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THE CONSTITUTIONALIST
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1874. _
Worried to Death.
BY FRANCIS HENBKAW BADEN,
Edward Barton entered the sitting
room, dropped into the arm-chair, and
v. ith a great sigh dropped his head on
his hand. In an instant, a gentle, frail
looking little woman was beside him,
t ending her anxious eyes over him, as
sie asked:
“ Are you sick, dear ?”
“ Yes; sick enough. Almost sick of
life— ”
“ Oh, Edward! what is it ? What
has troubled you so ? Bad news from
home?’’
“ Bad enough home without going
elsewhere to find trouble, I think, I
have heard nothing from our old folks,
I suppose it is all right with them. It
always is with them. Somehow they
manage, and they have ever since my
remembrance, to live within their in
come. Mother seems to understand
how to do it.”
Tnere was a sharp tone in his voice
—and worse than all, one—two—three
cuts that went straight to the poor,
sorely-tried heart, wounding It severe
ly. A painful flush spread quickly over
the pale face, and a sharp retort rose
to her lips, but no further. It was
pressed back. The quivering mouth
tightly closed, kinder thoughts filled
the true heart and tears the soft', sweet
eyes.
“ Poor Edward, something—every
thing—must have gone wrong with
him to-day. It is the first of the moalh;
and he is worried enough. I won’t
mind if he is cross.”
She placed her hand gently on his
shoulder, and asked:
“ What is the particular trouble,
dear? Tell me, perhaps I can help
you !”
“Itis no use. I’m tired of striving
to get along. I’m worried to death!”
“ Oh, Edward, don’t, talk so ! Please
don’t. Just think how much we have
to be thankful for. Your own good
health ; and mine-well, I am almost
well, and getting stronger, I hope ; and
triink of the children all well over that
terrible fever. It might have been dif
ferent. Look over the way ; a little
coffin went in there last week, another
to-day.”
For mercy’s sake, hush, Susie! I
can’t, to save me, see how imagining
ills can relieve real troubles,” Edward
said, turning his back to the window,
through which he could see the badge
of sorrow ou the door of his friend
across the street.
•* The real trouble of our neighbors, j
E .ward, should make us more fully j
appreciate our great blessings, and
make us strong to bear and overcome
our difficulties. I think that is the true
name for the present subject of annoy
ance.” Susie said, gently.
“Yes, that’s a woman’s way of think
ing and talking. Of course it might be
worse. Coming home, I might have
slipped and broken my leg ; and upon
reaching home, I might have found
you down with the small-pox ; and one j
of the young ones, not having your
watchful eye upon him, might have |
been playing with fire and gotten nearly ;
or entirely burned up, and—and —”
“ Don’t stop, dear ; finish the chapter
of accidents. Willie, while running
across the way screaming for help,
might have been run over and crippled
for life ; and little Fannie, trying to get j
awav from the terrible scene, might j
have fallen down the cellar steps ; and j
the remaining two little ones, of course, i
might be in a fair way of taking the
terrible disease from me. Ah, there
now, a smile has come at last. Do,
dear, cht ?r up ! Let us look these diffi
culties straight in the face and conquer
them. Indeed we can. Only just let
us consult together and work together.
Now teli me all about it,” Susie said,
pleadingly.
“Td like to know how we can get
over these difficulties, as you wish me
to call my troubles. How can we pay
bills to the amount of one hundred and
seventy dollars with just one hundred?
That’s"wha* the matter is ; and I am
just worried to death ! ’•
“ I know it is rather annoying. But,
indeed, if you will only keep up heart
and just look a wee bit cheerful, I can
work so much better.’ -
“ How can I look cheerful ? Do you
know that the grocery bill ia ten dol
lars more this month, the butcher’s
six, the milkman’s four dollars instead
o? two and a hair? Then from the
druggist I was surprised by a pleasant
reminder of eleven dollars and seven
ty-five cents owed there. Gas, almost
double the amount of last month.
These, with a half-dozen little balances
on last year’s bills, are just about driv
ing me crazy. If this goes on”*-
“ But it won’t, dear, indeed it will
not You don’t reflect that in the
month of December we always con
sume rather more of almost every
thing. Then you forget the children’s
illness and the friends who helped take
care of them, and the Jong nights when
we watched them. The gas, of course,
was used more than usual—l m sure
double as much. But this is all over
now. If the children will only keep
well—and I think they will, they’ve
had almost every disease Incident to
childhood—.ve shall soon be ail right
again.”
Oh. Susie, it is well enough for you
to talk so, but I can’t feel any way but
very gloomy. lam harassed and wor
ried enough all day. You, here, quiet
at home, nothing to worry about, you
cannot imagine the state my mind is
in.”
apisie only gave a little sigh in answer
to thte. She might have told him how
she had worried her poor little brain to
raise Willie a p3ir of shoes without
going to papa for them ; of her hunting
up all the old papers and empty bot
tles for him to sell. Then, how she had
coaxed his sisters to give their little
savings, and when all resources were
drained, only a dollar and twenty-five
cents was raised. The shoes would
cost fifty cents more.
“ We can’t do it mamma.” said Wil
lie, with quivering lips; adding, “I
wouldn’t care, only the walking is too
bad, and my rubbers leak so. I’m
afraid of getting that old sore throat
again. I don’t want that, and I do
want to keep my place at the head of
iny class. Oh, what shall we do ? ”
“ I know, love ! I hate to part with
it. But it could not be put to a better
Ua Q —your silver half dollar, Willie.
