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f E BOY’S COMPLAINT.
ire questions in physics and grammar
it would puzzle you somewhat, I know.
du tell what is'meaut by inertia?
„ clearly define rain and ?
Cau you snow
Do you know there’s a valve in the bellows ?
Can you tell why your clock is too slow V
Why the pendulum needs looking after?
Perhaps it is swinging too low.
“They was going uptown in the evening,”
Do you call that bad grammar. I n«y V
I'm sure Mary Jones and her mother
Say worse things than that every day.
But I s'pose “was” should he in the plural,
To agree with its old subject “they,”
According to rule—my ! I’ve lost it,
There’s two per cent, gone right away.
And, now, only look at the parsing,
It, will surely take in every rule:
And. dowm at the end, more false synta*.
With authorities given “in full.”
Arithmetic, my ! how I hate it,
Tm stupid at that in the class;
So how, in the name of creation,
Can I be expected to pass ?
Here’s a ten-acre lot to be fenced in,
Here is duty to find on some tea;
Here’s a problem in old aliegation,
And a monstrous square-root one I see.
Can yon tell who defeated the Indians?
Do yon know who was killed in a duel?
Do you know what the first tax was raised on ?
And how tome just thought it most cruel ?
Perhaps I may pass on an average,
If three-fourths are right I’ll get through;
But my teacher calls such things shabby,
So what is a poor boy to do ?
Annie H. Streatek.
Capturing a Still.
The other night, Major Griddlewood,
who long ago won his spurs as an effi¬
cient revenue officer, related the follow¬
ing story: had great deal of
At one time we a
trouble with illicit distillers in Arkansaw.
There was one neighborhood especially
where it seemed impossible community to discover
the outlaws. This was away
tip on White river. Officer after officer
had been sent up, and quite a number of
them are there yet, although the depart¬
ment did not receive notification that
they intended to leave the service. One
•lay the news came in that one of our
best men had just been killed at Drip¬
ping Springs, by which name the dan¬
gerous neighborhood was known. I
was sent for by the marshal, who said:
“Major, you have had considerable
success in hunting for distillers. Now
we want you to find those fellows arid
bring them to justice. As you know,
none of our men have been able to find
them and—”
“They've lief n found a trifle too often,’
I suggested. fact,” the marshal agreed,
“That’s a
“but not by the right man. soldiers Now I
want you to take as many as you
want, go to the place and break up the
business.”
I reflected for a moment and replied:
“I think that our mistake has been in
taking too many men. It is almost im¬
possible for a party of men to find a wild
cat distillery. Their approach is soon
heralded and disaster is certain to follow.
I will go alone and discover the nest.
Then I can return and capture the entire
outfit. ”
“Rather hazardous,’’the marshal said,
thoughtfully scratching his head.
“Not so dangerous as the course hith
exto adopted.” judgment.”
“All right; use your own
The next day 1 started on my perilous
expedition. I went horse-back, and my
progress was very slow. When at last I
reached the place, I found a beautiful,
rich country, with great hills and little
valleys luxuriantly carpeted with grass.
I could see no signs of lawlessness, but
on the other hand I was kindly treated.
1 stopped at the house of a man named
Anderson, a well-to-do fellow, with some
and a bright-eyed devoted her daughter, father.
who seemed to be to
I saw at once that Anderson was aii
honest man, and when I learned that he
had been in the Federal army I felt se¬
cure under his roof. Still I did not care
to tell him my real business, but
answer to a question, stated that I was
looking for land in a leisurely sort of
way, having just been discharged from
the regular army and especially desiring which
a rest from that dangerous activity
all army officers incurred.
“Well, sir, yon are welcome at my
house, and I hope you’ll find your stay
pleasant. My daughter, who can row a
boat to perfection, will cheerfully con
tnbnte to your enjoyment. him,
I understand, looking at that
several government officers have been
killed by illicit distillers in this neigh
borhood.”
