Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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^ ^ ^ ^ ~ *^ " ^ ^ ? r^~~ ~~ ??^ " ^''" ^ """^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ VOL. IV. NO. 13. PORT ROYAL, S. C., THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1871. ffigtf&VgS The Mills Have Closed To-Day. Annie, is the baby better ? ^ Worse! The Lord befriend us all! Cannot live ? Ob, Ood in Heaven! Hear tby suffering servant's call! Nearer, dearest, lest the children Hear the words I have to say ; Put your loving arms about me? For the mills have closed to-day! And onr little child is dying! No! no! no! Not dying yet! Have you prayed with long beseeching For the helpless little pet ? Heaven must have mercy sometimes; Others thrive who do not pray; Oh. that troubles might come singly; But the mills have closed to-dav! ? Other hands have saved up money. And can give their chuuren bread; Must our darlings cry tor Hunger, When the little one is dead ? Dead ! It cannot be she's dying! Has the doctor gone away ? And I cannot pay him, either, For the mills have closed to-day! ?- Why was I laid up last winter ? Reasons w hy are hard to learn ; It was only this last Sunday That the head of our concern Gave away some trifling thousands To the church?a del>t to pay; He could spare it from his millions? But the mills have closed to-day! Laughing ? Yes. because I'm jolly! It's a joke?we dreamed it all! What's the neod to look so ghastly ? Nightmare dreams are troubles small? Ah ! the moaning in the cradle! Mercy! Mercy! Pray, love, pray! Death is clutching at our darling, And the mills have closed to-day! THE DOCTOR'S LAST SHOT. Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Brown were having a very comfortable afternoon together. Mrs. Smith, who was an invalid, or thought herself one, which is just as bad, was reclining in an easychair, and Mrs. Brown, who had run in with her knitting work just to see how she was, had been persuaded to spend the rest of the day with her friend. " Yes, Mrs. Brown, I consider it providential. That poor niece of mine was left au orphan on the cold charities of the world, and as I was the only friend she had, she came right here, ot course. Well, here I am in such delicate health, needing constant attention, and I couldn't expect my own girls, poor dears, to be fussing ^around their sick mother all the time. 1 want them to enjoy themselves while they can. This poor thing needed a home, and I gave it to her at once. I 'said o? course, child, come right here and live with us. You can make yourself useful, no doubt, and it'll be all right." She's been here six months now, and lias been a wonderful help to me. I keep her busy from daylight until dark to keep her mind oif her troubles, you know, and nights when I can't sleep it's dreadful handy to have her where she cau rnb my back, soak my feet, bathe my head, and rend me to sleep." " Do you pay her wages ?" "Bless me, no ! She said something abjut it one day as if she expected to be paid for her work, but I told here we couldn't think of hiring our own blood relations to work for us. I told her to just be easy about that, whenever she needed anything we'd see about it. She gave me a kind of a queer smile that I didn't quite understand or like; but, 011 the whole, she is wonderful quiet and gentle like, and I consider it a real Providence." " Where is she?" "I sent her down to the back pasture to get some blackberries for my tea. I thought may be I'd relish them if they were fresh." Down in the back pasture she was, the poor neice, Mota Langdon, but not picking blackberries. She was sitting 011 a mossy log among the bushes, cry ing as if her heart would break. It did 1. - ?.1 . :l ii>/> f liri ^uwu , it LUUiCU tiic Iirrivju ic?ti iu Lor licart, ami she finally grow quiet and slipped softly down upon hoi knees and prayed long and earnestly for patience and wisdom and help from her heavenly Father. Then she caught up her pail aud rose to commence her task. But it so happened that Doctor Chester, who was spending a few weeks in that delightful country place, was out hunting that day. A tiue, plump partridge llew up from the bushes just at that moment, and the doctor fired. To his astonishment the bird escaped, but a shrill scream and heavy fall beyond the bushes made him throw dowu his gun and bag and rush furiously through the sharp briars, never heeding the rents they made in his fine hunting suit or the cruel scratches upou his l'uco and hands. There lay the game ho had brought down, in the shape of a young girl who was in a dead faint or killed for aught ho kuew. lie cuickly loosened her dress and dashed water in her face from the full canteen which he happened to have, and finally forced a few drops of inanely uetweeu ner ups. At length she opened her eyes, to his groat relief, ami tried to rise| hut a sharp cry of pain showed there was something more serious than a more fright. " What is it, where are you hurt V " My arm," she exclaimed. Ho tore the faded calico sleeve open to the shoulder, and sure enough the soft, white arm was covered with blood and seemed to be riddled with