Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

THE DEMOCRAT . A Live Weekly Paper on live Issue* Published Every Friday Morning, at Crawfordville, Ga. W. D- SULLI7 AN. Proprietor RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION: Single Single Copy, Copy, (one rear,) . . . 8 2 00 Single Copy, (six months,) . . . 1 00 (three months,) . . . 50 ly Advertising rates liberal. BOOK and JOB PRINTING a specialty. Prices to suit the times. POETRY. Annie and Wmie’a Prayer. ’Twas the eve before Christmas. “Good night" had been said. And Annie and Willie had crept into bed; There were tears on their pillows, and tears in their eyes, And each little bosom was heaving with sighs, For to-night their stern father’s command had been given, That they should retire precisely at seven Instead of at eight; for t%_ troubled him more XVith euestions unheard of than ever before. He toU mem he thought this delusion a sin » >.« such being as “Santa Claus” ever had ""’iSZSiXZ And this was the reason that two little l lea( * s So restlessly toss'll on their soft downy Eiglit—■rune—ami the dock on the steeple toll’d ten; Kota word had been spoken between them till then; When Willie’s sad face from the blanket did peep, Aud whispered “Dear Annie, is you fast asleep?” '' n ‘rX Ma W ‘ m ~ ‘ ror somehow it nurne^ nitr,—,—„ DMr ks said s „ ”" there is no “Santa " ‘ ST * tt ‘ ld U Cant 10 For lie came every year before mamma died. But then I've been thinking that she used to pray. And God would hear everything mamma would say. And perhaps she asked Him to send “Santa Claus" here, With the sack full of presents he brought every year.” “Well, why can’t we pray dest as mamma did then, And ask Dod to send him with presents aden ?” “I've bee/li thinking so, too"—and without a word mere Tour pttleTjar-e feet bovimHi.l out on tne floor, And two tiny hands were clasped to each breast. “Now, Willie, you know, we must firmly believe Thai me presents wc ask for we're sure to receive; You must wait just as still till I say the “Amen,” And by that you will know that your turn has come (lien.” “Deal Jesus, look down on my brother and me. And grant us the favor we’re asking of Thee, I want a wax dolly, ,1 tea-set and ring, . And an ebony xror&-*? x Bmt shuts with a spring; Bless papa, dear Jesus, and cause him to see. That “Santa C'iaus” loves us far better than be, Don’t let him get fretful and angry again At dear brother Willie and Annie—Amen!” 4 'Please, Desus, ’et ‘Santa Taus’ turn down to-night And bring us some presents before it Is ight ; I want he should dive me a nice little sled, With bright shining runners, and all paint¬ ed ’ed— A box full of tandy, a book and a toy, Amen, and thenDesus, I’ll be a dood boy.” Their prayers being ended, they raised up their heads, And with hearts light and cheerful, again sought their beds. They were soon lost in slumber, both peace¬ ful and deep, And with fairies in Dreamland were roam¬ ing in sleep. Eight—nine—and the little French clock had struck ten Ere the father had thought of his children a S a ' n - He seems now to hear Annie’s half-sup pressed sigh, 11 6 ,g ( ‘ ars s an m 1 16 s blimeye “I was harsh with mv darlincs ” he men tally said, “And 1 should not have sent them so early ■ to bed; But, then I was troubled, my feelings found vent - Fur tank *»! to-d.y to. gon. do,n ten per cent. w. «„o,„. ttiey'.e totg.t.en ttott troubles ere this, And that X denied them the thrice asked for kiss; But just to make sure, I’ll steal up to their door, For I never spoke harsh to my darlings be¬ fore.” So saying, he softlv ascended the stairs. And arrived at the door, to hear both their prayers; His Annie’s “bless papa,” draws forth the big tears, And Willie’s grave promise falls sweet on his ears. “Strange, strange, I’d forgotten," said he, with a sigh, “How l longed, when a child, to have Christmas draw nigh. ™ ‘“”7" ' ' ‘"*" aly “By