“Yes,” he replied; “shamefully mnr
dered. Well, I won’t say murdered, for
the distillers no doubt considered it self
defense. Up in the hills, here, some
where, there is a large distillery, but it
will be a long time, I think, before the
government breaks it up. It is almost
impossible to conduct a party ofj men
through the hills, and it is almost cer
tain death, for the distillers can see
almost every turn. My advice would be
to watch for the whisky that’s sent away,
capture the men handling it and compel
them to show the exact location of the
distillery. ” still I made
Several days passed and
no progress. I was not regarded thonght in would that
light of suspicion which I
characterize my appearance among the
people, and I was soon convinced that
the farmers around were not in svmpa
thy with the distillers. Finally I told
Anderson my business.
“Well,” he said, “if I can do any¬
thing for you I’ll do it cheerfully, but
let me advise you not to go into the hills.
Watch the river, as that is the only way
they can possibly ship the stuff. I am
going up the river to-day will after some
walnut lumber, and if you accom¬
pany me we may make a discovery. As
you have no doubt noticed, I make a
treat many coffins. Not for government
officials,” he idiled with a smile, “but
ion supplying cheap coffins for the New
Orleans market. During an epidemic,
;t is almost impossible to get coffins to
the city fast enough, aud at such times
I employ quite a number of men. Come
and I’ll show you my place of business.’’
The shop stood near the river bank.
Several workmen were employed in
dressing walnut lumber. Coffins were
stacked up all around, and a flat boat
was being loaded with the deathly furni¬
ture. I did not go up the river with
Anderson, but took a boat ride with his
daughter. She was not devoid of charms,
and she chatted gaily as she rowed.
“I want pa to leave this place,’ she
said. “Mother pined away and died
from sheer loileliness, and if I were not
so light-hearted, I think I should go that
way too.” illicit ... dis¬
“Do you ever see any of the
tillers ?” I asked.
“I expect I see them, but I don t
know them, of course. They are terri¬
ble when they get mad, but as long as
they are not disturbed you wouldn’t
know that they were in the neighbor¬
hood. When we moved here they re¬
garded pa with lingering suspicion, but
finally, satisfied that he was in no way
connected with the government, they
dismissed their apprehensions and have
ever since treated him with the utmost
courtesy. Pa i» making money out of
the coffin business, but it is such a grim
trade that I cannot half enjoy any finan¬
cial benefit that we derive from it. Say,
you’re hunting for the wild cats, aiut
you ?”
“Hush, don’t talk so loud.”
“Nobody can hear us, but you are,
aint you ?”
“Suppose I were, do think I
would tell any one?”
“I beard you tell father, but it’s all
right. I won’t say anything about it
I haven’t any friends among the wild
cats, and for my part I wouldn’t care if
they “I were all in several prison.” days longer, and
remained
then decided to return to the city, report
unfavorably, adopt other measures, and
again take up the enterprise. and Anderson down
advised me to sell the horse go
with a flat boat load of coffins. I did
not like the idea, but reflecting that it
would be safer, I disposed of my horse,
and was soon ready for the voyage.
I bade my friends an affectionate fare¬
well, and stood on a coffin big enough
for the Cardiff giant, and waved my
handkerchief at Sophia Anderson as the
boat rounded the bend. We had started
early, and by the time the shadows be¬
gan to lengthen, we were a long distance
from Dripping Spring. It seemed to
me that the men on the boat watched
me curiously, for every time I walked
around it appeared that one of them fol¬
lowed me. My suspicions increased as
evening came on, and when I saw- the
men engaged in a whispered violence conversa¬
tion, I was convinced that was
meditated. Happening to notice a cof¬
fin on which several others were piled,
I saw something dripping from it. Just
then I looked up and saw a gnn leveled
at me. In another instant a bullet
whizzed close to my head, so close that
I fell backward into the water. I did
not lose my presence of mind and kept
myself under water as long as possible. several
When I arose to the surface,
other shots were fired, and sinking again
I remained under water until I reached
the shore, which fortunately was not far
away, when I arose under a thick clump
of willows. Through the gathering dark¬
ness I could dimly see the men, and
could hear the splashing of an oar which
I knew was manipulated to keep the
boat from floating down.
“I rockin’he’s all right,” said one of
t
tell yer. Bet lie's got a bullet through
his brain, ef he’s got anv brain.’
