Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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icot Jones ,an Snydse. A ihdotnan spS1o4e. by, I E EdR XFORD N. Y. Led Mrs. Perkins had "dropped in" to find out what the Joneses were going to do on Christmas. "We've promised to take dinner with the Williarnses," said Mrs. Jones. "You know, none of the children can come home this year, so we're goin' out to diner for the first time a'most cc I've kep' house. I don't remen o' eatin' a Chris' nias dinner aw from hoine more'n two or three times since I1vas married. I feel just as nervous 'n' fidgety over it as I can be, fer Mrs. Williams she's invited Mr. Snyder, 'n' you know how 'tis between him 'n' the deacon. I shan't draw an easy breath till it's all over. I wish we didn't have to go, or that Mr. Sny der wa'n't invited, or there was suthin' to keep then two men apart. I know they'll git to wranglin''n' like's not have a reguilar quarrel. I don't take a minnit's comfort thinkin' of it. I sh'll feel jest's if I was settin' on a kag o' guipowder that might, exp-lode any minnit." "It's too bad that they keep a-hangin' to that ol' diflikilty like dogs to a bone," said M rs. Perkins. "I sh'd think they'd be sick of it by this time. Ev'rybody else is. It happened so long ago that I don't seem to remember what it was about; but i've heard so much about it that I've got used to it, jest as I have to the nmetin'-house, or anything else I've known ever sence 1 was a girl." "It was about the neetin'-honse," explained Mrs. Jones. "You know they wanted to build a new one, 'n' the deacon he wanted it in one place n11' MI'. Snyder he wanited it soie rs else, 'n' both of 'eml) hein so col rairy, they set out. that- if theyi ouldn't have tilir owin way t here houldn't he a new one, 'ii' tihey uarrelled 'n' qiiairel led till I hey got he whole ieigh borhood by Ihe ears, 1' the coniseIulencee is we hin't had ny new ieetina '-house, 'a' I don't Ce's we're ever like to have. i've got sick o' the thig, hearin' tie dea on harp on it by spells all these ears, that Pve wished, niore'n mnce, ere could be a law miade to shet ui) is niouth ev'i-y tiime lie Ihotuiglit of But, good land, that'd kill him' ughed Mrs. lones. "I do b'leevc c injoys abusin' Mr. Snyder, 'u' I pose Mr. Snyder's jest as baid, fron hat I've heard. They 'rie wel atlied." "It's too bad, anyway," said Mrs erkins, with a sigh. :IC.s niade n, d o' hard feelina's in the (hurei'cli hendered the work inore'i every ing else that's ever hap 4. . like 'en both. Tlhev 'ie awfu od mn in mo1(st. ways, b'u1t it seemi ef they was kind o' loony on thi e p'init. I wonder if 't will ever h tied ?" ''Not till one or r'ot lier dies,"' sai 's. Jones, decidedly. "'They'r t ali ke-con t rairyv as two meni eve ld be-'n' nei ther' of 'enm 'll eve e in to the o hier', unmiless there' erricle, which 1 (donl't s'pose 'I *take phlce. I can't inigini er of 'eiim adimittin' he was wrong y'rec too set fer that." We neced a new mieetin'-house th<( t way," said Mr's. P erkinas. "tl'li one's been patched up an' tixet till there ain't nmehiebanice o anything more for it. E~f the. agr'ee, I doni't. see whyiv thei (ln't keep still 'n' let the'ot hier e about, a niew'. one.' etch 'emi i a-doini' thbet," sait Jones. "Thley 'r'e jest ais stubi13 to-day as they was t went y veau .It's N\on shall (10 mly way oi shant,'t do anythinig' '..ith emi 01d the deacon it wa' n't righti iistiani to act. 5o, hut hie alIl'avm up 'nm' gits o imad t~hat, .Ir'e g'ol ar'dly ever imienition it, fer' thi 'peace. I feelI jest as sure ICoI e that, t her'e 'll be a set-to b e. 'emi of the.y bothI go to Alrs, mses, 'nx' go they both wili o'uldni't, stay away for fear th< d say he dasseni't comle. I mnosi he dleacoin 'd lie sick so lhe bat to home. I don't b'leeve it'; to feel that way, fer I hiat llinx' any timie, 'n' 'speciall' Jones felt, it. her duty to s ing to her husband about th on Christmas moniing, le ey stai'tedl foi' church, froir lace they wer'e to go to Iii a5 hiomjesteaid. ,Leii'w''.el, I (10 hiopet yoi ~t your' tempijer git the uppe 'ou to-day," she sid. "Fo s sake, don't git into a (is hi Mr'. Snydei'." 