North Georgia times. (Spring Place, Ga.) 1879-1891, December 25, 1890, Image 1

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—T NORTH GEORGIA TIMES .C-N-K‘gfii‘wré Vgam §.*§t“p*”v Hm- (Seep son?. Bocknby, baby, adrift on the river of dreams, Bockaby, iullabr, light as a lily afloat; The winds are asleep, and the moon hath sjritbholden her beams; Soft be thy slumber, at rest In tby cradle boat. Here in the dusk and the dimness, the silence of sleep. Life Is outgrowing its bands. Is unfolding for flight; Love, in thv heart thou art learning to laugh and to weep— Love, hi the dark thou-art learning the les¬ son of life, Rockaby, lullaby.! now thou art mine, thou' art mine! Limgbetho Sy summer of growth, eff) my child, oh own 1 . For sad is the soul of the mother, when swift, at a slcn, The heart she hath held is a-wing, and her 0 baby hath flow;)! —[Ida W. Be.'tham, in the Independent. ■ THE STORY OF PEG. She was only a wee hit of a Iloosicr girl, and yet she looked for all the world a little witch ns she flitted in the Minsliine hither ami thither about the old Indiana farir. It was tho only homo that Peg had over known—and right well she did know It, every nook mid corner. From the time she could walk alone, until she was ten years old, Teg, in her snowy pinafore and big sunbon uet, had carried dad's -morning lunch to him, nit<l found the new-laid eggs for mother on her way back. IIow the cliilrf enjoyed the little frame itoiise with its whito walls and green Hinds, and the monster barn wi;h its great haymows! How she revelled in the orchard and. the ture! l-Iovv she loved (bo woods, with . their wealth of ferns mid wildflowers!. Yes, her young afl'ee!ions were alldfen . teied ln the’ oiu farm, of which tile liay and the hcises, the hens and the flowers, were to her as necessary to, make -it lovabl j a-wero mother and dnd. And always in her little brown --hands Peg carried sweet flowers, until the neighbors considered tho daisy, appie-blossotr. and niignonottc hs much a part and parcel of tho child as her own long, wavy golden hair. But one day there came a cloud, and sudden end to Peg’s happy child-lire. Dad died, and then it was found that, owing to business reverses and the in¬ dorsement of a false friend’s no;e, Hu old homestead was heavily mortgaged. Mother and Peg had to leave the farm to those who were almost strang¬ ers, while they went out into ti c great heartless and busy world to -earn a living. They drifted to Chicago, where mother made scanf w ougli wages with 'the needle, which site could ply so skilfully. Bnt poor mother, although she tried to work and be cheerful for the sake of her little daughter, was sick at heart. She yearned for the old home, the old times and tlie old faces. By the time Peg was twelve years old, the girl had lo seek work jin a paper-box factory, (o eke out tho liv¬ ing, which grew scant er as mother’s health grew poorer; and in another year little I’eg was the breadwinner for two. When Teg was fifteen she felt like •n old woman—ohl in trouble, and disappointment, and heartaches. Per¬ haps, if sho had not been a simple country’ girl, she might have made some friend among the neighbors; but neither she nor mother thought tlie more rcspeclab e folks very neighbor¬ ly, while tlioso who were willing to tvisit them were certainly not acquaintances. So when, live years after they went to Chicago, mother’s tired and broken heart stopped healing, Peg was quite alone amid ihe thousands of tlie big and bustling city. And Peg was not very strong cither. She was such a little hi: of a tiling, and she found it hard work to keep np with tho s out and healthy girls who worked beside her at the factory. When mother died si o felt worse and grew homes!ek for the old Indiana farm. The factory work seemed harder than ever. One Saturday' afternoon, when the hands were paid, the foreman told Peg that they would require her servi¬ ces no longer. “I’m sorry, my girl,” he said, “but you cannot do tho work. You ought to take a rest.” Peg looked at the meagre sum of money in her hand, aud wondered SPRING PLACE. GA.. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 25, 1890. how long-she cot.ld rest with such a reserve fund, aud no wotk in view. Poor Peg! , All through the following week the’ weary child wandered up and down the streets of the groat 'Western city, seeking work and finding none. By Saturday evening her money was all gone, and there was no move coining to her. She hadn't felt like going back to her dingy room. She wandered aimlessly about, up one street and down another. It was late iii the spring, and it was nearly eight o’clock before it grew dark. About that time she saw lights in a small church. It was a Saturday night prayer-meet¬ ing. and the singing caught Peg’s ear. She wandered into the vestibule, and scarce knowing what she did, threw herself into the one chair which she found there. The people (not many)- were sing ing and Peg recognized the hymn as an old favoritp which they used to sing at the little cross-road church in Indiana. Every word of (he hymn and cacli note of the tune went to the gir!»’ heart. “I heard the voice, of Jesus my, ‘Come unto me and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lav down.’” Poor Peg! She could hear no more. The tears were flowing fast, and she fell on her knees beside the chair, while she buried her face in her hands and sobbed, and sobbed, and sobbed. Soon an elderly l dy, leaving, the inciting earlier than the rest, came in vestibule and was surprised to is ‘’ ovei '‘ 1>e S kneeling dowu and cry * l, <^ “Poor child,” she said kindly, “what is the trouble? Had you not belter go home?” But the gentlo words only made Peg cry the mote; but she mauaged to utter between her sobs; “I have no home.” Something touched the good wo¬ man's susceptible heart', and raising Peg to her feet she took the worn-ont girl to her own home not far away. She did not weary Peg with words. She asked no questions, but herself undressed tho littlo thin form, and helped her into a bed whose linen was as white as Peg’s pinafore used to be iu the old days on the farm. And soon Peg was sleeping,a little rcstlcs3. ly perhaps, but still sleeping, while her unknown friend, sat by the bed¬ side watching this child who had been friendless for so long. r ihe warm tears coursed down the good woman’s cheeks as Peg, in her dreams, muttered lines from ono of her okl Sunday school hymns that had always, some¬ how, reminded the girl of her early life in the country. “Where everlasting spring abides, And never withering flowers,” She murmured. Anil soon after¬ wards, “Sweet ilclils beyond the swelling flood Stand dressed in living green.” * * » * « When Peg woke from the first sleep she was in a fever. She grew rapidly worse, and for many days sho knew nothing about where she was or who was caring for her. But she was ten¬ derly nursed and the motherly soul who was Peg’s good angel gradually came to love the waif sho had so strangely picked up in tho church vestibule. One summer evening, when Peg was much better, her good hostess said: “My dear, I am going to take you to my son s place in the country. John is a farmer and has a delightful farm. I think that down there we can bring back the roses to your cheeks. Wo shall start tomorrow.” Peg was still very weak, and unable to stand, or even sit up. So she was taken to the depot iu a hack, and then placed in the sung little stateroom of a Pullman car. Tho ride was not a long one; for they left Chicago after breakfast, aifft were at their destination before noou. A roomy spring wagon, with plenty of pillows and rugs, met them at the country staiion, aud Peg was made very comfortable. As they drove along the roadway, between the fields of golden wheat and green waving corn, Peg seemed to recognize many objects. Little by little tho truth dawned upon iter, though sho could hardly believe her own senses when the wagon halted in front of her old home. Yet it was really tree, though even her kind friond did not know it, aud the x’oom reserved for Peg was the identical bedroom which she had occupied in the days of the little white pinafore and the big sunbonnet. The good lady’s son was the man who had bought the farm 1 , aud he and his sister proved to possess as kindly hearts as did their mother. At all events, although it is almost four years since she returned bo unex¬ pectedly to hev old home, Peg (strong and healthy again) is still a visitor a 1 the Indiana farm. And she is quietly happy, for she is engaged to be mar¬ ried to the owner of the farm, and siio expects to remain on the dear oljl place the remainder of her days.— [Yankee Blade. Portsblo Food Tablets. “It has often occurred to me that there ought to be a kind of dog biscuit for human beings—something contain¬ ing alt- the ingredients necessary to -support life, so that a man might pul a chunk of it in his pocket and feel in¬ dependent of cooks and kitchens,” says “Traveler” in the' Boston Post. “Well, 1 soe that this very invention has been made by an ingenious French¬ man, who, not improbably, had read a translation of tho Post and acted upon the hint 1 gave him. ‘Portable food tablets,’ I understand, is tho name of the new product. I should have preferred ‘man biscuit,’ bat is* that pass. Armed with this and convenient form of vietusls— equally good, he it remembered, for breakfast, luncheon, dinner, supper, or any hybrid meal—one can sot off on long excursions with a security which he never had before. “A young feltow with a stout pair of