Get it, pet I ” '
“All right! That’s it, mamma! I
don’t care, do you ? ” the little mau
fisked, with a doubtful look in his eyes.
file fails (EomtitutionaM
“ Never mind, dear,” she said. And
when Willie ran away to get his hat
she kissed the coin on which were the
prints of her first born’s teeth. With
a sigh in her heart, but a smile on the
lips, she bent to kiss her boy and sent
him forth.
More she might have told of the an
noyances and trials of her days. That
one in particular when the wash
woman came for her pay and found
her without a cent in the house. Mor
tified and distressed at the idea of hav
ing to send her off unpaid, she offered
the woman more than double the
amount due in the way of a really nice
dress ; and when feeling greatly re
lieved, that her offer was greatefully
accepted, she was surprised by the
house-maid, who having set her mind
on the dress, flew into a violent tem
per, and after having driven her almost
wild by a tirade of abuse, cleared out.
With all the additional household cares
baby was fretful and cross. The poor
little mother had hara work to put on
a cheerful face to greet her husband s
coming. How had she been rewarded?
AH these she had l.ept to herself for
fear of worrying him.
“ Give me the bills, Edward, and
don t worry any more. I promise you
they shall not be presented again, aad
In six months’ time you shall be entire
ly relieved from this embarrassment;”
Susie said, holding out her hand.
“Nonsense, child, what can you do?”
“I can help you. Edward. Please
give them to me. Your office work is
enough for you without worrying over
these things. Let me have what money
you can, and then just brighten up a
little,” she plead,
Unwillingly he yielded at last—un
graciously, I should say—for while re
signing to her the burden, he predict
ed a complete failure.
And then, with a true, brave heart,
she went to her work of retrenchment.
The money on hand was distributed
among the creditors ; payments ma le
to all. in part, with a pleasant little
note, promising more as soon as pos
sible.
“And dow, the first thing I must try
to reduce is the grocery bill. But Ed- i
ward must not feel this increasing
economy. One thing I will give up—;
ray wine and egg every day. Now that;
baby is baby no more, I shall not need ‘
it; lam so much stronger. That will i
save at least ten cents a day, and I euu :
learn to drink coffee in the morning,
and”
Yes, and so it was from that time;
the rigid economy w r as practiced almost
entirely on herself. No servant was
engaged in plaoe of the indignant
Bridget, and Susie worked on, day and
night. Through the long, lonely hourv
when all others slept, she worked;
sometimes at the sewrag machine—
sometimes copying, writing, or adding
up long columns of figures—any kind
ot work, to earn something to help
Edward along.
"At the end of the next month she tri
umphantly heid to her husband the
grocery bill, saying :
“ See, dear. It is fifteen dolars less!”
How eagerly she watcifed for an ap
proving word—a smile. But it came
not.
It was his way, she knew ; but it
hurt her. He might have said “ well
done,” ju9t for once, she thought. And
so the days and weeks and months
went on; and ever in heart remained
that longing for one word of encour
agement.
Once, in an hour of weakness, a cry
escaped the hungry, starving heart.
A friend, her dearest schoolmate said :
“Susie, you are getting thin and
very pale. You are working too hard,
dear—and for what ? You look so
tired, always, now—”
“ Yes—for what, oh 1 Mary, for what
will never come, I fear. Have you ever
watched, waited—panting for one ap
proving word—starving, almost dying
for it? Oh, if Edward could only say
one word, give one little encouraging
smile, it would give me all I want —
food, rest, joy !” And then, with her
arms about Mary’s neck, she sobbed
pitifully.
“ I detest such men ! ” exclaimed tho
impulsive Mary. “I’d like to deal
with such a one ! ”
Then Susie, with her soft eyes full of
reproach,said ;
“ How can you talk so ? You don’t
understand. He is good, and never
scolds. It is his way. He can’t help
it. And I’m ashamed of myself for
speaking so. Edward don’t mean to
be unkind, and he isn’t either.”
“ Well, Susie, I don’t want to hurt
you, but I must say ‘bis way’ is a
most disagreeable way, and if I was
his wife I’d feel it my duty to teach
him some other way. I’d sooner he
would scold and blow sometimes, to
have him considerate and appreciative
at others. But, dear, pray don’t work
and worry yourself to death ; do rest a
little.”
“ Yes, yes, I shall rest by and by,
when I earn the right. I won’t have to
work much longer,” Susie said.
Pale an 1 thinner she grew ; but Ed
ward noticed it not. He was but little
at home except at night. Always so
busy, with so much on his mind, he
had not chance to find out what every
body else knew, that Susie was work
ing herself to death.
Her eyes were bright, her cheeks
quite ‘rosy, often when she sat with
him in the evening, and he never
dreamed that It was not the sign of
health and strength.
The six months were past. Eagerly
she watched his coming. How could
sne wait? How long he was? At
length she heard his step and started
up to meet him. t
“ I am tired—l must wait here,” she
said, panting and pressing her thin
hand over her heart, as she sank into
a chair.
“ Here, Edward! come here! See !
The six months are over and you are
all right again. Here are all the bills
receipted, and here is a hundred-dollar
bill to put aside. Now,, dear, are you
glad ?”
Edward was surprised into exclaim
ing ;
“ Is it possible ?”
“Yes, yes. Say, oh, say, are you
glad ? Are you relieved ? Have I done
well?”
The cry was unnatural, almost wild.
And then, looking up aniously Into
her face, Edward, saw how pale and
thin it was. There was a look in her
eyes that drew forth, at last —aye, at
last—the long-waited-for words:
“Indeed, my darling, you have done
well—you have made me a free man
again. God bless you!”
A beautiful, joyous smile burst forth
over her whole face, as she held her
lips up for his kiss.
The children were coming. She at
tempted to get up to meet them.