shot. " Dear, dear, what have I done !" he exclaimed, hastily tying his own and her handkerchief tightly around it. " There's no time for apologies or explanations. I thought I was shooting a partridge, and in some unaccountable way I huve shot you. Now tell me where you live so I can get you home as 6oon as possible. I am a physician, and we'll soon have tho poor arm all right again." "My home is just over the hill; I can walk if you will help me a little." With a set, resolute face, and lips tightly closed to keep back the moans of paiu, Meta walked hastily towards home leaning upon his arm. But just as they reached the gate she fainted again, aud taking her in his arms he bore her rapidly to the house, and without any oeiomony pushed open the parlor door and laid her upon a sofa. Mrs. Smith screamed murder at the top of her voice, and went into violent hysterics. The doctor frowned scornfully at her, and Baid to Mrs. Brown : " There's no time for nonsense ; bring me some cold water and bandages at once, and send somebody to the hotel for Dr. Chester's small case of surgical J instruments." Mrs. Smith, left to herself, soon recovered, and insisted upon an explanation of the affair. " It's nothing serious, I hope. I have accidentally sent a charge of shot into this young lady's arm. Are you her mother?" " No, indeed, she is a poor dependent creature that we've taken in for charity's sake; a niecaof mine, and what I'm to do with her mw I can't see. /can't take care of her, and indeed, sir, it's mighty inconvenient to have her laid up just at this time. She is very necessary to my comfort. I need a sight of care nnd waitin' on, night and day." "Well, madam, shell 'need a sight of care and waitin' on' herself now for awhile, nnd must have it." By this time the young girl revived again under the vigorous treatment she received, and the instruments were brought to him. " Now, madam, will you tell whereto fnlrA this vounc ladv. for she must be put to bed at once." " Well, she sleeps in a little closet off ray room " "That will never do. Show me the largest, best room you Lave in the house." Taking Meta gently in his arms, the doctor followed Mrs. Smith up stairs to a large, pleasant chamber. She groaned in spirit as she turned down the white counterpane, and assisted the doctor in getting Meta undressed and into bed; but he was not to bo trifled with at such a time. "Now, madam, I will excuse yon, but let Mrs. Brown bring me plenty of warm water and soft, old linen, and remain to assist me. And I want a servant close at hand to get whatever else I may require while dressing the arm." It was a terrible hour to Meta while he probed each wound and removed the shot that were deeply imbedded in the tender flesh. Fortunately no bono was broken, and at last it was neatly bandaged with soft linen and wet with a healing lotion, and pIio fell asleep. Mrs. Brown proved an efficient helper ; and as they passed quietly out of the room the doctor said: " My patient miut have the best of care and attention. Could you stay and nurse her for awhile ?" " Yes, I might." "Very well; I will pay you well if ?.'11 ?'* Af?orvHn'nnr trill flP ,yuu win uv ii, iui v>?v*_..^0 ..... peiul upon keeping her quiet now." Ho mrt Mre. Smith in the hall. " Madam, this woman has consented to stay and take care of your niece, and T will see that she is well paid foi it. But mind what I say : yon must not *ee her, nor must anv one else seo her but Mrs. Brown and myself for a week at least, for she will have a Berious time of it at the best. I regret it exceedingly, more than I can tell yon, that I have been the cause of all this suffering, and will do my best to have her about again us soon us possible." So saying, the doctor wished them good-day, and soon disappeared from their view. " Well, now, if that isn't cool! And what am I to do all this time ? " groaned Mrs. Smith, rocking herself vigorously in her great arm-chair. "And my best spare room, too ! Say, did he muss everything up dressing that arm ?" " Oh no ! ho was very careful about that." " Well, that's a comfort any way. To think I should have such trouble with that girl jusl when 1 needed her most ! I think it is a very mysterious dispensation of Providence." The next morning the doctor found Meta in a high fever, moaning with pain ami delirious. The arm was badly swollen and inflamed, and altogether lier case had assumed a very alarming aspect. He did not go hunting or fishiug that day, but stayed by her bedside administering mediciue with his own hand, and doing everything in his power for her relief. He was greatly distressed over the accident, and inwardly ' vowed he would never lire off another gun as long as he lived. Hut what a revelation of toil, hardship, and cruel wrong the unconscious 1 Meta made in her delirium ! She fancied the doctor, as ho bathed her hot head and hands and soothed her as lie would a child, was her mother, and she drew his head close to her lips and whispered : O mother! I'm so glad you have ' come for me ! I'm tired to death, j Auntie has no mercy or feeling for me ! ! She has kept me at work over her night 1 j and day, aud I've gono hungry many I and