Newspaper Page Text
THE SONS OP THE BOWES.
The farmor itood at bi* opoa Boor.
Looked north, and •oath, aud east and
west!
* Good wife, the swallows are back once
more,
Back again to their last rear’s nest,
I’m off to the fields to speed the plow,
The birds are singing on evxry bongta.
“The skies are dreaming of rammer blue;
Trees are dreaming of rustling leaves;
And I hare a dream—God make it true
Of standing oom and of golden sheaves;
Of meadows green, and of new-made
hay,
And of reapers singing at dawn of day
“Call all the boys; we most go afield,
To speed the plow and cast Ih j seed;
God bless the seed, and make it to yielo
Plenty, both man and beast to feed I
God bless the eeed, and speed the plow
For birds are singing on every bough.’
Then oot with his boys tbs fsrmer wont*
into the fields the soft spring morn,
Bowing tits teed with a glad content,
Singing, while sowing the good seed corn
“Godbless the harrow, and bless th
plow,
Th# oom, the wheat, and tho barley
mow I”
THE LAST WILL.'
i.
There are many lovely towns lying
along the Connecticut river, but none
more lovely than that near which one
of the Regicides concealed Himself for
a long time to escape pursuit. This
old town has a double row of elm and
maple trets on either side of Its prin
cipal street, which extends two miles
in length along the river. About half
a mile from the southern end of the
street stands the old Walhrhlge place.
This has stood for nearly 200 years, and
so many old memories are clustered
about it that relatives near and remote
would consider it a great misfortune if
the estate were allowed to pass out of
the family.
In the south parlor of the old house,
on a bleak evening in January, 1880,
an old man lay dying. lie was the
owner of the Walbrklgo homestead,
and the last of the old stock, lie had
one son who was now standing by his
bedside, and a dearly beloved duughter
who for fifteen years had cared for him,
and who now sat chafing his cold hands
.while her two children knelt at tlvo
foot of the bed, shading their eyes,
dreading to know what this deathbed
might reveal to them. John Wal
bridge, the old man’s son, a wealthy
distiller in a distant town, could
scarcely restrain his selfish impatience
that he had been detained here since
yesterday, and his old father was still
alive. The old man stirred, his eyes
slowly opened.
“ Mary, I want to see Mary.”
“Here 1 am, father.”
“ Alone, alone.”
Reluctantly the brother left the
room, and the children were nlinnt to
follow when the old man raised his
bead feebly—
•• Robert —”
The mother, believing Robert to tie
wanted, detained htm, carefailhmk
the to. With difficulty the dying
man spoke. His words were discon
nected, but lie mado them understand
that he wanted to speak of Ids will,
and he twice or thrice repeated, ’• The
last—the last.” They Imagined that
there was more than ono will and that
he had been unable or unwilling to
choose between them.
“Afraid of John”—gasped the old
man. “Look out—" Again he mut
tered Incoherently, “ I put it in tho—”
Thinking to help his feebleness,
Mary asked, “Bid you leave your last
will in your study V”
A decided negative movement of
t{ie head and a glance of his eyes an
swered her. “In the—” Ho stopped.
Mary turned her head and saw her
brother John standing in the door.
The dying man had seen him first and
the sight arrested the words that
trembled on his Ups. The effort at
conversation had exhausted the sick
man, and although he several times
opened his eyes aud once or twice
pressed Mary’s hand feebly, he spoke
no more and at midnight lie died.
Robert, a lad of sixteen, was shrewd
enough not to mention the conversa
tion, which had evidently not been over
heard by his ITncle John, and who, as
only the last disjointed sentence
reached his cars, had failed in his ob
ject in eavesdropping.
During tho interval between the old
man's death and burial John Wul
bridge, as the only son and sole heir of
bis father’s large estate, remained mas
ter of tho house. He had just now a
special reason for discovering any will
made of late by his father, for hi a re
cont visit he lul l with some difficulty :
convinced his father of the incapacity
of any woman to manage business;
and having given his promise that lie
would provide for his sister Mary and
her children liberally, ho had the satis
faction of seeing his father sign a will
bequeathing to him the bulk of the
family property, leaving only a small
balance in bequests to various rela
tives. and to the church of which he
was a member and supporter. Much
to John’s anxiety, however, he had not
seen the will witnessed, for his father
was unwilling to make Mary a witness
of her own misfortune, and the one do
mestic was away for the night. John,
however, exacted from Ids father the
promise that the will should lie wit
nessed in the morning, nothing having
been ehnnged meanwhile. He had
such confidence In his father's word
that he left early in the morning, with
out having ascertained anything save
that his father was as well as usual.
it.
