The Hartwell sun. (Hartwell, GA.) 1879-current, March 31, 1880, Image 1

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CRYING WOLF. One hundred years ago there lived on the shorts of Stephens Riter (a •mall stream emptying into C'asco Rav) a man named Peter Jolitf, an honest, upright fellow, a good neighbor and friend, but with one abominable habit thafwon him many enemies, and caused much discomfort aud even suffering to those around him. This fault was an almost irresistible fondness for practical joking that would not allow him to let an opjMirtunity pass unimproved, where in he could gratify the special passion of his being. There came a time, however, when the exercise of this peculiarity brought upon him an ordeal so sharp that it cured his unfortunate propensity, to the great joy of his family and friends. The process was disagreeable, but the cure was effectual ami permanent. One day Peter had been at work a few miles from his home. After his day’s labor was fiuis'ned, his employer invited him to partake of an evening meal with him; this invitation Peter accepted, and then, his system fortified by a hearty supper, he commenced his journey homeward. The path which Peter trod that night would lead one to-day through cultiva ted fields, and by many pleßsant farms, but then it was an unbroken forest. It was a dark cold, December night. The wind swept fitfully among the great pines and beeches; strange, moaning sounds went sobbing through the for est ; now and then an owl uttered its hoarse cry, or the sudden rattling of the dead leaves told when some timid nnimal scurried away from the sound of footsteps. Rut Peter was strong, stout-hearted, and trudged quietly along, without pay r ing much attention to the sighs and sounds around him, until he had achiev ed, perhaps, one-half of his journey, when suddenly his ears caught the sound of horse's feet descending the long rocky path behind him. Gradu ally the sounds drew nearer, until the sharp, peculiar voice of the horseman could be heard urging the beast to a faster gait. “ Ah, all!” said Peter to himself, as lie heard familiar tones, “that is Uncle Toni Barry.” Now, Uncle Tom and Peter were neighbors —that is to say, their clearings lay about a mile apart; and none knew better than Peter that the old man was naturally of a timid disposition, and furthermore that nothing inspired him with greater fear, nothing which he would not rather meet, than a wolf. No sooner, therefore, had Peter become convinced that the horseman behind was his neighbor, than he resolved to use his knowledge of Uncle Tom’s fail ing as the means of working out what he considered would be a capital joke. His plans were soon laid, and he pro ceeded to put them into execution. Creeping through the undergrowth which bordered his path, he crouched down and patiently awaited the ap proach of his victim. lie had not waited long before Uncle Tom, his horse at a sharp trot and himself casting timid glances around, arrived opposite his place of concealment. Peter al lowed him to pass a few paces, and then springing forward on his hands and knees, he uttered one or two snarl ing yelps, instantly followed by the loud, clear gathering cry of the wolves. The effect upon Uncle Tom wa3 elec trical. Springing half-way out of his saddle, he uttered a scream of terror, and then stooping until his head nearly touched the mane, he plunged his spurs into the horse's flanks and was off down the road like a shot. As for Pe ter, he rolled over on his back, and kicked his heels in huge enjoyment of his success. Loud and long he laugh ed, occasionally varying the perform ance by making the forest ring with a repetition of the wild, savage cry that had struck such terror into Uncle Tom’s timid heart. But there is an end to all things, and so after awhile there was an end to Peter’s mirth, and lie, wiping his (eyes, regained the path, and was about to resume his journey, when he heard a sound that sent cold shivers coursing over his body, and almost froze the jjlopd in his veins. The wolves had heard his successful imitation of their pnusic, and were coming down in full pry upon him. In an instant hp realized bis position an 4 peril. From the sounds he knew that the wolves were coming down on either side of the path he had just trav eled, and, therefore, the nearest point of safety was his own clearing, more than a mile away. All this passed through his mind like flash, and then, calling all his energies The Hartwell Sun. Bt BENSON & McGILL. VOL. IV—NO. HI. into play, he dashed down the path with scarcely less speed and terror than had Uncle Tom Rarry himself. Peter was a famous runner, and had come off victor in many a trial of speed when the people had come together for a log rolling, but this was no holiday game. He was not taxing his muscle to win the applause of admiring frieuds, or to i gratify an ambition to excel. The