many a time, because I couldn't j bear to eat tho food so grudgingly gvien. O, I am so glad you have com?!" Now Met a was not a beautiful girl, i though she had a sweet, pure, womanly ; face, and great, wistful eyes, and au j abundance of dark, silky hair. But her small hands were brown and hardened with toil ; she was poor, dependent alone in the world except for this selfish, unnatural aunt, and the cousins who scarcely de igned to notice her. Doctor Chester was a rich, old bachelor, not so very old either, only thirtysix. Why he had never married no one could tell, but true it is he had remained heart whole these years in spite of the many beautiful women who had smiled gracefully upon him. But somehow this poor sufl'ering orphan won his heart completely duriug that week of 1 unconsciousness. He was charmed with her sweet prattle about her childhood ; j and her innocence and helplessness, together with the suffering ho had so unwittingly caused appealed, strongly to his sympathy, and he fully resolved to win her love and make her his wife if possible. Never had n patient a more assiduous doctor thau did poor Meta. Mrs. Smith fumed and fretted over all. the fuss that they made about " that girl," until the doctor frightened her into silence by telling her that he knew how she had treated the poor child,, and that if she didn't keep quiet and have everything done that was needlul I for her comfort he would have her 1 arrested and tried for inhuman cruelty. Under his watchful care the danger was soon over, and Meta was pro ? nounced convalescent. The doctor took her out to ride as soon as she was able, in the easiest of all carriages, liare delicacies were sent every day from the hotel to tempt her returning appetite. The sweetest and most fragrant flowers that could be found adorned her room. Meta remonstrated with him for all this lavish kindness, but he would silence her by saying lie was the cause of all her suffering and she must allow him to atone for it in every way ho could. How eagerly ho watched the faint color that crept into her cheeks at his approach ! How tenderly aud delicately he ministered to her comfort and pleasure day after day, until at last he ventured to tell her of his love and his great desire to have her for his own. He had become very dear to her during all those weeks of suffering, and she acknowledged it and promised to be his wife. He hastened to inform Mrs. Smith of their betrothal, and asked her forbearauce for another week when, he assured her, ho would relieve her from all further care and responsibility of her niece. Imagine if you can her astonishment ! She was completely " dumbfounded !" and had not a word to say; though doubtless in her heart she thought it auother most " mysterious dispensation." The next day a notaoie uresBmuiier i from the city arrived with vnriouH wonderful and costly fabrics, which she had orders to make up for Miss Langdon in the latest style. Such a time as there was then of cutting and basting, of trying on and trimming ! Two other seamstresses kept their sewing-machines running at the highest rate of speed, until at the close of the week there was enough of a wedding (rousscau to fill a huge Saratoga trunk. The doctor made daily pilgrimages between that chamber and the city, until at last he could not devise another thing which his darling could possibly need for dress or ornaI raent during the trip to Europe which he had planned. Never was there a happier bride and groom than those who were made one in Mrs. Smith's parlor that bright September morning. They went immediately to his home on the Hudson, where his mother received the new daughter with open arms, and soon after went to Europe, where they spent a year. Meta made good use of the time by putting herself under the care of the best private teachers, and when on their return the happy doctor presented his wife to his friends, there was not among them one more highly accomplished or more elegant and refined. The doctor was very proud of her, and never tired of telling his intimate friends how he found his wife, or the result of his last shot. The Islaud of Cuba, All eyes have been turned toward ! m,l,n?n imnnv iale the laroest of the ' West India group, some 630 miles long, I and its greatest width 107 miles. Lying i just within the tropics, its climate is perpetual summer, tempered by cooliug ! sea-breezes. There is one record o/ j snow having fallen in a central town ol ; Cuba in 1830, and hail is not uufre i quent ; but while the heat is rarely oppressive, the thermometer seldom falls below GO degrees, except occasionally in the interior. Havana is a special resort for invalids. This important commercial city has outgrown its < riginul walls ; but for its defense, and that of its harbor, there are half a dozen 1 forts and a citadel. The long and narrow channel which leads to the city is defended ou tho east side by the great I castle El Morro, and on the west by the 1 powerful fortress La Punta. La Cabaua is said to be the largest and > strongest of all the defensive works of Huvanu, requiring in time of war a garrison of 2,000 men. In 1762 Havana, after a Hiege of forty-four