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THE SHEPHERD’S CLAIM. Fur The Hartwell Sun. AUT. n. • la all ages of the world, the sacrifice of property lias ever been connected with the various modes of religious worship, whether of the true or of a false religion. Even the heathen devotee in his zeal goes so far as to sacrifice his own off spring, to the idol he blindly worships. Yet, while in so doing he commits the grossest of crimes, the zeal thus dis played by him is a severe rebuke to those who profess to —but only form ally—worship the true and living God. “ In the first account of (true) relig ious worship by any of the human race, we read that the fruit of the ground and the firstlings and fat of the flocks were offered to God in acts of worship.” The patriarchs of the Old Testament not only recognized, but freely respond ed to the claims of God upon their property. They gave willingly and un grudgingly, not regarding it as a duty merely, but esteeming it a favor, an honor, that it was their privilege to be stow gifts that would be acceptable to the Great Creator of the universe. In proof of this assertion, I shall give only a few of the many instances re corded in the Sacred Scriptures. After the deluge, when Noah emerg ed from the ark, he was not ungrateful to the miraculous hand that had steered his ark safely over the surging billows that entombed a drowned world; and his first aft was to make an offering to the Lord—the inceuse of his sacrifice and his prayer of thanksgiving asccndr ing together. “ lie had but seven cat tle and seven sheep with which to begin the world, and yethe hesitates not to sacrifice one of each ”to his God. By this act he established a precedent worthy the imitation of all succeeding generations. “ Abraham sustained that intimate communion with God which entitled him to be called ‘ The Friend of God,' by a form of worship that made con stant drafts upon his property.” “ His grateful homage to God, in view of vic tories over his enemies, had expression in his rendering a tenth of the spoils to a priest of God.” These minor sacri fices wet#Jthe stepping stones to •• that suMittw iretof sacrificing his only son.” On awaking from his remarkable vis ion, .Jacob consecrated himself to the service of God saying: “Then shall the lord be my God : and of all that Thou-shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.’,' This vow of Jacob’s was carried oift, not only by himself but also by his posterity. In addition to the tithes paid £• *- :j ue ’ scenflants they made frequent benevo lent contributions. The building of the tabernacle in the wilderness “ was done by freewill offer ings of the people, not because God had need of them, but because the peo ple had special need to have their hearts opened to benevolence, after all the soul-withering influences experienced in Egypt. “ These offerings were emi nently acts of worship;” fostering as they did one of the first principles of religion. When David called for contributions to build the Temple, the whole nation was moved, with One accord, “ to con tribute the immense treasures needed ” for the work. By their pets they ac knowledged their allegiance to God; and they felt the utterance of their lips when they said : “ All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.” It was a remarkable trait in David's character that he “ would not ‘ offer to the Lord that which cost him nothing.’ The cost of the thing offered was in dispensable, because one purpose of the act was to subdue selfishness of the heart, while doing homage to the God of love.” The object of benevolence is not to enricli the Possessor and Controller of the universe—that is impossible—but to cultivate and foster those Christian virtues which tend to purify and enno ble the heart in the sight of God. All the gifts made by man to his Maker are nothing considered in their value as dollars and cents ; “ For the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” “If I were hungry I would not tell thee,” saith the Lord : “ For the beasts of the forest are mine and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” The giving of property in connec tion with religious worship was not only indispensable under the old dis pensation but was also re-inaugurated with the ushering in of the new. “ The first recorded act of worship to the infant Savior was tendered in * gold, frankincense and myrrh.’ ” It has ever been obligatory on the Christian to give a part of his property to benevolent objects; and this duty will be binding on all Christians till the end of time. There is probably no temptation to which man is exposed that is more general in its character, that is more difficult to overcome, than the desire for riches— •* the Mammon of this world hence it is necessary that fre quent drafts should be made on our property in order to restrain this ava ricious disposition. While the sin of covetousness is en throned in the heart it is impossible to be a Christian ; for, “ye cannot serve God and Mammon.” Our Savior says, “ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” Which expression I understand to mean that if you place a higher estimate on VOL. Ill—NO. 3. your wealth than your duty to God, then your religion is vain. You must be willing to surrender nil your wealth if necessary before you can become a true Christian. Then why is it that professed Christians give so grudgingly when God calls on them for a mere pit tance for some benevolent object ? If he should call on them for all, they would doubtless, as the “ rich young man,” “ go away sorrowful.” “ What shali it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul ?” Steward. UEAU HICKMAN AND CANADA BILL. Canada Bill was one time passing through Washington, on his way to New York, after a successful gambling trip on the Western and Southern rivers. The thought struck him that he would stop and see Beau Hickman, the great wag, then world famous as a clever trickster. The two sports met on the steps of the huge mantle Capitol. Hick man had been pointed out to Canada Bill by a boot-Tdack. “ Is your myjje Hickman, pard?” iu quirednCfiH, extending his hand. “'Vhe same‘sir. Whose hand might I hafve the honor of jtossessiug T' return ed Hickman, thinking his new acquain tance was a newly arrived Western mem ber of Congress. \ “ The hand you grasp, pard,” respond ed Bill, “ is one generally known as be ing more t than fair ly- I, jun.one of society’s baa*— — “Canada Bill.flby gum 1” “ Shake the namber-lwh-tifnes —for I am glad to see you, Hickmau.'’ ' JL “ How long are you going to stop in town?” “Stopped oft'expressly to make your acquaintance.” “ Are you known in this city ?” “ No.” “ Then I’ll turn y’ou to good account. How much money have you to venture oiuJtsure thing!” “ Got $G,000.” “ With you?” “ Kight here,” anj Canada Bill pull ed forth two huge rents ofbills. 1 you like to turn that “Name the job, and I'm your mau." “’Sh! We’ll, take a drink,” and Hickman led the monte tosser into the card room of a fashionable sample-room. The next day a genteel, solemn-look ing man entered the gentlemen’s' par lors at Willard's Hotel, which were fill ed with Senators, Congressmen and of fice-seekers and holders of all grades. He carried a small note book in his hand, and as he approached each group he would say: “Gentlemen, I am collecting money for a widow woman and her three chil dren. They belong to a once proud but now cast-down family. If you will aid them please ask no further questions, but give what you sec fit.” In the entire* hotel the gentlemanly beggar only’ received three donations of twenty-five cents each. The others waved him impatiently aside, whilesome plainly’ told him he was an imposter. Before leaving he said quietly to the three gentlemen who had given him monev: “This will be repaid to you ten fold to-morrow evening at hour—.” He then took the address of each, ask ing them not to fail to be in the parlor next evening to get the money, and cau-1 tioning them to speak to no one of his promise—that he was Sir Orlando Mat-! terson, president of the ltoyal London Society for the encouragement of Benev olence. Asa matter of course, before he had | got a block away from the hotel every : one knew all that he had said and done, j and all considered him some crazy fana- i tic. Then a report got about that he j was an immensely rich but insane Eng- j lish nobleman, who spent yearly hun dreds of thousands in seeking out those who were willing to lend aid to the j needy, and in rewarding them awards, so that, acceding to his cracked brain, the cause of charity might be in a gen eral way accelerated. The next evening he came again, ask ing alms, and every one was on the lookout for him. Fie first singled out the three gentlemen who had given nim twenty-five cents each, and very quietly passed each an envelope containing 82.50 and a small card on which was printed : “ Give and you shall receive.” “Cast vour bread upon the waters and it shall be returned to you ten-fohl.” “ Remem ber the example of Sir Orlando Matter son as you journey through life.” Sir Orlando Matterson took 873 in donation from the house that night, and it was noticeable that be should have their correct address. The same scene followed in each of the scores of hotels and sample-rooms which he had initiated on the night before. The third night he, with a solemn face, returned to each donor of the previous night the exact ten-fold promise. . “It would be a joy which I would consider cheaply purchased,” said he confidentially to a dozen gentlemen, “if at the cost of a million dollars I would HARTWELL, GA., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1878. tench the citizens of this beautiful city to be thoroughly generous to