“ Sit still and rest. I will give them
their supper. You are tired,” he said,’
as the ljttle ones came in and clustered
around mamma.
“ Yes, I can rest now. lam resting.
Come, kiss mamma, babies, little darl
ings, and Willie, mamma’s little man.
There, take care of sisters, dear, and
AUGUSTA, QAI., SUNDAY MOHNHSTGL DECEMBER 20, 1874.
help them. Mamma going to rest a
while.”
Many times Edward turned from the
childred lo an anxious glance o,i
Susie.
The twilight was deepening. He
saw her eyes close gently, and whis
pered :
“ Hush-sh, children! mamma is sleep
ing.”
He would not light the gas, for fear
of arousing her. After a while, a little
four-year-old girl, awed by the dark
ness, stole up to mamma’s side and
tried to climb into her arms. >
“ Mamma cold—oh, so cold! Dit her
sorl!”
Edward started up, struck the gas ;
clasped the poor, ” little, cold hand;
gazed, terrified, into the sweet, placid
face ; and then, with a cry of anguish,
sank down beside her, and poured
forth the words of love that should
have gladdened her heart and bright
ened her young life all the years gone
by. At last—yes, during the last mo
ments of life, he had given her the
coveted food, loving, approving words.
Satisfied, grateful, happy, she had
gone to rest —her work done, the re
ward won!
[Bt. Louis Republican.
AN EXTRAORDINARY DOCU
MENT.
Opinion of a Leading Presbyterian
Minister Upon the Signs of the
Times and Portents of the Future.
On a level with the sidewalk on Six
teenth street there is a doorway open
ing into a spacious hall In the first
story of the Walnut street Presbyte
rian Church. To the left of the hall as
you enter from the street is a large
room with huge book-cases occupying
two sides of it. These oases contain
*he utensils of the pastor, a collection
of theological and historical literature
that must have required years of labor
to accumulate. The door opening into
the hall was ajar, and the representa
tive of the Republican could see that
the pastor was at home and at work.
Hearing a uisitor at the door, he
looked up from the proof-sheet on
which he was apparently deeply en
gaged. Observing that it was a stran
ger before him, he arose, extended his
hand, and gave our reporter a hearty
greeting. After handing a chair, he
begged to be excused for a moment,
aDd went on with his proof reading.
An elderly gentleman occupied a seat
on a sofa by the window.
Dr. James H. Brookes, of the Walnut
Street Church is a stalwart man, phys-.
Icaily and intellectually. No one would
be likely to pass him on the street
without singling him out as a man of
marked force of character, and feel im
pelled to turn back to obtain a second
glance as he passed.
In a few moments the task upon
which he was engaged was completed ;
the elderly gentleman received fron
his hands the corrected sheets and
vanished. The doctor wheeled his
chair in f r out of the glowing coals,
that were being consumed in an open
Franklin, and waited to hear the ob
ject of his visitor in calling.
“ Doctor, I have come,” said the re
presentative of the Republican, “ to aak
a statement of your views touching the
controversy which has arisen between
Archbishop Manning and Gladstone”
The pastor hitched his chair a little
nearer the fire, and proceeded to say
that in relation to the subject matter
upon which those two distinguished
gentlemen were so hotly engaged, he
did not feel himself competent to speak.
He regretted to say that he was not in
accord with his own brethren as touch
ing the great questions which are now
agitating the world. He was not pre
pared to make war on the Catholics,
and he had very peculiar views of the
controversies which had arisen in
Europe. He did not suppose his
opinions were of public importance.—
He was free to say, however, that he
had no sympathy with the policy of
Bismarck and other European states
men in the warfare which they were
waging against the Catholics. He would
not destroy the Catholic Church if he
could. That church was a mighty con
servative force in the world. Its ex
tinguishment would prove, in his
opinion, a mighty calamity to mankind.
To him the prospects of Curistianity
were not bright. Suppose the conser
vative influence of the Catholic Church
were withdrawn from the world, and
its hi Id upon the poor and the ignorant
eiements of society broken, wnat
would be the result? Unrestrained vice
and licentiousness, communism, social
chaos, and a reign of terror over the
wo Id. There is nothing at hand
to substitute for this conservative
force. Protestantism had no hold
upon cho poor. It had not sought
to obtain it, indeed it had abandoned
them. It was Catholicism or infidelity
of the coarsest and most debasing char
acter for the poor. What would fol
low the withdrawal of the restraining
iufluenoe of Catholicism? A pande
monium of vice, a riot of crime, such
as would shame the agescf barbar
ism.
The movements of the world he couid
not regard as progress. The warfares
which Bismarck is waging, and Glad
stone is willing to wage against the
Catholics in the name of Protestant
ism, he believes is not only against
Catholicism, but against Christianity.
The destruction of the Catholic Church
will be quickly followed by the blotting
out of Protestantism, the banishment
of Christianity from the world, and a
return to paganism. Be fully agreed
with Cardinal Cullen, that the tendency
of the so-called philosophy of the day
was to paganism. And much of what
is preached from Protestant pulpits is
little better, He wanted it distinctly
understood that lie was a Protestant,
and so far as the dogmas and usages
of the Catholic Church are concerned,
he rejected them with all the ardor of
his nature. He never could yield his
assent to them.
But at the same time, there was at
the foundation of that church truths
which are common to all Christians.
He preferred Catholicism to the so
called Liberal Christianity. Catholics
believe in God, in the Divine sacrifice
of Christ for the sins of the world ; in
the resurrection from the dead and
other essential truths which placed
them in his estimation far above the
infidels, many of whom occupy Pro
testant pulpits, and yet deny the Lord
who purchased the freedom of man
from the penalties of law by the sacri
fice of Himself. He believed the words
of God are infallible, and the distor
tions of those words to conform to
their own depraved natures by men
was the very highest crime—a sin
grievous and unendurable by the Lord
of all.