days, fell into the hands of tho English ; but the next year it was restored to Spain in accordance with certain arrangements made by treaty. Havana is regularly laid out, and though its streets are narrow, many of them are well paved with granite. It is well lighted with gas, and supplied with water by an aqueduct. The city also has its public promenades, its fountains, its universities, libraries, and museums, and there are numerous daily, weekly, aud monthly publications. Havana, to a greater degree than any other Spanish city, has adopted the mechanical appliauces of industry ami tho various improvements which have been brought to it through its commercial relations with other nations. Wear lVhto Umlorclothnj. Tim Urm7r.l r,If, nllli recommends white underclothing as not only more healthful, but 011 aceouut of its not radiating the heat of the body as some other colors do. Another strong incentive is the avoidance of possible poisoning, resulting from deleterious dyes. The Journal of C/icniintn/ gives an instance of the poisonous effects of aniline colors upon the skin in the experience of a gentleman of Bayfield. He had a lew days previous purchased some ' new undershirts of cotton, colored with j various tints, among which aniline red ! predominated. In a short time after putting on the garment a peculiar erup- ! tion of an irritating nature appeared 011 j the body covered by tho cloth. The effects wero not merely local, but to a j considerable extent constitutional, pain < and uneasiness beiutr experienced in ' tho buck and lower extremities. In proof that the eruption was caused by the dye colors, it may bo stated that a portion of tho garment about the upper part of the chest was lined with linen ou tho under side, and wherever this came in contact with the skin no eruption or redness occurred. It is probable, the Journal remarks, that the number of persons is large who possess 6uch idiosyucracies of constitution as to be j easily poisoned by dyo colors, but that there aro some does not admit of a doubt. A school girl was overheard trying to convince a school fellow that she liked him better than she did some other urchin, of whom he seemed jealous. " Of course, I like you tetter than I do Bill," she said, " for don't I miss words in my spelling lesson on Surpose, se os to be down at the foot of re class where yon are ?" . .V \ CHRISTMAS SXIPE HUXT. hi " I am eo glad to see you, Henry, and 01 bo surprised, too; for you know you f expected to remain in St. Louis till after Christmas. It has been awfully ? stupid here at Helena since you have been gone. There has not been a sin- . gle party of any kind that I havo heard of. I don't know what I should have ^ done but for that conceited coxcomb, Raymond, who has been trying his very best to do tho agreeable, and I must say amused me exceedingly." " What., you don't mean that foppish New York drummer? Why, he is ?! greener than cucumbers; if he were . turned loose out in the meadows the . cows would follow him. He comes . down here to Arkansas selling Yankee notions and gimcracks, and struts about ' in his new storo clothes as thoygh he were a heap better than any fellow in w the Stato. And so, Kate, he has been ^ shining around yon, has lie?" ,, "Yes, but I only laugh at him ; a . lady must have company of some kind, ^ you know, Henry. If none come along whom she can laugh with, she sometimes is content with one she can laugh at. This fine New York gentleman? , Mr. Augustus K. Raymond he calls ' himself?has invited mo to the grand < party to be given by Mrs. Gordon on jj Christmas night." t( "But you surely did not accept, Kate ; why, I heard of this party, and ^ hurried homo from St. Louis before my tj business was half over, on purposo to w ask you to go with me." " I am extremely sorry, Mr. Morgan, jj that you should be so disappointed ; fl( but what was a poor girl to do? j . wouldn't have missed going for the , world, and liow could I know tbat you would put yourself to so much iuconvenience for'my pake ?" " Now, Kate, this in cruel in tou. Why do you call mo Mr. Morgan, and j adopt this lofty tone toward mo ? We are old sceoolmates and old friendp, and?and I had flattered myself that P we were very good frienda. I had even a] ventured to hope that some day we n might be still better friends. In fact? jj but I am making myself as great a fool as that fop of a notion peddler. My dear Kate, 1 scarcely know what I am saying. I only know that I love you w devotedly, and that if you will give me the least assurance that you love me in return, I shall be the happiest fellow in Arkansas. Can you give mo just one ft word of encouragement?" " Yes," replied the roguish girl with ft provoking brevity, lr.it a serious look a immediately stoie over her couute- ^ nance, and after a few minutes of silence, while the young man ardently w pressed her hand, she added,' as her ^ downcast eyes were raised again to ^ meet his : " You knew all the while that you were the only one of my gen- o tleraen friends for whom I really cared ( anything." ?t "I was bold enough to think you a preferred me, dear Kate, or I should uever have been bravo enough to de- ^ clare myself. But what's to be done now about this Christmas party ? That simpleton, Raymond,.shall not go with you if I have to run him out of town." .. " Never fear, Henry, I will get rid of him in some way. He bored me terribly before. Ho would bo insufferable uow-" tl " i know how we can get rul of him, Kate. We young fellows will get up a ,] sniping party for Christmas eve, ami ft make him hold tho bag." H( " Oh! that will be capital," said Kate, gayly. "That's just the thiug ; p but tkt re's tho bell now, and no doubt d it is lie himself. Just wait and see how ir nicely I shall dispose of him. You are a) to bo my cousin, raiud." i, A card bearing the name of Augustus p K. Raymond was handed in, followed ti ft moment later by an overdressed 8] young gentleman with waxed moustache, hair parted in tho middle, and 0I the air generally of one who has got tt himself up to mako a stunning im- tl pression. 8| " Good evening, Mr. Raymond. Per- ]n mit mo to introduce you to my cousin, y Mr. Morgan." hi " Delighted to have tho pleasure of p your acquaintance, sir. You reside in h Helena, I suppose." " I live here," replied Morgan, 91 curtly. "Ah, then, perhaps you are in the g< mercantile business. I have the honor c< U represent one of the leading notion aj houses"? ni " No, T am not in tho trade, inter- si rupted Morgan, dryly. "My cousin, explained tho lady, is R in tlm ffiimn hiiuin<>eq ntnl nnrniins nf 111 " h""1" ?-? t ?"i ?i?i? -- -game, ho has just been telling mo that fc he is going with a party of our young gentlemen on a grand snipe hunt to- ai morrow evening?Christmas eve." tl " Yes," added Morgan, and wo should p< like to lmvo you join us." "Do go with them, Mr. Raymond. ?' I do so want a snipo feather to wear in ti my hair at tho party. They are all the ^ rage with tho girls now. Such beauti- jE ful feathers they are, too ! Long and 8( drooping, with the richest red and yellow colors. You must go with them l0 and get me a suipe feather, for I can't 0] think of going tw the party without one, and Cousin Henry here, even when he 1U goes, is never smart enough to secure fr me a good feather. Somebody else al- Si ways gets the privilege of holding tho tl bag, and so secures the finest of the h; feathers." m " Certainly I'll go, with great plea- K sure. Miss Andrews, that is. if the gen- ei tlemen really desire that I should houor 01 them with my company." " Of course we'll feel greatly honored, m Mr. Raymond," said Morgan, "if you w will condescend to joiu us in one of our w simplo Western sparts. I can even promise you the post of honor on the ?? occasion." m " Really, you quite overwhelm me. I 01 shall not fail to bo with the party, if I di can be of service! I am not furailiar at d< all with?with?what did you call the tl game??snipe; but if they possess such ai beautiful feathers aR Miss Andrews de- fl< scribes, they must form a conspicuous te mark, and no doubt I shall bo able to C bring at least one down at every shot, ai They call me a good marksman at the shooting galleries in New York. You 6t may rely upon me, Mr. Morgan." tt So saying, Mr. Raymond bowed him- d< self out in an impressive manner, and w had scarcely closed the hall door be- re ind him when both the' others broke c it in a paroxysm of laughter. t " That joke of yours, Kate, about the id and yellow feathers, was excelltnt. s ; couldn't have been better managed, x 11 get the boys together to arrange for t te hoax. By 10 o'clock to-morrow L ight your gallant greeny will be standig up to his knees in the mud and c ater, out in one of the creeks, holding c le bag. and expecting that the rest of f * will drive the snipe into it. But he 1: ill be as likely to see Santa Claus him>lf out there as any snipe. When he e ?ts tired of waiting for the game, and 1 ir us to return, he can sneak off home s one. It will spoil those striped panta- I ions of his, though, and rufHo his 1 imper, so that this climate will not be f pt to agree with him any longer." 1 The just-accepted lover, however, did i ot seem in a hurry about going, and it as considerably later in the evening i hen he finally bade his betrothed < good-night." The latter, wo should t ave explained, was the belle of Helena, t rkansas. She was a high-spirited, dashing 1 oung lady, as might be inferred from i le foregoing, and, withal, unusually ] andsome. She had numerous adimr- t rs, and, as may bo imagined, her talk 1 bout a lack of company was only a i ttle mischievous fibbing, craftily in- 1 mded to elicit a declaration from him ho had long beeh her favored suitor, f lie only reason why she had accepted 1 le invitation of Raymond for the party i as that 3he and her friends might < take themselves merry at his expense. [a was disposed to be spoony, ana was ] j little acquainted with the bluff, < earty manner and disregard of ultra- 1 ttiquette which characterize the peole of the West., that he was constantly 1 inking himself ridiculous in their eyes, 1 tid therefore was vastly entertaining i ) the lively young ladies upon whom ; e lavished his attentions, though in a holly different way from what he sup- 1 osed. i It may not be fully understood that i aipo hunts were