05e you'd have mec hump uj cer anything lie m'ighit see Ii o. mc, wouldn't you ?'' de the (deacon, getting r'ed ii at the thought of what h< ave to fear fr'omu his oh ."That may be0 your way 't mine. I don't calkilat< ny (quarrel with him. If lh< s bis'ness 'in lets me alone mine 'n let him alone, bul es to twittin', 'nx throwiin course he will, I shan't pu it 'thout givin' as good ali t's Christmas," said MIrs 'n folks hadn't ought t< hristmnas day." a-goin' to quarrel unles gd to," retorted the dcn ut I won't be run on lby ol he won't rn o nn ," sai Mrs. Jones. "3ut of he says any thing you can take up, you'll be ready to jump at the chance. You'll .be on the lookout for sometlhig to find fault with." "I s'pose he never says anything that's out o' the way," said the dea con, angrily. "I'm al'ays the, one that's to bamei You've sided in with him ever sence we 'had the trouble. But I ain't agoin' to be coaxed into puttin' up with any of his abuse. Let him. keep his mouth slit of he don't want me to tell hii what I think of him ;" and the dea con fairly glared at Mrs. Jones, who sighed, and concluded that there was little use in trying to avert a quarrel. It was sure to come. "I do wish we could get a letter from Henry," she said, changing the subject. Henry was the )oungest of the family. He had gone to Uakota to try his luck at farming. Crops had been a failure, and the last let tar from him had been a most. down heart ed and discouraging one. "11'mi afraid lie's sick. If lie wa' n't, it seois 's if lie would write. Mr. Sny der's been out there, they say. Bein' so niear, whenl he was in M innesoty, lie thought he'd make his sister Mariari a visit. I don't jest know what part she lives inl, but miebbe if's near Hlenry. I hope he see him." Deacon Jones stffed, as if to ex press the idea that it wasn't any credit Co the boy to have been seen by a mat like his enemy. The C(liri'stimias service was over, and tlie Williaises lomtd the dlea Coin adtil his wife and Mr. Siivder into their big double sleigh aii set off homieward. Neither of the two muen lookd( at each other or scemeid to be conscious of the other's pres eii c(,. "M1y ! but, it Itakes Ime feel craw lV," said irs. J ones to irs. Wii - liamhis, as she took off her Iviaps in the "'best bedirooi." I'in all yf a tvit-ter, I'm so ier'vonis. I sh1'I 1teinible ftr fear of wnat's comi n' ev' Itliie Ity oplen their Inolis. I do ( wish youl hadn't, ask'd( both of i', Alis' Williams." "I didni't hardlyIN d1,n-V (o," salid Irs. Willianis, "bit, .Joliin, lie said, 'What, was the use o' let-tini' fhii foolishniessl kee) us from beini' leighi b orlv. lie was goini' to ask 'iii, 'cin take I'ihe chianice o' the con setiences." "I hope 'hwill all Ibe peaceable, said Al rs. Jones, "bit--l kI Iow 'l'hey all sat downi to dinier, anad the coim versationi becaie gciie'al, (.X (opt betwee Mri . Sniyder antid I)ea con .Jones. Not a word (lid t.hey add re to each other. h'ley silily i, owe.d vach othe -'s exis:terct. Aft er diiiler, the l ni 4e . , it ot .to the hani with Mr. Wilhiao, to look at the stkli. aid Jrs. .Jones andI - irs. Willblnts visited" wit'h each of her aIs t ihev elea red away Ihe re uiinai us of the Christiiias least. NIrs. H .1 onits trtied to be at e'ase, and1( not worry, but "comingeet east Ilhir her ear wee sue t bereai zedt. It I wast simplyt~ ai quetst ion of tinie. ' Tht tmen cameiL in fronm fthabm r aniid sait. dlowni. Coniversa tion tIlagged't r41 f Ir f timie, ats it is quttite' likely to det of "v ~isi ting'' womien-fashIion. Th'le aantii.t silenice thai Itisued't was at lenigth biIroken b~y Nt r. Wvilliams, who aisked wvhat hiis gue(sts thouotghit about the newi towna halt that was to be built. "'I lhavien 't heard aimyt hin g abotI if,'' sid N Ir. Snyd'ter. "'It/s atl ben tal Iked uip senice I wenit, awayV. Where's it going to be ?"' "On) i te 1)hise'nbIerr'y corner," rt. Nitr. Snyd ter, apprliov ing'ly. "*A rery,' goodt pite. Thle best. place ini town.'' NI is. J1onies fel t her -fate get ling palie with ai d~reatd of what, wats coit inig. 'thie I )usen beriry cornet' wa.a new~ (chtin-ch bitlt. She glanced at thbe deacon. //i faice was r'ed, anda slit knew by thle look of him that lie was Iprepart intg for' a ba t te rtoyal. "What do /oul think about' it, dtea con :?" as ked NI r. Will iami s, niot aware that h e wvats prec ipitat in g nmmat ter's. ITe detaiton cle'aretd his throalt and ( blew his nose with a blast that. was 1like the soun d of' a f.r imnpet ur iginiig on to comibat. "All I have to say is, ef anybotdy's fool eutoughi to want, the towni hiall butill on t hat site, t hey hiantii't gt setice ('toughi to last. 