H§ thought the times were filled with
portents of mighty calamities. The
warfare which is to be waged is not
against the Catholics only, but against
Christianity. He did not say that Bis
marck, and Gladstone and tfi© other
leaders intended to destroy the whole
fabric. He thought they had no such
motive; but the ball once fairly in mo
tion, it would not stop short of crush
ing out Christianity, and banishing
faith from the world.
He remarked further that he vas
utterly opposed to all persecutions of
religion by the State. They were two
distinct institutic ns. Asa citizen, it
was his duty to be in subjection to the
powers that be. Asa Christian, to his
conscience and to his God only could
he yield. The State had no right to im
pose any terms upon his religious con
victions. If the rulers of the State
were to enact a law imposing the con
dition precedent to his exercise of the
functions of a pastor, that he should
subscribe to and swear to teach the
ten commandments as a part of the
system of religion, he would not do it.
He believed the tenets, but he denied
the right erf the State to impose any
condition whatever upon him. Ho
could not, in conscience, subscribe to
any doctrine of State supremacy
which might form a precedert. Hu
man governments are transient and
changeful. The ascendant party of to
day may be defeated to-morrow. The
very fundamental principles of any
system of government established now
may be overthrown in the next decade.
There is no stability in human thought.
The philosophic systems of the last
century have perished, and the sys
tems of the present age will doubtless
be swept away in the next generation.
The word of God never changes. The
truth of God is the same yesterday,
to-day, and forever.
When the new Constitution of the
St-vte of Mississippi was adopted some
years ago, he said, he opposed the
clause imposing conditions on the mi 1-
isters of religion. It was intruding on
the ground sacred from secular inva
sion. Holding these views, he could not
give his sympathy to the cause to
which Bismarck was lending himseri.
That liberty which he claimed for him
self he was perfectly willing to accoi and
to others.
“How could I persecute?” he ques
tioned, “ and then exclaim against per
secution when I happen to be the per- i
secuted? It is wrong. We should be 1
consistent. I will subscribe to no su h j
doctrine,” remarked the doctor. “As
to Mr. Gladstone, he has nothing to ]
claim. He is a High Churchman, just
as intolerant, just as exclusive and
churchly as the Catholics. His Ritual
ism renders him just as obnoxious to
the simple forms of Christian ministra
tion as is Archbishop Manning.”
“ But doctor, do you regard the signs
of the times portentous of coming
calamities ? ”
The pastor said that he did. He had
been forcibly impressed in comparing
the estimates of the present tendency
of events of four very remarkable men.
Manning sees the commencement of
the greatest controversy the world
ever saw. Disraeli perceived the mar
shalling of the hosts of earth in battle
array, just waiting to commence the
greatest religious war of the times.—
Hyacinths perceives the uprising of
labor against capital, and the two'tear
ing and devouring each other until the
last is consumed and the first wearied
by the exhausting strife. Victor Hugo
sees across a field of conflict and blood
shed the disappearance of monarchy
and kingly thrones from Europe, and
as the smoke of the great conflict
clears away he sees the great Republic
of the United States of Europe emerg
ing into view. Then comes the politi
cal millennium.
The doctor was not hopeful of the
future. The unrest of the civilized
world portended a mighty contest.
Men have different views about the in
terpretation of the Scriptures. He had
his own peculiar views. He did not
think the world was growing better,
but worse. Protestant Christianity is
rich and increased in goods, and builds
fine churches, and has fashionable
music, and boasts of its wealth and
power, while its vitality, its spiritual
force, is ebbing away. The founda
tions are unstable. Though grown
rich, it has not grown better. Mammon
worship has taken the place of piety.
The destroyer is within, not without.
The boast of power is the declaration
of weakness.
Protestants may believe that their
system can stand when Catholicism has
fallen. It was a mistake. Infidelity
has already attacked the vital princi
ples of the system, and has eaten its
way until the disease threatens a
speedy triumph. He believed in an in
carnation of. human nature; that the
Anti-Christ of the Apocalypse is not the
pope, but the personification of human
pride of intellect. As Christ was the
incarnation of the Divine, he thougnt
there would appear a personality, in
antagonism to Christ —an incarnation
of human depravity, and intellect. He
looked out into the future with the
reason given him, and he could see
nothing but gloom and despair for the
race. So far as spiritual life is con
cerned, he thought events were ra
pidly preparing tfle way for the re
establishment of a sort of paganism
when the man of Sin would ap
pear and set up his kingdom, and
Christ and the spiritual forces eman
ating from Him—the Holy Ghost with
its quickening power, and God, the
Supreme, would be banished from the
world—that is, from the mind and
heart of mankind. Pride—human de
pravity personified—would reign over
all, until the Divine power should oome
at last, the conflict between heaven
■and hell be renewed, and Christ the
Captain of salvation, leading the re
deemed hosts, should appear aud van
quish the power of hell and cast out
the children of darkness forever, and
then comes the end.
Such is a brief, and it may be imper
fect report of the views and opinions of
one of the ablest Protestest divines in
the country as given to our reporter.
The doctor is a man of intellectual
force and intensely earnest in his con
conviptions. He takes lessons of no
one, but is an ivestigator of truth for
himself.
He lived in Georgia. At the weekly
prayer meeting he was leading. As he
knelt his pistol dropped from his
pocket, exploded, and a Mr. Pepper
was shot. As they carried Mr. P. he
smiled sadly, and looking imploringly
up into the eyes of those who were car
rying Ifim said, gently: “Take care,
boys, don’t let mine drop. Someone
else might be shot.”
