Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE MAY BASKET By GENEVA A. ELDREDGE. Scent of apple blossoms Ailed Cyn thia Smith's living room, a clumsy bee tumbled up and down the outside of the screen door, and now and then a swallow darted across the sunshine, his blue wings glistening. Away down the street sounded the rat-tat of a drum, and Cynthia heard the patter of children's feet running toward the town square. Still she sat tense and upright in the old-fashioned rocking chair, her mouth drawn in a straight hard line, her eyes fixed upon the work in her hands. Tlie screen door squeaked on its spring and a round-faced, brown-eyed little boy squeezed In, his eyes filled with surprise when he saw her sit ting there so stiff, her work in her hands, and he stammered a little as he said: "Wh-why, Aunt Cynth, ain't you going to meet the train and see the p-parade?" Soft and quick came her answer: "No, dear, not today." "But Aunt Cynth, they ain't goin' to be nc more p-parade days, an' I got on my white suit, an' mother thought maybe you'd like to have a little boy what was all spic and span to go wiv you." And his little face grew wistful and troubled. He had never seen an Aunt Cynth like this before, so straight and strange. . He meant to know before he left just why she was staying home the day everyone else In town was going down tc welcome the boys from France. So he crept up close and whispered : "Is it 'cause Joe ain't cora in\ auntie?" Tears sprang to her eyes as she gathered the little spic and 6pan bd*y close. "Yes, Teddie boy, that's just why auntie isn't going. She can't bear lt." Now that Teddie was sure he felt that he ought to say something to help make' auntie happier, so he said as he stroked her face with his fat little hand : "Never mind, auntie ; Tve got a secret and maybe tonight 'bout dark you'll know it. Maybe right 'fore supper, maybe right after, anyway, don't you come out doors right that time, will you?" And auntie promised to stay in the house. Then hearing his mother call ing he scampered away leaving Aunt Cynth alone with her thoughts. Slow ly she closed her eyes and in Imagina tion saw the town square filled with people, the train pulling in filled with returning soldiers, the happy greet ings, and far and faint she heard the band and the cheering. The hot tears trickled slowly down her face as she whispered, "And mine reported missing; my boy, who was the pride of my heart!" And then Teddie's happy little face seemed to shine out, and she remembered what a comfort he had- been all the weary months, "and now he is coming to hang me a May basket, bless his dear little heart, and I must cheer up for his sake. I think I will plan a little surprise myself." So she went into her dining roora and set the pretty table, bringing in great bunches of apple blossoms to decorate it with until the room looked like fairyland i i the pink and white dress. She frosted little round cakes and made an iced drink for the crystal glasses, and almost before she knew it, twilight came drifting down. The drums had ceased their rat-tat and happy voices called to one another in the street. "It's almost time for Ted die and his secret," she thought as she patted her hair into place. Then she heard steps tiptoeing up the board walk and a child's quick panting breath, and she smiled the old time glad smile that she used to greet the boy with who was missing tonight when he came to hang May baskets at the very same door. When two fat fists pounded hard on the screen door she waited only long enough for a small boy to hide before she opened the door, to find a dainty little basket, all fringed aud festooned and fairly bursting with candy kisses, setting on the step. "Why, how surprised I am," she said. "Who could have left this beau tiful little basket here? Surely it's a mistake; some little boy must have thought Susie Grimes lived her\" Just then a small boy In white wrig gled out from behind the snowball bush and called breathlessly, "No, no, Aunt Cynth, 'taln't no 'stake, it's my secret and some more of it ls 'hind the catalpa tree. You come see." But just then a khaki-clad figure sprang out with wide-open arms, and then Ted's secret was out. "Oh, Joe," cried Aunt Cynth as she wept in his arms, "how you must have felt not to find me at the train to meet you." "That's ali right, mother; I don't blame you under the circumstances. "When Ted told me his secret I thought I'd