To the funeral of Deacon John Wn’-
hridg* gathered all the old setth r, for
miles around. Ho had been well
known and h loved, and many were
the wishes expressed for Mary's for
tune, and many express'd tho hojo
that John would not inherit any of the |
old father’s hone tly earned wealth to ;
aid to ids nefarious trale. Robert,
finding that his Uncle Join had dis-j
covered his fa tier's will In the study, j
and remembering that his grandfather j
had stoutly denied that it was in that
room, spent much time in haunting
other pi ices of cone raiment with which
the old house was well supplied. His
efforts met with no success. Mary,
t io, sought in many plac-s, but finally
gave up the searcli as vain.
After the funeral, according to
custom, the will was read, and John
Walbridge was found to be tho solo
heir. The lawyer who read the doeu
mefit continued to curiously examine
it after he had ceased reading, and
tihally called John's attention to some
worils fa ntly traced below the signa
ture. These they finally made out to
read:
“My curse upon h ! m if he does not
care for Mary and her child en.”
For a time these words recurred fre
quently to John's inind, and ma le him
uncomfortable; but he soon dismissed
the thought of fear, and calmly bade
Mary reuietnb. r that she with her two
children had had a good home iiere for
fifteen years, when she had been left a
widow and penn 1 'ss. These children
Imd been thus far kept in school and
well clothed, and as Robert was now
of an age to earn his own living, he
would advise his sister to place the boy
without delay la some clerkship. He
had, himself, some Influence in his own
town, and he would cheerfully use it
in Robert’s behalf. As for the girl, as
she w;u yet too young to help herself,
ho would undertake to clothe Her and
keep her in tho same scluxfi where she
now was until she was sixteen years
old. Ho intended to sell tho old house
as sion a; an opportunity offered, hut
until such time as he ould find a
buyer Mary might remain there with
her child as she hail done. Mary was
sn indignant at tier brother's tr -aun nt
of tier that she would have rejected the
proposal with tho scorn it merited had
not Robert beggod her to submit. He
was still positive that another will was
somewhere concealed, and to leave the
house was to lose the chance of finding
its hiding-place. Thus it happened
that the uncle roturned to his busi
ness. leaving his sister and her children
in charge of the old house.
ut.
Robert’s one Idea, now, was to find
the will that he was sure must be con
cealed somewhere in the house. With
patience almost inexhaustible, lie
turned out the contents of every old
bureau, ransacked the frames for nnv
little drawer that might be concealed
from carnal observation, he examined
every clipboard, the boards in tha floor,
the old clock, the old bedsteads with a
curious drawer under the head—a
place which ancestors thought to boa
safe hiding-place for vali a dee while
the owner slept. Robert dteam and out
strange holes and corners which in his
feverish, wakening he could not first
Often did Alary nttvisn her son to give
up the idea which absorbed him aud
try to find employment suited to M.
gcnmjy|Urtmrai*r" .til fiPCv. TANARUS,
uucie, Robert sought and
obtained a situation us clerk in the
small store to which the postolfice was
attached. He thus learned the method
of two kinds of business at once, and
proved Idmsclf so competent that
there was soon no danger of his being
supplanted by any one else so long as
lie chose to retain the position.
Nothing more was said about the
sale of tile old place, but a man came
once to look at the premises, and Rob
ert soon after heard a rumor of a
mortgage upon the property. John
Walbridge had not always been such
a hard-hearted brother as lie now
proved himself to Mary in her emer
gency. He had of late been conduct
ing Ids business on a large scale, and
speculated largely la tobacco. He had
lost large sums upowthe crops left un
sold upon his hands, and his business
at the distillery was thus crippled. He
Imped tho next season would ho better.
If he could only dispose of the large
st >ek of tobacco stored in Ids barns he
would be all right once more While
he was in torture between hope on the
one band and fear of failure on the
other, Ids immense barns, all situated
near each other, and Ailed with choice
tobacco, caught fire from some cause
unknown on a blustering night. The
dry and papery stock burned like tin
dir. Nothing was saved, but he said
to himself; “ After all, tho insurance
will help me out of ray difficulties.”