“I’d rather bet on the bullet than the
brain,” the first sneaker rejoined.
“We’ve got to be certain about these
things.” said a man who seemed to be in
authority “Yon know what Anderson’s
is. Git a boat thar, Jack, an’ you
Tom paddle out thar awhile. Go
thar to them willows.”
The boat was lowered and the splash
ing of the oars came nearer and nearer.
My heart beat violently. Great God,
the moon came out and shone full on my
face. I eased myself down until only
the tip of my nose was above the surface,
“Thank heaven,” I breathed as a cloud
the iM . » the b„„
brushed the willows. They struck under
their oars, actually struck me once,
an( j as I was about to seize the boat
an( j take my chances of turning it over
and escaping, one of them said:
“He’s all right, I tell you. Think I
can’t hit a man’s head ? Shove her off,”
aU( j"I breathed a prayer as the dip of the
, )ars grew fainter.
I remained in this uncomfortable posi
tion about a half hour longer, then
j rew m y J 8e jf out and was soon traveling
through the wood8> After a terrible
journey of hunger and fatigue I reached
Little Rock and made my report.
Several days afterward I was again
en rou te for Dripping Spring, this time
with a strong posse of men. Touching
White river near the place where I had
fallen overboard, we dismounted to rest,
We had not been there very long until we
ga w the coffin boat returning. I secreted
myself and ordered my men to compel
^j e j, 0 at to land and to bring the men to
our rea ting place, instructing them as to
a f orm 0 f interrogation,
When hailed they readily complied
aud approached the bank. They did
uo f seem to like so much attention, for
they did not move up the bank with any
great degree of alacrity.
“Do you know,” said one of my men,
“What became of a United States official
named Griddlewood, who came up here
same time aeo ?”
“No, sir,” replied the captain of the
coffin boat, “but I heard that he had
bought a piece o’ land over the moun¬
tains an’ has opened a farm.”
“Did you ever meet him ?”
“Believe I did meet him once at Mr.
Anderson’s house. ’Peered to me like
he was sorter in love with the Anderson
gal.” that I could find l:im,
“Don’t suppose
do you?” find him if wuster
“Mout vou go over
the hills.”
“That’s unnecessary,” I remarked,
stepping from behind a tree and con¬
fronting the villains. They their threw up
their hands aud prayed that lives
might be spared. We did not intend to
give them the least chance of escape and
securely pinioning their hands, we took
them down to the boat, where, after
gaining all possible information, I left
them under a strong guard. We were
not long in gaining the neighborhood of
Anderson’s residence. It was a late hour
at night, and we surrounded the house
without alarming anyone. I instructed
one of my officers to call Anderson, and
again I secreted myself.
“Halloa!”
“All right.” came from within the
house, and pretty soon Anderson ap
PG£ir6d said
“Mr, Anderson, I believe,” the
officer.
“Yes, sir; w T on’t you come in ?”
“No, hardly got the time. I’ve come
to this neighborhood in search of Major
Griddlewood. Are you acquainted with
him?”
“Oh, yes, should say I am, for he and
my daughter are to he married soon.
I’ll show her to you. Here, Soph,” and
the girl came out. “Here is a gentle¬
man who is looking for your intended
husband.”
“Good evening, sir. Looking for the
major, eh? How I wish I could see
him.”
“Here I am,” I said, emerging from
my hiding place and confronting my
“intended” and her father. Anderson
actually fell on the ground and his
daugh ter uttered a shriek that made the
woods ring. They were soon made
prisoners and taken to the boat. Next
day the distillery was easily found and
destroyed. The coffins were found to
be lined with tin, and although ominous
looking casks, were not bad as vessels
of shipment.
The prisoners were tried and punished
to the full extent of the law, and ever
since then, the Dripping Spring neigh¬
borhood has been one of the most or¬
derly and law-abiding communities in
the State.
LIMPY JOE.
The Boy Whose .Hother Wan Dead.
“Mister, mayn’t I sing in here?” in¬
quired an urchin, as, limping through
the doorway of a Madison street saloon,
he approached the bartender.