the poor." This night he was like the ticket sel ler at the railroad. One, two, five, ten and even twenty dollar bills were shov ed at him on nil sides, so great lmd been the awakening in the cause of benevo lence which the example of Sir Orlando Mntterson had aroused. A benign smile hovered about his mouth, and a tear that glittered betimes in bis mild, kind eye proclaimed the joy his soul felt as he shoved bill after bill into his pock ets-and gazed with the look of a father upon his converts. That night Canada Bill showed up to Beau Hickman something over eighteen thousand dollars. We’ll split her now,” suggested Bill, as he eeafeed counting. “’Twouldn’t give $12,000,” quoth Hickman. “ Let it be till to-morrow night. I think I can raise a little “ hush money ” on this racket.” Next night Beau Hickman went the rounds, and found groups of expectant converts waiting to sec Sir Orlando Mat terson. One at a time, as fast as he could do so, he would taty one after another of the most prominent gentle men aside and whisper in his ear: “ I have got a little subscription book here which was handed to me by a friend as'he took the train this morning for New York. Sori-y.you got sold on Sir Orlando Matterson. He’p skipped out. That was Canada Bill, the three-card monte man.” “Is tlifct ft?” v y A “Sure. Here's the book, with your name in it for $20.” “Well, for gracious sake, Beau,don’t show that note Utfok.tQ.aiiy one. And scratch tuy.uame offit, will you VL <s ’'Certainly,” returned Hicftfuan, at the same time scratching over the name with his pencil; “but Governof, I'm kind a-short to-night—couldn’t you lend me S2O till to-morrow ?" With a wrv face the victim would pull forth his po -ket book, and placing the bill demanded in Hickman’s hand, would slip quietly from the hotel to the street,- That night the two worthies divided, and the share of each was over twelve thousand dollars. "wlioseTrmtfsTm the unwary obtained for them thousands of dollars, died poor, and were buried as paupers; and the moral is, that no matter how much a man makes dishonestly' or by trickery, he will sooner or later be found out, and doubtless die a miserable, deserted out cast. Too Hot For Him. Detroit Free Press. As Confederate war reminiscences arc the order of the day, here is one too good to lie buried. The hero of the joke we will call Jim. He was attached to Ros ser's Cavalry, in Stuart’s command. Jim was noted for his strong antipathy to shot and shell, and a peculiar way lie had of avoiding too close a communion with the same, but at last all plans fail ed to keep him out of the “ row,” and he with his comrades under a lieutenant, was detailed to support a battery that composed a portion of the rear guard. The enemy kept pressing so close in fact, as to endanger the retreating forces and the troops covering the retreat had or ders to keep the enemy in check, for a given period, at all hazards,and the or der was obeyed to the letter though un der a galling fire. Our friend Jim grew desperate. He stuck behind trees that appeared to his excited vision no larger than ram rods. He then tried lying down. In fact, he placed himself in ev ery position that his genins could invent, but the “hiss” of the bullethuuted him still. At last, in despair he, called to his commanding officer : “ Lieutenant, let’s fall back !” “ I can not do it. Jim.” replied the officer. “Well, I’ll lie drat if we don’t get cleaned up if we stay here!” “My orders, Jim, are to hold this place and support that battery of guns," pointing to the artillery close by. “If we fall back, the enemy will rush in ajid capture the guns.” Just at that time a well-directed bullet impressed Jim with the fact that a change of base became necessary. Jim found an other apparently protective spot, and, as he recovered his mind, he sang out: “Oh! Lieutenant! what do you think them ’ere cannons cost?” “ 1 don’t know, Jim ; I suppose 81,000.” “Well,” said Jim, “ let’s take up a collection and pay for the d—d guns, and let the Yankees have ’em.” When a Fulton father came home the other evening and stepped into the par lor to fill up the coal stove, he was star tled to see, when the flame of his hand lamp dissipated the darkness, that his daughter and his ducky doodle Adol phus were sojourning in the shadow of a lowered gas jet. But they were in sep arate chairs! And were engrossed in a box of figs. He felt compelled to ask : “ Something the matter with the gas?” And the time-tried youth, grasping one of the golden thoughts that overwhelm us in the time of emergency, answered, as he mechanically picked up another fig : “ No, sir ;we turned it down so as I not to notice when we bit into a worm !” A DUEL ON THE PRAIRIE. Fiffhun* at 4o YartU nlih mn*. St. Louis l*ost. Some five years ago Adam Goldie left his native county of Shannon, Mo., where he was engaged in cattle raising, for Northwestern