Hut on arriving at the olfice of the
agent lie received the overwhelming
news that •• the policy expired yester
day.”
Ruin starel him in the face. His
creditors, on learning the state of the
j c;v<c, aiivi remembering the insuranee,
as lie had done, presented their claims.
Many of them had waited for months,
as a creditor often trusts a man reputed
to be wealthy. A heavy mortgage had
been put upon the distillery property
to raise money to pay those creditors
who were the most clamorous. The
old homestead also was mortgaged
heavily, to meet the demands of other
creditors. These were the largest, but
not by any means all his debts, and,
worst of ail. the wretched man iiad not
a spark of conscience left; otherwise
1 e must have been hnraised day and
night because of bis broken premise to
Ids father.
IV.
Nearly two years passed while all
t hese changes were transpiring, Robert
' bad in to no a skillful clerk. Bessie
j had been kept steadily in school, and
I in .I line would graduate from the h gh
i school in her own town, .'-he would
I soon bo eo up, t int to take care of
! herself. In John Walbrldge’s life,
meanwhile, one misfortune seemed lint
to pave tlit> way for mother. Th'
i loss of his property was followed
I by the death • f Us wife. He
■ had h't on" child, a daughter, whom
i he dearly loved. For her he had
intended to amass a fortune. This
child, Mary, had been blessed
with a good and Judicious mother,
Mary had been subjected to many a
taunt aimed at the distiller’s daughter.
John loved his daughter dearly, and
had often promised himself that when
he had cleared $50,000 for her he
would give up the business altogether
for her sake.
Thus matters stood in May, 1862,
when two men from thecity presented
themselves at the office of John Wal
bridge, and reminding him that the
mortgages in their hands were legally
due, demanded payment of the same.
John was unable to pay, but he had
fully expected to be able to come to
some terms with them aud thus put oft
the evil day. He was doomed to dis
appointment. “ Pay now or we attach
all.” He was forced to yield to the
situation, having no money wherewith
to pay.
That night the poor man fell a vic
tim to some shock that deprived him
ever after of his mental faculties. He
never knew his daughter again. He
was novel able to wait upon himself
more. He was a helpless burden on
his faithful daughter’s hands.
V.
Out of the dear okl house Mary and
her two children were driven. The
furniture, however, they were allowed
to retain, aDd with it they fitted up a
small house which Robert's means
enabled him to hire. As the uncle and
cousin were destitute they were wel
comed into the household, and the two
little families were dependent upon
the exertions of Robert. However,
when the new school year opened
Bessie received an appointment as
teacher, aud thus was enabled to assist
her brother.
Among tiie furniture of the home
stead was a very old piano, with little
square logs, in size like old-fashioned
table legs, and fitted with the round,
brass ornaments wo sometimes see on
bedsteads and bureaus in our grand
mother’s rooms. Al.er John Wal
bridge and his daughter became part
of tho little household Mary sorely
missed her piano, but the cousins
laughingly assured her they could well
supply the deficiency. They all
hastened to the lumber room and en
deavored to open the old spinet, but it
was locked—nailed up, in fact.
Robert in Ills enthusiasm broke
open the old instrument; but to the
disappointment of all not one string
was left. Tho case was full of papers
and bundles of documents.
An Idea occurred to Robert—the
missing will!
“Keep back. Don't touch a thing
for your lives, until I look!” lie cried.
He quickly removed roll after roll of
dusty papers, and at last his eye caught
fight of one envelope fresher and less
dusty than the lest.
“ Last Will and Testament of John
Walbridge”—tiie date but a few days
preceding the old man’s death, later
than the one by which John Walbridge,
Jr., hml come into possession of fils
father's property. Robert's Vyjjp,
''^■'ie^Ho'! 1 mot her, look! I cannot
rend,” and lie fainted quite away.
There it was—the missing will; and
as John Walbridge could not mortgage
what was not his—by this, tiie latest
will, ull the old lioniestea 1 belonged to
Mary and her children.
Imagine the rtsjoiclng. They soft
ened it as much as possible for Cousin
Mary’s sake,and when after her futhor’s
death she became Robert’s wife she
had the fall share of all the pleasures
that the old homestead affordtd.—
Springfield Republican.
