
If Eve In Eden stolo the fruit,
Oh, happy time! oh, peaceful hours!
Of innking love and tending flowers;
The simplo blesiings lleuvon grants—
Good gracious, here’s a bill for plants'
I'll hare my own "petition tiled,’’
Wo'vo ridden at the " pace that kl
I cannot nay Oimo OhrUtmas bills
t:\DEB THE OIIRIMTHAM MKT.
nv 1IELBN U. COOKE.
Out in the cold they hunger and shiver,
D.-ar little children with bravo human hearts;
Where Is their God to save and deliver?
Where ip tho comfort His pity imparts?
Wrapped In .the folds of aiiufprtable clothing,
Dear Httle Chtfdrew,' wfth SWect, tedder eyes,
Gazefora moment, then turn away loathing,
Under these wonderful, glad Christmas skies!
Uoder the burden of sin, and of sorrow,
^ Is there a hand tlintta hidden,^and warm?
Over tho clouds of misfortune and storm?
Out from the mold will tho daisies and clover,
Into perfection of color and g
ring In their p
THE BUTLER HERALD.
W. N. BENNS, JAMES 0. RUSS, Editors.
“LKT THIjHE BE EIGHT.”
Sufeitriptitn, $1.56 in Mvmc*.
VOLUME V.
BUTLER, GEORGIA, TUESDAY. DECEMBER 21. 1880.
NUMBER 12.
r EDGAR FAWCETT.
With snow In pale volumes, by savage winds hurled,
The night before Christmas has wrapt the wild
o Its noises the little i
Tho brains of thectdldi
From out tho a
eu simps*fori
vspory whirl of tl
Huge Hons that ramp; mighty horns that prance;
w I,lie wnllowlnif whale, u? mil,Ion. e»l»n.e-
Till now they dlscmi a strange figure, whose back,
Is bent by the weight of a ponderous pack,
And itreamlng in front of him, plainer than day,
The beard of Kris Krlnglo like blown ocean spray I
Ah, happy
See merry St. Nlc
Through *
ung dreamers, dream on as ye will J
*'■ iholas trudging to All,
„ intry gusts, with benevolent tread,
The stockings you hang beside mantel or bed I
Hua fast your delusion, O soft dinin'
And goin while you can its IP *
III reality’s hand
n Its illusory churn
Phes*
of fancy whose lilai
Like tho blend!...,
That stern disappointment, lift
And yet, darling zealots, cot 4
How blest wore your fate th
sldde,
ire.ir’-
i left behind
through the future, indeed,
in place of your Santa Claus, wrought from a
that engirds ; yon, fond, ylgtlint,
the morrow shall rise.
Love eager to bring, e:
New mirth to your laughter.
A Christmas Tableau Vivant.
WILLIAM H. HCBUNKIjL.
Spring
Where li the bloom, then, for
glad the world over?
-Yonkers Gat
Proud bird of tho barnyard, blithesome and free,
A murderous bludgeon is hovering o’er then—
A fleeHootod urchin, a hard-hearted bub,
Will hit thee u rap with more'u a stuflcd club.
Make the most of thy tlm
caught
And thy own precious he
brought.
Then gobble! and gobble! and
caugh
id thy _.
brought.
_ ,ien gobble „
Thyself will ba gobbled
nd peaoo
_.ike and s ... r
A breakfast, perncp*, and a light supper,
soon thou’lt be
the block'll be
And
y cheap bashes;
A loud and laughing welcome to the merry Christ
mas beds,
All hall with happy gladness the wcll.known chant
We list the pealing anthem chord, wo hear tho mid
night strain,
And love the tidings that proclaim a Cbristma»-tld<
But there must be u melody, of purer, deeper sound
A rich gejr-note.^whose ccuo, runs through nil thi
Let kindly voices ring beneath low-roof or palace-
Writk^ " This I Mho baby’s stocking,
For she only came Ibis' year; ’
But slio'^yustthe blessodest baby;
And now, before you go,
Just ertnn her stockings with goodies,
From the lop Gear down to the toe."
Here's Christmas—let us boldly greet him.
We may as well, for nono ran cheat him;
Ha will steal on, and rilly sprinkle
The first gray hair, and Amt faint wrinkle.
And yi
What f
So that ni
seed of Ruln-i
little matters,
■o>s ho sc
contrive
witfajjto
icutters,
To keep Truth’s hearteasp still alive
Christmas In Norway.