Texas, where he pass ed two years, and there one of the most exciting incidents of his career hap pened. His fame as a marksman among the Texans soon became notorious. In the vicinity of Goldie's ranch lived one William Darrell, or, as he w-as more fa miliarly termed, Bloody Bill. Bloody Bill was a noted ruffian and desperado, a reckless dare-devil. His feats in mnrkmanship were likewise astounding, and probably no man in the Lone Star State excelled him in handling the rille. Bloody Bill had been engaged in many deeds of daring, and was always mixed up in some row or squabble. He had already killed three men, and his nu merous acts of ruffianism had made him the terror of the frontier. Few cared to cross his path, as his danger ous character and dexterity with a rifle w’ore well known. Goldie had met Bill on several occa sions, but had never been involved in any difficulty with him. Knowing his turbulent disposition he always sought to avoid him. On one Sunday, how ever, Gold if was sitting in company with a score of Texans, who were spending a convivial hour in a mild ca rouse. when Bill rode up and joined the party. Of late he had become quite jealous of Goldie’s notoriety as a marks man, and had frequently spoken dis paragingly of the latter. For some time the party passed the time conviv ially enough, without anything happen ing to mar the harmony of the socia bility. At last the Texans began to relate some of their reminiscences, and Goldie commenced narrating an inci dent that had occurred to him. Bill, who had drunk heavily of the whisky and become, rather moody, in the midst of the narration -suddenly jumped to his feet and exclaimed: “Goldie, you are a G—d d—d liar, and a ,” at the same time striking a blow at him. All was instantly confusion. The voV.’e. s vffrre'rfrhwn:' ’tfoldw demand ed satisfaction for the insult, and Bloody Bill, with a scornful laugh, Sug gested thafcfhey had better make it a trial of them respective *skill with the rifle. The idea was canght up by the Texans, and after a short consultation they decided that a duel should be fought, but, in consequence of the ex traordinary’ skill of the parties, at a long distance. On the open prairie, about two miles distant, grew two post oak trees. They w ere A2O yards apart, and were the only trees on that spot. All around was open, timberless prai rie. It was decided that Goldie and Bill should both take their rifles and each take up a position behind the re spective trees, and then blaze away at each other. The Texans hoped by these means to prevent bloodshed, or at least to prevent a fatal termination of the duel. The preliminaries being set tled, the whole party mounted their horses and rode out on the prairie to the selected spot. Goldie took up Iris position behind one of the trees and Bill enconsced himself behind the other. The remaining part of the crowd then rode to a slight undulating eminence to the right, where they were to remain as spectators, One of them was to give the signal for the beginning of the combat by firing his rifle in the air, and the report was to be the signal for the duelists to begin their bloody work. Goldie waited anxiously the. de tonation of the rifle, which suddenly sounded on the air. Then commenced the duel at the longest range ever recorded. Goldie advanced from behind the tree in a kneeling posture, when, whiz ! his som brero was perforated by a ball from Bloody Bill’s rifle. Quick as lightning he dropped full length on the ground in time to escape the two other bullets which came in rapid succession. He lay still, brought his rifle into position, as he was stretched upon the ground, and then remained immovable. Pres ently he .saw a diminutive figure which he knew to be Bill (who was nearly an inch taller than advancing cau tiously from the shelter of the tree. Quickly taking aim he fired twice in succession and then retired behind the sheltering trunk. One of the bullets he afterwards discovered had passes through Bill’s left ear. There was a cessation of fighting now for sometime, when Goldie espied his opponent’s head and shoulders exposed. Quick as lightning his rifle was at his shoulder and the detonating rejxjrt was heard. Bloody Bill’s hat was carried away by the bullet. Goldie now rather incau tiously advanced from his shelter and became the target for six balls in rapid rotation, one of which made a hole in his coat sleeve and another through his pants. He beat a hasty retreat. The duellists remained gazing at the distant trees, each watching for the indistinct form which represented his adversary. Each peered cautiously from behind the WHOLE NO. 107. I tree, endeavoring to get a sight W the 'other. Goldie at last saw Bill ngnin advance, and the former stepped rapidly to the front anil quickly brought his I rifle into position. Almost simultane ously the clear, sharp report of two rifles