The Newspaper.
A Boston minister, the Rev. M. J.
Savage, in a roeent sermon on the
newspaper, said : “ I believe that the
daily newspaper Is au engine of incal
culable power; and that in the main
and in the long run its power is ex
erted for the enlightenment and lift
ing up of mankind. I believe it only
needs that public opinion should tie so
devetojied so as to make it a losing
process for any newspaper to be guilty
of those things I have indicated. It
only needs tills to make it what it
claims to be. the most important fac
tor In molding and guiding the
life of the world. And we, of all
others, have reasons to rejoice in this.
For the modern newspaper, iu drift
ing the latest teaching of science, in
revealing the religious omdition of
other races, past and present, in scat
tering knowledge common to the few
best thinkers of the world so as to
make it the common property of men,
is preaching our gospel anil doing our
work. If true to tills function, it
cannot help preaching the gospel, first,
of intelligence—wide, free, fearless
intelligence; and then the gospel of
public good, which means, translated
into Biblical phrase, the gospel of
everlasting righteousness."
The Rothschilds.
The Rothschilds own as many fine
mansions on the soil of France as were
possessed by the royal line of Valois.
Chief among them is Ferrieres, the res
idence destined to pass from gener
ation to generation to the eldest son
of the house of Rothschild in France,
in order that he may there maintain a
sovereign pomp as the chief of the
dynasty. All the Rothschilds are at
home there, and are treated like kings.
There are no such tilings as •• invita
tions” or ” visits.” Flanked by four
towers, Ferrieres, in its architecture,
j recalls Windsor ias tic. Both are com
po.ed of different buildings, beiong
! ing to different periods. Ferrieres is
comfortable, as well as luxurious. A
little tramway is laid on the passage
to the kitchens, and is worked by steam,
to take the dishes to the dining-room.
Court etiquettx reigns among the com
pany. The I‘rince of Wales never goes
to Paris xvithiut accepting an invita
tion to Ferrierss.
SELECT SIFTING'S.
The first actual vaccination was
jade May 14, 1796.
The dot now placed over the l dates
from the fourteenth century.
The hyssop of Scripture is the caper
tree which abounds in southern
Europe, lower Egypt and Syria.
In the heart of a Bucksport (Me.)
oak tree a woodebopper found a dia
mond pin with twenty-four brilliants.
The tree was supposed to be 120 years
old.
The Russians have added strength
to their army by enlisting a pack of
dogs witli each company. The dogs
are powerful and well-trained. They
are sent with sentinels on picket
duty.
Professor Young, of Princeton col
lege, said in a recent lecture: “ Take a
railroad from the earth to the sun,
with a train running forty miles an
hour without stops, and it would take
about 265 years and a little over to
make the journey.” He estimates the
fare a cent per mile to be $930,000.
A traveler in Greece tells the Spring
field Republican about a delightful
beverage called salep, a decoction from
roots, sold in Greek towns only early
in the morning. The venders carry
about their can of salep with a char
coal lire under it, some glasses and a
can of water for rinsing them; and
the cost U a cent a glass.
In the reign of William Rufns wm
introduced the fashion of wearing
shoes with long points, turned up be
fore and fastened to the knee with a
chain. The clergy endeavored by their
preaching to abolish this ridiculous
custom; but the people still persisted
in wearing long points to their shoes
In spite of ail opposition.
The town of Langholm, in Scotland,
was long famous for a curious iron in
strument called the Branks. which was
fitted upon the h a i of a shrew, and,
having a prong which projected into
the mouth, prevented her Bpenking.
Tradition in Langholm goes to show
that its application was atten led with
exc llent effect, and Dr. Plot, the anti
quary, says that lie much prefers it to
the ducking stool, which not only en
dangered the patient’s health, but also
gave the tongue liberty between every
dip.
Noticing that the little spiders which
live in flowers and prey upon varioui
insects are sometimes yellow anil some
times white. Mr. James Angus sus
pected that their color changes to cor
respond with that of the flower in
which they may be making their home.
Experiment proved this to be so. white
spiders being found to turn yellow in
two or three days after being placed on
a sunflower. This change in color of
course adds to the facility of these
creatures in concealing themselves
from their intended prey.