'tem over ieighit. I shi'llI oppose it, sir ! I woti't con. - sent toi have thie fitntds o' the towii s iider'ed inI aw bild in' putt tupt in s'chi at place ats that.'' '"Of courtse you'llI oppose it,'' sai d t' . Snydier, giarinug at hiis opponient. "'Everybhotly that. kniows yotu't Ii expect /hau/. liut, ftat's aill thme gtood 't will do(1. Polks hmev got t heir eyes opeiied in thme last ten or a dlozen'i year, 'nm' they ain't a-goini' to be biulldhozed as [liey uised t~o be. I al lavys satid thie Dunsenmberry coirner' wias thm best site in townt forn a clhuirch or' any otheri puiblic buildini', 'n' I'mi reddy to back my opinioni with money. Tlhe town hall 's goin' to be built, 'nm' it 's goin' to be built oni the l)usenberry cor ner, too." "I think that's the place for it myself," said Mr. Williamis, rather faintly, though, for lie was fr'ighit enled at the pmrospective quiarcrel lie had ininocently paivedl the way for. "Oh, yes, of course I" cried t~he yrathy deacon. "Of coursc you do. I see now why I was asked to comec here to dinner. It was so you could give that man a chanice to browbeat me. You wanted to let me know 'that you sided in with him. That's all right. if a man wants to let I folks knowtha he 'a made a foo of hinuself there 'a no law ag'inst it that I know of. But there ain't any law that obleeges a 1111111 to set still 'In be ran on 'in crow'd over,'s I know of. M'lindy, I'm goin' hone. You can collie with ne, or stay 'n take a band in abtusiti' me, jest as you think -best." And the angry deacon strode out of the room, baullig the door behind him. Mr. Williams followed him into the hall and tried to prevent him from going, but he was obdu rate. Go lie would, and go he did, leaving poor Mrs. Jones to follow at her lQisure. "I knew how 't would be," she said, as she wiped her eyes as she bade Mrs. Williams good-by. "I ain't a mite s'prised at the way it's turned out. 1 sh'd ha' been dretful disapp'inted of 't hadn't happoled." Just as she reached the gate of her liomie, at neighbor drove Ip Iand cal led ou t that lie had a letter for her. "1'romi Ienry, I reckon," he said. "It's from i Dakoty, anyway." Mrs. Jones took the long looked-for letter an(d rall into the house with eager impatience to find out What her boy had to Write. The deaconi was building a fire, but his face looked its if ia fire was (iuite un nec essary. .1 He looked hot and befdi so. I is wife sat, dowin without remov ing her t ahing, and tore opeln the letter. Before she had read far she began to cry. The deacon was frigh t. ened. "lie Iain't sick or nothill', is lie '" he asked. But. Mrs. Jones didn't answe'. Sh.- kept on readinig and crying. Wlien she la i linished the letter, she tu rned t.o the deacon aind looked him straight, in tie face. "11em' wel Jolies, (Io You know what's lappeiied to Ilia.t pour Loy of ourn l'l Itell ye: I e had to morigage everything ie had last Year, bilt. he wotliIdIt. I t. it's know it fer fear we'd worry, 'nl' lie ioped he'd mre good ick 'i' fetch thiigs oit, all riglit this vear. But lick was ag'nst, him, 'n' he'd have lost ever'y bles.sed Ilin ig ef it. ladn't beelL fora friend Iut. fotiid out hIIIe troll blv le was in 'n' helped him ouill o' tle dilliclit v 'n' Al him right, on his feet, so that he's likely to do hetter'ni ever, he says. Now, who do .yo s'pose that, frie'!md was, i~e'Cel "I'm sure .1 hain't no idee," said the deaconl. "Wvell, I 'l tell ye, said his wife. 'T1'was the ni you've been <pwar relin' ith.L to-day. You've had words with Mr. Snyder, bit lie wis the veiy ialn that behaved like a father to our pool' boy, 'in' leuryI writes tHIt le said he did it becautse he hadn't. no grudge ag'inst him, 'i' he used to t.lunk you one o' his best, frieids, '' he was willinl' to do it ft-r the sake of, ol tinies. I (on1't. know but. MIr. Sivde's to blame for the t roui ble between you jst as ii tih as you he, but I'mn goin' right. hack o M is WVill iamis's to thanmik himi 'e r helpiin' miy boy, 'ni' tell hinm that .1 shuum't tievei' forgit it. Tlo think oh' whant. wiouttI htave hiappenied to llIeuryi see liow ypoui (canh fee'l hand to'rds5 hiim afiter you readt~ that letter. Ani' t~o tik that lie never let. on that. he'd ha't tw itted him i atbou it it if 'you'd beeni ill his place 'n' lie ini yohrn't, and M irs. Jones wiped hei' eyes agta in atid tooik lher' dheIltur ie. IDeacon J olnes took uip the letter andI sat ulhwin by t he fir'e to reatd it. As lie did so, ain11( the kntow ledge of' his ol 1etny 's kitndneiCss toi thle boy' so faur atway fr'om hiomie andh in suich sore troublitie biee'mtie e'letin- to him, hit tetr andit amgry thiongis beganti to iLm.away. lFor I he sake ofI old time in ! 