answering their prayers ere I sleep in my bed ” The Democrat. vol. I. Then lie turn'd to the stairs, and softly Thm e e ' r- iPpers *" d . Sl k dressing , K-»S MW. .»d the Street— A millionaire—facing the coM, driving sleet; Not stopped he until he had bought ° f candy, the tiny gold ring; his store 1 outnumbered a score Then homeward he turned, with his holi day load, And with Aunt Mary's help in the nursery ’twas stowed ; Miss dolly was seated beseath a pine tree, By the side of a table spread out for her ~ - «-• - — **££*•«*»'*»**»>* A soldier, in uniform, stood by a sled “With bright sliiuing runners, and all paint ed red.” There were balls, dogs and horses, books pleasing to see, And birds of all colors were perched in the tree; While “Santa Claus,’* laughing, stood up in the top, As if getting ready more presents to drop, And as the fond father the picture surveyed, lie tho't for his trouble he'd lieen amply w to himsdf, aa lie tru.hod off a rve n^re true pleasure Ilian ever befor< "'hat care Iifhnnk stock fell ten per cent. Hereafter, I’ll make it a rule, Lbelieve. To have "Santa C’laus” visit us each Christ¬ mas eve.” So thinking, he gently extinguished the light, And tripped down stnirs to retire for tlie night. As soon as the beams of tlie bright morning sun PfH u ,ie , aikness , v . , to flight, l( and the stars Four little bluesycs out of sleep opened Wide, And at the same, moment the presents their lids they c,r r And the very gifts pray'd for were all of " m ,,UM '' They laughed and they cried, in their inno¬ cent glee, And shouted for “Papa" to come quick and see What presents “Santa Claus" blo t in the night— (Just the things that they -wanted), and left before light; And . now,” added Annie, in voice soft and ,ow - “You'll believetlicre’sa *SantaClaus,'Papa, I know While dear little Willie climbed up on his knee, Detel‘'r uic ^ ho secret between them should *>c. 1 And told hi soft wi,lepers how Annie ha.' said That their blessed mama, so long ago dead, Used to kneel down and pray by the side of her chair, And that God up in Heaven had answered her prayer ; ’and “Deu we dot up prayed just as well as we could, And God answered our prayer, now wasn’t lie flood!” “I should say he was if He sent you all these* And knew just what presents my children would please, (‘Well, well, let him think so, the dear little elf, ’T-vould be cruc-l to tell him I did it my¬ self.’ ”) Blind father ! who caused your stern heart to relent And the hasty words spoken so soon to re* pent? 'Twas the Being who bade you steal softly upstairs. And made you IHs agent to answer their prayers. —------------------------ — MISCELLANEOUS. ---- _ --^ CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. - by a new york merchant. tu.,,,,. ll . . . . , r ho nours ’ ana slooa eleven to one. ine case was a very plain , one, at least we * boug^y“ttT«t^ eV ™ ‘‘“'f'* ^ 'dtod! to circumstances . , pointed ...... to the prisoner’s guilt with unfailing certainty. The recusant juror had stood out from the first. He acknowledged the cogency of the proofs, confessed his inability to reconcile the facts with the defendant’s innocence, and yet, on every vote, went stead By for acquittal. His conduct was inexplicable. It could not result from a lack of intelligence ; for, while he spoke but little, his words were well chosen, and evinced a through understanding of the case. Though still in the prime of manhood, his looks were prematurely white, and hjg face wore a giugi^^y S ad and thoughtful expression He series might be one of those ttto entered to to the right of society to inflict the death penalty. But no, it was not that : for. Crawfordyille, Georgia, Decpoiber 21, 1877. in reply to such a suggestion, he frankly admitted that brutal men, like the vicious brutes they resemble, must be of death, the y™*l. f.»r, terror, ana is, .1,.. in M supreme many (:lassC8 > Die only adequate