In the mountain districts the day is
kept with hearty hospitality. All work
is suspended for thirteen days. The en
trance of every house is decorated, and
the walls of the kitchen are roughly
adorned with gaudy pictures, fantastic
ally painted in water colors. Through
out Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
the merry-making is entirely domestio,
restricted to the members of each house
hold. Not even a friendly visit is paid.
On the-following days the neighbors as
semble at each other’s houses by turns,
for carousing. -No regular meal is pro
vided, but open house is kept, the tables
richly spread for all comers. No stran
ger is permitted to leave the house until
he had partaken of the strong Yule ale,
which is served up in true Norwegian
fashion, cask following cask in rapid suc
cession. On these occasions the servants
sit at the sumo table with tho host, his
wife and family. All are dressed in their
gala attire of rich colored cloth, trimmed
with «old and silver braid, the women
wearing caps and aprons of brilliant
hues.
He who said, “Suffer little children to
come unto me” was the great founder of
the gladsome feast of Christmas, and it
is in His honor that we uphold the feast
and gladden the hearts of the little ones
he loved so dearly. It is a pleasure, a
holy pleasure, to moko their smiles
brighter, their laughter cheerier and
more musical. Let us all, then, proper
ly oeletoate Christmas Day.
*‘Jerusalem!”
It was a favorite expletive of good
Deacon Parks when excitement got tho
better of his usual placid way, and hid
wife looked up in astonishment as he
came stamping into the house, slammed
the door after him and stirred up the fire
until the hickory blazed and roared like
an incipient volcano. •
“Gracious! What is the matter now,
Job?” sho exclaimed, pausing in her
baking operations, wiping the flour from
her- hands upon her huge apron and
lowering her glasses from her forehend to
her nose to obtain a better look at her
husband and satisfy herself that ho had
not suddenly lost his wits.
“Why, day after to-morrow is Christ
mas!”
“As if I didn’t know that! Haven’t I,
been making preparations for it for
more than a week ? Catch mo without
mince-pies and fried cakes and cranberry
jolly and a groat, bouncing turkey?” and
she smiled complacently at the thought
of tho good things already prepared.
“Aiul I never thought of it until just
now—been so busy, you know,” be
apologized, as if in reality ho liad been
guilty of some great crime.
“Well, it don’t matter, Job; and I
wouldn’t worry about it, for 1 have taken
core of everything for tho blessed day
UUil Miner v»» will t»e liume from tcnuLing
school. Poor child! how slife must suffer
this weather, sleeping in cold rooms
and like ns not without a feather-bed
and—”
“It’s all her own fault, Hannah. Tho
good Lord knows wo have plenty for her
nnd half a dozen more, antTif sho will
persist in wearing herself ouftitileadUtog'.
other people’s brats, then—”
“Wlmt then?” questioned a merry
voice, as a pretty, rosy piece of mischief
came bounding into the room, shaking
tho snow from her long, golden curls,
and running up to her father, fairly
smothered him for a moment with kisses
and then darted away, laughing, to her
mother, twined her arms about her nock
and greeted her as warmly.
“Jerusalem!” exclaimed tho old man
as soon as he cotfld regain his breath,
though with his honost face flushed with
joy and his lips quivering with omotiou,
for his daughter wns indeed as tho apple
of his oyo and the one thing upon earth
altogether lovely.
“My dear, precious lamb,” whispered
tho fond mother, through tears of happi
ness, ns with busy fingers she removed
tho jaunty little cap, furs, clonk and
gloves, “to think you liavo como safe
ly back to mo ouce more and—”
“Now,” interrupted tho girl, “I should
like to know what father was tulking
about when I enrno in.”
“8o unexpected,” said tho mother.
“Wo did not look for you uutil to-mor
row night.”
“Oh, I had a olianco to ride home,”
replied the girl, blushing, “and got per
mission to let out school. But you wero
talking about me, father?”
“Well, yes," lie answered, with a mer
ry twinkle in his eyes, “anil I was about
to say when you came rushing in like a
oung bear—about to say, though mind,
didn’t—that if you kept on teaching
othor people’s brats you wouldn’t have
strength to teach your own—when you
get them,” and he laughed loudly at tho
ohunged expression of her face.
“For slmme,” responded Minerva.
“But I’ll pay you for that, father. Re
member, I am a young lady now, and you
can’t joke with me with impunity, as
you once did.”
