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4 1' CHRISTMAS TiME.
At Christmas time last year
Bo many friends that are now gone were
here!
Bo many hopes were glowing then unspoken,
Bo many faiths were strong that now lie
broken.
And loving hearts that trusted without fear,
At Christmas time last year.
At Christmas time this year
So many of us find the world so drear
And barren desert wherein blooms no rose.
With mountain peaks surrounding it, whose
snows
Have chilled our hearts, and turned life's
foliage sere
At Christmas time this year.
At Christmas time next year
Who knows what changing fortunes mayba
1 near?
lake courage, then! For night shall turn to
day.
From brightening skies the clouds must roll
away,
And faith and hope and love shall all be here
At Christmas time next year!
—Helen M. Winslow.
A CHRISTMAS FAN.
LLL! it is finished at
' aS * '^ Sn it a beauty?
The speaker, a
i -A: pretty looking girl and of bright- eight
een, pushed away her
palette, rose from her seat, and standing
in the midst of the room, held up with
a graceful pose n lan of silk and mother
of-pearl, exquisitely painted.
“Indeed, Eva, it is your masterpiece,”
said an elderly girl, tall and handsome,
as she took the fan and examined it.
A pleased smile lit the pale face of a
lady who reclined in a rocking-chair,
engaged in the certainly not artistic work
of darning linen—fine old linen which
told plainly enough that the owners had
known “better times.”
“I will take it at once to Monsieur
Fouquerein, ” Eva said, turning to a mir
ror, and beginning to adjust the pretty,
gold-brown curls above her smooth fore
head. l i It wants only three days to
Christmas, and he was anxious to get all
my work in time. The rest I can finish
to-morrew.”
And enveloped in a thick veil and man- I
Me, she left the house in which they had
lodgings, an l tripped lightly down the
street to the store of a dealer in “fancy
and artistic work,” in a fashionable busi
ness quarter of the city.
It was Christmas Eve, and the snow
was falling without, as Mrs. Belton sat
in her cozy dressing-room, looking over
a quantity of dainty articles, useful or
ornamental, which stewed the table be
fore her.
Opposite her sat a handsome young
lady, with a magazine lying open in her
lap, idly looking on, and occasionally
«
making a rather sarcastic remark, which
seemed not at all to disturb the elder
lady—her aunt.
‘ ‘A terrible bore, this business of pre
senting Christmas gifts," Mrs. Bel ton said,
as she selected and laid aside several arti
cles. “Such a strain upon one’s purse,
where one must give; and one cannot
well avoid it without an appearance of
being mean or stingy.”
“Fortunately, you have a way of escap
ing both alternatives,” said the young
lady, laughing, 4 i You give what costs
you nothing, and so save both purse and
reputation.”
“I do as others do; aud consider it a
very commendable course to give away
what you don't care to keep, and avoid
unnecessary expense. Now, here is this
lovely handkerchief, in an expensive and
useless fancy box—a Christmas present
from Mrs. Jerrold. I happen to know
that it was purchased for Mrs. Jerrold
herself, who, having more handkerchiefs
than she knows what to do with, has
kindly bestowed this upon me. Well, it
shall go further. I will give it to that
pretty Marie Lessing, who sends me flow
ers, and who, being probably not so well
provided with costly gifts, will know
how to value it.”
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“What will you give Mrs. Herrick?
She has been very assiduous Lu taking
SCHLEY COUNTY NEWS.
you out in that elegant new carriage of
hers, when you were so ill. She will ex
pect some acknowledgment.”
t . That is true. I have been thinking
of it, but can find nothing here exactly
suitable,” glancing over the table. “As
for her kindness, the obligation is really
net on my side. She is pushing her way
up, and it was to her advantage my be
ing seen in her carriage. Nevertheless, I
must send her a Christmas token.”
At this moment a servant entered with
a small parcel in her hand, which she
handed the young lady.
The latter received it eagerly,but after
glancing at the address, passed it, with
a dlsa .. PP mnted air < to hei ‘ aunt , ‘
“For me? and in the Major's haudwrit
ing,” said Mrs. Belton, with a slight
flush on her rather faded cheek.
She had been a handsome woman, and
was stiH 80 when ' ‘gotten up to be seen;”
and the gallant Major,to whom her hand
was pledged, was twenty years her
senior.
t i Really,” she added, as she unsealed
the parcel and drew forth an elegant fan,
“I must say that the Major displays a
great taste in his selection of presents.
What a lovely design, and how exquis
itely painted ! And yet I am disappointed,
for I had hoped it was something for
you, Eulalie, from Neil. My dear,” with
a solemn shake of the head, “I begin to
fear that you will never succeed there!”
