Newspaper Page Text
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY, BY j
JAMES MeCAFFERTI,
MiCIHTO»H-SiaiET .OPPOSITE POST OFFICE. [
Terms of Paper. —For a single copy,
one year, Two Dollars: for six copies,
Ten Dollars; for thirteen copies, T wen
ty Dollars, payable in advance.
Advertisements will be inserted at 50
cents per square for the first insertion,
and 25 cents for each continuance —
Twelve lines to constitute a square. A
liberal deduction to yearly advertisers.
ry No letters taken from the Post
Office unless postacre free.
Officers Augusta W. T. A Society.
£>r. JOS. A. EVE, President.
Dr. DANIEL HOOK, )
Rev. WM. J. HARD, > Vice Presidents
HAWKINS HUFF, Esq. )
WM. HAINES, Jr. Secretary.
L. D. LALLERSTEDT, Treasurer.
Managers:
James Harper, E. E. Scofield,
Rev. C. S. Dod, James Godby,
John Milledgc,
IMO^tiiLLAlEaiOTlr”
For the Washingtonian.
The Farm Lease:
A TALE OF THE EMERALD ISLE.
BY MARCUS.
Since that devoted thirst began,
Man has forgot to feel for man.
The pulse of Social life is dead
And all its fonder feelings fled.
Anac. Ode to Gold.
To the philanthropic observer, it af
fords a matter of no small interest, to
watch the workings of the human heart
in its various lights and shadows, and to
trace to their source, the motives upon
which it acts. Tho subject however
closely investigated, will scarcely yield
to the investigator data enough upon
which to build a plausible hypothesis.—
We have heard it ably and strongly ar
gued, that the motive of every action
whether good or evil, may be traced to a
love of self, and, that self as an inate
principle is, either directly or indirectly,
the centre around which all action re
volves. We, however, have always
thought that metaphysics was but a
roundabout way of telling a man what
he knew before, and the pithy apothegm
of Confucius illustrates the thought:
“ The eagle may soar aloft in the clouds,
and the fish may swim in the bosom of
the deep; but the one can be brought
down by an arrow, and (he other drawn
up with a hook ; yet the human mind,
though only a foot distant, what man
can grasp it.” We premise thus far in
order to introduce to the intelligent rea
der, a story in which the principle of
self seemed to have governed one of the
characters entirely.
There was not in the whole province
of Ulster, a landholder who could boast
of a finer, or a more extensive manor,
than Lord Farnam; he had the most
princely residence, the finest park and
deer, and the best horses and hounds,
and the peasantry who rented his lands,
thought that he himself was the finest
fellow in all the country around. They
did not think so because he was rich and
powerful or because that he xvas a peer
of the realm, but they thought so be
cause he was a noble hearted, free spo
ken, upright man, and when any of his
tenants either from had management or
misfortune, made a bad harvest at the
end of the year, and thereby became un
able to pay his rental money, he did
not suffer his steward to turn him and
his little ones out of their home, “ to seek
a shelter in an humble shed,” but kindly
indulged him until he got the better of 1
his troubles.
From among his lordship’s many ten
ants, our story leads us to select two twin j
brothers who were living on separate i
farms, Arthur Murphy was, as we are in
formed by the midwife who attended on
the memorable occasion of their birth,
exactly thirty minutes the elder of his
brother Dennis. They were rocked to
gether in the same cradle, attended on
by the same nurse, and the same precepts
instilled into their youthful minds, and
when the summer sun had twenty times !
marked his pathway in the sky, they had
grown into robust, healthful men. There
was, however, a marked difference in the
delineation of their features; Arthur
was rather the taller of the two, his brow j
was low and broad, and a pair of dark
twinkling eyes buried deep in his head |
gave to his lace a sinister expression, at
once repulsive and suspicious ; while a
cold meaningless smile forevor rested on
bis thin bloodless lips, and such a thing
AUGUSTA WASHINGTONIAN.
a a. % a. a. .. . . .. . . ... ...
A WEEKLY PAPER: DEVOTED TO TEMPERANCE, AGRICULTURE, & MISCELLANEOUS READINGS. !
I ' 1
Vol. 111.]
as a good hearty laugh never convulsed
his face. On the other hand, Dennis
had an open, bland and good-natured
countenance, lit up with a pair of large
benevolent looking blue eyes, and his
generous and manly bearing gave him a
pasport to the hearts of all; but fortune ;
was not so kind to Dennis as nature had ;
been in her gifts ; for it seemed that ev
ery enterprise that he entered into result
ed tij his la*;, whether he had offended the ,
good dame or not, by relying too much
upon her, she seemed little disposed to
forward his designs, even when they
were backed by energy and persever
ance. It may seem an idle whim of ours
that the Fates mark out some men on
whom they shower their malice ; but we
1 have seen men, good upright men, whose
i life from beginning to end, was but a
| successive scries of misfortunes and dis
appointments; and that, too, in spite of
| every precaution to guard against them.