“A young lady? Whew! And I sup
pose some young gentleman put him
self to immense trouble hr bring you
home through the cold and storm nnd
didn’t forget to collect toll at all the
bridges. Aren’t your lips sore, daugh
ter? ’
Tho girl colored still more deeply, and
bustled around to help her mother set
tho table for dinner, that she might es
cape the tonsing; but her father enjoyed
it too much, and asked:
“Who was it, child? Some of them
scane-grai *
be bound.
“You know I never associate with
them,” she responded indignantly.
Frank Emmons brought me home.
“O—h?” with a low whistle. “Yes,
he is a nice and proper young man, and
has such pretty black hair and eyes, nnd
teeth and moustaohe, and such white
hands, and sings like half a dozen angels
and walks so gently," and the old gentle
man arose and strutted mincingly around
the room in burlesque imitation of tho
attendant of his daughter.
Minerva could not but laugh, yet pre
tending to take no notice, glided about
arranging the dishes, and her mother
asked where the young man was.
“I know,” said* her father, answering ,
the question for her. “Our duughter i
“ Not I,” answered tho old man heart
ily, and taking tho curly hood between
Ins broad palms he drew her tenderly to
him and kissed the rosy and dimpled
cheeks. “ You are truly our one lamb,
and everything will some day bo yours.
Yes, you did perfectly right, and it will
be pleasant to have tho house fillod with
young folks and liavo a rousing, merry
time. That is how Christmas ought to
bo kopt,”
“Wo aro goiug to have tableaux
vivanlB, and one of them will surprise
you, father.”
Ho was that already, and had about as
much conception of what was intended
as of the lucid (?) explanations of Her
bert Spencer of tho Darwinian theory,
and for him to have repeated the words
with the French accent given by his
child would have been an utter impossi
bility, so ho pretended knowledge, shook
his head sagely, gave a very knowing
wink, but kept silent and soon found
that pressing business required his ab
sence.
But the doting mother wns taken into
full confidence and bIio and Minerva lmd
a long, earnest and apparently deeply
interesting conversation upon tho sub
ject—one that continued for over an hour;
indeed it had not concluded when the
old man returned, for he caught tho
name of tho miuister and asked:
“ What are yon going to have Domino
Martin hero for, child?”
“Oh, jast because I like him, ami his
wife is such a denr old lady, and they
will bo very lonely on aucli a day, with
tlieir children all married and away from
home. So I thought you would like to
seo them, and if he is hero everything
will bo sure to go right, nnd it is Christ
mas, you know, and—”
“ Hold on, for mercy’s sake!” ex
claimed her father, “or yon won’t have
breath enough left to cat your dinner,
aud that would bo very bad.” •
“ But you wanted to kpowrAiid-—"
“You have told mo sufficient to*satisfy
auy reasonable mortal man,” he said as
ho took his place at the table and began
loading her plate as if she had been in
danger of starvation for a month.
Dinner over—it was one of the sub
stantial, old-fashioned kind, though the
mother had added the--richest of dessert
delicacies to tempt her child, os if them
wns no such thing as dyspepsia in tho
laud—and the Deacon took an easy clmir
by the broad hearth, lighted his pipe,
and between the curling clouds of smoke
resumed the subject of the morning con
versation.
“How many are you goiug to have,
daughter?" he questioned.
“ All tho boys and gills.”
“Boys first, every time with your sex, 1
•n.l gii-ln -niblx «»o otlicr,” lie laughed,
“but all means how many?”
“Well freflectively,) from fifty to sov-
enty-fivo.
“Gracious! the old house will scarcely
hold them, nnd will bo certain to bo torn
down with tlieir rompiug. But what
does mother say?”
f ji“Oh, sho is perfectly satisfied, aren't
yon mother, dour?" nnd n look of under
standing passed between parent and
daughter.
“Then all I liavo to do is to help tho
riot along, for riot it will bo with so many
youngsters together. But what was it
you said you M ere going to have?”
“A tub’lo vovang,” was answered with
tho broadest possible French occent-
ation.
“Ah, yes, I remember, and no doubt
it will bo grand.”
“I think you will find it solemn,
father.”
“Yes, yes,” and fearful she should seo
liow much ho was puzzled, ho instantly
changed tho subject and continued:
“Well, it will take a lot to feed so many
boys and girls. They are always hungry,
and can devour more than so ninny
wolves. So, Hunnah, I fear you haven’t
provided one quarter enough.”
“You are right,” responded his wife;
“since our pet told mo about her plans
and how many would bo hero I have
been calculating.”