1 low lhe r'emiembleedI 1he dlays whlen he andi .lohin Snydetr hodla' Iwe the lst ofI friieimls!' The nwmiory of hem seemted to li burst ihe l00oodgates ofI resenttiment a md s veep down tupon10 him in ai ity torrent thait over whelmedt lhim. C~ould he have done1 what. his enemyii hoal ? It ie . atise aiid tought it all over: andI ats lie did so, it steteed its if t he s1)1ri t of' theit Chiiistmiais seatson ?ameit itito his hear't atil took posses sioni of it, andt driove out, the old, bitter thloiights. IDea'otn Joines loved the hioy wvho had been'i herrCienided ats lhe lovedl no one else on ear'th, attd the kindness done hiimi by the mani with whom lie hadt so long beein at. enimity, broke downt thle fenceIs oh hitried thjat. had kept thlemi apar~ t. "'I've beeti anm Old fool!'" he satid. "W'hat If we dIidni't. see ali ke ! Thalt wats no0 reaison whiy we shtoutld hate eac.h othier. I'v beenCt as~hamiled of it. mtote 'ni once, t.hotughi I dlon't believe I ever admitted it to iiyselfI. It ainii't. (Christian to feel so t o'r'd a bruot her in the chiureb, its .\l'hntdyv 's said time 'ni ag'in, 'ni I've knowved it all aloing ; bit 1-I let ihe devil in to my hear't, 'ni there he's staid ; but"-' anid there was a look of grim deter minlationi on the dleacoii's face as lie said it-"he's got to get out. I atin't goin' to hold a grudge against a man that 's helped1 miy b~oy when he hadni't. a friend to look to. Ef he'll drop the old1 diflkilty, I will.'' . Ther~ deaicon heard the souund of voices in the road, lie hooked out. Mi's. Jones was shaking hands wit~h MLr. Snyder at the gate. ''N ow or never!"' he said, wi th a r'esolunte look on his face its he opened~ the doori aind steppedl out. It cost him a great effort. to (10 what lie (' but lhe wats not thie man to put liand to tile plow andi( look back. N 'ello!" lie sang out. Mr'. Snyder an Mr's. Jones looked that wvay in great surprlise5. "I-I dIon't know what yjou think about it, but P'd like to be friends agrain," lhe said. "I'm willin' to M.t bygone be byes if you be. 'T ain't right to not be friends sence I've found out what you've done for Henry." le was half way down the path as he said this. Mr. Snyder didn't wait for him to reach the gate, but miet him inside it with outstretched hands. "Friends it shall be, then," he said, and his face had a glad look in it. "It's high time we (Iit our fool ishiess, I reckon. I've been sorry fo" it, bit I was too contrary to say 0." "Same here,"' said the deacon, as he grasped Mr. Siyder's hand in a grip that made him wince. "I can't tell you ho.v much obleeged I am fer what you've dlone fer my boy-" "Don't mention it,'' said Mr. Sny der. "You'd have done the same for one o' my boys, if i'd had any an' they needed help. I know you would." "I' druno 'bout; that," said the deacon. "I guess I feel a griudge inIo 1)Oi 10do.' "'No, you don't! No, you don't!" silid M r. Snyder, allowing the deacon to pull him, not unwillingly, into the house. "I like this ! It's sonie thing like Christmntas, ain't it ?" Mrs. .Joies had stopped at the gate to straighten out matters with herself. Was she dreaiing? Was she crazy, or-had the "Imlerricle,'" of whose possibility she had had grave doubts, really taken place ? "Wall, I declare!'' she said, and she could go to farther. It seented too good to b- possible. Just then the deacoti pult his head out of the door to ask her if she was going to stand there all day. llad she got paralyzed ? "I (1tnno but I he," she answere(. "ILei'wel, is (ihe ol diikility done with ?" "So fttr's I m/ con.c'rnted, it is,'' s-tid the deacott, eip hati cal ty. "I say ainen 1(o tha11, "isaid AMr. Snyder. "Glory to (G'od itt the highest I, pea an-' good will to evervbodyv,"' sail l rs. .1lnes. "It seems too go od to be trite, It. I hiope it ain't.. My! htt; won' the neighbors he s'prised to hear oi't ! They won't b'lieve it --I know they won't ! I wouldtn' e, I hiadn' seen it." ,o it eaie about that, "the old diflikilty" was buried outof sight on that; Chris-tas (tay. A nd so may it come about that we bury tle old grudges (teep dowin ill our liearts (his Christmnas lIiy-so deep that, they iever see the Iight againl. The Last Christmas Dinner. In the Unlion Army. New York Mail 1t1(l Express. The last Christmas diiner I had during the war between the States might, he properly said to have been "cotnspiuous by its absenc," for it consisted of htastv bites takeni in the midst of the roari of