“But I will succeed!” the girl replied,
with a sudden, sharp decision of voice
and expression. “You will see!”
“I hope so; for,as you know,my heart
is set upon this match. Neil Gordon is
not rich, but between you there will be
enough; and in other respects he is the
safest match that I know of—and that is
what you most need, Eulalie. If you
will be a little less open in your encour
ment of him, and we can keep him out
of the way of that Maynard girl—”
“I don’t believe there was anything in
it,” interrupted Eulalie, hastily, “1
don't think he cared for her—a girl who
makes her living by painting and music.”
“The Maynards are of good family,
though poor, and these girls are well
educated and ladylike. Neil thinks it
nobler in them to prefer not to be de
pendent upon their relatives. Eva in
deed, let me assure you, is a rival not to
be despised; and if I had any idea of
how things might turn out, I would
never have engaged her to paint those
water-color sketches last summer. To
think of Neil going with her always to
select views and act as escort and pro
tector!”
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i i It was her artfulness, and I believe
they have moved to town purposely to
throw themselves in his way!” said Miss
Eulalie, sharply.
“No, they are too proud for that; but
I have taken care to put him on an en
tirely false trail. And he is not likely
to renew his search, since I informed him
of what I heard from Wilkins—that
Miss Maynard is shortly to marry that
clever young country parson, Mr. Boyd.
Of course, I did not consider it necessary
to mention that the prospective bride is
^ a “’' a ’ and n( ? t ® va ‘
( The loquacious lady paused her dis
in
course to renew her examination of the
fan—the Christmas offering of the gal
lant Major.
4 4 What a pity that his judgment did
no ^ e ff Uf d bis taste, and prompt him to
^' lect something more appropriate to my
age. This is too light and youthful for
me : and it strikes me now that it would
be the very thing for Mrs. Herrick.”
“But if the Major should see her with
it.”
“Nonsense! He could only see it on a
close scrutiny, and then would not rec
ognize it. Really it has come just at the
right time!”
“Certainly. How Providence does
provide!” laughed Eulalie, satircally.
And before an hour had passed, the
fan, with an elegant little note from Mrs.
Belton, was in the hands of Mrs. Her
rick.
-“It’s perfectly lovely!” said that lady,
admiringly. “But what am I to do with
so many Ians? I have already a score of
them for which I have no use. This one,
1 know, is from Fouquerein’s, for I saw it
yesterday, and noticed these tiny initials,
>E. L. M.,’ among the heartsease. I will
take it there, and exchange it for that
lovely bonboniere to give to Mrs. De
Lancey. If Mrs. Belton ever sees it
again, she will imagine it a duplicate, ”
Later on that Christmas Eve a hand
some young man entered the fashionable
emporium of M.Fouquerein,and inquired
for something appropriate as a Christmas
gift for a lady.
Several articles were placed before
him, one of which seemed instantly to
take his fancy. Ir was a fan of silk and
mother-of-pearl, painted in water-colors;
and as he closely examined it, his eye de
teeted, half-hidden amid blue forg3t-me
uots, the tiny initials, E. L. M.
At once before his vision rose a sweet,
fair face, with brown eyes, and golden
brown hair shading a pure, white fore
head.
How often, in the summer past, they
had walked together amid fields and
woods, and on the bank of that lovely
river whose beauties she had so skillfully
sketched!
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Then, when he went back to visit her
in her rural home she and her family had
disappeared—swallowed up. in the big
city to which they had gone—and not to
be found or heard of, until there came to
him, from his uncle's widow, the intelli
gence of her approaching marriage with
the young clergyman, of whom he had
been somewhat jealous, even though he
had, as he fancied, good reason to be
lieve that his OAvn sentiments were un
derstood and reciprocated by the fair
girl, who, indeed, had never ceased to
think of him, despite his apparent for
getfulness of her.
“Do you know who painted this fan?”
Mr. Neil Gordon asked of the polite pro
P^tor, Mons. fouquerein.
C ertainly monsieur knew; buthe was
unfortunately under obligations not to
reveal the name or address of the artist.
4 k Could the lady paint another such as
this—say in time for a New Year's gift?”
“I presume so, monsieur. If monsieur
desire, I can at once send an order for a
duplicate.”
And he obsequiously took the gentle
man’s address
“How soon can you send it?” the lat
ter inquired.
“At once; in fifteen minutes; so soon
as my office boy returns, if that will suit
monsieur.”
The gentleman left the shop, and se
cured the first messenger boy he chanced
to meet.