“Woll, they shan’t go away hungry,
if there is enough in the land to feed
them. I’ll have Mike kindle a tiro under
tho big farm kcttlo, and killlotsof chick
ens ami turkeys, and send him for Mrs.
Smith to help dress them, and when I
go over to town to-morrow I’ll bring
home some oysters and—well, any thing
else you need to have a good time.”
“Oh! how much I thank you, dear
father, "said Minerva, impulsively spring
ing to his side aud kissing him. “You
are tho kindest aud best fathor in all tho
world. ”
“All talk,” he laughed, though
pleasure was visible in his face, “aud
you’ll get married some day and forget
all about me. ”
“Married 1” exclaimed tho girl, sud
denly growing ashy pale. “Nover!
mean,” sho continued, with her fn<
flushing to tho deepest crimson, “I mean
that I’ll never forget you.”
“Whew,” lie whistled, “Inevorsav
tho wind chop around iqpro suddenly
Catch a girl saying she’ll never get
married! They would as soon think of
not being hnudsome and having pretty
dresses. But you needn’t blush so. It s
all right and proper, and the natural
dition of womankind.”
“Then,” asked she, archly 8
i coquot-
finger thrust between her red lips in mook
modesty and bnshfulness. “You wouldn't
object to my getting married?”
“No, not to a good, honest, industrious
man. Why should I? A human heart,
and especially of your sex, without lovo,
is as good as wrecked. No, my darling;
find a good man whom you can love with
your whole heart, and who loves yc
same, for I am old-fashioned enough to
believe in such things, and I’ll not only
give my consent but my blessing, some
thing worth liavingfor a start in life, and
such a wedding ns will mako the old
rafters ring.”
“And suppose, father,” questioned the
blooming girl, half way between smiles
njid tears, “suppose it should liappeh to
be Frank—Mr. Emmons, I mean?”
“Humph! I don’t know. He is—”
Just as nice a young fellow as ever
must go and seo about an extra supply of
provisions. Gracious! it will Iro fortu
nate if we don’t have a famine.”
He wiped away tho mist from his old
eyes, brought tliero by the thought his
daughter lind suggested; tried to whistle
bravely down the very situation ho had
with the touch of rugged eloquence de»
fended, and hastened to call his mau-of-
all-work and give him instructions. “Mi
nerva has como buck, Mike,” lie said
“and is going to have some kind of a
blow-out on Christmas Eve. She calls it a
tablcr vevaught, or something of the
kind.
“Afwhat?” questioned tho Irishman,
scratching his head in the most puzzled
manner.
“That’s what sticks me, Mike, though
I did not let her know it. Anyhow there
is to bo sonic kind of a female circus, and
tho animals will want plenty to eat.”
“Blessings on the bright eyes of her,
nnd its ivry thing on the old farm I’ll kill
if she wants it, tliodnrlin’.”
“Yes, I believe you. That girl seems
to have a faculty of twistiug every one
around her linger, and—”
“Divil a won more thin her ould fay til
er,” said Miko as he proceeded to obey
tho orders ho bad received, “an’ mother
lushiuH of poultry," woll knowing that
his share of tho feast would be no stinted
To a late hour tho making ready was
continued, and nil went to bed tired but
happy. And the next day was a continual
bustle. Extra help was summoned, and
tho kitchen fires roared, and the im
mense Dutch oven glowed and plenty
ruled triumphant, while tho old deacon
was iu his glory bringing supplies from
town and making himself useful as woll
as most provokiugly officious.
So tho day passed and the night came
with everything ready for the grand
time.
Early tho house began to bo filled with
o merry company, and wero welcomed by
father, mother and daughter, the latter
respleudant in robes of fleecy white,
abundantly trimmed with soft, floating
laces and looped with artificial flowers,
while natural roses, fringed with myrtle
and smilax, were half hidden amid her
golden hair and pulsated upon her joy
ously throbbing bosom.
For an hour thoro appeared to lie a
ceaseless chiming of sleigh-bells, and
rosy, laughing loads deposited at the
door. Iudeed, so many wero the teams
that Mike wns frantic to know what to
do with them. But the Deacon believed
tho merrier” principle, and
kept every one busy and contented. Yet
for all the gaily* dancing and singing
company, a shade of perplexity now and
then crossed liiH fnco. Ho hud not solved
the mystery of tho tableau, nnd it hung
upon him as a troublesome nightmare.
