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TORT MILL TIMES. VOL. XIII. FORT MILL, S. C., WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 21, 1904. NO. 39. " Trans tared from UP ON the hill, a short ?li^tuuce from the hut stood in lonely pine tree, that father had promisee to out down ou Christmas eve. It was so beautiful, whore it stood, anil stretched Its dark green branches oim over the white snow. Unas walkell round and round it and looked at li ' from all sides. It had grown so evot% I iiiul was just high enough to tind rooul under the low root of the hul. In hli i imagination the little six-year-old sa\* It in nil Its beauty, with gilt pnpetlj stars, ginger bread hearts, rosy*] . cheeked apples and lighted candles. ' Podr as I am. Hans." father hail said, ".vou shall have a Christinas tree.V atltl line It shall he that I nnimltai you." And liow the little child's heart palpitated with pleasure and expectation! Father had gone into town and was not expected to return before noon. Would lie be long In bringing back all the beautiful tilings lie was to t?uy at the same time he was getting the 1 other Christmas tilings for mother? | Time and again Hans went out on the doorsteps and looked down the long, snowy road. At length father war. seen j In the distance. Hans started to moel j him. ami was permitted to curry the package father said was ids. But how tired and pale father looked. | He did not feel well, lie said, but Hans must not worry over that. It was,only j a result of the hard labor Hint lie now began to feel. It would soon jiass away. And Ilans believed tliat. [too. "Mother, father lias come," cried Ilia us. nnd pnuhed the door wide open. ' The noonday uieal was ready. jBut ..-4 ? ' i' .... oiuci viMiiu mil t'Ul illiyuilllg. JUKI pllll himself down on the wooden bench and rontplnined of pains in his ehi-st. Mother laid aside the hag of rice iind the eoffee and sugar father Ir.ul brought home. Father was ill! fte had to admit it; he was suffering m<?* pain than he would tell. .Mother eoinpelled him to go to bed and prepared a flannel saturated with tnrpentiilie that.she spread on the chest. It was too had that he should lie taken sick, and on Christinas eve. hut there wals 1.0 help for it. In his rejoicing over the beautiful things for the fhristmafe tree, little Hans for n few moments d'uf not think of father. Hut when h<^ looked to the bed where father was lying, moaning witli pain, Hans did nsl mother had done. He pushed aside] i m- in-iiin11111 i iinm mas tree limits anil knelt down l?.v tlio bed. "Poor father!" nml with his little luinds lie stroked the bearded cheeks. "Don't worry, iny boy; you shall have your Christinas tree. Speak to I Neighbor Jerker, and he will help I you." ;. t. .-7. -!><- r. ^ 'Two* the night before Christmas, In each little house The children were waiting still as a mouse To hear the buff nutf And the nisli, cnugg and squeal Ot good o)d St. Nicholas' Automobile! ?Illustrated Bits. jttle IZ&j stmas Tr*ee vecltsh oh Jenix/ tirown This was all well ami good, but father was ill. and ?he Christmas pleastire spoiled. And sucli a Christians that they had expeeted! Last year they had no means to provide for a Christmas tree or*an.v extra pleasure. "I am going to the doctor." said mother, as she tied the shawl over her head. "You stay with father. Ilans; I will hurry hack soon." nit* doctor did not live very fur aw?y. He did not like to be disturbed on Christ mas eve. but he wrote out n prescription after finding out from the woman what the symptoms were. To visit the sick man was not to he expected of the doctor on Christmas eve. "Ciive him this every two hours ami the pain will soon pass away. H'tti, well, as it is Christinas eve. 1 will only charge fifty ore"?he had the right to demand a crown, hut lie felt eharltluhlo. and the poor woman's last sil'ver piece landed in the doctor's pocket. He did not inquire if she had any unouey left for the medicine, and she did not care to tell him that it was her last niece of inoiiev m??t timt . fMRM THE DAY BEFO ; had spoilt lilnst crown for tlio tilings to decorate little linns' Christmas tree. She also hud her pride, and she know what remarks would he made. Poor men's children