restraint. At the prospect of another night of fruitless imprisonment, we began to grow impatient, and expostulated warm ly against what seemed an unreasonable captiousnoss; and some not over kind remarks were indulged in ;VJ to th0 im _ PTOP™ty of trifling with an oath like that under which we were acting. “And yet,” the man answered, as though communing with himself, rather than repelling the imputation, “it is conscience that hinders my concurrence d™ follow judgment.” “But here she cau know no other guide.” “I once would have said the same.” “And what has changed b J your opin i<m xpenence. The speaker’s manner was visibly agitated, and we waited in silence the explanation which he seemed ready to give. Mastering his emotion, as if in *»** “ « just beginning life. lew had brighter prospects, and none blighter hopes. An attachment, dating from childhood, had yerbal with declaration its object. There^iad been no anil acceptance of love—no formal blighting of troth ; but when I took my departure to seek a home In the distant West, it was a thing understood that when I had found it and put it in order she was to share it. Life in the forest, though solitary, is not necessarily lonesome. The kind of society afforded by Nature, depends much on one’s self. As for me I “me in the. future, than in the aurt Hop® 18 an evei-cheerful At length t he time came for making the final paynent on the h,|me which I l,r.d ^hl h^vforvyunl l a si„,j7lh dwelling, which J bad spared no ijains to render inviting, would be graced iiu i.inn office oince, which which was was some some sixty miles off, I met my old friend, George C . f lie, too, had come to seek bis fortune in tlie West; and we were both delighted at the meeting. lie brought with him, he said,. a sum of money which lie desired to invest in on which it was his nurnose i -G to to set set- ; ’ 1 • • ,. / T d sU tl e ' eX1 ’ reSS f a '°"S wisl ‘ > have 11111 for ; 1 “eighboi, an,l gave him a cor dial,nv,tat,onto accompany me home, IC 35 n) > relief that he could no t/'.Wcl^T that vicimty. a b lie TT U<, ‘ readily S( ! e ? tl0n consented, lImn In j and we sot out together. We had not i ridden uluny mdeP ’ J]“ w j len en George ge suddenly lecollectcd a commission . , . ho llad undertaken for a friend, which would require his attendance at a pub Ho land sale on the following day Ex actiug a promise that ho would not delay his visit longer than necessary, and liav ing given minute directions as to the mn . ( , t continued mv wav lioinpwaril ' ' ’ . .. . t . , . “I was ‘ about retiring C to bed 7 on the from without called’tne to the door. A stranger asked shelter for himself and his horse for the night I invited Him in . ' Though a sftaimcr ? ’ his face seemed no t uufarnaUiM: . lU w a8 pvobably oue of m the yie men men Iliad Iliad seen seen at at thelandoffiee thelandoffice— a place, at that time, much frequented, Offering him a seat, I went to see liis horse. The poor animal, as well as I could see by the dim starlight, seemed to have been hardly used, liis panting sides bore witness of merciless riding ; a n<1 ? trema}o “® shrinking, at the slightest , , toucli, betokened recent fright. On re-entering the house, J found the stranger was not there. liis absence eXCited n ° SUr ?r ■* he TSf d0Hbt ! eS8 soon return. i It was a. little singular, however,, that he should have left his W»B »» «* returning, ^ I went “f to 'T* the again gtab , thinking he might have found his way thither to give personal attention to the wants of his horse. Before going out, from mere force of habit—for we were as yet unifested by either thieves or policemen—I took the precaution of putting the stranger’s watch in a drawer >n which I kept my valuables. I found , the horse as I had left him, and gave him the food which he was now suffi ciently cooled te be allowed to eat; but his master was nowhere to be seen. As 1 approached the house, a crowd of men on horseback dashed up, and I was com ' manded, in no gentlejtones, to ‘‘stand In another moment I was in the clutches ;-“«• "'>» <«— « “ «•* “I was too much stupefied at first to ask what it all meant. I did so at last, and the ^^ nrtion end with came—it whom I was had rible! My' r ‘ > so lately set ut in company, had lieen tend spot at wl.;.