race was for life. Down the long slope that led to Pil kin’s Hollow, and up the ascent be yond, fled Peter, while hardly a hun dred yards behind came A yelping, snarling pack hungry and fierce. The life of an unarmed man would not be worth a minute's purchase, could they once surround him. This Peter ac knowledged to himself, as a thought entered his mind of standing on the defensive, so he abandoned the thought, before it was fully formed, and braced himself anew for flight. Down another long slope, across a broad sheet of ice at its foot, and Letli erbee’s Hill, with its long, steep ascent, lay before him. He shuddered as he glanced up at its rugged side, for be felt that bis strength would scarcely suffice to carry him to the top. Still lie kept on, it seemed madness to hope, for his pursuers had gained upon him fearfully ; he knew it by the beating of their footsteps, but, with energies inspired by mortal terror, he ran on, hoping only to gain the brow of the hill, for there the ground became more open, and his own cabin was but a few yards beyond. He felt sure that his pursuers would not follow him be yond the summit; but could he reach it before they would close upon him ? No not by his own exertions, for just as the thought passed through his mind his foot Caught Under a gnarled root that extended across the way, and he fell heavily forward, his head struck the frozen ground, and lie lay senseless. When Peter recovered consciousness he found himself hanging over the broad shoulders of his brother John, and about to enter his own door. Here he soon collected his scattered senses, and was able to listen intelligently to his brother's account of his rescue. Uncle Tom Rarry, in his flight, had stopped at the cabin long enough to shout through the window that the wolves were out, and then hurried on. John, who lived with his brother, know ing that Peter must come the same path, took his gun and walked out to the edge of the forest, where he halted to listen. But a short time elapsed be fore he heard the sound of the pursued and pursuers, and rushing down the hill, lie arrived upon the scene just in time to leap between Peter’s prostrate form and the wolves, the foremost of which was less titan ten feet distant. Taking steady aim, he sent a bullet in to the creature’s brain, and then, while the pack were fighting over the dead body of their comrade, he slung Peter over his back, and gained the open ground in safety. Peter frankly told the whole trutli about the affair from beginning to end, and concluded the story with the em phatic assertion that as long as he lived he would never be guilty of an other practical joke, a vow which he faithfully kept. A Conscientious Man. The other day, over at the Alameda baths, a timid and retiring-looking man waited until the superintendent was disengaged, and then said to him : “ I do hate to give any one trouble, but have you got along stick or pole of any kind you could lend me ?” No, sir ; I told you so ten minutes ago,” snapped the overdriven official. “So you did,” replied the man, “butl thought I’d ask you just once more. I guess now I’ve done my duty in the matter. Don’t you think so ?” “ What matter ? What on earth are you talking about ?” Why, you see, my mother-in-law dived off down there at the deep end about half an hour ago, and as she hasn’t come up yet, I thought I’d like to tell my wife that I had sorter jabbed round on the bottom for her awhile, anyway ; but if I can’t, why I suppose I can’t, that’s all,” And pensively writing her ad dress on a tag, to he tied to the old ladv when she came up, the conscien tious man walked thoughtfully away. HARTWELL. GA., WEDNESDAY. MARCH 31. 1880. Col. Seaborn Beese. Sparta lthmarhtr We publish below an extract from an editorial letter which appeared in the Columbian. Col. Ifcese is, in sb’far as we know, not a candidate for any olficc in the gift of the people, lie is not a seeker, inf tUo anxious acceptation of the term, nor in any sense that implies desire on his part, to hold office. He be lieves in the old doctrine that office should seek the man, and we trust that it will seek him early and find him: ness in visiting the place, we ascertain ed the fact incidentally that there is some dissatisfaction injregard to’the at titude recently assumed by Mr. Steph ens. In view of this faherculean eflTorts will be made to send a man to Congress in bis stead whose Democra cy is unquestioned. Col. Seaborn Iteese, the efficient Solicitor General of that circuit, son of Judge Augustus Reese, of Madison, has been selected as a suitable person to go before the nominating convention. This is the course mapped out by the young men of that section ;weknow not if it meets tig: approval of the older heads, and we may as well remark, parenthetically that it seems to be a matter of little concern to the young men whether it does or not. Col. Reese, with cliarac acteristic modesty. Is backward about letting his name go before the conven tion as a competitor against the great statesman, but his friends ftre deter mined. Foreseeing the urgent neces sity fof a yottng and active man to rep resent the Bth district, every efTort will lie put forth to have Col. Reese nomi nated. Perhaps no young man in the State lias become so popular in so short a time* As Solicitor, we learn lie has given universal satisfaction, and stands deservedly high. Wherever lie goes he inak fMvorahl- and his friends are mn\\” Ten Reasons Against Swearing. 