have no ri^ltt to pleasure or luxuries. The gingerbread and j candies anil apples would bo considered : an aw ful waste and oxlravalance. To ilio doctor"'- children it would linvo j looked a pool pleasure, but for lior own I little bov ft "|yis a sinful luxury. How . different Uoii provided for the people iit this world, was the poor woman's TikotiKin, ;is. ueavy hearted, she xvaTKvu homo wl;h the prescription in her ' hand. Had the poor :io rljtlit to have 1 a henrt that could feel and suffer? "The doct^ ffftt-e me this prescription," Mild, mother, "nnd the turpentine cloth was to remain, and you will soon be well, rather." "OU, I <loh't believe the medicine will do'HieVtnV Rood, and we will just let it alone."*? $ \ The mother understood, and she could not keep back her tears. Father had no money left for the medicine. "Don't cry. mother, don't cry." exclaimed little Hans, as lie tried to pull the mother down to him by her dress. "Father should not have bought the tilings for the Christmas tree, then he could have got the medicine. 1 understand that well enough." remarked little Hans, with a precocious mien. ? IT...w. (* 1.1 I *1", I II UUIIIU IIUl IliltV helped mo." Interrupted father from liis place in tlio l?e<l. "Hut thank you for your kinil heart. You shall have your Christinas tree as I promised you." Little I In lis went out of the hut and ran to his tree on the hill, lie walked around it. and the tears name in his eyes. Hut he wiped them away with the hack of his hand. No. he must not cry; lie must no? feel or show any sorrow over the sacrifice that would bring gladness and blessing to the home, input his hands in his pockets and tried to look glad and free from care w hen lio ntitnrml flirt iinioliliMi*'^ lint children had for weeks heard him brag about his Christmas tree, and he had promised them that they should see it in all its beauty and splendor on ' Christmas eve. Now lie would affect indifference and pretend that he did not care for a Christinas tree, nut would sell it in town so father could get money for medicine. ierken. the eldest of the neighbor's children, cut down the tree. Hans was crying, but stoutly swallowed his tears and made .lerker promise him to tell his mother that Hans had gone to town to buy a Christmas present. The mother was very much surprised. Where could Hans have got the money. She could not understand it. .lerker did not know, lie only told her what Hans had told him. and that he would not return before evening, and they must not worry about him. * * How cold little Hans felt, and how that little heart of his folt heavy ami sorrowful. Young as ho was, ho had already learned a lesson from life's story?the lesson of self-denial. He felt oold. his coat was short and threadbare, the shoes in poor eoudi RE CHRISTMAS. tion und Ids mittens full of holes. Hut lie knew that Christinas eve would bring him a new pair of mittens. From liis bed in tlie Inn ait night lie bad seen mother knitting at paiir of mittens that were too small for father. So, surely, they must be for him. Hut with aill his sorrow there was a warm slow at his heart. Was he not wealthy? He had sold his Christmas tree for two large silver erowns. Had bought llio medicine for father and l.nd a large silver crown left as a Christmas gift lor mother, tied had helped him. Had not mother said that Cod watches over little children, and had he not sent a wealthy lady that had given him two largo silver crowns for his tree, notwithstanding he had been tol'l it was not worth fifty ore? A little golden-haired girl had met him in the beautiful richly furnished room where he had brought the tree. It was placed on a table, and the lit tie girl was greatly pleased ?>v??r in> tree. He wondered if tli*? little glr1 had known why he had sold his tree, atid that all of his Christmas pleasure was lost, would she have been just a? highly pleased? He followed her with Ills eyes as she ran round the large room and elapped her sum!! hands, full of pleasure. She handed him a large sugar cake and tilled his pockets with | apples and nuts and raisins. She had so much. A table in the room had sev- [ era I large dishes filled with more beau-: tifitl things than he ever had seen be fore. Ami the kind lady gave l.im uvii shining silver crowns. 