“Sing?” gruffly replied the saloon
man. “I don’t care,” he continued witn
a sneer, and turning to a customer
ragged in dress and rough in appear¬
ance, he handed a glass and bottle.
The boy limped to the rear of the
room, where were seated a number of
men engaged at card-playing. In ap¬
pearance he was a fair specimen of the
street Arab. Apparently he was not
more than twelve years of age. His
coat and pants were torn, his shirt rag¬
ged and collarless. On his feet were
shoes that in times gone by had been
used by a worldly man. His hat was
full of holes, yet beneath its torn rim
there sparkled eyes of blue, and ap¬
peared a face winning and beautiful.
Leaning on a table in the apartment he
began singing, “Oh, Where is My Wan¬
dering Boy To-night,” in the sweetest
voice. The twenty or more men in the
room stopped their talking and playing,
and listened to him. One verse he sang,
another, and still another, and his hear¬
ers continued to listen.
“Here’s a dime, runty,” said a rough
looking individual, breaking the silence.
A number echoed his sentiments and
Stowed with similar gifts
“Where J York^n'ce.^” yer from kd? P L Redone 1 1
Ne
« .tee
“7 “ otl J er tl]1 sl l e coul ? * t ? ncl ;
“7 0lie mother da y he ca an “ e she died, an then ^ he
>
drove me away an told me to dig for
1 80,d papers far a while, an
the big boys beat me, an I eft Once
or twice a man put me off, and I bad to
get money. I sung in saloons Last
winter I got clear to Kansas City. A
heard me 111 a 8a] oon an
took me Rome with him, a took me to
c ? mr ^ 811 Smidayschoo], an I left used him. to
sing there, but 1 got tired, an
I to sleep in doorways an boxes
an’ eat what I could find. I left that
place baC an ^' went ? to Denver^ llLYnrf” an 1 len Jay I
ca “ e ’
,
an old toper.
“Joe Brown; sometimes they call me
‘Limpy Joe.’ ”
The lad again began singing, and
when he had finished, his listeners di¬
vided their little money with him, and
one by one left the saloon. ‘ ‘Limpy Joe”
followed, and the following night started
alone for the scene of liis babyhood
days.”
Captain Webb and the Alligator.
the Learning something of the tactics of
alligator, says a southern paper.
Captain Webo never entered the water
without his double-bladed knife, which
he carried in a sheath bound to bis side
by a slender belt. After an hour’s vigor¬
ous exercise in the water one morning,
he climbed upon a solitary rock about 100
yards from the beach. While here he
noticed at a distance, coming in his di¬
rection, a large-sized alligator, and, con¬
sidering his resting place an unsafe one
in case of attack by suck a formidable
antagonist, he plunged into the bay and
started for the shore. Having his at¬
tention wholly centred on the enemy
first discovered, he paid little attention
to anything else, aud before he knew
what he was about he ran plump against
another alligator that happened to be
resting quietly in the water in a shallow
place where the rushes partly hid him
from view. The alligator appeared to
be quite as much astonished at the un¬
ceremonious meeting as the swimmer.
Striking the alligator in the region of
the tail, he bounded back and prepared
for battle. The heavy wag of the ani¬
mal’s tail enabled Webb to throw him¬
self back far enough to be beyond the
reach of the first blow that was aimed at
him. A moment more and the alligator
rolled over and made a dive at him. His
presence of mind saved him. He stood
in the water, facing his enemy, with his
head and shoulders above the surface.
With his double-ended knife he received
the monster, and when bis jaws came
down the swimmer dived away, leaving
the knife in the month of the reptile,
transfixing both jaws and locking them
together. At this juncture the animal
first seen was rapidly approaching, but
the swimmer soon reached the shore,
and, by means of a rifle, soon made vic¬
tims of both.
No pleasure is comparable to the
standing upon the vantage ground of
truth.
Adopting Grandpa.
An old man—not ragged, but clad in
old and faded and time-worn garments,
and moving with feeble steps and weary
air—sat down under a tree on John R.
street the other day to rest a bit. Three
or four children were playing in the
yard at his back, and directly a mite ot
a girl looked through the fence and
asked :
“Would you hurt a little girl ?”