Jones. —From Florida comes the ro
mantic story of Delia Jones, a full
blooded negro aged 40. She fell des
perately in love with a young white
man, a carpenter, and realizing the fact
that be could never be anything to her
she turned her property into cash (87,-
250), left it to him by will, and then
went and drowned herself.
Morth, the man-dressmaker, is now
trying to make amends for the mis
chief he has done. He attends church
regularly and is religious.
Within a Year.
BY MARY B. DODGE.
“ Call and I follow. I follow! let me die.”
Tennyson.
Father and son—two spirits true,
By tenderest ties inwove;
In gentle grace the younger grew.
In wisdom throve,
Until for him the older knew
Nore than a father’s love.
A love that with paternal pride
Waxed larger, made aware
That heaven to him had dared confide
A treasure rare—
So rare no fortune should betide,
He thought, to stint his care.
And still love widened, taught to lean
(As shaken walls may ao)
Upon the young vines netted green,
Clinging and true,
From which an outgrown strength could
glean,
Refreshing strength and new.
O sweet the bond! till pieroing gloom
Deepened the rifts of day,
As borne by breath of April’s bloom
On eve of May,
The life that could so stay, Illume,
Was angel-called away.
The ivy gone, the wind-racked stone,
Reft of its sheltering grace,
Bore up as best it might alone,
Till came apace
The blessed Christmas-tide when prone
The old man bowed his face.
And thankful died. He could not bear
The dimmed yet shining light
That brought so m. ny visions fair
To mock his night;
Vision of days, with this coheir,
Which loyal love made bright.
Aad we who stand beside his bier,
To-day are comforted,
Seeming this song from heaven to hear:
“Sweet Death has sped
To lavish wealth of Christmas cheer
About the snow-crowned head;
“ Sweet Death, to joy’s unfading stream
, The weary one has led,
Whose darling might not come to him—
Rather, who plead
With heaven that Christ’s full presence
gleam,
And light him home instead.”
WATCHING FOR A WOLF.
BY COL. JUAN LEWIS.
It was an unusual spectacle.
That of a gentleman, in rather a
breezy costume, sitting at midnight
near an open window, just far enough
back to avoid observation from the
outside, with a double-barrelled gun
loaded with twenty-five buckshot rest
ing on his knees, ready for instant use.
So unusual, indeed, even “down South,”
that I might hesitate in placing the
fact on record herein without due ex
planation of the cause thereof.
That explanation may be given thus :
For three weeks the domestic economy
of Richland Cottage, where I have the
good fortune to be domiciled, had been
greatly disturbed by nocturnal visitants
to the poultry department, as was too
well attested each morning by feathered
remnants of the hapless victims, and
the natural foe of the oviparous species
—Sly Reynard—was at once suggested
as the cause.
But an examination of the premises
by an old fox-hunter resulted in a
grave shake of the head and the ex
pression of strong doubts of the ma
racers being his favorite game; but
Amen pressed by the cook, in whose
hearing the doubts were expressed, to
suggest the “ nature of the baste,” but
grimly mentioned bears and wild cats,
thereby sending the enquirer in great
trepidation to her own domain, which
happening to be nearest the scene of
slaughter, caused a request that night
for new bolts to strengthen locks. This
requisition was not filled, however ; for,
whatever the old fox-hunter thought,
he volunteered to sit up that night,
taking post in the wing over the kitchen
and w T atch for the depredato 3.
The offer was accepted, of course,
with thanks, and about 9 p. m. he was
duly installed at the post of observa
tion. “ Armed, say you ?” “ From top
to toe.” Somebody else, by special re
quest of the watcher, retired at the
usual hour; but, needless to se.y, every
body’s thoughts at retiring centered on
the soiitery sentinel in the wing. Would
he see anything ? And if he did, would
he bring it down? What if it should
prove to be human thieves ? No mat
ter ! The hunter had declared his pur
pose of taking the life or scalp of what
ever came. And this had been enunci
ated so firmly that tender souls now
became tremulous lest some innocent
party, unaware that war had been de
clared in the vicinity of the poultry
house should become the sufferer.
Those of us who had had military ex
perience began to rouse the old feeling
incidental to a state of siege.
We went to rest at last with more or
less of anxious forebodings, but sleep’s
soft wing touched us lightly.
At two o’clock there came a tremen
dous report from the wing; the first
thought of the mistress of the mansion
being that volcanic Bali Mountain—
the anticipated eruption of which had
for a long time interested the news
papers—had at last exploded, and
blown Richland cottage skyward and
seaward; but skurrying feet, and a
broader awakening at length dispelled
the myth of journalistic creation, and
a rapid but cautious advanoe along the
outside piazza was made towards tho
wing.
The moon was low down among the
pine tops, but still afforded sufficient
light to enable one to see rather a
motley grouping of fair women and
brave men “brought all too hastily
from their warm rests to permit of
elaborate toilet.”
“What did you kill?” “What was
it ?” “What did you see ?” “How did
it look ?'* “Was it a bear?” were some
of the questions launhed at the hunter
as he came out of his post of observa
tion by the shortest route—through
the open window—his rifle smoking
from recent discharge.
“A bear? Not so* much’ bear as
some of this crowd I see gatherin’
around me,” quoted the late sentinel,
rather sulkily.
This bearish reply was followed by
suppressed “ O’s ” and “Oh my’s,” a
sound of readjustment of wrappings,
and some manifestations of retreat.