11.11 before ho loft the room his eyes wont haek, to the tree. Ho would never see it again. It was as if lie had separated front a dear friend ?from a playfellow. lie sat down on the staircase and tears streamed front his eyes, llis mother's words ram; in his ears: "Poor men's children must learn to practice selfdenial." ?. t. Hut now Hans was clad again as he ran through the snow as fast as his little feet could carry him. pulling the sleigh after liiiu. He felt cold ami tired. It was dark ami the stars shone in the heavens. He knew tliein all. Father had told him all about them. ami tie lliotnrhl of the little Christ ! chihl. and how the whole Christian worhl celebrated Christmas with trees ami candles ami Christmas gifts. I'ut little Hans hml neither the one nor the other. True, the forest wa> full of Christinas trees, hut it was not his. the one that hail grown on the hit', near his home, ami over which he hail rejoiced so much. Rut it was gone: another child hail lbs tree, lie thought of his tree as a living being, and that it felt tlf separation as much as he. Rut now he was home Father slept ami mother was at the hearth preparing the evening meal. "Hans, where have yon been?" iuiptireil mother. "Into town, mother, and I have a Christin?.s present for father." "You? Where did you get it? Have yon money. Hans?" inquired the mother in iter astonishment as Hans placed the hot tie of medicine 011 the table. "Where did you get it. hoy?" Hans inclined his head, and smilingly pushed his mother toward the window. Ife drew away the curtain and pointed to the hill. Mother could look out in the starlight night and at once noticed that the tree was gone. Yes. sin' saw piaiuiy mar nine nans Christinas tree was not there. She understood it all: she con 1<1 read it in the big blue eyes that sparkled tip toward her. She lifted the child in her arms and pressed him toward her. too deeply moved to find words for her feelings. Hut she felt so happy, so proud that this was her child, and the poor mother in all her poverty and humility would not have exchanged her lot for a oneen's coronet. "Mother. I have a Christmas present fo? you also." whispered llans. and placed the silver crown in her hand. Hans had renounced much, had denied himself all. and therefore his gift was above ordinary value. CIIUlST.M AS IN DAWSON CITY. Klondike Ike?"Wot did yer lind In yer sioekln' this niornin'V" Chilkoot l'ete -"'1"rust-bitten toes." A Kiiuny Dream. I had a funny dream Ids! ni^ht. As s|range a* ??trnuj;i" <*<?* ??l I ilrtMitied tlint I wan S.mtii Clans And Santa Clans was me. And when I came to Santa's house, (Where we live now. \ou know) I uiok out near a hundred thingf And laid them in a row; A bicycle with bevel-gear, \ IMIII I Hit I l?IIOOl* ll'ill shot: .\ pair of skate*. a new canoe, Wri-e some thing* that I brought Ami then I said, "Kdr I'ear I've missed A little tiling or two, I'll have this |?ooketl>oi>k well filled, That'* just what I will do." Ot course it only wa* a dream, 1 tnt Mil! I think 'twould be .1 n-t great it I was Santa Clam And S?ntu Clatlfl Van mo. ?-Johnstone Murray. *1 Arao I I Ml YOUM hrr i I iSSr ni' "oJ"* *"3rrt. I 1 H. SECRETARY WILSON'S REPORT Figures Shcwinn the Astonishing Values of This Year's Crop. The Secretary of Agriculture has transmitted his eighth annttal report to I he Presi lent. in opening his report the Secretary on'imrrati'! J.imn #>f t.... portanl features of the year's work, j Among them are extensive cooporatton | with agricultural stations; the taking of preliminary steps to conduct feeding and breeding experiments, the war waged against the cotton boll wee- | viI and against cattlo mange, plans for education of engineers In road building* liie production of a hardy orange, a oybrid of l he Florida orange and the Japanese tnfoltnta; valuable research in uu cessful snipping of ; fruit abroad; the value of nitrogen- i fixing bacteria; successful introduction of plant-, suited to light tnmfall areas; establishment of pure food j rtandards; the extension of agricultural ''duration in primary and secondary schools; ihe extension ol instrue tion to Our island possessions to en- j able them to supply the country