Wiggins’ Storm Theory.
Wiggins, the Canadian weather
praiviut. disclosed to a titutt..
tw HAST" Jp..u v. ui.-ij ne oases his
predictions of coming storms. He
said: This storm satisfies me that tho
theory of tho opposite tide which 1 ad
vanced in 1864 is correct, namely, that
it is caused by the vibratory motion
of the ocean" from east to west. If
you will look at a terrestrial globe and
see the peculiar position of the Gulf of
Mexico and the tendency of Cape Bt.
Rocquo to glance northward, the .tides
moving west, you will not wonder at
my alarm when observing ttiat the
moon’s forces have been increased to
tho greatest possible extent, anil that,
too, when she is hastening with the
other planets from south to nortli
across the equator. This was exactly
the condition of things during this
storm, and only one element was lack
ing to have made this a terrible affair
for the people of America. For, mark
it well, if tiie jnoon’s conjunction with
the sun had taken place at 1 o’clock on
the meridian of London, instead of 4
o’clock in the -Doming, London time—
In other words, if the conjunction had
taken place over the Gulf of Guinea
instead of the China sea—the whole |
American c. ad. granting her to have
been, as she was, in perigree, would
have been put under water. A time
will come when this will take place,
and should Venus and Mercury hap
pen at that moment to be at their in
ferior conjunction and Jupiter. Mars
and Saturn at t lie superior conjunction,
the breakers will roar in the streets of
New York city and Florida will be
under water. AU astronomers, from
the astronomer royal down, will
please make this explanation to show
scientific men that my system of fore
telling storms is not only founded on
science, but on the earth and the
heavenly bodies.
For Ills Mother.
A poor little newsboy while attempt
ing to jump from a city car feU be
neath the car and was fearfully
mangled. As soon as the child could
speak he called piteously for his mother
and a messenger was at once sent to
bring her to him. When the bereaved
woman arrived she hung over the dy
ing boy in an agony of grief. “Mother,”
whispered be with a painful effort, “I
sold four newspapers and the money is
in my pocket,” * With the hand of
death upon his brow the last thought
of the suffering child was for the poor,
hard-working mother whose burdens
lie was striving to lighten when he
’ost his life.
A farmer in Madison county, Vsl,
who has gone into the pi anut business,
last spring planted one-fourth of an
acre, from which lie dug eighty-seven
bushels, and after fattening twenty
hogs had twenty bushels left. These
he sent to the mill and hail ground and
i offe.i, and says that the meal makes
the most delicious batter cakes be eve;
ate.
Carpets, Oil-Cloths, Mattings,
WINDOW SHADES, LACE CURTAINS,
BOOM BECORATION-OSCARWILDE ESTHETIC STYLE
The largest slock ol CARPETS south of Baltimore. Store from Broad to Ellis
St*, packed full of New Goods. The very Newest and Latest Designs and Color
ings in Moquets, Velvets, Body and Tapestry Brussels; 3-Ply Scotch Ingrain,
Venetian Hemp and Jute Carpets; Stair and Hall Carpets. Stair Rods. Stair But
tons; Carpets woven seamless and Fell Crumb Cloths; Moquet, Velvet Smyrna
and Brussels Rugs and Mats; Floor. Table and Stair Oil-Cloths—all widths, new
Goods; Canton, Cocoa, Napier and Jute Mattings; Wall Papers and Room Decora,
tions; Exquisite Lace Curtains, Extension Cornices, Bands; Upholstery Goods-
Fringes. Gimps, Cane, Moss; Window Shades--New Coloring, aesthetic style; En
gravings, Chromos. Rustic Frames, Picture Molding; Picture Tassels and Cords,
Picture Wire and Nails, Carpet Tacks, Piane and Table Covers, Tassels, Cords
and Loops, Buggy Mats. AH ol which will be sold at the LOWEST MARKET
PRICES Competent Upholsterers on hand to fit and lay Carpels and Oil-Cloths,
Hang Shades and Cornices, Hang Wall papers, Upholster Furniture In aesthetic
stylo with pcomptness and dispatch.
GEORGE A. BAILIE’S,
KISORIC BUILDING. 124 BROAD STREET BA
A LONG FELT NEED SUPPLIED.
A First-Class Paint Store.