legs under him would bo able to spend whole glorious days in traversing the Berkshire hills, for example, without being compelled to seek any indigesti¬ ble meal in somo low-lying tavern. It is notorious that people out driving in tho country always have to turn around at the most interesting point and go home (Jr an early dinner; The ‘man biscuit’ti'l change that! Evefe well appointed rural vehicle will here¬ after contain a small tin box of this new human provender, which (together with a few oats for tlie horses) will annihilate time and space, and pnt back the hands of the clock from midday to morning.” Malaga drapes. The Malaga grape is large, crisp and delicious, and is now a special favorite since tlie physicians were prescribing it last Winter as tho tiling that could bo eaten by sufferers from tho grip. The con-umption of the fruit iu this country has increased 100 per cent, iu the last ten years. Bnt supplies are limited. From a small province only of Malaga are the grapes shipped. They are of 6ttch a tender nature they ean he shipped only in September, when the fruit is first ripe, and a few thousand barrel Is is the limit of American shipments. Spain, how¬ ever, sends to this country largo quan¬ tities of grapes which aro called Malagas. Tho Spanish fruit is whito in colot and has astonishing tenacity of life. The grapes begin to ripen about the middle of August and are usually bar vested by October 1. Tho bunches, when plucked from the vines,are piled in ventilated places to a depth of two or three feet and allowed to “sweat” for a couple of days; this is to toughen the skins. They are then packed in barrels between layers of cork dust, and will keep in that condition for a long time—iudeed, for a year. Last year 140,000 barrels, or about 3,600, 000 pounds of those grapes game to America, aud prices for them ranged very high. At least ’200,000 barrels are expected to arrive in New York this year and the demand at high pri¬ ces, will also be active.—[Cincinnati Commercial Gazette. Prices Paid for Wild Animals. In the European market even wild beasts have their price. The chief centre of the wild beast trade (says a Continental contemporary) is Ham¬ burg, where the price list is as follows: Lions and tigers average $380 apiece; leopards, $90; spotted panthers, $150; while black panthers imngc from $700 to $750. For spotted tigers the large sum of $120Q is paid. The market value of a rhinoceros varies from $1750 to $4$00; African elephants average $250; Indian elephants $1600. The price of monkeys ranges from $4 for a small monkey to $500 for chimpanzees and orang-outangs. A NOVEL HALL. It Is Made From One of Cali¬ fornia’s Mammoth Trees. Ten Men Took Seventy-Two Days to Cut the Forest Giant. A novel hall is now on exhibition in San Francisco which is only seven feet in height and twenty feet, in diameter, jit contains nothing inside but a row of bright lights, yet it is an aged curiosi¬ ty. It was made from a section of a “Big Tree,” Sequoia Gigantea, which i was growing until last winter in Tulare Count.., Cal. Tho tree is supposed to have stood in the forest for nearly three thousand years. It measured at its base ninety nine feet in circumference, and its height was three hundred and twelve feet. Last January men were sent into the forest to cut the tree when snow was sixteen feet in depth around its trunk. It took ten men seventy two days to cut the tree, and several mouths were consumed in taking out the inner portion of tho section find preparing it for exhibition. ‘‘It was , the hardest work I ever did in my life,” remarked one of the exhibitors. The section composing the lmil was severed from the trunk at a distance of tweutv-eiglit feet from the ground. No saw was long enough for cutting through the large trunk, therefore it was necessary to have ono made for this purpose. Tho Pacific steel woi ks produced one as long as possi¬ ble, it being twenty-two feet and re¬ quiring eight men to work it. This length fell short of what was needed, but by fastening strong wire on either end of the saw tho section was at length cut from tho trunk, which was sixty feot in circumference at this point. The sectton was #<a P avatc<1 5nto 8everal piece8 ’ °" e which 5s now tlie floor of the hall is solid piece , weigh¬ a ing 10,728 pounds. It is one foot in height by twenty feet in diameter. Another piece of tho same height and diameter, makes the flat roof of tho ball. Tho various pieces wore transported to the city on flat cars, and freight was paid on seventy thousand pounds. As one enters the largo tent on Mar¬ ket, street, the section now made into a hall is seen in the centre. It is raised several feet from th» ground aud stands on niue turned pedestal* made from the same tree. Five or six steps