“He didn t hit ’im ! Don’t you see ?”
shouted a youngster from below, the
post of observation being on the sec
ond floor. “ Whatever it was, he didn’t
hit ’im! Oh, what a shot—my eye 1”
“You little rascal!” cries our fox
hunting friend, looking down on the
tormentor dancing grotesquely in the
moonlight; and then, realizing the ab
surdity of manifesting irritation, laugh
ed and proceeded to explain.
He had certainly seen something,
and as certainly had fired at it—an an
imal of some sort. Not a bear, not a
panther, not a wild eat —so far as he
could determine in the hasty glimpse
obtained—and positively not a fox, of a
kind he had ever encountered. Large
and heavy and springing—perhaps re
sembling somewhat an immense grey
fox. If he were in some of the new
countries where he had been, should
say it was an enormous wolf, but did
not give it a second glanoe; had no
time—the flash of the rifle and the un
certain moonlight, and the waning
shadows of the trees making anything
like accuracy impossible. He con
cluded with the cheering assumption
that it was the last of him. The scare
he,had received would prove sufficient
to prevent the animal from making any
more raids in this direction. After
which consoling assurance, those who
had remained to listen, disappeared for
the night as quickly, and rather
more quietly, into the pleasant shades
whence they had been evoked.
Our fox-hunting friend left next
day, pursuant, perhaps, to some
previous arrangement, and for two
or three nights hereafter, the
poultry department was left un
disturbed. Strong locks and high
fence being thought ample once orem
for its protection, and the old hunter's
prediction of The Scare he had given
the depredators was rapidly growing
into a talismanic by-word. It Was de
cided that the foul proceedings were at
an end, and the fowl house and yards
were replenished by anew stock.
The very next morning thereafter,
however, revealed terrible havoc as
the result of the night’s work. A score
or so of dead fowls, old and young,
and scattered eggs, and nests destroy
ed, and ducks carried off told the
story.
What was to be done? This was
the question, to which the guest de
manded an answer at the breakfast
table; and obtained it, thus; One
gentleman undertook to watch in the
manner his predecessor had done, pro
vided this weapons were furnished
No difficulty on that score. A dozen
rifles and a score of revolvers—
Special outfit of Florida tourists—
could be had for asking; but re
jecting them all, the new volunteer,
who, I may as well admit, was myself,
selected a double-barrel shot-gun of
ordinary make, and loaded it in the
manner indicated at the commence
ment of this narrative.
Behold me, then, at one o’clock a. m.,
In the extreme end of the wing on the
second floor, eommandiag a view from
three open windows of the entire field
of operations, but giving my special
attention to the one immediately in
front of me.
You probably know, but for fear that
you may have forgotten it, I 3tate it
as a fact that Dame Nature, musty law
books, bad MSS. (like this), or what
you will, long ago compelled me to
wear eye-glasses continually; and you
may naturally infer that a volunteer
assistant to my night vigil would not
be regretted nor misplaced—in short,
that I accepted such assistance without
hesitation, directly after it was tender
ed (as it was) at any part of observa
tion aforesaid. The bright eyes thus
reinforcing me (not for that time only,
thank heaven, but for all time,) were in
stantly placed on duty at the western
outlook, their sympathetic possessor
seated oomfortably in an easy chair—
not too easy, as tending to somnolency
—and the watch began.
The moon, bright and coming up
early, bade fair to last till nearly morn
ing-
You who have had military expe
rience—have felt the sensations and
entertained the thoughts aroused by
“ being on guard,” will understand the
situation.
A situation that enforces silence as
perhaps no other can. What marvel
ous fancies—what teeming ideas go
trooping through the brain! Fixed,
immovable almost as a statue hewn in
stone, you remain, while thought goes
out on wings of light, flashing to the
uttermost parts of the world.
At least such is the case, unless you
succumb to weariness of the flesh ; not
a supposable exception, save when,
like nymphs, you are something of an
invalid.
Half-past one! Yielding to the wear- 1
iness hinted at, and, if truth must be
told, to the weakness of my vision as
compared with the brilliant eyesight of '
my assistant watcher, I lay down to
rest with strict instructions to be
around by touch at the first indication
of an enemy. I bad finally got com
fortably off, aud was reveling away in
dream-land—l knew not where—when
a touch, which for once, I am afraid
was not the lightest in the world,
brought me back and aroused me. I
sat up:
“ Come quick ! Quick ! ” cried my
better-half, in suppressed tones, “ it’s
a dog, a ravenous white dog! ”
One step, a grasp at the gun, and a
glanoe out of the window. The animal
was on the bound. Short ears, burley
tail, gaunt flank—a huge gray wolf!
Brisk, stealthy, and full of energy as
its movements were, mine for the mo
ment were not less so. The gun was
at my shoulder in an instant, and the
discharge broke the echos all about us.
It was followed by the animal s fall
and a terrible howl of evident death
agony.
“ I must put him out of his misery
by giving him the other barrel,” I re
marked, preparing to go down, gun in
hand. But there my benevolent inten
tion was frustrated by my assistant,
who clung to me and begged me to de
sist. “ Perhaps,” was her reasoning,
“ in its death struggles it might attack
you 1 But listen ! it is dying already.
There !”—as the sounds, deadened by
opening doors and raising windows all
about the houso, beoame less apparent
—“ he’s dead!”
I did not go down. $
Let it be said emphatically, I did not
go down. On the contrary, we went to
bed, having first fully satisfied all in
quiries as to the “nature of the baste,”
and that it was dead.
In the morning there was a gather-!
ing on the late field of carnage ; but no
wolf was to be found. Blood lay
everywhere, so to speak, but no wolf—
“not even a dog,” as a cynioal by
stander suggested. We tracked him,
however, not to his lair, I regret to
say, but by blood on the leaves, to the
woods near by, where the trail was
lost.