rang on the air and both men fell. Goldie managed to raise himself and crawl behind the trunk of the tree. He had been wounded in the left shoulder. Presently he was joined by the Texans who hail been witnesses of this most I exciting duel. They had already rid den over to Bloody Bill and found him ! dead. A bullet had penetrated his i temple. Sclirobiker’s Dig Scare. Breakfast Table. Selirobiker was detained nt his place of business the other night until after the last car had left, and was obliged to walk home. When very near there he concluded to cut through an alley to save considerable walking, but shortly after he entered the same he felt some : thing like a streak of cold air go all j through his frame as he noticed a dim figure approaching in the distance.. Selirobiker is not may what be called a ! coward—though a little woman scarcely I tall enough to chin the mantel rules like | law in the house he pays rent for—but j still, he didn’t exactly like the idea of facing a foot-pad in a dark alley, for he was unarmed and had some money with him. He didn't give so much thought to 1 that, though, as he did to the unpleas- j antness of being banged over the head with a slung shot, or laid up with a pis- j tol-ball wound in hot weather. Neither did lie like to beat an inglorious retreat, without at least getting a good view of; the antagonist he was running from. It would take a tolerably good-sized man to make him crawfish in daylight, i and he didn't like to be haunted for- j ever after with the suspicion that he might have slunk away from a little weasel he could pitch over the fence with one hand tied behind him. These thoughts went through his head like a Woman in spring hat scudding before a shower, and put his heart in a high flat- j ter, but he kept on until he came within some fifty or sixty feet of the approach-1 brenuieu iraru. ’"Foe uiuw uwu \ iuC j same. lie revived his courage a little, i and took a few steps forward. The figure progressed about the same dis- 1 tance, and came to a stop also. Schro biker then put a few more steps behind him, and took a position as close as he could get to the fence on the riglit, I keeping a close eye on the dark object, | before him. The other party likewise moved up a little cautiously, and hug ged the fence on the left. Selirobiker again advanced a few paces, and stead ied himself against the wall. His breath came quicker and he realized that the conflict was near. The adver sary made a slight and very stealthy j advance, and Selirobiker would have j sworn he could see fire snapping from his eyes. ’The man paused, made a j quick motion with his riglit hand, and —sneezed ! with a loud quick and ex plosive sound. Selirobiker jumped back about six feet and clapped both hands over liis mouth to keep from screaming. For as j much as a second he thought he was a | murdered man, dead sure, but lie didn't feel the ball strike, and felt easier the next instant. The other party slipped with the recoil and fell backward to the ground, but just as his victim was j tempted to risk all and dart by on a run, he jumped to his feet, pulled his ' handkerchief and blowed his nose with a bugle blast. To Schrobiker's strain- j ed imagination it was a signal for rein forcements, and be felt his knees giving away in despair beneath him. He took I another step or two forward, and felt his breath growing chilly, but the next moment glorious hope was again in his breast, for out of the darkness came a voice shaky with agitation, saying: “Do you want my pocket-book ? In heaven's name take all I’ve got and let me go home !” With an overpowering feeling of joy and relief Selirobiker sprang forward toward the other man, who seeing the movement, dropped on his knees with a, despairing cry, and begged for his life. “Oh, get up,” said Selirobiker, grab bing him by the collar, and fetching i him to his feet. “ I wouldn’t harm a hair of your head for a thousand dol lars. Here, take my hand and shake, stranger; shake hearty, for you’ve saved me by just about fifteen seconds from making one of the confoundcst asses of myself that ever wore breeches. If you’d a kept still another minute I should have been offering you my poc ket-book. But don’t you never lisp it, or I’ll lay for you with a shot-gun. That’s just what I’ll do.” And an old head in a night-cap poked itself out of an upper window and wanted to know what two irredeem able fools 'meant by going round dis- I turbing peaceful slumber, laughing in j that rip-roaring jackass fashion. He who says what he likes, must hoar what he don’t like. The less meu think, the more they talk. ! HART AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. Minutes of a regular meeting of Hart County Agricultural Society held in Hartwell, September 3rd, 1878. The meeting was called to order by F. B. 1 lodges. President of the Society. Read Minutes of last