“Bless me, no !” he replied. “ Why
I’d even step aside to pass a bug or a
worm ! No, child, I wouldn’t hurt a
hair of your head for all the money in
the world.”
“Are you anybody’s grandpa ?” she in¬
quired, as the other children crowded
up.
“No—not now, child. There was a
time—dear me ! but it hurts my oldheart
to remember it—when children called
me grandpa. It was years ago—years
and years, but I can almost hear their
voices yet.” crying?”
“Be you
“N- 110 . The tears will spring up as I
recall the past, but I’m not crying.
There are days when I can’t keep them
back—nights when I am a child, but I’m
trying to be strong just now.”
“I gness I’ll come out and see you.
My doll’s broke her neck and is most
dead.”
“Come right along, child ! I used to
mend legs and arms, and necks when the
children brought their dolls to me.”
The little one passed through the gate
and sat down beside the poor old man,
and while he sought to save the life ot
the “most dead” doll by means of a stick
and string the child observed :
“You must be Quito old, grandpa;
you are all skin and irone. ”
“ Old ? Bless you, yes ! I was 81 only
a week or two ago. Yes, I’m poor in
flesh as well as in purse.”
“Soyour dear—dolls grandchildren and had dolls, and eh ?”
“Yes, toys fine
clothes and books, and everything they
wanted. I was rich then.”
“And did they comb your hair ?”
“Oh, yes.” ?”
“And sing to you
“Yes.”
“Well, I gness I’ll sing yon a song,
for I’m going to ask ma if i can’t adopi
you as my grandpa. You must excuse
my voice, for I swallowed a pin the other
day and ma this expects fall. it to I work out I’ll of my
shoulder guess sing
about the three little graves. Don’t look
at me or I shall forget.”
And in a voice full of childish quavers,
and frequently stopping as if to swallow
some of the words she sung :
“Under an elm three little graves—
Under the sod my children three
The years may pass, hut my heart will gTieve
And sorrow’ will ever rest with me.
“Under the elm I walked to-day,
I looked-”
“Why, grandpa, cheeks the tears are just
running down your
“ Y-yes, child—I can’t help it! My
poor oid life is full of graves and griefs'”
“Is your wife dead ?”
“Loug ago. child.”
“And all the children?”
“Dead or scattered. I am alone.” i
“Well, that’s funny. You can wipe
your eyes on my apron, if you want to.
“Here’s your doll —good as new.”
“That’s nice. If I should adopt you
I’d keep yon mending dolls all the time.
Have you child.” got over crying ?”
“Yes,
“Well, then, you must be hungry.
I’m always hungry after a good cry.
Wait a minute.”
She ran into the house to return with
a generous slice of bread and butter and
a piece of meat, and as she handed tlie
food to the old man, she said:
“I’ve got to go in now, but we’ll re¬
member that I’ve adopted you as my
grandpa. Don’t cry any move, and
come back t©-morrow. Goodbye,
grandpa !”
“Good-bye !”
And men who passed by saw an old
man with his face in his hands to hide
his tears, and when they asked 1 he
matter, a child who stood by explained:
“Why, sir, he’s crying because lie’s
all alone in the world, and a little girl
has adopted him .”—Detroit Free Press.
A Typical Mexican City.
A letter from Chihuahua, Mexico, says:
I arrived a few days ago, and am now in
the engineering department of the Mexi¬
can Central Railroad, draughting, at
SI 50 a month in American money, equal
to $172.50 in Mexican silver and $186.30
in Mexican paper. We are to receive
our pay in Mexican silver dollars, so you
may think of me, about the middle of
July, going for my pay with a wheelbar¬
row. It is bard for us to keep money
because everything is high and they ask
more than they expect to receive; and
also because one lias a feeling that money
is worthless and will bear squandering.
Exchange for American money is from
1| to 2 per cent. It pays to get Mexican
dollars in the States at" seventy-five cents
and bring them back home, where they
are worth eighty-five cents. I have just
paid five dollars in Mexican paper for a
poor washbowl and pitcher of earthen¬
ware, and eighteen dollars for a single
wool mattress. Board is thirty dollars
per month and very poor. Rooms are
very hard to find. Everything is paid
for "in Mexican paper unless otherwise
stated.