with $2lHi.0f)0.000 worth or domestic pro duels, now imported from abroad Ho then proceeds lt> discuss tho j place of agriculture in the countrv's imiustiial ni< The. coin i nip nf 1904 \ i< Ids a ' farm value vreater than ever before. Tito farmers could from the pro- J ceeds ol lIm- imp pay the national j debt. I lie interest thereon foi one year, ' ami still nave enough left to pay a | considerable portion ol the govern rnent's yearly expenses. The cotton I crop, valued for linl ami seed at $t>00.000.000. i onu s second, while hay anil wheat contend for tno third place Conihined. these two crops will about equal the corn crop. Notwitnstanuing the wheat erop shown a lower production than any year since l'.tutt. the farm value is tin- highest since 1881. Potatoes ami barley reached their highest proiiu-tion in 1904; save in 1902 tlie oat crop was never so latge by ii0.000.000 husliels The pr? sent erop of riee promises a yield ot 900,000,000 poiuels?:i00.000.000 more than ever before. Horses and mules reach tin Ingo r:.t point this year. wilii an a^n'Kaii ! value c.\<-ceding l.a.VI million dollars j On 1:7.? other hand cattle, sheep and j hogs .ill show a decline The steady advance m poultry leads to some, astonishing figures. The tnr- I mors' liens now produce one and twothirds tnllioa . of dozens of eggs and at the high average tone of the year he hens dm in,; their husy season lay enough "ggs in a single month to pay the years interest on the national debt. After n careful , -liinate ul the val ne of tin* products of the farm dining 1001. made within the census scope , j il is safe to place? ihc amount at l.hoti million dollars, after excluding the v ;i 1 Hi: of farm crops fed to live? slock | hi ordt-i to avoid duplication of values I This, is h.(' .*? per ccnl. above the pro I dia l of lltn:!, and ;>1.2K per c<?iil above I hat of the census of lsit!) Some comparison?' arc necessary to I the rc 1li7.it ion of such unthinkable I value. aggn gating nearly live billions ! j of dollars. The farmers of this eoun t I try have in two years produced wealth ! exceeding the output of all the gold ; iiiiicm <m mi' mm win iii since t'ol u minis discovered America. This year's prodm I is over six times On amount of Hie capital stork of all n<? ' lionnl hanks; it larks luil Hirer I fourths of a billion liollars of the value [ of the iiinniifartnirs of l!tOO. less the I eost'of in.iti rials used; it is three times the gross earnings from the | operations of the railways and font | inner, ilio value of all minerals pro I dined >it ihis ronnlry The veai of 1JI01 keeps well up to the average of exports of farm products during the ftni /cats 1800-1003. umoniiiiiig vcr Srdl millions, while the average for the five yearn was nearly St>.*> mil- j lions During the last la yeats the balance of trade in favor of this eounIry. all articles rotisidered, exi erded 1.384 million dollars, but taking farm products alone, these showed a hal ancc in our lavor of mote than *>.300 , millio.is. Reviewing Hie increase in farm rapilal. the secretary estimates it eon eervatively at. 2,000 million dollats within four year.- tills without rerog- ' tiizmg the marked increase in the i value of land during Hie past two years. The most startling figures show as iliiodiating the farmers' prosperity are those presented i?y deposits in hanks in typical agn nltnral States. The See ret a i" y selects for this illus tralion Iowa. Kansas an?l Mississippi j Taking all l imls of l? nks. national. ; Sta'e. private and avmg-\ the depos 1 11*= incria-ed from Juno JO. IN?n>. to Oi toher 31, 1004. in Iowa. 1M per I eent; in Kansas. JIM pe: cent; and in ! Mtssissippi 301 pi r t? nt - in the Itnitc.v I St aits 01 per eent. A similar fav orable comparison may he made as ; to the number of depositors. Tl?c? secretary rnncliiacs that the farmers' rate or financial progress need fear no comparison with that of any other class of producers. THREE MEN KILLED A Serious Accident Occurs On Tlte tfauleship FltiladeMua THREE BOILER MAKERS \RE KiLLEC The G'vinct Away of o Cr.s*st o - R^o be* Washer. Ccive">-. the F re-rocrr of the Massachusetts 1t.< Geet no Pit or Steam Hot Water? Four C'jrvivc'"*; Te r fc Scalded? uicutcna >.' ^o ? -,. ci n iaHort 'v ^oscl'^o he C"d .1 3c ed Men ? 