Dennis had been captivated by a pretty
blue eyed girl and had taken upon him
the silken tie of matrimony, and a.t the
time wo record, nature had blessed his
home by bestowing on him four little
“ blooming nudities,” whose innocent
smiles and prattle spread the sunshine of
happiness in their fathers heart and home.
The little farm he occupied was rented
from Lord Farnam for four years, it was
a fertile plat of ground, but the negli
gence of lormer possessors had suffered
“Decay’s effacing fingers” to make a ve
ry visible impression on the dwelling and
out houses, and it presented to the pass
er-by, a dilapidated and poverty-stricken
i appearance, yet he might recognize that
the hand of lovely woman was about it
in the nice little flower pots that stood
i in the window and the neatly arranged
garden spot before the door. The elder
brother had not yet discarded the state
of single blessedness, and still found
pleasure in thinking that he had only
one to provide for; he was a thrifty and
parsimonious man and by his rigid econ
omy had earned the name of a very
“hard master.” He had hired his farm
on the same conditions and under the
same auspices as his brother, and when
two years of his lease had expired he
found himself, after paying his rental
money and tithes, in possession of a
handsome sum of money from tho pro
ceeds of his industry, and he thought
that if he continued to be fortunate he
would extend his capital. The younger
brother’s extreme poverty had prevented
him from making any improvements on
his farm and for the first two years he
found that it was only by the dint of
hard work he could sustain himself and
family ; but at the end of the third year,
lie found that his crop had fallen short of
his expectations, and that he, conse
quently, would fall behind in his pay
ments. lie however did not despair,
j but kept a stout heart and determined to
battle against the further encroachments
of and the beacon of hope burn
ed brighter to his eyes, knowing that if
I he could by the coming harvest relieve
i himself from his embarrassments that he j
could obtain another lease of his farm
which was now to expire at the end of'
the year, and in the thought he set him-;
self to work in good earnest. The j
spring came, the flowers bloomed
and shed their fragrance around, and the
lark soared aloft in the sky and sung his
: maten hymn to the rising sun, and na
ture spread her emerald carpet over the
earth, seeming to rejoice that she was
delivered from the icy chains of winter.
At length the year began to wane and
the sickly looking corn proclaimed that!
the earth had not been over bountiful in
her gifts, and the heart of Dennis sunk
within him when he thought that he, of!
all his neighbors, would reap the scanti
est harvest ; a dark gloom came over j
him when he thought that he would have j
to meet Lord Farhham’ssteward without
*
AUGUSTA, GA. NOVEMBER 30, 1844.
the possibility of liquidating the de
mands against him.
One evening as Dennis was working
on his farm lie discovered his brother,
who scarcely ever visited him, approach
ing. “ Good day, brother,” said Dennis
extending his hand. His brother re
turned the salutation and after looking
about the farm, observed that his crop i
was rather irf a bad plight. “Yes,” an
jswered Dennis, “and unless something
I turns up that I now do not know of, I
| shall be in a bad plight myself.” How
(So, questioned Arthur. Why simply,
said Dennis, that I am greatly in arrears
for rent, and if I do not pay the de
mands that I think I will bo unable to
obtain a renewal of my lease. The in
quiring expression of Arthur’s face re
laxed into a thoughtful one, lie bent his
eye upon the ground, but lie saw not; a
I new idea had started in his brain—after
j a few moments elapsed he raised his head
iand took another survey of the farm,
| >
j and then making a few casual remarks
he wound his way homeward.
Early next morning Arthur called
upon Lord Farnham’s steward, and in
quired if he intended to let Dennis Mur
phy have a renewal of his lease. Why
as for that, said the steward, I cannot
exactly say; to be sure he is greatly be
hind in his rent, but his lordship has a
very high opinion of his honesty, and
may, perhaps, through feelings of kind
ness indulge him longer. Do you know
any one that wishes to rent it! If his
lordship would bo so kind as to let me
have it, I could safely pledge him that
the rent will he punctually paid, said
Arthur. Ah! I sec, replied the steward,
you wish to rent it for your brother.—
No, no! said Arthur, i wish to rent it
for myself, I can take care of it and you
plainly sec that he can’t. But, tny
friend, you would not turn your brother
out of his home for tho sake of making
a few guineas, exclaimed the steward.
