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VOL. 11. 3VC ISCELLAITEOirS. THE BUNCH OF RAGS. Everybody liked Tow Hall and ev erybody was sorry for him. It was sad to see snob a line young man a vic tim to drunkenness, and Tom bad fal len into the mocker’s power unwitting ly, it seems. Anew spirit shop bad been opened close on the foundry at which lie work ed, and be along with othefft was in the habit of going in for a glass of ale. — When the cold weather set in be took something stronger, and he imagined that spirits agreed with him. Time went on. and the liking for strong drink increased and grew stronger, until at all hours he might be seen staggering out of the “Rainbow,” dizzy and stu pefied with the dregs of the intoxicat ing cup. Tom’s was a very sad case, for he be longed to a very respectable family, and had been religiously trained and until be was drawn into the snare he was an affect innate son and brother: and friends counseled and ministers preach ed and means tried to reclaim him, but all effort seemed lost—Tom was bound hard and fast in the invisible chains of of the mocker, llis family mourned him as lost, and many a silent tear his sister let fall on his garments a< she sat darning and patching them. • Tom was infatuati#, all agreed; but for all'that he was a favorite from the. mansion to the meanest hut in Airlie, and some good people prayed for poor Tom-Hall. “Ah, these rents will not darn jk gain !” sighed Jeannie,, as she turned over Toni’s ragged raiment. In Tom’s better days he had pride, and it was a sad change when he didn’t dare who saw him “out at the elbow.’’ But somehow Jennie could not find it In her heart to abandon the brother she still loved, and so Tom’s tattered liabil aments were taken up and made the most of. "Kindness may win him back,” said Jeannie, and when he came hack home at the worst he was met in peace, if in sorrow. Just when the trees were beginning to bud with the promise of spring. Tom came home looking thoughtful.— He was sober after a long rum. In the rays of the setting sun his sis ter was trying to cover some old darns. Tom sat down beside her, and silent ly watched the patient fingers for some time. “That’s tiresome work. Jeannie,” said he, His sister held up her seam before him. “Why, that is a bunch of rags,” laughed Torn. “Yes, Tom; and a bunch of rags would be the best signboard that a pub lican could hang across his door,” said Jeannie, sadly. Tom made no reply: he looked at the rags in silence. Next morning Tom went back to his work, and continued steadily for two or three weeks. , H DVfß’so; The Field and Fireside. He looked into the ‘-Rainbow.” but didn’t go. “Hallo! what’s up with Tom Hall?” wondered Sinclair, as he filled up a glass of Tons’sfavorite whiskey for an ; other customer at the counter. Sinclair was not the only one who was astonished at tiie change. Every day Tom went to his work: every night he came home sober, and after a time lie appeared at church on the Sabbath. Then people began to be lieve Tom was in earnest, and really meant to reform. “Has Tom Hall really become a tee i totaler?” wondered Sinclair, when a ! whole month had passed without a vis iit to the “Rainbow.” Well, it seemed so. for nothing stronger than water had passed his lips in the shape of drink since that night on which his sister had shown him the bunch of rags. "I’ll have a talk w ith Tom and learn how he j got off the scent, though,” Sinclair re ! solved. An opportunity came sooner than he | expected, in the beginning of sum i mer a terrific thunder-storm passed over Airlie, and among a general de vastation, Sinclair’s signboard was shivered to atoms. Tom happened to be passing the “Rainbow” next morning, ancl stop ped to glance lip at the old mark. I “Fine work here,” remarked Mr. Sinclair, who was standingin his door; | "the storm’s done for us, and i’ll have I to get anew signboard.” “Is it so bad as that?” said Tom. , “Yes, the ‘Rainbow’ is in shivers,” -i4:diMr. Sinclair. “Then you’ll want anew signboard,” said Tom. > “Of course; isn’t that what I’m tell ing you ?” “Is it to he the ‘Rainbow* again?” asked Tom. "I suppose so,” answered Mr. Sin clair, “unless you caff give anew idea, Tom,” continued he, laughing. “I think I can,” returned Torn ; ‘but I must go home first.” “Don’t forget, though,” said Mr. J Sinclair. “You’re a stranger, nowa days, by the bye, Toni.” “1 won’t be-long,” cried Tom, and I with a brisk step he walked down the I street. ! “Hallo, Torn, what’s you j- hurry?” ! cried a friend, as Torn came slap against i a corner. “Oh ! Sinclair's signboard was de stroyed last night, aojj lam going to j him with anew orp. liu( i<e-swered Tom, j with a.smile, which - u , i p/jyetricully I opposed to his new J > 1 “Oho! that’s it, is u Aimed p- , j friend. “Butperha. !11| “ *dd be,,,,* well for Airlie if nil attWow” \va'.]] never-set up again v (|| i Tom was not out of hearing. A better-sign than the “Rainbow .” Mr. Sinclair did not expect to get: he was only joking with Torn Hall, and lie raised his eyebrows v“*en Torn made his apnea*' "'vith under' !