For hours tho house rang nnd trembled
upon its strong foundation. It was a
oritable bec-hivo of fun nnd frolio, aud
many a soft cheek took on deeper roses
from stolen kisses; many nn innocent
heart bounded moro swiftly from tho en
circling arm mnl many a pair of ears
tingled from tho slapping of white hands
payment for saucy jest or pilfered
tress.
But good, buxom dame Hannah had
almost as much pride iu her cooking ns
e denr lamb, and when tho
ancient clock made its huge, heavy,
coffin-like case throb with tho ringing of
ten, she whispered tolior husband, good,
prudent soul that sho was, that “the
children must be getting hungry, nnd
io wns going to seo about the tables.”
Iu response to her suggestion, he
sought their daughter and told her they
wero going to have supper, and that tho
young folks had hotter stop romping and
cool off, or some of them would bo cer
tain to take their death.
Yes, father/' she answered; “but wo
must have tho tableau first,” and sho
looked up, blushing more deeply than a
damask rose in June into the face of Mr.
Frank Emmons, upon whoso arm she
happened to be loaning.
“All . *
with a sigTi of relief, for the 1
bo lifted from his soul. “Do you
want me to help you?”
No; but tell mother, please, 1 want
her.” And Miss Minerva darted away
to her own private room, while the old
man told the fiddlers to adjourn to the
kitchou and makethemsolves comfortable
uutil wanted again.
Evidently some of tho girls understood
what wns going on, if the Deaeon did not,
for they cleared one end of tlie hall,
liungn great patch-work bed-quilt across
and marshalled thd company into some
thing liko order. Then, after a brief
pause, in which there was much whis
pering, tho improvised curtain was drawn
aside aud disclosed Miss Minerva stand
ing hand in hand with Mr. Frank Em
mons, with a young lady and gentleman
ns supporters, and tho old minister be
fore them.
Amazed, but silent, the Deacon looked
on. He did not comprehend tho affair
at all, had no practical knowledge of
charades, but when certain words had
been spoken nnd a ring passed, a sud
den light broke in upon tho darkness of
his understanding, nnd he exclaimed
with an earnestness that startled all:
| l“Je-ru-sa-lem ! It looks liko a mar
riage!"
The hearty laugh that followed sufficed
for a full explanation and it needed not
the assurance of tho minister to convince
him that his daughter was honestly and
legally married to tho man of her choice.
And yet at first ho was disjrosed to lie an
gry. Then ho saw the foolishness of
such a proceeding, especially ns ho had
previously given his assent to the se
lection of his daughter, and entered
heartily into the laugh against him
self.
“That’s what you call a—Jerusalem!
I can’t speak tho new fanglcd name—is
it? Yet it wasn’t hardly fair to fool tho
old man so, Minerva. I did expect you
would find something in your stockings
to-night, child, but not a great, live man.
However it is all right (anything sho
could have done would have been so) and
we’ll make the best of it, and your moth
er and I will have plenty to do in getting
called the young husband to his side,
gave him the hand of his darling, and
said, “Take her and may God bless you
both, my children. If I have lost a
daughter I have found a son and shall
have auother arm to lean upon when my
eyes grow dim and steps unsteady lai
and—
More he would have said but a great
ringing of liella summoned them to sup
per—and such a supper. I t would have
mado grim Famine commit suicide in de
spair to have looked upon the tables, and
Time throw away his hour-glass aud sit
blythely down and enjoyed the feast.
The good mother lmd known the secret
from the first, and with her pride stimu
lated had distanced all former efforts,
even to produce a Christmas supper, and
tho only complaint was of excessive full
ness, when again the violins .summoned
tho party to the hall.
A few more horns of such happiness
as rarely comes to earth and the old
house became silent. The company liad
departed, but not before the Deacon liad
invited all to be present that day year,
whispering at the same time something
in tho ear of his daughter that sent the
blood bounding to her cheeks and caused
her to turn suddenly and shamefaced
away. s
Was he right ?
Come with me this joyous, blessed
day. You will be welcomed right royal
ly. Come and assist in tho festivities
and taste to repletion of the good cheer,
and when tho bright-eyed babe is christ
ened, join with ull in wishing to him, aye
even to all upon earth, a happy, merry,
bouutiful Christmas.
Christinas Sentiment.