To be sure I would, answered Arthur,
for if a man cant pay his farm rent, lie
should not possess tho farm, that’s my
motto. But only think, said the stew
ard, of his helpless family. That is
[nothing to me, said the affectionate bro
| ther, he will have to look out for that,
jail I want to know is, if his lordship
i will rent tho farm to me. The steward
i was silent for a moment as if thought
J was passing rapidly in his mind. I will
[confer with iny lord upon the matter and
iit is probable that lie will grant you a
| lease of your brother’s farm, but, said
j (he steward, it will be upon these con-
Jditions: that you pay the arrearages
now duo upon it, and give your brother a
short time to look out for some other
place; these will be the only conditions
that will insure you getting a lease of
his farm. I’ll do it, said Arthur decided- 1
ly, after a short pause. Well call, said j
the steward, in the morning and I shall
have the lease drawn up accordingly.—
Arthur turned away exulting in the tri
umph of his scheme, and inwardly j
[chuckled at his own ingenuity.
; A few hours after this interview Lord i
Farnham was sitting in his library, when i
! his steward entered tho room. I sup- j
[pose, said the steward after making his [
I obeisance, that your lordship is aware I
[that the leases which you granted to the j
two Murphys will expire in the course of
[ two weeks. His lordship nodded assent. [
The elder Murphy called upon mo, con- ■
; tinued the steward, and craved that your
[lordship would grant him a lease of his
j brother’s farm; you also know that by
the late unfavorable season, that the
younger brother has been thrown behind
in his rent, and after remonstrating with
the elder, at the unreasonable request in
vain, I proposed the following terms:
that he might have a lease of the farm,
provided that he would pay up all ar
rearages on his brother's place and al
low him sufficient time to look up ano-!
[No. 20. j'
ther farm. I will have the lease so |
drawn up if your lordship assents ; but I
would simply say that I think your lord- j
ship ought to devise some way to punish !
so avaricious and so unfeeling a brother, I
who would oppress a hard working and I
honest man to heap a few guineas in his '
coffers. Have the lease so drawn up,
said Lord Farnam, and when Murphy
calls show him the way to my studio.
| According to promise Arthur appeared
| on the following morning, and was con
ducted by the steward to his lordship.
Well Murdhy, said the nobleman, you
have come to sign the lease I suppose.
Yes your honor, said Murphy with a low
bow. Well, sir, I have the lease here
and you have come prepared to take it,
I suppose, said Lord Farnam. I have,
responded Murphy, and I promise that
the farm shall be kept in good order and
to pay the rent punctually. Murphy
signed the lease and paid his brothet’s
rental arrearages and hastened to Den
nis to tell him of tho proceedings, of
which he had not the least knowledge.
What, exclaimed Dennis, have you rent
ed the house over my head and now’ or
der me to get ready and leave, where
j shall I go to, I have not the means to
\ hire another farm and certainly his lord
: ship will not be so cruel as to turn me
and my helpless children on the world
! without a shelter. Arthur’s only reply
j was in shaking the paper, which he had
just received from the nobleman, at him.
i Dennis, finding that he could make no
j impression on his hard hearted brother,
immediately hastened to the residence of
I the peer, and knocking at the door was
| shown to the room where his lordship
was sitting. Well Dennis you have
I heard that I have leased your farm to
'■ your brother, said the peer. Yes your
honor, and I have come to beg your hon
or to have some mercy on me as my af
fairs arc in a deplorable condition, and if
I you suffer my hard hearted brother to
| take possession of my house I shall have
no place to put my head in. Dennis,
said the noble lord, I know your case is
a hard one and 1 am disposed to be kind
to you, and if I rent you another farm do
you think you will be able to pay your
rent. With the help of God I will,
j said tho grateful man. Well, then, said
the peer, I will let you have one, I mark
ed your brother’s avaricious disposition,
and have found away to reprove him.
Before I would let him have your farm I
made it a condidition that ho should pay
all the demands that I had against you,
so that you are now out of debt, and can
begin the world anew 7 ; in his eagerness
to get a lease ot your farm he never
j dreamed that he would loose his own,
and I have ordered my steward to have
j a lease drawn up for four yeafs, giving
I you possession of his farm, which having
j been kept in fine order by him is supe
rior to yours in every point, and there
fore it will be no disagreeable change
on your part, and now by economy and
' industry, I see nothing to prevent your
i getting along well, so you may call in
I the morning and you may get the papers,
j Dennis stood in astonishment while the
1 peer spoke and then, when he ended, he
j rushed forward and seized the nobleman’s
j hand and pressed it to his lips, and invo
ked the blessing of heaven on his gen
erous heart. Dennis came in the morn
ing and obtained the lease, and took pos
session of his brother’s fine farm. While
Arthur chagrined, and disappointed had
to take the only alternative left him, and
moved upon the farm he so meanly cov
eted and ever after was exposed to the
contempt and jeers of his neighbors for
his avarice and unfeeling heart. Den
nis thrived on his new settlement, and he
found as you will find gentle reader, that
he was a witness to the truth of the old
proverb: that honesty and honor will al
ways find its reward.