^ ar - w:T to . look ,i‘, , jr^ MARIETTA, GEORGIA, THURSDAY, MAY 8, 18711. up; but step in, Tom, and let trie see your idea.” Tom grauely untied his bundle, and held up a bunch of rags before the pub lican's astonished eyes. “What do you mean, Tom?" asked Mr. Sinclair, feeling confident Toni had lost his senses. “You want anew signboard, don’t you?” Tom said. "Well, what has iclvanch of rags got to do with that?” said Mr. Sinclair. “Ask yourself, sir. it a hunch of rags is not the best signboard that can hang across the publican’s door,” said Tom, and bis lips quivered. “Was it that bunch of rags that made you a tetotaler, Tom ?” said Mr. Sin clair, more confused than he liked to confess. “It was God’s means, 1 think, sir,” answered Tom, “and perhaps, wretch es, seeing there the end of drink, may bless you for the signboard.” Tom walked away-fn his work, and Mr. S. w ent back to his counter, hut all that day the bunch of rags troubled him. He was a kind hearted man, and be lieved himself a Christian, and he did not like the idea of being considered the cause of misery and rags. To a man of his disposition it was painful in the extreme, and he couldn't help feeling angry when poor shivering wretches came and laid down the payment of a glass. When he lifted up the money he felt as if he was stealing their means. It was a busy day, but every new comer seemed more deplorably wretch ed and worse off than the lasV served. He was thankful when night came. The last customer was a woman lit erally covered with rags. A little in fant set on her arm. It was crying with the cold ? It lifted the rag that covered its naked limbs, and it looked piteously at him ! “Go home and put clothes on your child,” sail! Mr. Sinclair, Hinging back the money she had laid down. “1 have nothing but rags,” said the woman. * '• “Torn is right,” said Mr. Sinclair, as he locked his door; “the end of drink is misery and rags, and the man who lias a taste for that sort of thing may put his name on the new signboard.” That summer Mr. Sinclair went into the tea trade, in which lie made a hand some fortune. Tom llall is now a fa ■ ,ii n.„nveh *■ mm- J ” ' \ .S C ■ LINDLir <:s. | \ cVjj ( \orlli ‘wide of SijittirVi’s most 1a... \ stances have , • , frightened aw. ?f|y I They have also W the. rnoori and thT* -, iTOOCL^. dashing the eart for dogs we sC_ hvlthouroV&la-OeS 3a IT! ask “Well, that depends, If he's running away from you he looks about the size of a gallon jug, hut if lie’s coming at von lie looks as large as ayt-ai-lino- calf- 1 “Do dogs guard the house?” “Yes; particularly the kitchen door. Nothing hurts a dog’s feelings so iiim-li as to have Ids muster think he's waiting tor bunes, instead of being there on guard.” **< 'an a dog take a hint?” "Acs. As soon as one sees a farmer coming across the fields with a gun lie knows that killing sheep is over for that morning, and away he goes.” I "Are dogs strong?” “You’d think they could pull a \v i log to judge by the amount of howling they will do between dusk and davhreak but the minute a hoy wants a ride on - his sled the family dog is troubled with ! heart disease and general weakness.” “Can dogs find their way home from long distances” “It’s occording to the dog. If it’s one i you want to get rid of he can find his wav hack home from California. If it’s I a good one he is apt to get lost if he goes i round the corner.” “Can dogs see in the dark ?” “Some appear to, but instances are | not rare where dogs,commanded to rush ’ out and devour the fellow hooking wood i have rushed under the bed by mistake —and stayed there. That’s all about dogs.— Free. Firs*. THE HYDRANT PUMP. He knew ail about, farming; it was only when in the midst of the city bus tle that he felt a little queer. He Was j in town yesterday*, and w as walking on I the street, hand iri hand with his sis ter. Something attracted his attention a little way ahead, and all the talking of his companion about the beautiesof the shop windows had no effect on him, “Iswan!” he said, and wandered like one entranced toward a hydrant which a man was turning on. The was turning the screw at the top slowly, and the water was rushing out. “I sav, boss,” said our friend, “what .kind ofap'impis that?” “A hydrant pump,” said the man. “A hydrant pump? Did Mr. Hy drant patent that ? Say, how much did one of them cost? I swan, if that don’t beat all!” “Only five dollars,” said the man and he kept slowly moving the screw as if that little effort produced the big stream. “You go fight down here till you come jto a hardware store, and they will sell you one.” He went with the fire of expectation in hiseye. —Jlochcstvr Ex/irsss. ; During a dense fog a Mississippi steamboat took landing. A traveller ! anxious to go ahead, came to the un : perturbed manager of the wheel and / JJ’hy they stopped. ‘Toomuch fog the ~ s ver.’ ‘But you can see the - && jL re i ,r * Lei. y^aCOCGiil^S. NO. g.