‘V> m#**?*, h<H I alone, knew «“ we had supra, 1 was the last person known U itil him, and I was llovv arrested > g iucion of lli3 murder. A search of*^ 6 I he premises watch was immediately instituted wa8 found in the drawer in 1 ha<1 it aud, was Wei , t f as the property of the murder . U n ' Dl3 hor «’ t0 °; waa in my stab|> l ' r 1,v t,le ' other animal 1 I recognized had just put tlie.v *. - Uimt' V- 11 I saw liimin the light. Wh:i\ *'■ I know not. My con fusioli" ^“n as additional evidence. “T; qunt is mheront in at lefcat!’ v ° w ^ 3 nien. It may not always R.f^ i.Jovnetimes iis *hl. in physical vio lenco. contents itself with qumiug,. lynching ; character. But whatever its form, , J* ^ways relentless, , pit dess, cruel. tii^'oofs ^ ‘^s °f my guilt, ono after another to light, low niutterings gradual ; l: v * n ^° a claupq- for veu .. ,7 hut lor the firmness genco; ;l of one ^ 'LTS it was || s > ln Patliy for me that actuated K r< ’ tector ' hfisliaart was as lianl i-* v i ’ dfhuc; but ho represented the maj. ^ of the law, aud took a sort 0 f g r i m • JJt? in the iiosiUou. As much under tj v-hnice of his eye as before the murrie c f» is * >lsto '“ tho c °wardly orers A v baci ' Perhaps they were not Suffic? 1 - 1 ? numerous to feel the full wJ mysterious reflex influence which 11w a c:owd o£ mcn so much ^ worse oi^l ti,, ms so much better, than *-heui singly. u ( A some my | CHme could have but one result.-j . CircuntJ*^ 3 100 plainly declared my i guilt. ! c one knew they lied. The I -^j-.r, was ^ very brief. To , j^anfV.t g in,^ », tl ?. V ,L ami it no ■ pressionJ As nttift teiftesslon was W.Ww-' made | b v the words of the judg, whmV. et i ^ ar.d his solemn invocation tliat GoJ might liavo that mercy upon me which man too just to vouchsafe, sound e d like tho hollow mockeries. It may he hard for the condemned criminal to meet death • it is still harder for him who is ! innocent ° The ® one ° nt ’ when wheu tUe the 11 rst shock , is over, acquiesces ill Ills doom, and gives himself to repentance ; the heart of the other, filled with rebel lion against man’s injustice, can scarce bring itself to u.sk pardon of God I hiul gradually overcome this feeling, in spite of tll0 Rood clergyman’s irritating ' , lr i,:„i, i wi r “i-unly dncctcd . .. to ’ - - ward « extracting , a confesssion, without ..... which, lie assured me, he had no hope to offer . “On the morning of the day fixed for my execution I felt miserably resigned. r |, ad sn i. m _ occult death de ‘ lth ’ bad 1M 80 so accustomed <\\ myself k to » look upon it as merely a momentary pang, that I no longer felt solicitous save that memor y should oneduy be vindicated, She for whom I had gone to prepare a Theli^of ! 7 t mv t c ‘ lla,ult Z y l\TT' ' 111,1 bn,kf '“ , ,e a <mo of a11 tll<! wor!d ’ belieVed me 1,,,,<)c ‘ ent ;. an<1 she dl « l wit, ‘ In b yet be he brought bioi ght toti.mf t light. aVuu All tins I ba d heard, and it had soothed as with sweet insene my troubled spirit. Death, however unwelcome the shape, was now a p0 rtal, beyond which I could see one an gel waiting to receive me. I heard U ie sound of approaching footsteps, and nfcrved myself to meet tho expected summons. The door of my cell opened, and the sheriff and his attendants entered He held in his hand a paper. It was doubtless my death-warrant. He began t0rcad il - My thou « htg were elesvv here. The words “full and free pardon ,o were the first to strike my „,»c,« V ied »tntos. They .fleeted ll„. ?