meeting which , were adopted. The following names were enrolled as members of the Society: B. D. Johnson, Major J. J. W. Brown. Distributed amongst members of the Society twenty-four copies of “ The Manuel of Georgia," issued by Dr. T. I*. Janes State Commissioner of Agri i culture. On a call being rrmdc for a report of the result of experiments with seeds received from Department at Washing ton, the following reports were received : Wm. Jones said ho received one quart, of winter barley at the October meeting of last year ; sowed it the 19th of November, i877, on hill top clay land—just ordinary land ; sowed it by plowing it in shallow with a gopher plow, just like plowing in wheat; did not sonk the seed ; sowed it broadcast without, any manure; cut it the 28th of May, IH7H; the piece of ground on which it was sowed was not quite a sixteenth of an acre, and the yield was half a bushel of fine grain; therefore making the yield 8 bushels to the acre ; the grain was fine, as good as he ever saw; is good grain for manured lots, especially' pasturing. It. 'l'. Buffington said : I received at the same meeting a sack of winter oats; sowed them last fall on grey, sandy land; the ground was not very wet when 1 sowed them ; broke up the land first., and then plowed them with a go pher plow; never cut them; they did no gixid ; did not head out; took tho rust so badly they were no account. Wm. Bell said: I received a quart of winter barley; sowed it the first, day of 1 Jecember, just about the same way as Mr. Jones; th<? rabbits gotsome; it was the finest, barley I ever saw. F. S. Roberts said : I received a sack of the same barley’; sowed it by f side of other barley ; it was very fine; I think the heads were one-third larger than other barley. Several members reported Irish po tatoes received by them, as being the finest they ever saw. The sacks they received had no names on them, and the Secretary in giving them out omit ted to take note of the numbers, and the sacks having been lost it is impos sible to gel, report of the same. J. F. Craft said: At same meeting l received a quart of white corn; I think it is one of the finest roasting ear corn I ever saw; it is fully three weeks earlier than our ordinary field KDoullha. right size tor tati* recommend it to the Society as areal good corn. Motion made and carried unanimous ly’. That the thanks of this Society be. transmitted to the Agricultural Depart ment, at Washington for serving us so bountifully heretofore with seeds; that in our opinion some of these seeds have been of inestimable value to the farm ers of our County. That we recom mend the mode of distribution as here tofore made in this County, and respect fully ask a continuuffce of the same. Motion made and carried, that the Secretary Correspond at once with the Secretary of Agricultural Department of Georgia, and use his efforts to obtain as soon as possible the proceedings of our Agricultural Conventions, for dis tribution amongst the members of our Society’. The following members paid their annual dues for IK7B : M. M. Richard son, 1). 1). Dickerson, T. 11. Murray, It. E. Sadler, S. Byrum, T. N. Mc- Mullan. B. I). Johnson, R. T. Buffing ton. J. W. Brown. Adjourned to next regular meeting in October. C. W. Skidki.i,, Sec'y. Couldn’t Fool Her. A nice young man employed in one of the printing offices, resolved the other day to present bis beloved girl with a nice pair of shoes. He accordingly pro cured her measure, and went into one of the fashionable boot stores on Main St., and purchased a two dollar pair of shoes. In order to make the present more val uable lie marked $5 upon the soles of the shoes, and at his request the clerk put a receipted bill for $5 into one of the shoes. The presentation was mude and the lovers were happy, as lovers could Ik*. But mark the sequel. The girl examined the the daylight and was not satisfied. She was convinc ed that her lover had been cheated in the purchase of such a nair of shoes at that price.. She decided to go and change the sloes and obtain a better bar gain. Yesterday she appeared in the store and selected a pair of shoes, price 83.50, and politely requested the clerk to take hack the shoes, for which she said her husband had paid $5. The re ceipted bill was produced in proof, and the hoot man found it impossible to go ‘‘behindthe returns.” The smart girl took her $3.50 pair of shoes and obtain ed $1.50 in money, and went home hap py and satisfied. The hoot seller sent a liill for $3 to the young man, who promptly paid the difference, but lie thinks that girl a little too smart for him. “ Do you know what bulldozing is?” asked a man of an old farmer. “I j thought I did,” said the granger, “ but the bull wasn’t dozing; he was only making believe, and, being in the mid dle of a forty-acre lot, I naturally had to make very ouiok time to reach the lence ahead of him.”