emmtionl on boardt the Iagship Matlvern while we lay tirF iii rt lisher, which Adind la 'or ter had selected as a (Chiristutas gift lotr his leet, atnd which, in my opin itoni, we shoul11d have had on that day hadt( it not. Iheen for the trd iness and h tiek oft <hih1 ont the part of Gen. houtler. It witl be rentiember'ed thait Christ mias, in the year 18I5, fellt Iupon0 a Situthy, and usually in tte navy that day is mtarked lhv iunuistuat elforts to miake "'the mtess'' atLItract ive, bitt in the grim t, closintg days of the civil war 1, S"i tuI lay ws tlike any week-day, antd Ceven tihe dtIiie It. hoiday of (Christnitts andt' Sttttd was not' cont sitder'ed ittn1 'ihft whIihct was itmide to secuire, by~ mteiots of wm-t, "'peace ott earth IforIi these 1'inited States. The Scette oni htiitrt a stipl in lie Ition, so fa.r ats o';eh a dinnert't is cont veredt, eom tnot bie dt.'esribed, the men't are t' 1 ontly themiselvesC in dana er lbut the whole obfject of their livesfor ch moent(i to i driv the etnetmy frotm lhetir 'co ign of' vani Itage," amtt thbe exeiiteent is itntetnse. Ltt t Ihe atal (combawt onei. loses con.. Itol (Itft Il sentses save thte one sole idea of conqujier'ing. As I hook back on1 my (Christ tmzs dtiner in this pat' I ienii hCir ea i t. wi as coini ple ly mer'ged i the st rugigle itt which wve were etigaged,. and iiy. owni share of the miealI was the meaa~ger' rat ions wvhich hatd beeni served to utS ever'y dayL~ for omontths previus, seatsonted by th'e de to(nationtg(f giiis and ttheprospect of .\Iy dtiary at this t itte is that of a boy~ antd jutst. tit 'y yearts atgoI less fourt dalys, I find. thits cntry: "'All readty to statrt. for Wilminitgtot." Of 'oturtse, e venl at thIiis t imte we felt that lhe tiltimte victory was withI the NorIlthl atnd the mo vetmets of thle various5 Uon~ bodies, und~er' their' getiet'ats, were certainily cotnstrit'(tinhg the Con federate forces so as to uttti mttidely (rush thiemt. lhut t.Shermian has left ini a leterCl at r'e'ord oIf the haste which was necessary t~o bring lie w~ar' to a close, and( the says that. lie arrimvedl in Savatnnah on Clhriistmtas day and~ stop~ped only3 long eniough to pr'ovisioii his troops before they tpro Cceded Oin t heiri way to "the sea.'' My recoIrd of these timesc is scant enough andl boyish. 111nd I1 been a few years older I should have known bettei' and have ethioratted the brief notes that I find( ini my diary into somewhat that would( have furnished miatei'ial for' history. lHut, even as it is, my intriies maiy revive the mnemot'ies of the last Christmias the Union men saw before the greatest coniflict of modern times was brought to a close. It had beenu decided, as I have said befoi'e, to attack Fort Fisher oni Ohristmias day and1 in my imurnal under dote of December 12, I 1i4 this: "All ready for sea; sent two o licers abhore. in a boat to keep 1 men fromn talking about the 'powd ship.' This 'powder ship' was a idea of Gen. Butler's and was both conception and in effect ridiculor It was a source of much discussi( at the time and the expectation w; that it would do nuch damage. I a matter of fact, when it was final touched off by means of electricity did as little harmi as an ordina cannon and made about as much an audible report. It was, neve theless, a subject of discussion ai wonder, as the pages of my jourit disclose. I find this record of the 13t "Three frigates, four sloops of wa three side-wheel steamers and tl new Jronside: sailed P-om Haiptc lIoads at 4 p. i. for Be.mfort." C tie next (lay we passed the fleet c Ilatteras and the loiN'dnock, Cano icils aniid the iew I I oiiside'. 'lIhe 15th finds this entry: "A rived at I'malfort early inl tle nior ing ; fountd quite a fleet in port.; ve sels arriving every lhou1r." Just one week befo -e Christun Owe the e itire ldy of vessels Sail( for .Wilinington, and two (lays hat6 the first initimiatIo of the "gre ga'Lle" is reco ded briefly in the worn boigha,d." T'bis great blow created n1o end i I se'satio'i inl the N orth, and i many of the cie-les praye-, 1 'those at sea" were sent up by f vent souls who saw their dear o, [h "eatened, not only wit b, he chane )f war, but with tio:e of I e el ments. And Chrishias was at th tiic only six lays off ? On fl l'iuCsday plrecedling Ch ristnmas tI little diary, which is iy guide, read "'lowing a gale of witd .:o that v annoi1ft (1o anything; still at ancho wvituhin tw Lveij miles of the sho Winud N. l.'' Oi the iext day [1 ind had shifted to