“ Do you still believe it to have been
a wolf ?” asks the cynic aforesaid. To
which I respond that I most certainly
do, and cite as an additional reason the
fact that a huge grey wolf, precisely
similar in description, was captured
the same week a few miles to the north
of us, evidently of the same interesting
family.
In any event, like the mythical Mr.
Morgan, of anti-Masonic election days,
it was a good enough wolf for us ; for,
since that night, our poultry depart
ment has bed perfect immunity from
all raids save those of thq cook and the
butler. •
I am free to admit, however, that
his hide (not the butler’s, but the
wolf’s,) would have heen quite a val
uable trophy to us. Don’t you think so?
In order, it is said, to avoid mortify
ing her lover’s family, who are very
poor, a Montreal heiress was married
the other day in a* plain Swiss muslin
costing 820, while her underclothing
was valued at 8200.
Fall and Winter, 1874!
C. J-TTbALK,
No. 136 Broad, below Monument Street,
HAS NOW IN STORE a full assortment
of Dry Goods for Fall and Winter.
Great bargains in Jeans and Cassimeres.
Great bargains in Black Alpacas.
• Good Black Silk at $1 per yard.
Velveteens, in black and colors, from 60c.
up; 1,000 Ladies’ Felt Skirts, the cheapest
in town; the best 25c. Towel in the city;
Cotton Goods lower than ever; 500 dozen
Coats’ Thread, at 70c. per dozen; the best
assortment of Calicoes, Bed Ticking, Blan
kets, Linseys, Flannels, etc., cheap. Look
for No. 136 Broad street, between Monu
ment and Centre street. Special induce
ments to wholesale buyers. Orders care
fully attended to. My one price system
(prices being marked in plain figures; se
cures the same advantages to tho most in
experienced buyers as to the best judgo9 ot
Dry (roods. Goods cheerfully shown aad
samples given. C. J. T. BALK.
sep2o-suwefrtf
NEW CROCKERY STORE!
No. 187 Broad Street,
(Opposite Jas. Gray & Co.’s Store.)
MRS. V. V. COLLINS (late with Eli Mus
tin) respectfully calls the attention of
her friends and the public to her Large As
sortment of Goods, consisting in part of
FRENCH CHINA,
Gold Band Decorated and Plain Chamber
Sets.
Gold Band Decorated and Plain Tea Sets.
Gold Band Decorated and Plain Mustache
Cup and Saucer.
Match Boxes in Parian and Bronze, Vases,
China, Lava, and Bohemian Candlesticks,
Gold Band and Bronze; together with Toy,
Dinner and Tea Sets, very prettv; Plain
and Decorated Bed Room Sets, Japann<*i
Tea Trays. Tin Ware, Brittania Ware, Cof
fee and Tea Pots, Spoons, Knives and
Forks, Bar Tumblers, Bar Bottles, Decan
ters, and a fine assortment of Engraved
and Plain Glassware.
Orders from the Country solicited.
My city friends and the public will please
give me a call. I will convinoe them that I
am selling as CHEAP AS THE CHE APES L
decl3-suwefr-6
DISSOLUTION.
THE COPARTNERSHIP heretofore exist
ing under the name and style of LAW
TON <fc LAWTON was dissolved on the Ist
day of this month by mutual consent. T.
P. LAWTON will assume all the liabilities
of the late firm. He will continue the
WOOD AND COAL BUSINESS In all its
branches. Thankful for the patronage so
liberally bestowed on the late firm he re
spectfully solicits a continuance of the
same. All orders left at either No. 213
Broad street or Wood Yard will be prompt
ly filled.
E. M. LAWTON,
T. P. LAWTON.
Augusta, Ga., December 12th, 1874.
I HAVE on hand a large lot of BLACK
JACK, DRY PINE and FAT LIGHT
WOOD. Also, EGG and NUT COAL.
dec!2-tf T. P. LAWTON.
Sugars and Molasses.
200 BBLS. refined sugars.
■|oo
JJQ BBLS. REBOILED MOLASSES.
HHDS. REBOILED MOLASSES.
WALTON, CLARK A CO.
dfeol3-3aw2w
WHISKEYSr
lAA BBLS. RECTIFIED and CORN
IUU WHISKEY?
1 A BBLS. RYE WHISKEY, of good
JLv/ grade.
WALTON, CLARK & CO.
deo!3-3aw2w
Fire - Works!
THE HAVE NOW IN STORE our This
\\ Year’s Supply of FIRE-WORKS, con
sisting of
ROMAN CANDLES,
SKY ROCKETS,
PIN WHEELS,
SERPENTS,
SAND CRACKERS,
FIRE CRACKERS,
CANNON CRACKERS,
JAPANESE TORPEDOES,
MINES,
VERTICAL WHEELS,
Variety of FANCY PIECES, &c., &c.
For Sale, Wholesale and Retail, at LOW
PRICES, by
C. VOLCER& CO„,
No. 195 and No. 254 Broad Street,
AUGUSTA, G/l
decll-frsuwo&su
C. E. DODD CO.,
219 BROAD STREET.
OPPOSITE CENTRAL HOTEL.
You will find a nice line of
Men’s, Boys’ and Child’s Hats
and Caps.
nov2-tf
FURNITURE
E. G. ROGERS,
147 and 149 Broad St.,
OPPOSITE THE FOUNTAIN.
A Full Assortment of all Kinds.
CHAMBER SUITS.
New aad Handsome Styles at reduced prices
PARLOR SUITS,
Great Bargains offered.
DINING ROOM SUITS,
A Handsome assortment.