For a pecuniary consideration this
youth agreed to follow M. Fouquerein’s
office boy, take the address of the house
to which he should go, and immediately
inform Mr. Neil Gordon thereof, at the
latter's residence.
It was a simple plot, but, as it proved,
effective.
It was barely 8 o’clock when Eva May
nard came in from a walk—one of the
long and lonely walks to which she was
accustomed when her day’s work was
over. She found the little tea table laid
and a small parcels for herself, with a
note, lying upon the table.
“It is my mother-of-pearl fan,” she
said, after glancing over the note.
“Mons. Fouquerein has a customer who
wants both this and a duplicate, to be
ready for New Year's. I was sure it
would be liked, and now 1 think I shall
soon get plenty of custom.”
An hour after, when her mother had
retired, and she sat reading aloud, while
Laura sewed on what looked like a piece
of bridal trousseau, there came a riug at
the front doorbell.
The girl whose business it was to wait
oil Mrs. Sutton's lodgers, hastened to
answer the summons, and immediately
appeared in Mrs. Maynard’s rooms.
“A gentleman to sec you, Miss Eva;
and here's his card, mum.”
Laura glanced at the card in Eva's hand,
and then at the blushing face of her
sister; and well posted in such delicate
matters, slipped out of the room as the
visitor entered.
“It is Mr. Gordon, mamma,” she
answered, to her mother's inquiry, 4.T
knew he would cotne some day, though
Eva doubted it. ”
Aud when, an hour later, Eva came,
radiant yet subdued, it needed but one
glance at her face to know what kind of
an interview she had had with the lover
she had deemed so forgetful.
Mrs. Belton learned in time, to her
great vexation, that had she been more
appreciative of the Major’s Christmas
present, her late husband’s nephew had
probably never married “that Maynard
girl,” who, as Mrs. Neil Gordon, was
now so much admired in society.
She still owns the Christmas fan, but
has never painted its duplicate.
Yule-Log and Mistletoe.
The Y*ule-Log and the Mistletoe are
traditional garnishments, so to speak, of
the English, and largely of our own
Christinas holiday. From Scandinavians,
who in winter built immense fires on the
hill-tops in honor of the sun’s return, we
borrowed the yule-log. And it became
an English custom to preserve a bit of
one year’s yule-log to light the fires on
^ Qe great hearth at the following Christ
mas-tide, in token of warmth and plenty
to abide in the household throughout the
year. When the log was ready to be
brought in, the youngest child of the
family was seated upon it, and all the
rest assembled to witness its entrance,
drawn by the merry retainers, and to
prepare it for the lighting.
An English superstition is that the
bees sing in their hives between the 24th
and 25th of December, while mysterious
bells can be heard echoing underground.
From the Druids come our Christmas
decorations of evergreen garlands and
the mistletoe. The latter was sacred to
them, particularly that which grew upon
an oak tree. It was considered medi
cinal, and especially believed, until a late
day, to be a certain cure for epilepsy.
With great pomp,at the winter solstice,
the priests and people surrounded the
oak upon which the sacred vine grew,
and the chief priest in his white robes
ascended into the branches to cut down
the twisted stems and waxen berries of
the mystic plant, with a golden knife.
There must have been steel in the yellow
blade, however, for the mistletoe bough
is tough. Then followed the slaying of
“two snow-white bullocks,” as one
chronicle bas it, w r hile another saith just
as positively, “two milk-white heifers.”
Then in both accounts are given ghastly
details of human sacrifice.
But this is past, and to-day the mistle
toe remains to us a joyous harbinger of
merriment and harmless cheer.
It maketh spring in winter—
Our merry Christmas Day;
May it chase frost and snow
Forever far away.
Bound to Attract Santa Claus's At
tention.
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Having no stockings to hang up, they
stripe their legs—
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And leave the lamp burning, so Santa
Claus can see them. We hope he will!
Christmas Fun.
Christmas is the great modern give
away.
Now, girls, bring out the fifty-cent
necktie for Charles, and prepare to re
ceive a $50 locket.
The best Christmas gift' is what every
man may give himself. And that is a
good record.
“Books suitable for the holidays,”
reads an advertisement. But it fails to
mendou tlic ,uost important—pocket
’ ,ooks and bankbooks,
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Under the Mistletoe Bough.
She (coyly)—“Now, you must only take
one, George.”
He (gallantly)—“But one from one
leaves nothing, Mublc. f-et's make it
one each and tie.”
She (blushing)—“It’s very sudden
George, but you may ask papa.
With children a Christmas present beats
any Christmas
bUilAKY CO OAT V.