S. W., was blov g at gale, which ilealns a good (ei nit moutical hm tlguage, whenl it is S, it as a fact, "and tle motnito: were all awash,'' while many of [1 ships were 'drcagging their anchors, The next (ay there was no sul idetce of the fury of the wind, bi lie ships mtoved nearer to their o jective point and otn the 23d H story of my diary is a little bit mo -heerfulI, and mliore int keeping wit the season. It reads: "Wind wei Lown at silnrise; n1ow things lo( like work ; a large mai I arrived.'' Uhiistmuis mail with tid 'gs at hopes from eager homes-' hear whose love and future happinc were boumd up in the habitants the ships that lay exposed to t winds and waves and tie murdero attacks of the enemy's guns. "\ went in," says my journal, -'and hi a Iok at Fort Fisher; the pow( boat was blown ipl at inight ; it w a fizzle." This was the result that wvas< pected of thie famuous "powder boat Admiiral Porter always ridiculed atnd it had about us much effect tFort F'ishier ais if it had never be sent. It was, during [lie time it ii gtrdler by its, a soturce of gre anuxietyv. 'l'hie day befor'e Christmi dliffereCd from (lie home rule ats te ini the rhymv~e, and ever'v "creatu was st irintg,"' and this fact is th recorded in my~ li ttle book : " At a. mu. we got undetr way withI t fleet for Fort Fisher, and1( commiientc act ion at. I p. mi.; fought all t aftertnootn andi~ closed tiring at su downivi. We have 110 forts yet This counent. is ironical. 'lhe next iy was Christ ums dII Ibt when thie miorniing broke thc was no tho~ught of t he toothsom meal of the season, or of! t he day aL festi val int Chrtistenidomu. 'The1 [ions served as oiccasioni oflered we "caught on the fly,'' as it weire, oi the navy meni there present was t retnewat of t~he attack of the dayv 1 fotre. 'l'here was, of coiurise, a rem niisentt IlavorI 0f dlinnters at hot wvith hme mfol ks, but th(iis gave wv at, th sou nd of: thme (irst gun i whmi was Ii redl ati "I I a. mi.,"' and( the fig Ier hiad arurived, thle boats( had lanii "'some troops,'" andi thie fleet heg; to thtiink "'thle fort. ai toutgh pilace.'' eventIfu l day to be, "Btle Ir is bilamie. lie is too slow.'' A fa whlich is backed lip by Adhirmal I'< ter' in his book on thie war and L] by thle more i mportan t evidene- [Ih is fitrnlished lby histo ry, whiich-'sho( [lbe catur~t te of' 'otrt Fishier on1 Jai tiary 1 2. Tlhese were (lie scenes wvhichi my Christmans dininer w eaten, and if it amounotiits to bu11t titJ ais aLt ier, t here is thiis comnpenm tion, t hat [lie dainy will be longi mi~heberd as aL Clirisinmas wvhen diiner was seconidary t~o aL deed ; aI if I Cani niot r'ecoitut thie bill of fI I cani lit least recall omne Chi'istmi tide whIiich "t'tried men's soilis am did ntot. find them wantin1g.'" A MOS M. L~YON, Acting M aster's Alate, U. 8. N. Flagshtip Mahver Ini the Con federate Army. A glorious night, that (Christm eve of l8M4, crisp, cold amid exIthi atiing to the young soldier wh~o r~o' r'ap4liy aiown the Osborn pike, lea ing I imlights of Rlichmiond behin thinkiing of' the Chiristumas eye che, Ite had enijoyedl with kind friendsj the city, wvho were more mindful [lhe boys in the trenches than of tI dangers to their hiomies. The oflicers had a htut at the hten of [the parade facing [lhe fortificatioi Indl as [lhe captain dismnounitedl h faithful ima n, as, who coul g id nearer to a battle, hide 8kfor, and' emerge sooner than any nl n in the le army, appeared from the E adow in Le r hi;s "dug-out" and talked .o the old n sorrel as he led hin off. in "l'se sequestered a bag pf oats dat z. squai ndered from do majoii's waggin, mi an you gits a ChristnuA bellful is sure: ]'il glad of dat, but- whar s do Ls grub for Camsar and (e captain and ly de rest of de boys on C hristmas day?'' it le muttered something about .Elijah ry and the ravens and tle Lord, and Df the sp..rrows that fall ; but a few r- minutes later disappeared in his com id fortable hole in the ground, singing A1 "My love she af a coal black rose" in happy-go-lucky style. 11: For a few minutes they were silent, r, half sitting, half lying on their ie blankets before the fire. Suddenly n11 the captain dived into the pockets n of his overcoat, and holding bef'ore 'ff each officer a brilliant; little piece of silk ribbon patch wotk, exclaimed: "A Christmas 1esent for each of r- us from the loveliest Virginia girls 1- you ever saw." s- "A silk tobacco bag by thunder," said tle first lieutenant. is "The very thing I wanted," said '. the first sergeant. 