formerly a favorite 1 leans of humiliating gentlemen from le East who went West with too dis- i araging ideas about the people resi- i ent there and too lofty ideas of them- i alves. How these affairs were managed < ill fully appear in the remainder of ur story. A dozen or two choice spirits were l ssembled by Morgan the next evening, i nd Raymond, having been notified of :ie time and place, was punctually in ttendance, wearing his best clothes nd an air of importance which seemed 1 j say, "I am bestowing a great favor i i consenting to join you;" and so he i ras, for his was the priuwpai ^pd anidispensnble part in the" farce about to e enacted. The party proceeded several miles ut of town by wagons, to a small i tream of water in a wild, lonely place, 'ho wagons were left some distance 1 way from the proposed scene of operaons, which was in a low, swampy ottom. i Of course, everything had been well I rranged beforehand, but to disarm nspicion, it was proposed by one of in fnllntpn that; thnv mill straws to see I ho should have the privilege of holdlg tho bag. All pretended to agree to i lis, except Morgan, who insisted that 1 le drawing be dispensed with, saying: " I promised the post of honor to our < istinguished friend here,Mr. Augustus aiymond, of New York, and I intend to ;e* that ho has it. "Thank you, Mr. Morgan, for chamioning my cause," said Raymond, con- 1 escendingly. " You may rely upon ' le, gentlemen, in whatever post you 1 Hsign me. I flatter myself that I shall 1 ng as much game as any of you. 1 ut it has just occurred to me 1 mt we have no guns. How aro we to ' loot the snipe without guns?" ] " Wo will soon show you," said one 1 f the party, Bob Norton. "We are i ) form a line and drive the snipe down le creek, while the best man is to ;nnd in this narrow place holding a irgo bag with the open end up stream. lo have sometimes caught hundreds of . lipe alive in that way at a singlo haul, >id you ever have any experience in olding bugs?" " No ; but I know I can do it. Only j low me where I am to stand." "You will get your feet wet," sug- J gated another of the party, adding insolingly. " but they will soon dry ' jain. Do you think you can keep pererfectly still uud wait patiently till tlio j lipe come ?" I " No difficulty about that," replied ( aymoud, who remembered that ho , ad promised Kate the tirst pick of the ( lathers. " Then you'ro our man," said Bob, ] id turning to Morgan, "You vouch for J 10 reliability of your friend, I sup380 ?" "No fear about him," said Morgan ; ] ho represents one of the leading no- , on houses of New York ; ho is true , rit, and I warrant he would stand firm, y i his placo till midnight if it took us ' > long to get the snipe down to him." t Raymond was then furnished with a | ,rge bag, the end of which was kept ' ien by a hoop, and suffered himself to < o stationed where the water and soft f ,ud were unpleasantly deep, his logs | om the knees down being completely j ibmerged. He by no means relished j le position, but remembering that he id promised some of the finest red j id yellow feathers to Kate, and that j ate's cousiu had vouched for him so j nphaticallv, determined to stick it , it. * { " The water is very cold," ho rather f -oo tlm nranftnul inlr ( iceniy ouggcoMiu ?-> r... | ore leaving him. " Do you think it f ill take very long ?" < ' Wo can't tell," replied Morgan, t Wo may scare up a nock in a few t linutes, and it may take half an hour t : so. Then, pometimes, they don't 1 rive well, and that causes delay. But I an't leave or stir till you havo bagged lem, for if you should give up and go t vay you might jn9t miss a splendid f ock. We will go to the American Ho- 1 1 after the hunt is over, and have a I bristmas eve supper. That will make 1 nends for all our trouble." c We need scarcely add that they went t raight home, taking their wagons with 1 em, and leaving Raymond sinking c jeper and deeper into the mud and J ater. Returning to Morgan's own t isidenoe they had a jolly time, and i racked many a joke at tlie expense^of heir poor victim. ~ i " S inta Clans may take pity on him," jgf aid Bob Norton, "and fill np his bag Qf rith Christmas presents, if he waits here long enongh. That would console i lim, perhaps." td] " He wouldn't appreciate them," ed! himed in another, " unles Santa Clans 1 :ertified that the toys and things came na rom that leading notion house which an le represents." ] "I don't think he would have con- coi lented so willingly to hold the bag if I rei lad not worked upon his cursed vanity :o well," said Morgan; " and then Kate wj Andrews made him believe that snipe j)e iad long, beautiful red and yellow j}a 'eathers, and that she wanted him to jring her one to wear to the party tonorrow night." co " I'm thinking his own fine feathers, go vliich he has been strutting about in thi sver since he came here, will be much ;ho worse for to-night's work," ob- cu lerved another. of And so passed the time with them till fai ong after Christmas had been ushered n. Meanwhile Raymond was standing ^ patiently in the water. No sound dis- ,,e ;urbed the stillness of tho night except :he occasional splash of a big fish in ya i