Schley County is composed of t«rttory cut
vS. from Sumter, Marlon and Ma- on
lt counties,
was organize;] in 18C6, aud mini, u f ■r ane oC
the old Colonial Gove: nors of G, org Gov
a;
ernor Schley.
Its location is Southwest-Central. Area 180
square miles. General features, hilly, inter
spersed with level plateax. The soil is verjr
fertile all over the county, but varies in color,
some places being red clay, some dark brown,
very sticky in wet weather, some pebbly and
some sandy, under-laid with clay subsoil.
Cotton, corn, sugar-cane, oat3, peas, pota
toes, pumkins, melons, rice, wheat, rye, bar
ly, peanuts and cliufas; peaches, pears,prunes,
pomegranates, plums, apples, aprioots, quin
ces, cherries, grapes, mulberries, strawberries,
raspberries, goose berries, beets, cabbage, cu
cumbers, squashes, tomatoes, turnips and oth
er field, orchard and garden products, grow
here to perfection.
The fence corners, waste places in old field
and forest, abound in all kinds of wild fruit,
such as blackberries, blueberries, gooseberries
whortleberries, May haws, black haws, plums,
cherries, crab apples,persimmons, fox grapes,
Winter grapes, muscadines, chinquepins,
hickory nuts and chestnuts.
Besides the native crab, crowfoot and other
grasses, many of the best varieties of import
ed grasses do well here, especially Barmuda,
herds, blue and orchard grass.
The no fence law prevails in the county, yet
stock raising is rapidly becoming one of the
leading industries of the county some of the
finest horses in the South are raised here, and
the rich golden butter and sweet country hams
that are daily brought to market by the far
mers of Schley, could not be beaten anywhere.
Cotton is the money crop of the county, but
happily the day has past and forevevr gone
when the people of Schley depended on other
sections for their meat and bread. Nearly ev
ery farmer in the county makes plenty of corn
and bacou for home consumptions and many
of them make a surplus to sell. No particular
attention is given to poultry raising, yet the
people have all they want for home use and
one man with ahorse and wagon keeps busy
the year round hauling chickens and eggs from
Schley county to Americus.
The health of the •ounly is excellent, theav
erage elevation being near two thousand feet
above sea level and drainage is generally good
an epidemic of any diseases, was never known
here.
The farminir people of Schley are inteligent
cultivated and refined as any agricultural peo
ple in the world. The county is dotted with
Bchool houses and churches, and a half grown
person who cannot read and write is seldom,
if ever met with, and of the negro race most
of them since freedom can read and write.
CENTRAL -v- HOTEL
Under New Management.
The Central Hotel, at Columbus Ga., is
fast becoming a great resort for
the traveling public.
This hotel has been thoroughly renovated
inside and out and put in first-class order, and
the fare, as well as the accommodations, is all
that could be desired. This hotel is centrally
located, large rooms, well ventilated and fur
nished in modern style. Polite and attentive
servants. The table supplied with all the del
icacies of the Beason, making it a most popu
lar resort for drummers and the traveling
public generally.
GEORUE W. DAVIS
BARBER
Shop east side court honse^square. Hair cut
20 cents. Shave 10 cents. Shampoo ‘25 eents.Sat
Jsfaction guaranteed.
“W’lLL. 3J 1 ARRIS
n
Repairing done with neatness and dis
patch.
Prompt attention given to ail orders.
Shop Southeast corner of public square.
Ellaville Ga.
A GENTS W ANTED
TO SELL AN EN
TIRELY NEW BOOK
The most wonderful collection o 2 practica
feal value ar.d erery-day use lor the peopD ev
er publihe,. on the glode. A marvel of money
saving ard money earning for every one owing
it, Q’hourands of beautiful, helpful engravings
showing just liovv to do everything. No compe
tition; nothing like it in the universe. When
you select that which is of true value sales are
sure. All sincerely desiring paying employment
and looking for something thoroughly flrst-rlas*
at an extriordinary low price, should write for
description and terms on the most remarkable
achievement in book making since the world
began.
SCAMMELL – CO., Box 5002,
ST. LOUIS or PUILADEPHIA.
PATENTS
Caveats, and Trade-Marks obtained, and all Pat
ent business conducted for Moderate Fees.
Our Office is Opposite U. S. Patent office
and we can secure patent in lees time than Ch OM
remote from Washington.
Send model, drawing or photo., with dessrip
tion. We advise, if patentable or w>t, free of
charge. Onr fee not dne till patent is secured.
A Pamphlet, “How to Obtain Patents," with
names of actual clients in your State, county, «»
town, sent free. Address,
C. A. SNOW – CO.
opp. Patent Office, Washington, o. C.