lead tip into the hall, these being also made from the tree. Much of the outer bark has been burned oft’, leaving some of tho remainder blackened by the fire. Many big trees have tins blackened appearance, caused, it is supposed, by some great fire hundreds of years ago. In proof that tho fire is of no recent date, sugar pines from thirty to thirty six feet in circumference, and two hundred and fifty feet in height have been found growing by the side of blackened sequoia trees and showing no signs of tire, proving that the pines have grown to their large size since the great conflagration. Elegant, souvenirs are carved and polished by wood turners at one side of tho tent. All souvenirs being made from the tree and its thick bark, found one hundred feet up the trunk, where the fire got no hold upon it. One hun¬ dred and thirty little boys were stowed inside of this hall at once, not long since) and another day eighty-four girls and boys from the aces of seven to fifteen, also one man, were all stand¬ ing in the tree-hall together. After¬ wards a photograph of the latter group was taken, and is now exhibited there. A swinging door was cut from the sec¬ tion and serves to close the opening at tic top of (he flight of stairs. In the floor of the hall a curiosity is seen in the shape of tree bark several inches iu length. It is supposed that some hundreds of years ago the tree was injured at this spot from some cause, and as the trunk increased in size it grew around it, leaving the bark inside as seen today. It is the inten¬ tion to exhibit this section of the largest tree ever cut iu California in various cities prior to being taken to the World's Fair at Chicago.—[New York Observer. “Why don’t you marry one of the 5)mith girls? Don’t they know •Bough?” “Yes. thev ‘no 1 to much.” Vol. X. New Series. NO. 47- The Chinese Sacred Lily. The (Jhincj-e sacred or Oriental lily is one of the most charming plants for indoor culture. The Shui Sin Far, ot Water Fairy Flower, Joss Flower, ot Flower of the Gods, &c., as it is called by the. Celestials, is a variety ol narcissus, bearing in lavish profusion chaste flowers of silvery white, with golden yellow cups. It is of exquisite beauty and perfume. It is grown by tho Chinese, according to their ancient custom, to herald the advent of their new year and as a symbol of good luck. The bulbs are grown by a method known only to themselves, whereby they attain great size and vitality, in¬ suring luxuriant, growth and immense spikes of flowers; in fact, the incred¬ ibly short time required to bring the bulbs into bloom (four or six weeks after planting) is one of the wonders of nature. “Y m can almost see them grow,” succeeding everywhere and with everybody. They do well in pots of earth, but are more novel and beautiful grown in shallow bowls of water, with enough fancy pebbles lo prevent them toppling over when iu bloom. A dozen bulbs started at intervals will give a succession of flowers throughout the winter. As tho plant is partially aquatic in its nature,plenty of water is necessary. If it be grown In soil it should be light and sandy. After the bulbs have been planted they should bo kept in a closet or in a cool, dark place for a few days to in¬ duce a growth of roots before the tops start; afterward they should be placed in a sunny window. They succeed in an ordinary living room, yet it is necessary for them to be kept away from the gas, as it causes the flowers to blast. By mak¬ ing a small incision with a knife across the top of the bulb in two or three places from one-half to otic inch from the centre, a fresh lot of leaves is caused and flower stalks will start from those points. The cutting, how¬ ever, must be carefully done, so as not to injure the bulb ; tho skin simply need bo cot to liberate tho leaves. Tho Chinese lily bulbs sell at 25 cents each or $2.50 per dozen.—[New York Times. Fire Escape Drills In Schools. The practising of pupils in the tiro drill, in order to prevent accidents from the alarm of lire, is now regarded as a most important part of school training. In (lie schools of Vienna, Ihe fire-escape drill is executed in three different ways. In tlie case of a lire in the neighborhood (Signal No. 1) the pupils place their books in their satchels, put on their outer garments, and leave the class room in groups ol four. If tlie danger is imminent (Sig. nal No. 2) the books aro left, the outer garments rapidly put ou and tho class room is vacated. In case of extreme per l (Signal No. 3) tho books and clothing are left, and the exit is made immediately in groups. In tho fire drill at Hamilton, Canada, arrangements are also made for each class to keep its own side of tlie stair¬ way, and move on independently of other classes preceding or following. Iu