deeper part of the stream just above jim. . " This is a delightful manner of P ipending Christmas eve," he thought to te limself. " What would my New York ?a friends think if they could see me in in ;his position ?" His feet and legs were as wet as they eli possibly could be, and he shivered with :o!d. Several times he was on the w< point of giving up, when the thought of m nrn-ttr on<1 fJift nrfimised LVUIC, IUO y * V ? """ I feathers came to him. Nor could he it bear the idea of provoking the ridicule, th md perhaps the wrath, too, of the th young fellows, by deserting his post. it. Nearly an hour thus passed and lie til was not only drenched with water but nearly benumbed with the cold, when 8j suddenly a suspicion dawned upon him j( that he had been outrageously duped. gI " They have made a fool of me," he 5, muttered, with an added imprecation, or as his teeth chattered* involuntarily, and throwing away the bag ho hurried . off in search of the wagons. V? Fear was added to his rage and mortification when he found they were 01 gone, and that he was left entirely ?fl alone in the wild solitary place. Fortunately it was a straight road back to town, and ho had no difficulty in follow- dc ing it. He ran most of the way, yet ar did not reach his hotel till some time hi after midnight, and it may bo readily ^ surmised took the first train next morn- hi iug for home. Henry Morgan accompanied Kate Andrews to the Christmas party, and it p< was remarked by all their friends that cr she never looked so well nor seemed in fli such lively spirits, and that he appear- d< ed to be unusually happy. to Neither was ever again troubled by gi the attentions of New York drummers, al and just one year later there was a grand wedding in Helena. f0 The happy pair included New << York in their tour, and in a Broadway p,, store met their old acquaintance, Ray- p, niund. He greeted them pleasantly, ?? and, after some explanations on both y( sides, inquired : ra " So Mr. Morgan was not your cousin, after all?" " No more than you were yourself." C1 "And I suppose lie escorted you to ej the party. I see through it all now. Well, though it was a most unhandsome trick you played upon me, it has turned w, out for the best. By hurrying home vc then I got here in time to be of great m service to our house at a critical jnnc- nt ture, aud as a reward, have since beeu m taken into the firm. (Besides, I have ?? found another lady-love, the accora- ce plished daughtea of our seniot partner; 0f and if you can wait till next Thursday, you shall be present at our wedding." The Long Bow In Colorado. ,m hr A letter from Gold Spring, Col., to a tr, Chicago gentleman, says: I have just gi irrived from the headquarters of our At jompany, which is located at Gurnoy's Mill, and I have a most horrible story pc to communicato to you. Your agent, ra J. N. Watson, has been foully robbed ta ind murdered. The following are the lie particulars, as near as I can write them: he After corresponding with him for tie mme time, he'eamo here dayjbefore'yes- ar ierday. To illustrate tho usefulness of in :he well auger he bored down ninety ly feet, and our company being pleased with the working of tho machine pur- he :hased tho rights of this and four ad- he oiuing counties. We paid him in cash J1.000, and gave him throo ^notes on us imnnntinn (n ftl fiOO. WI ?UJW?u....0 -w It got noised around that he had this imount of money in his possession, and or ate in the evening three men, without loubt, the murderers, went to where he 'S vas stopping, pretended that they or vished to purchase some territory, th They made remarks to tho effect that pt ;hey doubted the truth of the report that ie had bored ninety feet in one day. m They induced him to accompany them mi ;o the place where the bole was, ono of ed ihe men carrying a lantern and cord for u[ ;he purpose, they said, of measuriug wi he depth themselves. That was the sq ast overseen of poor Watson alive. We had not, however, heard that he lis lad been missing, and early this morn- th ng we rigged up the auger for the pur- an jose of going still further down in our w< irospecting. Imagine our horror when Ju he first auger full was brought to the uirface; it contained the head and part i mi if the torn remains of your agent. The | ace was easily identified by those pro3- I int. Whether he wan dead when the j sti tuger reached him ornot we cannot tell, lit hough some of the men fancied that he body was yet wurm. He was doubtess robbed and thrown into the hole he co jored himself the day before. id Of course we did not attempt to go iny further, but, after satisfying our- th lelves that the remains were those of bj iVatson, we placed the mangled parts lack into the well and filled it up. It so las caused great excitement in our wl :amp, and I think we have some clue to oa he fiends who perpertrated the cold- an ilooded and horrible murder. I feol be sertain that the robbers seoured the ce 11,000 which was paid your agent, as go is he told me that he would not remit ah t until he got to on express office, an Facts and Fanes, Milwaukee company baa imported ),000 bushels of barley and 300 bales hops from Italy. V