* — ■»>«" it was; I was pardoned for an offense I ha d never committed 1 “The real culprit, none other, it is needless to say, than he who had sought and abused ray hospitality wounded in a recent affray in a distant, city, hut had lived long enough to make a disclosure, which had been laid before tho governor barely in time to save me from a sliarne ful death, and condemn me to a cheer¬ less and burdensome life. This is rny experience. My judgment, as yours, in the case before us, leads to but one con¬ clusion, that of the prisoner’s guilt; but not less confident and apparently unerr¬ ln 2 "as the judg ent that falsely pronounced my own. charge, on tlie ground of inability agree which came at last. N o. 43. The prisoner was tried ami convicted at a subsequent term, and at the Inst moment confessed his crime ou the “**• -— ’ — His Postal Card. At ten o’clock yesterday forenoon a man wearing a doubtful look appeared at the stamp clerk’s window in the Post Office, and asked for a postal card and facilities for writing. He was a time getting ready to put his pen to the card, and he had only made a stroke or t we when he call 3d out: “How do you spell “Jim ¥” “Why, J-i-m, of course,” answered the clerk. “Don’t look as if it was right ” said bystander. »»,«," grew a “How else can you spell the name ?” “That’s so_how could I ?’• smiled man, as he looked again. “I’ll nut J-i-m against any other style of spelling sitting every time. Now, v - h.s , other name is . \ el knock me down if I haVu’t forgotten I Why, hang it, I have known him for ten years, and now I can’t think of his name ! Jim— Jim Jim J-i-m —yum 1” “ ‘.TT T of the name afterward.” “.So I can. I want to say to him that Ills wife is sick rent,’and abed his landlord u howling around for that he’d bet ter coma home. How do you suell it?” “I’ll write it,” answered the clerk. “Hecouldn’t read yourshoarograpfiy ” said the stranger. “Jim isn’t much on education, and I have to write as poorly M I can or he couldn’t make out a word Less see 1 Do you want to start on with with V. S., or what V” “1 should say: ‘You arc wanted at home to once,’if It was me,” suggested a car driver who was after a stamp. “’Tvvouldn’t do,” sighed the man ’uri -.g Vis head, “I wouldn’t dara t!l " « “im suddenly, lllrf tj twUom'“ <t ° ^ W '' 1U ' r at ° ‘ e “Where is he sbme one asked. “Whv .J_ in in ■. hy , b “' ltt!r . ’ mv „. U w!iv “I’ll bet von’ve drivf h 1 > PlaC 1 ° i<> should ‘ t hcc-ir “ 1 i m *’ Tim 1 m, Jim, T i and .. he in ' .’ s V, 1 , ., gni>V0<I t!lp rnan b" * 8 '°oked 1 around with an appeal in his prei) ‘ The crowd mentioned twenty different !Z places but ho shook his h' 8 head head at at each each “If you can’t think of his name, and can’t remember liis address,how are you going to send the card ?” asked the clerk. “That’s so-how am I?” sighed the man. “If you was me you wouldn’t send It, would you ?” “I don’t think I would womu. ” hen I won’t:. If his wife can think of his name and the place where he is she’d better write it.” When he walked away he carried his l,at in one hand and scratched his head with the other, and muttered : With a grCat bi « ‘ J ’’ a,,d Hlistcr my ears with a great big “B,” and ought to liave written his name down on the door or somewhere. Less seel ' r ‘ i ' In ’ ^ hl " in ’” an<1 he di8ap ' peared U p Congress street. Not Educated. Jake was heard calling across*, the fence to his neighbor’s son, a colored youth, who goes to school at the Atlanta University: “Look liyar, boy, yer goes ter school, don’t yer ?” “Yes, sir,” replied the boy. “Gittin’ eddykashun, ain’t yer 1” “Yes, sir.” “Well, it don’t take two whole days to make a hour, does it V” “W’yno!” exclaimed the boy »V« tea. gtvine to bfing dat hatoliet "««■ »*»'’ W “Yes, sir.” “An’ it’s bin two days sense you bor rowed it. Now what good’s eddykashun gwine to do you thick-skulled niggers when yer go to school a whole year and den can’t tell how long It takes to fetch back a