3r They eljoyed the smoke. The it first sergeant, who was caterer for 1a the mcss, told hint. that next to a good meal, which they couldn't get, f a smoke would satisfy the keenest i appetite. n' "That reminds me, how about a - camp Christmas dinner ?" said the Sctptain. "Wlien I called on the s comi'nissary today he hoped to have - a little bacon to add to our allow 1 ance, and told me that the 'bome le thins' of whiich the Virginia and o North 'Jarola families have (le : p -ved themselves to give thesoldiers one more C(hristmas dinne- would A probably reach headquarters this e. eemi-.'' e "'liy haveii't coie yet," said the lietenanit, "but the Commissary ser geant is now at headquarters with a detail to bring down wh.j is to be Sis-9ued. b e "I found two or three boxes for the men," continmued the captain, "at i the Soo ti Carolina home in bhe city, in tihe old ' .Exchange Io'el,' and t ordered them sent out with the quar e termasters'stores. But the nilroads are in a dreadful condition, asnd the i only safe route now to the South is k by the Richmond & Danville road, A so that our men will be sadly dis d appointed in not getting boxes con ts taining something from louie." s Tired of waiting for the "spider of wagon,' as the commissary v gon lie was known, the men had gon to LIS bed; that is, had exchanged t eir VC situation in Turk fashion for a ly'ig pa osture. But a sudden shout, 'Come e and get your rations!" brought ia aS member oi each mess, even at that hour of the night, to the commis Ssary's (quarters, if a plank or two n laid on stuimpS could be so desig inated. And with inlinite care and absoluite impartiality, the beef and flour and~ salt, a slice of bacon and a ahandful or two of cow peas--the Slast two items an almost unikrown as luxury-were parceled out to each 1( miess. And then were apportioned rthe four or five turkeys and cab Lis bage, our con tributio-1 for a Christ 7 mas dinnler to the army. A feast lie for a king, but scarcely a bite for 200 hungry soldiers. lie The oflicers gave up their share. .Wiesonic of the messes (drew lots e for a turkey or a head of cabbage, which was not enough for two, ,others, complosed of strong and hearty ie men, gave ump theirs to the weakly eor delicate. as Thecaptainl and his mess of six a-ofirs hld a counucil before te trning in, Cosar and the cat erer fornimig the advisory hoard. of The result was an app~ropriattioni for lie CJhristmnas of $75 in (ion federate ,money, being one-six th of thir ' comn Sbined month's pay, for no boxes were expectedl fromi homie. ay Tl.heir combined mon11th's pay wa ms 4h $450 in Confederate iioacey, worth lit $18 ini gold, or, rather, ini what gold -would buy in thle be iegcd citfy, for L'd no0 gol was actually to b)e had. m Ca'sar at dayligh t started for t lhe city, with ordlers to do( the best he could uis with the Coinfederate mioiie-y ini a big to roll in his pocket. ,ct In duen course Co'sar retiirned from ir the city, anid dlisappear'ed withi thme so caterer ini the ''dug out'" cal ledl the at kitehen, with a half dozen bundles vs and a miysterious airt. n.. In ('eh mess in ca~mp the "cook'" in wasi busy, every other menmber hun mg asaround the tire, gave oflicious advice le about the art of cooking, and got aL- snubbed for his pains. While some 'e- smuoked their pipes to keep down a Itheir appetites and1( pass the time of 1(1 waiting, others orgainix ed a foo trace, 'e, others practiced from an old1 book of ,s. songs, and all looked withm affection 1(d ate iinterest at, the bubbling p~ots and~ glowing coals. WVe wer'e located1 in what remained of aL pine forest, and~ nto holly berries n. or' mistletoe or Southeirn moss was at hanud. That 0one Christmas diner, the pick of three davs' rationis, wals ready, at last, ini every melCss; and in Is thme capJtaini's quatrters Cousar an t- niouniced, with a (dignified bowv, that le innuler was setrved. v- "Why, bless my soul," said the i,, jolly first lieutenant, "here's a stuffed rW .'roast pig with ani app~le in his mouth, n and a rice p~arleau and sweet pota >f toes, and~ a huge tin cup of black 1e coffee." I" Cmsar," said the captain, " you .dI always was a trump, but you re ,served your b~est card for today." is " I donm' tknow about cards, sir,". t renlied (Jisa. "bitt v w- r:aise 'bout de culinary of a roast'n pig, i~d you hab my respects for a good dnier and merry Christmas." 