1. It is mean. A man of high-toned morals would as soon steal a sheep. 2. It is vulgar. Altogether too low for a noble character. 3. It is ungentlemanly. A gentle man, according to Webster, is a genteel man ; well-bred ; refined. Such a man would sooner make mud pies in the street than swear. 4. It is indecent. Offensive to del icacy, and unfit for human ears. 5. It is foolish. All other sins, like theft, have momentary benefits. Rut this has none. The swearer bites Sa tan’s bare hook. 6. It is abusive. To the one who conceives the oath, the tongue that ut ters it, and the person at whom it is aimed. 7. It is venomous. The swearer’s heart is like a nest of vipers; when he swears one sticks out its head, 8. It is contemptible. It forfeits the respect of all the truly wise and good. 9. It is wicked. Violating the law and provoking the displeasure of Jeho vah. 10. It is cowardly. Implying a fear of not being believed or obeyed. How Coffee Came to be Used. It is somewhat singular to trace the manner in which arose the use of the common beverage of coffee, without which few persons, in any half or fully civilized country in the world, make breakfast. At the time Columbus dis covered America, it had never been known or used. It grew only in Ara bia and Upper Ethiopia. The discov ery of its use as a beverage is ascribed to the Superior of a monastery in Ara bia, who, desirous of preventing the monks from sleeping at their nocturnal services, made them drink the infusion of coffee upon the reports of shepherds, who observed that their flocks were more lively after browsing on the fruit of that plant. Its reputation spread through the adjacent countries, and in two hundred years it reached Paris. A single plant brought therein 1714, be came the parent stock of all the French coffee plantations in the West Indies. The Dutch iutroduced it into Java and the East Indies. The extent of the con sumption now can scarcely be realized. The United States alone annually con sume it at the cost, at its landing, of from 9 15,000,000 to 9 16,000,000. Devoted to Hart County. One H*jr to Catch Will Duck, I have seen in India, writes a trav eler, native fishermen catch wild dnek and tenl in an ingenious manner. Say that there is a Urge, deep, tank, with a reedy in.WgiiV, and that In the center of this tank there is n flock of wiMfbwl. The fisherman stealthily approaches the reeds and lets himself down into the witter. He brings with him a cou ple of logs of wood, sufficient to float him ; a very large earthen’ pot. into the sides of which numerous holes have been drilled ; some twine and two or three tame ducks; and having these, he now proceeds to out some of the tank-side rushes. After this, he goes on to put his head inside the inverted earthenware pot, around which lie artfully disposes the rushes. He goes on then to fasten the pot to his shoulders, and to tie the tame ducks to the logs of wood, by slack strings a few feet long, and next ventures out of the rushes, and paddles noiselessly off to the flock of wild-fowl in the centre of the tank. These only sec a heap of rushes, an inverted earth enware pot, and a couple of logs of wood floating toward them. Whatever suspicions they may be apt to enter tain, are quickly dispelled by the sight of the tame ducks swimming about the pot, logs and rushes. The fisherman at length gets into the center of the flock, and it is at once at his mercy. All he has to do is quietly to stretch out his hand under water, and pull suddenly down by tiie legs the nearest wild-fowl. He does this with a jerk—there is no noise and no flutter—and the moment he has the wild-fowl he has captured fairly down, he wrings its neck and attaches it to the twine about his person. Half an hour is quite sufficient for him to kill a hundred wild-fowl; but he prefers a load to carry to his neighboring village, so he satisfies himself with, say a score, and floats away with his tame ducks round him just in the manner he came. Killed at tho Marriage Altar. In the midst of the great events of the war, such incidents as the following were comparatively unnoticed, and left to be long afterward related in print: Miss Annie Pickens, daughter of the Governor of South Carolina, was to be married April 22, 1863, in Charleston, to Lieutenant Andrew de Rochelle. The wedding party was