Says a writer in the Youker’s Gazette :
“There is so much about Christinas that
savors of harmony, concord, peace
peace that means not merely the ces
tion of hostilities between conflicting
terests in our social world, but that se-
rener, broader, deeper peace which
unites muu to man by all the ties of
friomliy intercourse which pioeeedout of
nn universal desire to make Christmas a
bright spot among the fading memories
of the year. I like the sentiment tho
more lrccnn.se it pervades every commu
nity nnd brings to view the better side of
every man’s character. Not n Scrooge
nor a Gradgrind on earth can wholly
steel himself against its humanizing in
fluence, and t hough the closing of the day
may find no charity dispensed or glad
ness awakened, yet it will at least surely
find tire edge of liis habitual severity
blunted. If tliero is ever “peace on
earth,” in its fullest sense, it is on Christ
mas. I do not believe that custom and
usage alone have made the modern anni
versary day of the Saviour’s nativity one
of rejoicing; it 1ms over occurred to me
that since first the glad tidings went out
from Bethlehem the event has left its im
press on each succeeding generation,
and that each recurring “happy morn”
has found the chord of human sympathy
and love responsive to tho mystic glow.
If this wero not so I think we should see
ioss hand-shaking and cordial greetings
than wo do now, a more limited sphere
of action for tho alms gatherer, fewer vis
its from “Santa Claus,” fewer Christmas
tree festivals,listen to poorer aud less ex
citing homely old stories of legendary
lore, hear less caroling of “Christians
awake,” find a sparser harvest of mistle
toe, and wo would have far more con
tracted views of our life-cloud’s silver
lining. And then, too, I liko tho jnoth-
ods we have taken as a nation to show
our appioeiation of that day. They are
beautiful; they are just. They help us
to consecrate our lives and to shape them
in the channel that is host suited to their
moral development. Where thoughts
and motives are pure and simple, we may
look for good deeds. Where tho observ
ance of Christmas is made known through
benevolent acts, kind words to the dis
tressed, family gatherings, lmppy chil
dren aud the distribution of gifts, wheth
er tho celebration be to honor the day for
the day’s sake or not, the occasion is one
that we should be truly thankful for.
This world of ours is bettered by Christ
mas nnd every one of us should help to
make it memorable.
Do you soo the poor,
thin man? How sad it is
to be poor, nnd have no
tur-key to eat. Who is
tho man? Ho is an ed-
i-tor. What is an ed-i-
tor? An ed-i-tor is a man
who robs his own stom-ach
to fill the heads of oth-er pco-ple.
Poor man! I will send him a big,
fat tur-key for his Christ-mas din-nor.
Do you see tho fat,
thick man? Yes, I
can see him with one
eye. Does tho fat
man love tur-key ?
You bet. Is he an
ed-i-tor, too, Mn-ma?
Nix-ee, my child,
SOUTHERN NEWS.
rail, Ala., has over !>,000 tax
ntv-tight failures occurred i
At Memphis ii is $2.
Sheep r
ndiislrv c
Sheep-r
oil 1111 I,r.
iltow in
Twenty-seven artesian
Worth, Texas.
A hill in Alabama pro;
shipment of fricight on Si
Iu Birmingham, Ala., i
have been built in six we
f the Auditoi
hogs.
v. Wa
nth
L-xpe
mike
called t
near thi
taemdia, La., plantation.
Mr. T. M. Boyd, of Vo., has,
be eliarge of the Kufaula. Ala., Preabvteria
hutvh.
The total Jo>s bv the lire at I turban), X. <
ust week is estimated nt $BU,0n0 to JUS.ims
The Alabama senate has passed a bill a<
homing the appointment of a eoniiuissiom
if immigration.
(.'apt. Dwyer is eleuuing out the Knoxtihc
■iver for steamers, which can reach Maeoi
The quantity of let
obuo
(lid
moss-back element are allowed to prevail
much longer, instead of being a great me
tropolis, it will be a rickety, decaying old
town, with dilapidated buildings, impassable
streets and a general air of rot nnd mill.
Major Marks, a gentleman of Orange eonn-
•, Florida, is said to have conceived the
home of securing Henry Ward Beecher’s
summer tent, capable of seating 0,000 peo
ple, or some other equally spacious one, and
pitching it among the beautiful lakes that
environ the town of Wiloox. inside of this
o be pitehel n great uomber of smaller
tents, for lodging rooms for guests. Dining
and dauciug hull, billiard room, ete., are all
to be within this immense tent, nnd the
whole to be fitted up and furnished equal to
e most perfeetly equipped hotel. Boating,
>hing nnd hunting would constitute the at-
CHRISTMAS HUMOR.
The muss that children are anxions to
get into—ChrifftmtiH.
As the Christmas tree is bent so is
the youthful heart made glad.