'With this exordiium we collected arotitd the board, or rather two boards, which formed the table, us ing our folded blankets as divans. Armed with a knife and honienake wooden fork and spoon, and a tin plate and Cup, each proceeded to discuss the viands. There is art in carving as well as in cdoking a pig; but why discuss the dinner ? The meat was fat and juicy, and although the meat was rather dark aud less delicate than a Chester county infant, the diners did not discover thie fact that it was a ground-hog, captured by some of Cusar's sable friends in a il i on the Janies river, uitil a week after the feast. Ea'chi particular grain of rice stood oil end, and it would have dono credit to the best South Caro lina cook; and the coffee, which con tained , f v grains of the genuine bean to give 1UvOr to the toasted wheat, was pronotced strong and delicious. As the (lilner progressed belts were loosened, faces expanded, the health of the fair oles and dear ones was repeatedly qualfed in the black decoctioll, and the lardships of war were forgotten. "laive tolay,'' is the soldier's motto, for he can take no note of tile Morrow. CAPrAIN l1U011 R. GARDEN, Comnnatiding the "Vield Artillery.'' T'iR: OUul o A Boy.-Neither precocity lor (1111lness is a certain in dex of the future of a boy. Only a wise man can* tell the difference be .weeln tile priggislhnecss of conceit and the display of unusual talent, and it hikes a su)erlatively wise man to de vise right methods of exciting temn perallenlts that are dull, or, on the other hand, to guide a genius. A b n1o nal brilliancy and abnormal slowness are usitally the result of ab nioriimtl )hysical coiiditioiis, and physiologists are only just beginning to show to ordinary parents how these unusual conditions may be dis covered and treated. When we see a man we can not tell what sort of a boy he came from, and when we see a boy we can not tell what sort of a manlie will make.-Preside#t D. C. Gihnian, president of Johns Hopkins Un 'versity. Heart Disease Kills suddenly; but novor withoutuwarningI symp. toms,such as Faint, ve.ic or lungry siells, Irregular or intermittent Pulse, Fluttering or Palpitation of the Heart, Choking Sensa tions, Siortness of Breath. swelling of Feot and Ankles, ate. Dr. Miles' Heart Cure, Cures Heart Disease. Mr.Ge. L Sai~hofth Geo L /mt coul hard.ly, crawi, aound Myl rend, LSmith Junls U.Vo, onvle, fy wurleadn pharm2a c5itso asd ot ayDrls'earIwsateril surf. Ifhd er ior at troumorethan a bottle)whan iwsobieard anthd toh I e toigtosy lrih.1hdtcbndnbusiness asnduarya oe. colar aind No' rvwl sont, fro. Mydreds Mr. Muius Medca og., lkhaf or ling am citD s~ m otyTr. Miles' ReeisRetrleath.e th Wat e( l iDei t sirentrl itooviery. c omunt had the slitt truenc tes, and 1 il ore :to tdo n tn bthies aucst tgumrl avrcncudet make( bym very glsib 'ehero.r Booked rooms Medital o Ecurtat les.on hr ctomernt oer poroHico tin Wh e (0D ePosi reati adm verym crefu llly Ind hen ati oer oe of~ ii( our o o oi n theurl renet tie No.1 coniudtso n mesol(akiledvryo Sulitlo~r win larg drssr wuith 20xo seve irrr onte. 11 laorg wahtad wvery dotolio doo ahenddaer ono days.ot, estead till width.i iset cully and furnitr a Oiw or ne ny urtr soei oess Ourn gr35. ofe no. hi corst o 01at yoli Oa iseot buite largo lsz sios wqalto anyx~ bevn oel mrket.~ la rdgr ton start, thoble ofhor suitesu ands toeo of urnitusyeand borhod Wn anyreuetor st'rp onot ss baly $to onot hipnk forn n10 that Ioth for a $5,whlen suteo essuroes ith h ord tostrt Theslderoftiosen siul ths out1and keendou wih s andh lsuito ou besieds to your nfeiths nortcd wes asgreeoshte yone may Ito oun to h ei at ~ou pel n the youthr $15 wh efnde toi you. Cour alpossibl cnainaring man ilesta cthis ot arenditn1 and tile ur nsh~e illgod ~ be sont1ei to youl up-t I ot appstcatron.ooie yl a The suite above described iso ipe10 lal bargaInand1( does nlotapp~ier' I the catatlogue, thoereforo It is us..ass to wvrite tor ilusisations of this sulitoi, and while vou tare delaying writinlg some one elso may get tile bargiain. wVe assure you thalt we ill not1 ship but 01n0 site in your nlghiborhood at this price. A fter oneC suiito has been sippod( in tile nioghborhlood thel price0 will go) to at least $80. L.. F.. PA DG ET T . 461 niIoA) D58T, AUG UBTA, (GA. wVe have furnmshed an immense qiantity of lumber, doors, sash blinds, pews pu lpits &c. for church buil'ng, and know Now to fi such orders of1the righ~t quality, at the right time, 'and for the right price-everything rigAl, you see. AUGUSTA LUMBEIR CO., "Ru &P A e Mfa a k s _ ..IJ . A_