There is no place to spend an evening
except sitting on the plaza. The band
plays twice a week and everybody comes
out. The city is well governed and
quiet. It is very warm daytimes, but
cool nights. All criminals arrested, ex¬
cept those executed, are put to work
cleaning the streets under an armed
guard. The dirt is gathered into small
piles and a man with a wooden chopping
tray and a piece of board, gathers it and
carries it off in a tip cart drawn by a mule.
The country about the city is desolate
and barren in the extreme, and very lit¬
tle is raised except vegetables and fruit.
Tire city was built from the proceeds
of a silver mine near here, but as the
mine has been closed for years, I do not
see what supports the inhabitants now.
Boston capital is opening the mine again.
The railroad is expected to be finished
to the City of Mexico in a little over a
year, a distance of eight hundred or a*
thousand miles. The Mexican postal
system is poor. The mail is dumped
into a box and everybody helps himself.
An opera has been in progress here and
was supposed to be fine, but it was nol
equal to a variety show in the States.
u- M- Jones & Como Kt
Corner Commerce and Warehouse Sts. CONVEX
Birr®* G
-si
HEADQUARTERS for all kinds of_
General Merchandise at Bottom Prices
" llth<! ^kwrelSi'iflNENEED^'^'^^lkiM,
H eadqnarters oSot£ m E Se a tei b y the I
8 COUlity.
Carriage Manufactory J |
-by-
«! W LANGFORB t
a
Garriages Wagons, Bugj.es, |
own make.
ALL < WANTED also C-OOD TO BE LINE FI^ST of CLASS Western EN KFVEY CrJSLbmM pabtioJ
Pl a 5 nd B|
gies which I sell LOW DOWN.
ALL KINDS OF FURNITURE REPAIRED AS GOOD AS X
£STI have now on hand the largest and best, stock of waggons of
make, bugies homemade of western build that I m
ana have ever carri j
you want bargains you had better call. All wh i owe me for work
nestly request to come forward and settle promptly. I at 1 -l
it. These do need th e mop
must have who not pay promptly will be given but |
time. So you will please settle promptly.
It should be rememberd that My establishment is
COFFINS and CASKE1S of 1] grades and sizes, and COFFIN GOOD
« HAltDWi
in fact everything tha is kept in 02 first class Undertaker.
JK3TCOFFIN3 'DELIVERED ANYWHERE IN CITY OR COHN
Most Resoectfullv,
J. w. LANGFORI
4'lfl
ESTEE amwv, 510mg 3819
——THE MOST POPULAR,—
~th‘1 m2 W®Bflnfilr2
Wholseale Southern Depot for ESTEY ORGANR, Steinwi
Weber, Decker Brothers and Gate City PIANO-3
—DEPOT OF—
©jOMAiP sa-jaas.
-IV.PORTERS DIRECT FROM KTROPE OF-
Violins, Guitars, Harmonicas El
STRINGS, AND ALL KINDS OF MUSICAL undersell MERCHANDISj
tfe^"Nobody can underbuy us. Nobody can us.
Estey Organ Company Atlanta Get
W.H, LEE, Agent,
JOHN NEAL AND COE PA NY,
-WHOLESALE & RETAIL DEALERS Ut¬
NOS. 7 and 9 SOUTH BROAD STREET ATLANTA, SA.
Special inducements offered to DEALERS of Rockdale and and others adjoining in all coun --yb 6 • ' 0 jj
niture. A share of the patronage purchase ^]
solicited. Be sure and give us a trial before making your
THE OLD RELIBLE FIRAM OF
u -DEALERS J IN
■
RAILROAD block GEORGI
CONYERS,
aud carrying one ot the lai-e
Having been established for* 1S yea/!? , et)
smallest and most complete stocks in the eoutry, we can tr¬
any, and we guarantee satisfaction. When you want
RDY GOODS, NOTIONS, 33
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Wliiljr- .....•• A
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every