Christmas is the anniversary of dys
pepsia’s fowlest conspiracy against com
fort.
Hose n
than the i
Claus?
Remf.mbeu the barber, the bootblack
—and the bartender —Advice to Bach
elors.
Soul folks will hang up their stockings
Christmas eve, end some will hang up
the bartender.
The man who takes unto himself a wife
on Christmas eve will be sure to have
well-filled stockings.
It is said that a child born on Christ
mas will always hate turkey and goose,
aud lean towards codfish and bacon.
The small l»oy now puts in eight hours
a day flattening liis nose against the
windows of confectionery nnd toy stores.
“ Is Krl* Ktiigle »llve, papa!”
The small boy said.
Said i"be family’s head.
Christmas is rapidly coming this war,
and the young man with a No. 0 foot,
will, as usual, be presented with a pair of
No. 6 slippers.
l.NTKN tb the aldgli-bell* jiogle!
old Kii
ringle!
The
lain
of Tex
lu the A
••2 cxliortei
The New
Sabine rivi
boats as mi
* thou-.'lit to be 50 pc
i Meihodbi elm
ire Iihi local pr
be bought cheap
seph K. Brown lives oil Washing*
Atlanta; lienj. Ii. IliJI, on Peach-
Sen. Gordon, nt Kirkwood,n sub
Georgia are not yet eomplet
flint the result will show tlm
tween 1,5.10,000 nnd 1,1I0,(H>
has rofied him'up"in pink'cotton°~ancl I lived/’ interposed Ris wife. I things ready to fill the little stockings
sprinkled him with cologne and put him “Yes, yes. I can’t say aught against: that /
in a bandbox for fear he will get mussed.” . him, but-— ’j | A soft white hand stopped his words,
“Ho will bo here Christmas Eve,” in- 1 “I know,” laughed Minerva at his con- j red and ripe lips wero pressed upon liis
terrupted Minerva, with a strong effort fusion, “when you really come to think own, a silken face was laid upon his
at sobriety; “he and a number of others, i of giving me up it is too much. That’s wrinkled one, a few tears of happiness
I knew you would not care, fathor, if 11 it." Iu . llfl „ iT we S e T n hw J? roatl breast,
invited them," “I believe you aro right, child. But I and with faltering tongue the old man
A Christmas Snowball.
Snowballs filled with Christmas gifts
is a late idea of holiday humor. A frame
of whalebone or wires in halves is filled
with toys aud bon-bons, covered with
thick paper, the halves lightly fastened
together and covered with pure white
wadding. The halls may be made small
and the fun of pelting tho family with
them forms part of the ceremonies of
Christmas morning, tho ball flying open
and scattering the presents over the re
ceiver's head. Or a huge snowball is
made and rolled into the room, as part of
the Christmas treo festivities. The semi
circular whalebone or crinoline “dress
improvers” can bo put to good use for
snowballs in their way by joining a pair
and covering round with cotton.
Ikoersoll may defy brimstone and
doubt the reality* of a “Sweet Bye and
Bye,” but if he undertakes to pluck a
single bristle from the board of Santa
Cltmi, thove will bo a row,
t Little Itock. Tw
ieh the upper banks. The fbh
i Mrs. I‘(
qunrl
it quality,
.ciila pro'
shall pm
w liol 9 of the principal ami establish
is *3411,273, or
l* school po|mla*
-f lb • XV
t larger t
If you really desire to perpetrate a
practical joke upon your printer this
year just send him the amount of your
subscription ou Christmas.
What tiu.ii llie lu.litlay> roll round,
The Uil boy, Mill In frock*.
J.cl by (lie ear, to In* ma draws near,
Ami getteih his Christmas box.
“Hang up the baby’s stocking!"
shouts the Hackensack lit publican. We
want it distinctly understood that wo
haven't any such appendages.
A young man who gave liis girl a
gold watch last Christmas, married her
during the summer, and now lie thinks
the present was “time" vVll spent.
Now comes the season when the voting
man, on au eight dollar salary, bothers
his brains to raise the stamps to get his
girl a twentv dollar holidav present.—
Kansas rif)/ Times.
Christmas falls on Saturday this year,
and severe storms mo predicted. Tho
•term will likely break when the young
sters wake up and find their stockings
filled with cliuuks of coal.
The morning dawns, and the house
hold is awakened by the sound of drum
and fife. But it is not war. It is not the sum
mons to go out and slaughter the Zulus.