Labor conquers every thing.
WASHIXGTOXIAN
TOTAL ABSTINENCE PLEDGE.
W E, whose names are hereunto an
nexed, desirous of forming a Society for
our mutual benefit, and to guard against
a pernicious practice, which is injurious
to our health, standing and families, do
j pledge ourselves as Gentlemen, not to
; drink any Spirituous or Malt Liquors,
| Wine or Cider.
The Alpacca.
Ladies arc interested in any informa
tion relating to this beautiful and valua
ble animal, and it appears that her Ma
jesty Queen Victoria has already com
; menced the rearing of them. A London
I editor mentions having received a speci
: men of alpacca wool, cut from one of the
animals in possession of the Queen.
The alpacca is a wool bearing animal,
indigenous to South America, and is ono
of tour varieties which bear general
points of resemblance to each other.—
| Ihe lama, one of these varieties, has
1 been long known and often described ; ,
; but it is only within a few years that the
alpacca has been considered of sufficient
value to merit particular notice.
Nine tenths of the wool of the alpacca
is black, the remainder being partly white,
red and grizzled. It is of a very long
staple, often reaching twelve inches, and
resembles soft glossy hair—which char
acter is not lost in dyeing. The Indians
in the South America mountains manu
facture nearly all their clothing from this
wool and are enabled to appear in black
| dresses, without the aid of a dyer. Both
the lama and alpacca are, perhaps, even
of more value to the natives as beasts of
burden than as wool bearing animals, and
their obstinacy when irritated is well
known. The importance of this animal
has already been considered by the Eng
lish, in their hat, woolen and stuff trade
and an essay on the subject has been pub
lished by Dr. Hamilton, of London, from
which some details are collected.
This wool is so remarkable, being a jet
j black, glossy silk like hair, that it is fit
ted for the production of fabrics differing
from all others, occupying a medium
position between wool and silk.
It is now mingled with other materials
in such a singular manner, that while a
' particular dye will affect those it will
ieave the alpacca wool with its original
black color thus giving rise to great di
versity.
The alpacca weighs, when full grown
I from IfJO to 200 lbs. It yields arajuallv
a fleece weighing from 10 to 14 lbs, or
more. The flesh is said to be wholesome
and nutritious—the skin maybe used for
. book binding and other purposes.
The alpacca is found in large herds on
the Andes—sometimes at an elevation of
10,000 or 11,000 feet above the sea,
where eternal snow rests on the moun
tain top, where frequent and violent
storms prevail, and where the scanty her
bage is of the coarsest kind. There they
prosper, meeting with but slight attention
on the part of the shepherds. Disease is
unknown among them ; they are attach
ed to their keepers, and never stray from
their herds. They brave the fiercest
snowdrifts; the strongest of the herd ad
vance first bend down their heads to meet
the coming storm, and trample down or
leap over the hillocks of snow that ob
struct their passage.
Concert by Lunatics.. —The Paris
Physicians some time ago, introduced a
new plan in the treatment of lunatics,
which if it did not accelerate their cure,
at least rendered their condition happier,
and was thus a benefit to humanity.—
This plan was to instruct them in classes
in vocal music. The plan was pursued
at Bicetre, a lunatic hospisal, with suc
cess, and has been extended to a smaller
institution at liouen. The other day a
select number of persons were admitted
to witness a public trial. Lunatics of
both sexes sang several concerted pieces
in a surprising manner; chorusses of
great difficulty of execution were given
with extraordinary ensemble and precis
ion, and the concert is described as hav
ing been most gratifying.”— Pa. Amer
ican.
Gambling,
Let every young man or boy avoid all
sorts of gambling as he would poison.
He should never allow himself to toss up
a penny, for a half of this is often the
beginning ofa habit of gambling, and
this ruinous crime often creeps on by
degrees. Whilst the laboring man is
minding his work, he is playing the best
game, and is sure to win. A gambler
never makes any good use of his money,
even if he should win, he openly gambles
the more, and he is often reduced to
beggary and despair. He is often tempt
ed to commit crimes for which his life is
forfeited to his country, or perhaps he
puts an end to himself, and to his miser
able existence. If he wins, he injures a
companion, or a friend. And how can
any honest man enjoy money gained in
such away?