OFFICE FURNITURE.
A great variety of Office Desks and Chairs.
UNDERTAKING.
METALIC CASES and CASKETS. COF
FINS of all grades, home-made and from
the best manufacturers, always on hand.
octls-3m
FOR SALE CHEAP.
A- COMPLETE BBT OF SPLENDID
MAGICIANS’ INSTRUMENTS, comprising
about 200 Illusions or Tricks. Apply to
Oeolß-3 L P. GIRARDEY.
New Series—Vol. 2, 3STo. 322
THE NEW STYLE!
Neat and Light, Pretty, Cher.p I
HOME SHUTTLE'I!
JUST received and on inspection at
Rooms 148 Broad street.
Call and see it before buying any o ner
make; it is to your interest to do so, at dis
all I ask. It lies flush with the table,
makes the Elastic Lock Stitch alike on
both sides, precisely the same as the Ugh
price Machines, and does every varietv of
work done by any Machine (no matter
what the price paid for it) or no sale, and is
the most simple and durable in construc
tion of any in the United States. Moaey
refunded, after one week’s trial, if disap
proved of.
Six different styles. Price, $25 to SBO.
Sent to any address on receipt of price, or
by Express C. O. D. Address
A. B. CLARK,
148 Broad street,
eclß-suwefr&otf General Agent.
it OB THH mt
HOWE’S
U. S. STANDARD
SCALES.
REPORT of the Judges at the Georgi 0
State Fair, held at Macon. Novombei
Ist, 1873, and Atlanta, October 25,1874:
“We, the Judges, agree that the HOWE’S
are entitled to the Premium for the
BEST AND MOST ACCURATE SCALES."
ALSO.
TWO PREMIUMS
iAt the Savannah Fair.
PAGE & CO.,
General Agents.,
a PARK PLACE, New
Full line of
Scales, Weigh-Masters and Cottoi
Beams and Frames
constantly on hand.
MOORE & CO.,
AGENTS,
. M AUGUSTA, GA.
mn22-lv
FOR SALE !
A FARM, containing 640 acres of the
best Cotton Lana in Burke county,
situated on Buckhead creek, about 12 miles
from Waynesboro, Burke county, Ga, The
place has ample accommodations for ten
ants, and readily rents for 12 bams of Cot
ton per annum.
Also, a small Truck Farm, On the Savan
nah Road, three miles from Augusta, Ga.,
containing 8 acres of Land in a high state
of cultivation, with a comfortable House
an ,, necessary Outbuildings— will be
sold low for Cash. Apply to
GEO. E. RATCLIFFE & CO.,
dec!7-6 _____ 167 Reynolds street.
DISSOLUTION.
THE FIRM OF PERKINS & BEG. was
dissolved by mutual consent on the Ist
of December, 1874, so far as relates to the
Lumber and Shingle business. The busi
ness will be continued by S. M. PERKJ N S
who assumes the liabilities of the copart
nership, and will collect all claims due to
the same. 8. B. PERKINS.
deo2-5 s. M. PERKINS.
DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL
FOB
' CHILDREN AND YOUNG LADIES.
Who. also be received s& Summer
Boarders.
Address MRS. GEO. I. KOLLOCK,
je2B-su6m* Clarksville, Hab Cos., Geo.
Foreign Exchange.
Merchants <fc Planters National Bank, /
Augusta, Ga., November 17, 1874. )
THIS BANK draws Sight Bills of Ex
change, in sums to suit purchasers, at
lowest rates, on England, Ireland. Scot
land, France, Germany, Prussia ana other
European countries.
novl7-tf J. S. BEAN, Cashier.
COAL. COAL.
WE HAVE just received a large and su
perior lot of ANTHRACITE COAL.
We warrant this a first class article, and
it will be sold at reasonable rates.
LAWTON <fe LAWTON,
octlß-tf 213 Broad street.
A Great Book for Agents !
Personal Reminiscences, Anecdotes and
Letters of
GEN. ROBERT E. LEE,
BY REV. J. WM. JONES, D. D., formerly
Chaplain Army Northern Virginia,
and of Washington College, Virginia. Pub
lished by authority of the Lee family, and
of the Faculty of Washington and Lee Uni
versity.
SIXTEEN SPLENDID PORTRAITS AND EN
GRAVINGS.
Price, in Cloth, $3.50: Sheep, $4.50; Half
Turkey, $5.50; Full Turkey, $7.50; applica
tions for exclusive Agencies for Counties
should be made at once, naming first, sec
ond and third choice of territory.
D. APPLETON & CO., Publishers,
nov22-w3 549 and 551 Broadway, NY
HOME ENTERPRISE.
Cigars for the Million!
MANUFACTORY AND STORE
Corner Kills and Mclntosh Streets
HAVING recently occupied the spacious
stores comer Ellis and Mclntosh
streets, I now have increased facilities for
manufacturing CIGARS of all grades, and
keep on hand constantly a well selected
stock of
Cigars and Smoker’s Articles Generally,
r^ ers W oial brands solicited
and promptly attended to.
.ettS-suwsMn, *°*MBBEBQEB.
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY.
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE 1
BALTIMORE, MD.
The next annual session will begin Octo
ber Ist, 1874, and end Februrry 25th, 1875.
lhe Hospital and General and Special Dis
pensaries furnish ample material for Clini
cal Instruction. For Catalogue with infor
mation as to plan of instruction, Fees, cost
of living, etc,, address
J. E. LINDSAY, M. P., Dean.
HENRY JAMES OSBORNE,
OCULISTIC OPTICIAN.
NO 171% BROAD STREET,
cinder the Augusta Hotel, *ugao-t{