assembled iu the Pickens residence, and the clergy man was asking the bride if she was ready, when a shell from a Union gun in the harbor broke into the room and burst. Nine persons were hurt, but only Miss I’icken’s wound proved fatal. She bore the pain with wonderful forti tude, and was unmoved when informed that she had only an hour or two to live. De Rochelle said that he would like to have her die his wife, and the poor girl smiled sadly in assent. The guest remembered the scene as far more pitiful than they can describe. The bride lay on a sofa, her white dress dabbled in blood and her hair dishevell ed, while her pallid face was so wrung with agony that her efforts to smile be came futile. The ceremony was hur riedly performed, though the bride's “ Yes" was in a faint, labored whisper, and her lips hardly moved in response to her husband’s kiss. She died imme diately afterward. He Drinks. Talmagt. Tell me a young man drinks and I know the rest. Let him become cap tive of the wine cup and he is the cap tive of all other vices. No man ever runs drunkenness alone. That is one of the crows that goes in a; flock. If that beak is ahead, you may know the other beaks follow. In other words, strong drink unbalances and de thrones, and makes him the prey of all appetites that choose to alight upon his soul. There is not a piece of sin upon this continent but finds its chief abettor in the places of inebriety. There is a drinking place before it, or behind it. or a bar over it. “You see how they escape legal penalty; they are licensed to sell liquor.” Then I thought within myself, the court which licenses the sale of intoxicating liquor, licenses gambling bouses, licenses dis- 51.50 Per Annum. eases, licenses death, all crimes, ail suf fering, all disasters, all woes. It is the Legislature and courts who swing wide open this grinding, roaring, stupendous gate of the lost. The (fame of Fifteen rs. Twenty. Ihlrmt /> I'rtai. “What is this puzzle of “fifteen” they are all talking about?" asked Mrs. Melrose, ns her husband dropped into his easy chair the other evening. “ Well, I'll explain the principle of it,” lie replied. ‘‘Suppose, now, you ask me for sls to buy a bonnet?" “,Yes, that would.buy a common bon net.” “ I gite you the Money.” ‘‘Oh, yes ! very much you do! I’d like to see myself get sls out of you for any such thing. You'd have about a thousand excuses, keep me waiting a month nnd thenTgivc me about $7 to buy a bonnet and a ton of coal together." “As I I give you that $15,” he went on, u shade of sadness crossing his face, “ Yes, in your mind.” ‘‘ Now the game is to make that fls | get 15 different articles, instead of one. You could buy me three white shirts, five collars, a pair of socks, a silk hand kerchief, audit ncwpijie, making eleven articles. Your bonnet would make twelve, aud/the other three articles could be shoes for the children. Thou sands of loving wives arc playing the game.” “ They are, elt! Well, let ’em play ! When I get my hands on sls of your money I’ll march down and play the game of twenty.” “ What’s that, dear?” ‘‘ Why, I’ll pay out all I've got and run you in debt $5 more !” A Lawyer bulldozed. A Pittahnror h.wver had a ease on his docket in which, umong other things. lie wished to prove that his client had no money, and to that end he cross questioned one of the opponent’s wit nesses as follows: “ You asked my client for money, did you not ?” “ Well—yes, sir.” “ Answer promptly’, sir. Let us have no hesitation. You asked him for money —now what was his answer ?” “ I don't know as I can tell.” “ Rut surely you remember.” “ Yes, sir.” “ Then out with it. What was his answer ?’’ “ I'd rather not tell.” “ 110 ! ho ! You are on the tack, are you? You won't tell ?” “ I should rather not, sir.” “But I should rather you would. So, sir, if you do not answer my questions promptly and truthfully, I'll call upon the court to commit you for contempt.” “ Well, if I must tell talcs out of school, here you have it. I asked him yesterday’ if he could lend me half a dollar, and he told me he could not.” “ And you believed him, did you not ?” “Yes, sir; for he said you had rob bed him of every cent of his ready money, and if he didn't get out of your hands pretty soon, his wife and little ones would come to—” “ That will, do sir; you can step down off the stand.” Strongest Man In the World. The strongest man in the world is an Italian named Angelo Cardela, who lives in Reno, Nevada. He is five feet ten inches high, weighs 190 pounds, is a day laborer, of temperate habits, has a broad, heavy, good-natured face, an extraordinary development of chest, and large, fleshy hands. When stripped, his most remarkable feature is his spinal column, which seems double, and is twice the usual width, while all his bones and joints are very large. He can lift, and has repeatedly lifted, with one finger—the third of his right hand —men weighing from 150 to 200 pounds, by placing bis finger under the hollow of one of their feet, and so car rying them around a room. lie can strike a blow with his fist with a power of 500 pounds, as measured on a regis ter. Like roost very muscular men, be is amiable of disposition, quiet in man ner and particularly fond of peace. WHOLE NO. IST. A UTTER OF BABIES. n tl(Srl t o Sk Fr mm U Mrs VroM. Unrt/urd IX inm. Wa are indebted to Constable Pbelpm of this city for a copy of the Colonial Standard, published at Picton, Nova Scotia, containing *iv account of fWa babies at one birth. Mr. Phelps, who* was on a visit to Nova Scotia, saw the babies after death. The Standard says ; (* Siwatay morning lust, February 15, l>r, William Fraser, of New Gins gow, was smTHWoned to a ease of tant wifery *C the residence of Mr. Adam Murray, in the aettFeroent called Egypt, about four miles from New Glasgow,, on the Gfetvfnlloch rood. Mr. Murray's family, at the time of ilic doctor's ar- I rival, consisted of flve children, Hires girls awl Iwolmys, nil perfectly form ed but very miniature specimens of Im munity. Three of the children were reported dead osi Ihe evening of thw first day. and on Monday a fourth. A large number of people have gone to see the most woisivrlVrl progeny. (>i* Monday the fonr dead ones were laid side by side in a neat rosewood casket, part of a series of gifts from man}' of the townspeople. The following is a statement of the respective lengths uud weights of the little cherubs (we take the undertaker’s fibres as to dimen sions, ns ho has assured us that lie measured with great exactness) • I.natfth. Wright, Longnit M IntTir* 3 lb*. 14 minor* Srronil I.'ik hirlir*. J 11m. 0 au* mm Til ini 154 liarhim. 3 llm. 4 ounce* Fourlli , MS Inchon. :111m. • oimrr* KilUi. Lt| iuctitv* *A Hm touiKW The last mentioned, the .smallest, a girl, was the first-horn of the quintuple* and is the one that has survived. The dead ones were to have hern lmriod Wed'* nesday afternoon. On Tuesday Mr. J. R. 1\ Frazier, photographer, took a number of good negatives of the chil dren, living and dead, and will shortly publish their picture* which he intend* to have copyrighted. The mother, who lias doubtless rendered this province famous by an event that has only one or two counterparts in history, is a strong, healthy woman of a little over 30 years of age. She has seventeen brothers and sisters, her mother, who is living, giving birth to eighteen chil dren, twins three times. The father is an ordinury-looking sample of physical development; in A **‘ 1 • 1 *• • alntilf* and bodily proportions. Persons who have seen the children describe them as postively beautiful, the dead ones more resembling works of art in wax than natural-horn members of our race. All the children are now dead, tho last one dying on Wednesday last. The remains were visited by hundred* of people, who left with the parent* substantial tokens of their visits. A Model Letter. The following is an exact copy of a letter on file in the postoffice depart ment. It was received in obedience to orders to postmasters to make qunrterly reports of the condition of their offices. The record mils to disclose what became of the postmaster after writing this let ter. It is supposed tho effort killed him. fulton Cos ills .July the i) 1857. mister jntnes buckanin, president ot United States Deer Hur Bean required by the instructions of the post office to report qunrtly i now foolfil 1 that plcasiu duty l>v reportiti as follows. The Har vestin lias been gnin on petty, and most of the imbors have got their cutlin abought dun corn is yellowish and wont turn out more than Ten to fifteen boosh ilsto the aker tlieheulth of the coin uni* tie is only Tolerbly meesils and colery have brok outin about 2 and a half miles from here, thair air a powerful uwakeniu on the subjecof religuu in the putts naborhood, and meny souls arc be ing made to knew there sins furgivin miss nancy Smith a neer nabor had twins day before yisterday one of them is supposed to be a seven mouther is a a ponr scraggy thing and wont live half itsdav this is about awl i know and have to report the presseut quarter giv my re specks to Mrs Buckcannin and subscrib miself yoors Trooley Abigal jenkins p. m. at fulton Cos ills In order to grow in grace, we must be much alone. It is not in society even Christian society- that the soul grows most vigorously. In one single quiet liour of prayer, it will often make more progress than in days of company with others. It is in the desert that the dew falls freshest and the air is purest. IIOKATIO BONAH. A certain bald-headed man had a large spider painted on the top of his head in fly-time, and the first day it scared his wife into a fit, and he was knocked out of his chair three times by people who wanted to kill the poi soning insect, without alarming the old gentleman by telling him it was there