walt and surprise you. "Some May basket all around, hey? Say, Ted, lt looks like frosted cakes and lemonade in the dining room ; let's hurry for mess." And as mother and son wiped the tears of gladness from their eyes, a little voice shrilled out: "You won't never cry no more on p-parade day, will you, Aunt Cynth?" (Copyright, 1??9, McClure Newspaper Syn dicate.) No Housework for Them. "Well, the soldiers learned to sweep, wash and cook." "Yep, the present crop of brides ls going to have a perpetual cinch." WOMEN ARE TO TEST MONEY-SAVING PLANS General Study of Wise Opportlonment of Family Income Will be Taken Up By South Carolina Club?. ? January first, members of the feder ated women's clubs of South Carolina will begin a statewide test of the wis dom with which they are spending their money. How much of the family Income goes for hats'and herrings, for mo les and medicines and saucepans and sugar, (when there is any), will be sternly calculated by housewives in ev?<ry city and county, and the results pooled at the end of the month. Mrs. J. Russell McEIwee, state chairman of Thrift for the federation is busily en gaged in enlisting the support of .very club woman In South Carolina In a campaign to reduce living ex? pen.sps which is sponsored by. th? United States Treasury Department, la op-operation with the national thrift ehiilrsien of the largest organiza tions of women in the United Staten. Women Are Buyers. "We were never called upon to help In a greater cause, a more needed campaign, a compaign of such recon struction," says Mrs. McEIwee. Sh? is oonvinced that it lies within tao [ power of wemen to regulate the use and control the price of the common necessities of life, as they are th? buyers of these necessities. When this power is applied in a concentrat ed way by the women of South Car olina, she believes that they will give invaluable help in solving the present problem of the high cost of living, aad In establishing the permanent prac tice of saving money and material. Mrs. McEIwee ls being aided in the preliminary work of gating the cam paign in this state m?der way, by a central committee composed of coun ty and city chairmen of thrift. Each Individual, according to pres ent plans, will be asked to keep an account of her daily expenses during January, grouping them under such headings as, "Rent," "Clothing," "Amusements," "Food," etc. She will not be asked to report the actual ! amounts spent, ;iut the percentage they represent ot the actual income. These reports will probably furnish the basis of discusi?n for a meeting held at the end of the month. Will Review Expenses. In February, each individual will analyze the January expenses and I make an effort through information gairred in January to save a certain amount through conservation, with out hardship. In March, each woman will make a calculation of how much she saved on living expenses in Feb ruary over an equal number of days ! in January. In this month an effort : will be made to encourage the mem bers of organizations making the er : p?riment to invest their Baviugs In ' government securities, f inal reports ! at the end of the three months will be ' sent to tho headquarters of the War ' Loan Organization of this district, in Richmond, Va. State clubs hare been notified that a model budget prepared for the use i of the Woman's Division of the War Loan Organization, which ha? taken i over the government savings move ment as its reconstruction work, will be sent to those desiring it. Requests for the budget should be made of ' Mrs. Eudora Richardson, director of the woman's division, War I^oaa Or ganization, Richmond, Va. FUNDAMENTAL REGARDING SAVINGS FACTS TREASURY CERTIFICATES. They are issued in denomina tions of '1,000 and $100. They are discount bonds of th? United States Government matur . ing January, 1924. They cost $846 and 184.60, re spectively, during December, 1*19. They can be procured by pay ment of cash, checks or the ex change of War Savings Stamps. 