Appreciating Augusta’* supreme need, we have purchased the stock of Paints, Oils, Var
nishes, Brashes, Glass, Patty, etc., recently kept by Thomson & Heindei, and propose to
establish a first-class Paint Store at 812 Jackson street, where we will always be prepared to
famish White Lead, both English and American, Linseed Oil, boiled aud raw: Pure colors,
dry and ground in oil. Paint Brashes of all kinds. Varnishes, Glass, Patty and every
thing kept in a first-class establishment. We will also keen constantly on hand a full sup
ply of Builders’ Hardware, such as Locks, Hinges, Bolts, Nails and everything j>ertaining
to building material, Boors, Sash, Blinds, etc. Orders for Lnmber, Lathes, Shingles, etc.,
promptly attended to. Our motto is to please the people by fair dealings, just weights and
true measuras, and only ask for a trial.
SALE & ROSSIGNOL, .
312 Jackson St., AUCUSTA, CA.
A BOILER SHOP
Has long been needed in this part of the State, and we beg to say to our friends and
all who have old boilers to be repaired, or want new boilers to be built, that we now
have a good boiler shop, 40 ft. wide, 80 ft. long, with an L 40x40 ft We are fully
prepared to do all kinds of boiler work promptly. We have fitted out our Boiler
Khop with the latest improved Steam Rivetting Machine, Power Punch and Power
Shears, Power Rollers and a good Crane for handling iron with few hands. We
have empkrwed a thoroughly comi>etent boiler maker as foreman of this depart
ment of our works, and a good set of men to work with him. We now feel ready
to Build or Repair Locomotive Boilers, Tabular Boilers, Upright Tubular Boilers,
Cylinder Boilers, Sheet Iron Tubes for carrying water to water wheels, Tanks,
Stacks and Sheet Iron Work generally. We keep on hand a large stock of Boiler
Iron, Rivets, Boiler Flues and all kinds of Boiler Fittings. JSf" o* a
GEO. R. LOMBARD & OCX,
FOUNDRY, MACHINE AND BOILER WORKS,
1016 to 1026 FENWICK ST., Just above Passenger Depot, AUGUSTA, GEORGIA
tar All kinds of Machine Work and Castings, both Iron and Brass, promptly
done. We are now working about 100 hands.
“geoTrTsiSiSy. wm. m. jordan~
SIBLEY * JORDAN,
COTTON FACTORS,
jfr IVTN JLKNTei FOR THE BEST GINS,
AL T G USTj\., GA.
Special Attention Given to Weights.
Quick Sales and Prompt Returns.
SATISFACTION GTIAIRA-ISTTEETD,
THEODORE MARKWALTERS
MARBLE WORKS,
~ BROAD STREET, NEAR LOWER MARKET, JUGUSTA, 4.
Monuments, Tombstones and Marble Works Generally,
always on band or made to order. A large selection ready for lettering and deliver; al
abort notice. Several hundreds of new detigna of
The Most Modern Style of Monuments,
furnished at aAowerprrioe than ever before in this marketed of the best workmanship,
tiimtUr a tofhaffof the new Confederate Moaumaut recently erected by me iu city.
CENTRAL HOTEL,
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA,
MRS. W. M. THOMAS, Proprietress.
This hotel, so wall known to the citiaras of Wilkes and adjoining eonnties is la
rated in the center of the business portion of Angasta. Convenient to Postoffioe Tele
graph Offioe and Depot, end elfe indaoemente to the public snob ee only first-class’ hotel)
can afford.
STOP aT THE
CLINARD HOUSE,
ATHENS, OA.
A. D. CLINARD, Proprietor.
Porters at Each Train.
Commercial Rates.
LARGE, COMMODIOUS SIMPLE ROOMS
POLITE and ATTENTIVE SERVANTS.
Headquarters for Commer
mercial Tourists.
LEGAL BLANKS
Of Every Description
kept on hale at the
Gazette Office
Warrantee Deeds, Bonds for Ti
ties, Mortgages, Liens, all blanks
used in the Superior Court, Covn
ty Court, Ordinary’s Office and
Justice Court and all ofher->lanks
constantly on hand. Pri- e seven
ty-five cents per quir • Give us
a call. We guarar”®® satisfac
tion.
GAZETTE,
washinc~ ,n * * - - ca.