Nay, brethren, i* u Christmas.—Xcm
York Express.
“Mamma," said tho little one ; “do you
know what you aro going to give mo for
Christmas?” “Why yes,” said the moth
er, “of course I know." “Well, for mer
cy’s sake, don’t tell me,” responded tho
puss with great vehemence.
As Christmas approaches, the young
man who has been toasting bis toes, and
lounging on the best parlor sola, begins
to try uud Ret up a quarrel with his
▼oung*girl so us to escape bankrupting
liimaelf on a Christmas present.
Baltimore Er*ri/ Sutnrdai/.
SHF. tripped «'er the #'u»hy t-rouiug,
And the wind, that fiercely blew.
An Inch or m of hn znkle
Kx|»'!uh1 Io the public view.
Pleasant Remembrances.
Sitting here, 1 find myself holding a
levee of departed Christmas nights. Si
lently. into my study of imagination
come these apparitions, clad in snowy
mantles, brooehed and gemmed with
frosts. Their numbers I do not care to
count, for they are the number of my
The
i sages
buy the propc
An
image crop embracing acres con
taining about 3,500 trees, in Slimier county
Fla,, has boon purchased by a Colmnbns,
Vn., man for $31,000. He sold the fruit now
on the trees for $3,000.
The mutual report of Major II. H. Thouip
son, state superintendent of education of
South Carolina shows 2,073 schools and 3,171
teachers for 1870-80, against 2,001 schools and
3,160 touchers for 1878-70. In 1870-77 there
were '2,483 schools and 2,074 teachers.
Twenty-five members of the South Caroli
na legislature arc in favor of bolding a con
stitutional convention, 18 are in favor of reg
istration, 10 want the state and federal elect
ions separated, 0 desire a property or educa
tional qualification for suflrngc.
(iov. Ilagood saw in Marlborough county,
S. <’., a field of 3io acres which yielded this
s it did also last ye
eh. At 10 i
i I lie la i
ghiug
a pound the gross value of tlf
acre, which is ah ut as much
worth in the market.
There are six moss factories in New
Orleans and vicinity. All the moss ginned
is shipped abroad «9 Ihe furniture manufact
urers do not buy it ginned, preferring to
pick aud clean it themselves The total
amount paid for the rough moss by the go
ners, uphoslterers and mattress makers of
he cty is about isno.nan per year.
The New Oilcans times snys that that city
pldly drifting into a deplorable eondi
liuugh; but, c
gregutiun of jolly ghosts. I hear a sound
s of light musiV.nwhi.sk of women’s
tresses whirled around iu douce, and tho
lick as of glasses pledged by friends.
Before oue apparition is a mound on
which tho snow is lying. I know that
spring of mistletoe. (), spirit iu tho
midst! Under it I swung tho girl I loved
—aud kissed her, too. And thou, too,
with bencher iu baud; I remember thy
reigning night. Whore now arc flic
many boys and girls (lint thrust their
fingers in tit« blaze?
The kindly Christmas tree, from which
I trust every gentle render will pull n
lion-ton or two, is already sparkling with
the sweet fruits of its season. You,
young ladies, will pluck giftliugs fruits
from it; nnd with the sugar-plum you
will find one of thoso delicious conun
drums, which tho confectioners intro
duce into tho sweet wonts, and which ap
ply to tho cunning passion of love.
There are some standing about tho tree
who don’t care about the love-riddle part.
Patience, little people! a dozen Christ
mases more aud you will be reading
thoso wonderful conundrums. As for us
older folks, wo watch tho young people
pulling nt tho branches; but
er reach for flic fruits, and
Christmas lights have mostl
l for
»long-
is the
Wealth Not Omnipotent.
Wealth is potent iu its own sphere,
but impotent beyond it. It can put a
telegraph under the sen and cover the
land with a network of wires ns with a
spider’s web. It can build railroads and •
bridge oceans. It can buy houses and
lands nnd every material advantage; but
hero its power stops. It cannot pur
chase goodness, or justice, or gentleness,
or patience, or lovo, or true friendship.
It cannot make character stronger, or
life sweeter. It can say to the minister,
I will feed you and clothe you while you
are making men better, and to the
teacher, I will take care of you while
you aro making men wiser, but it can do
nothing without the brain of wisdom
or the heart of goodness. It can build
railroads, but it is powerless to build
men.
He who has ridden in a country stage-
;oacb knows how cream feels whoa it is
lion, ami If the uarruw illiberal ldeus of tbe jeing churned into butter.