1119 issue. They are on sale at banks and trust companies that have been designated as agencies of the United States Treasury for sales of such securities and at postoffices of the first and second class. No one. person can own more than $1,000 worth of the securities. TRANSFORMATION Savings! Thrift! Economy! I once thought you were meas, Petty virtue at the best Which mad? Hf? dall and baa; Dun-colored, hard monotonous, Selfish at the heart. Taking all in ?4L you played An unattractive part. But now! The gray cocoon ls burst. You stand forth, radiant bued. The- steel of your sharp sword I? bright And a warrior'? is your mood. Dramatic, sacrificial, brave; Th? virtues of a knight! Without you, one-time grievous thine, We couldn't start to fight! Until tho armistice was signed th? boys ?n the other side had to trench constantly to secure protection. You will have to retren h to keep the ad vantage they won. War Savings Stamps, Treasury baringa Certificate? and Liberty Bonds ar? the right tool? la ns?. Treasurer's Notice. The County Treasurer's office will be open for the purpose of receiving taxes from the 15th day of October, 1919, to the 15th day of March, 1920. All taxes shall be due arid payable between the _5th day of October, 1919, and December 31st, 1919. That^hen taxes charged shall not be paid by December 31.t, 1919, the County Auditor shall proceed to add a penalty of one per cent, for Janu ary, and if taxes are not paid on or before February 1st, 1920, the Coun ty Auditor will proceed to add two per cent, and five per cent, addition al, from the 1st of March to the 15th of March, after which time all un paid taxes will be collected by the Sheriff. , The tax levies for the year 1919 are as follows: Mills For State ? purposes_ 9 For Ordinary County_ 7 For Specialv County_ 3 For Constitutional School Tax 3 For Antioch _ 4 For Bacon School District_10 For Blocker_ 2 For Blocker-Limestone_ 4 For Colliers _1_ 4 For Flat Rock_ 8 For Oak Grove_ 3 For Red Hill_.__ 6 For Edgefield ._ 8 For Elmwood No. 8_2 For Elmwood No. 9_ 2 For Elmwood No. 30._ 2 For Elmwood L. C._ 3 For Hibler_ 3 For Johnston_ll For Meriwether (Gregg) _ 2 For Moss_ 3 For Brunson School_ 4 For Ropers_ 2 For Shaw _ 4 For Sweetwater _ 4 For Talbert_ 2 For Trenton_8% For Wards _ 2 For Wards No. 33_ 4 For Blocker R. R. (portion) 15 For Elmwood R. R. (portion) - 15 For Johnston R. R._"_ 3 For Pickens R. R._ 3 For Wise R. R._ 3 For Corporation _ ll All the male citizens between the ages of 21 years and 60 years, ex cept those exempt by law, are liable to a poll tax of One Dollar each. A capital tax of 50 cents each is to be paid on all dogs. The law prescribes that all male citizens between, the ages of 18 and j 55 years must pay $2.00 commuta tion tax. No communtation is includ ed in the property tax. So ask for road tax receipt when you desire to pay road tax. J. L. PRINCE, Co. Treas. E. C. Just Received Large carload finished MONUMENTS MARKERS HEADSTONES Etc. ready for lettering. Workmanship and material first-class. Prices rea sonable. It will pay you to see us. S. R. KELLY & SON, 9th and Fenwick Sts., Augusta, Ga. One Block South Union Sta. LOMBARD Foundry, Machine, Boiler Works and Mill Supply House AUGUSTA GEORGIA Cotton Oil, Gin, Saw, Grist, Cane, Shingle Mill, Machinery Supplies and Repairs, Shafting, Pulleys, Hangers, Grate Bars, Pumps/Pipe, Valves and Fittings, Injectors, Belting, Packing Hose, etc. Cast every day. GASOLINE AND KEROSENE ENGINES Pumping, Wood Sawing and Feed Grinding Outfits. Lumber for Sale My saw mill is located on the Five Notch road near Cedar Grove church, and I have lumber to sell from the the yard or can cut it any dimensions when bill is furnished. Better buy while you can get it. H. H. Sanders (CIN C'S NEW LIFE PILLS I The Pills That Oo Cure. GERMAN POTASH ROYSTER'S FERTILIZERS TRADE MARK REGISTERED. . ."??"?WC 'TMr r\ mk We have ample supplies of German Potash Salts to enable us to say to the trade we are prepared to furnish all grades of mixed goods with foreign Potash Salts EXCLUSIVELY, and, in addition, we are prepared to sell Genuine German Kainit and* other grades of foreign potash Salts. KAINIT. 12A0% Potash KAINIT. U.00% Potash MANURE SALTS - - - - 20.00# Potash MURIATE OF POTASH - - 50.00$ Potash See your Royster dealer and place your order now F. S. ROYSTER GUANO COMPANY Norfolk, Va. ; Richmond, Va. ; Lynchburg, Va. ; Tarboro, N. C. ; Charle?te, N. C. ; Washington, N. C. ; Columbia, S. C. ; Spartanburo;, S.' C. ; Atlanta, Ga. ; Macon, Ga. ; Columbus, Ga. ; Montgomery, Ala. ; Baltimore, Md. ; Toledo, Ohio United States Railroad Administration ANNOUNCES Winter Excursion Tickets NOW ON SALE TO All Florida Winter Tourist Points V J GOOD RETURNING UNTIL May 31,1920 -ALSO ALL YEAR EXCURSION TICKETS TO CALIFORNIA GOOD RETURNING NINE MONTHS FROM DATE OF SALE Southern Railroad Lines For Information Apply to Ticket Agenta \