3od?' Sad ?o Have Geo ' .oroyQh) y Tested. Philadelphia. s3 p?*l : a i Cnoglit in ? I rap nd ! I p! < ss ii *-a\> i! ? niselv? throe tin n lo<l tluvi itvps and fo > others. nn' injj Lie it. nam Wm ('. t'oli . %v terribly s- altird Thir 'lav by ?i i of am and tioili? . water in * iti lii i'-rvnn f tl.?- Iiaf slllp Ma -a', a'l tts, lying at C. League Inland navj vain Phc ?l? .?*i aro: Kdward Hub. boih n akor in< i civilian: Andrew tiami't m. mam v boilor-iuaker: Cliarlrs IC,- '. Imp t maktn Injured Lieutenant Willi;-., u Coit1 I' S N . assistant < ln< f onglii' > r of I ho Massai imsotts. scald d ah.<> 1 Hit' ilea l tuiil body, taken t? Ihr Na val Hospital; William Anders* ? ship's boiler maker. badly Hcaldcj. Taken in the naval hospital. J.inn* Wilson. boiler maker's helper ami villan employe. scalded. iak<n to u < Methodist Hospital; Joseph A hi ami, boiler maker's belpei ami ri\ ian. scalded, taken to Si Apnes H< pital. With the exception of l.te enant Cole, all the killed and injur-?> tedded in I'iniailelphla Lieutenant Cole received nls juries in a heroic ett'oit to res: tie : i others. The art ident was caused Uv the t in? way of a nusket. or rubber an or. on a boiler on the starboard ^.c* of tin ship. The Mr.ssa husctts has been at r.? navy y.tul fot some tune, untlet Koit.>* extensive repairs, particular to i! hoileis and machinery Aithouv Captain Kthvarh H Taussig and i complement of otlit ers and men -.? .tligaii'. the ship. I tie .Miv-sat husett*\>ri|iin doinn business in the state i initially ni < har^e 01 ihe nuthmiti o| I lie n.n\ vtird The holler >.n u I. . Ihc ; < < i<It i f on ini.'il had rcom ? been < leant <1 and Ilu.roupiily le-tr-i and tin hoih r makers \\ei> ledai work on another hnil.-r Will u warning. 11? casket between il.? 1> i r plate Imiwi en the boiler gave w.and a tori ifit i ush of steam and Ii v.aii i in cm it TJic do.ii- of tlx t?i loom w ii ( !( i d al tin- linn.' ?>f il aicidi iit. and i'ae ?.11?!\ avi nuo of ta|>?- wa> a -alilv ladder i>nl\ -i man. Itraniiiit, a snip's lu.ro.m thought id' (In- ladder. and In- est apt witliont .. ar low mi tin- np| 1 mcUs km vv what iuiil lidppimil un? ih<* st< am cairn rushing up from ? Mcihillg pit In low Tke win k ol ? cue w.i pio.npl. and to this piont) in s those who v.aped il"ath i.w? I lien i i.ai.k TIlO 111 I I liter t he til e hole v l.i< n ton;! iii f'oh Wiinonl I., -ila: ii g and in ink - aided by the wai.-i a? rl- am. In- :i id < | -. 111 k'v .mil tpin < iy dragged tin men to pi.no win * I In y w. 11 : a ken hi h..i > . tt\ oil < Hull i ml Hamilton \\<ic ilead w lonnd. and rii/i I lied a few mimi afii r In nig taken on ileek Wlielln r I In- packet was ! n o*, or whs i. i 1 !. pin in plu< < mains fi.r an utlici.il eninf i.f inrpr in don i iniin Ii n- aid I In- Ik.. had In n ?In ? ? .ills ov< I Inn le.l ar n t".| under a in on inline ;.n i f si. am AI I lie I inn* of i In adenl lie* on i . tin w.i i< sufficient in i hi il.. nip In.or i* plant Tin* in i idi 'ii t w i i I i n * lit 11 i delay In pupating. I'.n liatili ship : yea r.irmcr Killed by licllcy Crr Sji.n i.iiihi ii", Spi't i.il Itn I'eihofl. a.i aged maidenl ol tin . > ty died at an r.iih hour Thttmi. inor.nii a i in- n-iiit of Injur tained 11\ being siriu-k l?V > trollev . i: oil Milglinli.1 silt i*l. lie .littered .. criissio > of ihe brain and le d will* t iiavirj if^auiPd run rioi:-a.? I foron ; !>- ! 1 ;ni iinjim i anil i In- jm * turn' -I a \ ; .i I im i< > ni'lnin 0 u ' t!l?* ! I' l! Britiye Falls. Killing Tlirr-e Cltsirl- a. W\ V.i Sji' ial Ti . persons wmv KiI!? ) mil fo.ii ??t! ' serio isls mini' I li?- tin-roll,i|jk<- of snypr nsiou In Hue a loss iln- I CI f c i u hi h ' <!!,.< t - i;.t. ,11 I \vv . (thai' tun. <III i il' l,i lirt' \ ( 1 It v. it .|m ' . wtfrt- v hil.Ii -n . n tliiir u.1 \ school and i !. .in! i' <>t ut lift {,''! tri;iii - topi the: with -,i\ l? mr T deu<; Mamie H.tpr.inbul h.un. ape i van; A tun Uttnijlmi a ! '' < I t?. 4 lie fJihli . ap <1 In i li? nijtii? cl ? Smith, ape,! |7. n .ipuiind liaclnje elbow; William il.'lm.'S iidoi'd ver. (til and l>: iti-rd. Ib rtty l*"io!<!. ; driver, serious lute,mil inline-. Kir ? Tucker, up?d I >. both ^ini> and i b/oken. i