big ear of corn, surrounded by rteen little ones, lately entered an itor's sanctum in Iowa. Peter Sharaboo, the first licensed vigator of Lake Superior, still lives <1 is ninet-eight years old. Men were farmers long before they nld read; and they never could have id had they not first been farmers. A. police justice in Chicago was somelat astonished when a vagrant tried fore him counted out $28,000 in green? cks. If the united power of all agricultural lieges would teach us how to grow od crops of potatoes, we would be ankful. Many farmers complain that their oopation does not pay. What is the use saying so ? Nine merchants in ten il, but they never brag about it. If hard work bends the body, swells e joints, and blisters the hands, it t gives expertness and power to the nscles, sucn as gentility may seek in in to exhibit. When plows, reapers, and other imements are left in the field over winr, the greatest loss is not in their dey but in the evil habits established the farmer's mind. If every planter would grow 50 bu6hs of corn for each bale of cotton, he )uld get more money than now. There >uld be less cotton, bat it woald bring ore, and the corn would he clear gain. , Western farmers have discovered that is cheaper to haul grain 50 miles with eir teams, if they have a load back, an to ship by rail, and they are doing Railroads are getting behind the mes. The weight of the new fractional lver coin is metrical, that of the half >llnrs being just twelve and one-half ammes, the quarter dollar aix and onelarter grammes and the dime two and ie-half grammes. An Irish nobleman, attended by renty-six dogs, passed throuch Inanapolis, lately, on his way to Florida t a "hunting expedition. He had a r attached to a freight train devoted himself and attendants. When you go into a new country >n't be too smart. Listen and watch id find out how things are done, and 3 careful not to insist on your own ay. The farmers of every section ive, as a general t thing, good reasons ir their practices. The sailors of the Tornado -were corndied to shoot Captain Fry and his ew, but fired with averted heads, inIcting frightful tortures on the con3mned. The bodies were carried off ' the cemetery and thrown into the aves, six persons in each, clothes and An old, rough olergyman once took r his text that passage of the Psalms, I said in my haste all men are liars." . ooking up apparently as if lie saw the palmist standing before liim ho said : Yon said it in your haste, David, did m ? Well, if yon had been here, you ight have said it after mature delibera99 Perhaps one of the oddest elections 1 record occurred at the last general ection for members of the General sserablv in Germany. A certain disict hall only one legal voter, who ilked proudly up to the polls and >ted for himself, tlio only eligible ember in the district. But when bis tme was aunounced as tho elected ember, he pompously arose, and said, Messrs. Commissioners, I do not aopt tho election !" and walked gravely F. Over the Edge of the Wagon. Emigrants must not stand upon cere* ony. Muny a wedding on wheels is signalized the passage of Western ains through tho last " cities " on the eat frontier. The Warrenburg (Mo.) andard says: Last Friday afternoon, as ono of our ipular justices from Ashbury was in editation deep among tho papers perining to his law cases, a swift and avy step was heard on the stairway id along the hallway leading to his otic. The door wus opened without iy ceremony, and in rushed a man a state of high excitement not usualJ seen iu our quiet city. " Are you tho 'Squire ?" ho asked, as ) wiped the perspiration from his ated brow. " I am," replied the Justice. ??w^ii t wanf. tn ap.t married, and * " If Wil) M. " " o ? int the thing done right away. " All right," Biiid the Justice ; " bring i your woman." The excited iudividual then informed quire A. that the fair and expectant le was in town, and that he wanted e 'Sqniro to go to her with hizn and rform the ceremony. And after a few preliminary arrangeents, which included the fee and the H urriugc certificate, the Justice follow- V i the gentleman, and dually brought I > with him at the side of a covered 1 igon on the street near the pablio 1 nare. \ "Here, Mary," said the man, "I ive brought the 'Squire," and, raising o side of the wagon cover, the form d f< atures of the handsome young I >man were revealed to the astonished J istice. J " Marf, do you wish to marry this ^ ?n ?" inquired the Justice, solemnly. J " I do," faltered the blushing bride, J " Shall?shall she get out on the I reet, sir ?" stammered the soon-to-be I isband. m " No," said the Justice. ^ " Sb?shall I get in the wagon, then ?" ntinned the man, who bad some faint ea of the impropriety of the thing. "No," said the Justice, " stand by d e side of the wagon, and take Mary m tbe nana. _ This beiDg done, the two were B lemnly made one nnder cover of the lite-sheeted wagon and the bine flfl nopy of heaven. A nnmberof ladies flH d gentlemen passed by the parties, it knew nothing of the interesting remony that was taking plaoe. The Iden bonds were bonnd around the ready united souls of William Mi?S d Maty Catharine Palmer. ^jjj^B