hatchit ?” “You appear to be very happy, my lit¬ tle man—what is the cause of it ?” ask ed a gentleman of an urchin on the street. “Pop is drunk, mam is in jail, Bill has the measles, and there is nobody to git me off to school. Hope this busi ness will last all winter,” said the fel low, as he vaulted over a hydrant. -—♦—■ The following advertisement recently Vg&JS, to dispose of will please send manure word or drop it through the po t office.” THE DEMOCRAT ADVERTISING RATES: One Square, first Insertion . . ; 3 l One S«|uare,eaebsubsequent insertion 1$ One Square, three months 10 uo One Square, twelve months i.t uo Quarter Column, . twelve months , . 20 IM Half Column twelvemonths au uo One Column . twelve mouths . 1UU 00 13t" One Inch or Less considered aa a square. We have no fractions of a square, all fractious of squares will be counted aa squares. Liberal deductions made on Coin tract Advertising. Fir«t Th' v ,rst * * nv e]°pes , used in 1839. Si S" Z to"”— pen was made "to, m IMS 1830. 0 ' . firSt dlscovered igu™ ] ‘ eSla WaS H* T1 f 1 t 1 UC1 r er match was made in i$%g The first ballon ascent was made ln 1783. The first ^ i™, ♦ , ■ Wa * v buUt ta i The first horse railroad iaiiroad w*« was h„.tt built in lSb’,-7 Z,':' ° 1 tl co PP er ... bottomed 111 ' iq r ’ ir ^ ,,ache9 were first U9ed in England In - »— ‘“ '"> ln u * 111 lK l< *' , 11 xr Y riJ'L.i . . ^ e ." l9 ';" alcncswereinaaeat - Nu reitt The Inst t newspaper advertisement at* ^ ln 1652 Kerosene was first used for liffhtinir gU ® purposes fh-stcomi.tr in 1826 The conf »<u coined : a . In 1 v ''' U ‘' ' Von' l’iuchTnTdtT ^ ^ W‘T 1 * a, * Vil ' Vwsbro,,flfht tll mer n " ' 1 10 , 119 , printing press 111 . the tinted ' sta . h‘ a introduced in 1020 ™ f W ' !* introduced '“to ltome from 1 adua in 130H ," Ht ntroduoed m the eighth centin-y. ( _ f nR ot * tl "* conti * , , b , ht f ^rom England in 1758. ™ 9 '* ,,ate,,te,i ^"t 1 c ” 1,y ln ' ,f Elia. ‘ le 88Will Howe, K machino Jr., ln “Come ma’„n^ mi ” aeid a ohanfmin iLt7” ai ,i,nni “how am ttore in a -How can anybody tell that, foolish '■'V* ***» y»» >>sl. p Ult ‘ re ii; j,18t ono P >" P>'d, the world ^ 1 e3rs whwn Abraham Lincoln wa8 tt d ® cl1 hand on a flat-boat, a mail wid to lllni: “ Somo of tho who pass up and down the river on these arks are perfect divinities.” “Yes,” said he, "real ark angels.” A Jefferson country boy thinks there Is an advantage in courting through the telephone, as you don’t have to wash your neck and put on a clean collar. An Inch deep of rain weighs 1000,003 tons, or nearly 101 tons per aero. For every lOOOth of an inch, a ton of water falls jier aero. A woman’s skeleton sells for more than a man’s in Philadelphia, but its a week’s extra work to wire tho jaws you know. Next to drink, Jtlicro is nothing that will bring a man down In tlie world quicker than an orange peal. ■i A man in a neighboring town has "Tt into the “ garden so much. ^ What class of workmen are always on H * t " k «- , ‘ on,:ltl * r »<ow high their wages ale • Blacksmiths. A man in England, named Augur, lately tried to commit suicide because be found life such a bore. Why was George Washington like a political stump speaker? Because he couldn’t tell a lie. One of the most popular hoods for con¬ versation among ladies is usually their neighborhood. It is the opinion of physicians that a man with water on his brains should wear a plug bat. A Mrs. Flank lias opened a hotel in Illinois. Good board should como from Flank. What is tlie difference between a hill and a pill ? One is hard to get up and the other is hard to get down. Good partners at whist—a chimney¬ sweep and a born-player. One can fol¬ low soot and the other can trumpet. Now is the time when tlie mosquito w j gb(;8 b(J were a dea . *- ■ * If fish are mute, the phrase “codfish balls” must be inaccurate. A *, tna.ch-t, ten yen, engagement. Now is the time to subscribe, only i'2-