this school 600 pupils have vacated their class room in less than two min¬ utes. The tire drill is not only an ef¬ fective safeguard against tho danger of panics, but is also a good gymnas¬ tic exerc’se. The Ludicrous in Otter Hunting. Hunting the otter is not altogethci devoid of the ludicrous element, lot in the excitement of the chase many t bold follower lias lost his foothold on the slippery rocks and has found him¬ self not lauded on terra iinna, bill soused into an adjoining pool, amid the shouts of laughter from his more fortunate companions; then, again, in these days of barbed wire, used by the farmers to keep their cattle from wad¬ ing across tlie stream into their neigh¬ bor’s land, the unwary sportsman finds himself hooked np, and in trying to extricate himself from the first grasp, finds that he has hopelessly go' himself entangled by a further and a stronger hold.— [Commercial Advertiser. The Austrian Hangman. In Austria the hangman is a man named Seigfried, who wears a black uniform, with a cocked hat and white gloves. He has never had to hang a woman, for the emperor th.nks stran¬ gulation is a punishment which should be reserved for males.—[Chicago Times. Endurance. Cow much the heart may bear, and yet not break 1 How much the flesh mav suffer and not die! I question much if any pain or ache Of soul or body brings our end more nigh. Death ehoses his own time; till that is wort All evils may be borne. We shrink and shudder at the surgeon’s knife, Each nerve recoiling from the cruel steel, Whose edge seems searching for ilie quivee ling life; Yet to our sense the. hitter pangs reveal That Mill, although the trembling flesh bo torn. This, also, can be borne. We see a sorrow rising In our way. And try to tlce from the approaching ill. We seek some small escape—we weep ant Pr-iy, v But when the blow falls, then our hearts arc still— Not that the pain is of its sharpness shorn, But think it. must be borne. We wind our life about another life. We hold it eloser, dearer than our own; Anon it faints anil falls in deadly strife. Leaving us stunned, and stricken, and alone; But ah! we do not die with those we mourn i This, also, can be borne. Behold, we live through all things, famine, thirst. Bereavement, pain; all grief and misery, All woe and sorrow; life inflicts Its worst On soul and body, but we cannot die. Though we he sick, ami tired, and faint, aud worn; Lo! all things can he borue. HUMOROUS. No man is as good at homo as his picture looks in a neighbor’s album. If one cannot go to s'ecp, why not wait patiently for sleep to come to him. Teacher—My’ little girl, what must you do to bo forgiven? Little Girl— S.ii, sir. The finest young ladies’ seminary in this country is noted for its miss-man¬ agement. No matter how deaf a man- may be elsewhere, he can always have a hear¬ ing in court. A good jest is like a diamond. IU sparkle is often the result of much pa¬ tient grinding. It seems to be easier to bo a Na* poleon of Finance than to pay oik hundred cents on a dollar. Potts—I can tell plush from seal two blocks away. Watts—IIow? Potts— By the way the wearer carries liet head., Philanihropist—I suppose this lazi¬ ness is bred in you fellows. Tramp— Not by a big sight. 1’m as empty ai a vacuum. Mrs. Wrangle—If you keep on star 'ng out so late you’ll kill yourself. Mr. Wrangle—Then I’ll still bo youi late husband. “Ten dimes make ono dollar,” said the schoolmaster.” “Now go on, sir. Ten dollars make one—what?” “They make one mighty glad these times.” A scandal-monger is a person who talks to our neighbors about us. An entertaining talker is a person who tells us mean stories about our neigh¬ bors. The man who howls loudest about tlie “equality of man” is invariably the man who is most lirmly convinced that the world con.aius no ono equal to himself. Little girl (reading about poor King Henry the First) : “After the death ol his son he never smiled again-” (Pause.) But, ma, what did he do when they tickled him? Mrs. Hojack—So Harry Hansom is to lead Miss Ophelia to the altar, is he? Iloiack—If he is there will be # radical change in affairs. Sho has been leading him so far. Mrs. Faddle—Thomas, if you were to meet a Knight of the Bath in Eng¬ lish society how would yon address him? Mr. Faddle—If would depend on whether it was soap or towels that I wanted. Sergeant in the Instruction Hour Yon see, the barrel is the most im¬ portant part of the gnn, for the inner part of it gives direction to the ball, while the outer part of it gives the weapon the requisite length. “Father,” said the young man who had been severely lectured, “I have done my best.” “Yes,” said the old gentleman, “when I think of your facility in the line of blunders I am disposed to conclude that you hava You have done nothin?.”