Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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V ll’K other years have clipped away, as slips the flower Us sheath. Once more with hands held out we nxasp a gift the Father sends. And Rive Him thanks for length of days, for Joy that comes with breath, For home and books and happy work, for children and for friends. All in the midnight and the frost we sped •he old year out; All In the daylight and the glow we bid the New Year In! The king is dead! I^ong live the king!—'tis aye the clamorous shout; And ever ’tis with mirth and hope the new-born reigns begin. What yet may wait of care or grief to-day we cannot tell. Another year, another start, another chance to do What lleth closest to our hand: God loves us, all is well. Disdaining fear, we greet the year, whose first white leaves are new. —Margaret E. Sangster, In Harper's Hazar. tlimmleboy’s l.etter to Santa t'laus. Dear Santa Claus, if you could bring A patent doll to dance and sing, A five-pound box of caramels, A set of reins with silver hells; An elephant that roars and walks. A Brownie doll that laughs and talks, A humming-top that 1 can spin, A desk to keep my treasures in; A boat or two that I can sail. A dog to bark and wag his tail, A pair of little bantam chicks, A chest o' tools, a box of tricks; A scarlet suit of soldier’s togs. A spear and not for catching frogs, A bicycle and silver watch, A pound or two of butterscotch; A small toy farm with lots of trees, A gun to load with bears and peas. An orange and a music-box, A double set of building-blocks— If you will bring me these I say. Before the coming Christmas day, I sort of think, perhaps, that I'd Be pretty nearly satisfied. —Harper’s Young People. ^ SbsiWG- 6WA / < —j— 'f SPEC’ ElH-n’ll be pleased w if tie present I'se a niak- in’ him dis yeah, lie'll look like a perfik gem'man, shuah nuf, in dis lonff red robe wif de passe I o’ stripes on de cuffs and collah. Miss May <1 tin guv nw de stuff ter make it—bress her haht |an' de eawd an’ tassels forth* waist. ‘l)t* honey chile is mahrietl now, an* diir s auuwer Miss May a toddlin’ roun’ de floah, an’ she’s fro 4 her mammy’s smilin’ eyesan’yaller hair. “JOben an’ me’ud a bin inde port*house long ago ef it hadn’t been fur Miss May. Hope de ole man won’t cum in ’twill 1 git de eollah facin’ sewed tlown. It’ll be dun den, an’ l kin hing it up hintl tie baid, unner my ole speckle dress. He, he, Kben’ll nevvah know it am dar twill Chrismus mawnin’. 1 spec he’ll jes open his eyes an’ roll ’em as ef he war crazy. “Wind eums in powerful strong some days, roun’ de tlouh, an’ it’s mighty bail fur Hben’s rhumatiz, but dis gyarment am good and long, an’’ll keep him v.alim when he’s smokin’ hiscohncoh pipe ober in de cohnah. I’se mighty glad Miss May stahted us in de poul try bigness. Doan’ hab ter eat rab bit tli« yeah; we’se gwint* ter hab roas’ turkey! Miss May — he, he—Miss May, she nodded musterus like tie ud der day an’ say: ‘Aunt Chloe. yet* need’n min* erbout tie plum puddin’an’ de mince pie fur yer Chrismus dinnah." Oh, I know dat gal! Dar’ll In* a big baskit down heah on de cabin floah shuah’s yer bawn, an’ it’ll cum jes when de stabs am blinkin’ out Chrismus ebe. “Huh! dar eums tie ole man! Haint got no time to git dis robe bin’ de baid. (Wonder if dat rolie am stiekin’ out frum undah my dress any w har.)” “It am freezin’ now, shuah ’miff, but I’se dun gilt in’ ready fur tit* thaw.” “Wal, go long an’ git tie hatchet. I’ll lie out dar in a miiinit." “Dotin’ ye see I’se got tie hatchet in my han'?’’ “Wei 1 , s|H>sin’ you hab! I kaint spile tlis heel fur no snow drippinsdat 'll not film twill Janiwary. .les’ sh«*t dat cole doar. an’ wait twill 1 takes a few moah stitches. Wat fur you eomin in side? Stay out on tie |Hiaeli tlar. will ye.’’ “What’s tie mattuh wif you, Cliioe? Does ye want me ter freeze terdeff ?” “Dar’s no ttah heah, an’ I w ants you to tlo persactly what yer told.” “Fur Gawd sake, woman, I’se sprised at yer heahtless conduction ub late. You’s er gittin sassieran’ harder ter git er long wif ebery day,” “Got him outen doahs an’ tie tloar shet any way, he, he. I’ll jes hebe tlis gyarment unner do baid.” “I dun tole yt* I got thin wif dechoahs, Chloe.” resuming his lazy puffing. Chloe opened the door, placing the dish pan on a licnch while she did so. picked the pan np again, and in her disgust flung Isitli pan and contents far out in tin* yard. Now was her chance. She controlled an inward chuckle anti exclaimed: “Fur tie Ian* sake. Kben, if 1 didn’ flung the tlishpan out. It’s |K>wt*rful tlark an’ I’se ’fraitl tor get it. Ye’ll hi v ter gti an’ pick it up, ole man.” “Chloe, yer gettin’ moah an’ moah awkward every day. Ye know as well as yer bawn dat I’se too stiff wif de rhumatiz ter go pridin’ ’round in de tlark fur an old tlish pan. I'll jes hole de lamp an’ ye kin dun get tie pan yer- self.” “Kben, ye kin be mos’ powfm ..ggcr- vntin sunitimes. Dar’s no commoda- tion erlKiut ye. A man dat’ll sen’ his wife out in tie tlark when he know s she’, seart ter deff uv hoodoos is no gem’- man.” “Dar’s no hoodoo kin work dis time a “Kben!! What yer doin’!!” “Why, lookin’ undah de baid, uv coast*.” “What yer want ter go pokin’ yer neb an’ peerin’ undah tit* baid fur? Break- in’ yer jints. an’ groanin’ like persest. Dar’s nuflin dar!*’ “Yes, but tlar am. (’blot*—da’s a red passel o’ stuntin', an’ I’se er gw int* ter git tier broom han’lean’ rake it out." “Ye fool uiggali! yore not er gwinc ter do no seeh ting! Dat am no passel. It’s ony a ole pun kin’ dat Miss May gm me fur de Chrisiiius dinnah. I dun rolled it op in red flannel ter keep it frum freezin’. Never could hev a sprisc fur ye—Yore allis snoopin' roun’. Git up offen your hunkers an’cum ter baid. (spec dat man 'll make a sneakin' liah outen me liefori* he gits dat coat on his back.)” I ncle Kben gruniblingly obeyed, anti silence soon reigned in the cabin, broken only by Aunt C'hloe’s snores and Eben’s more feeble aecompani- nent. ,’ht* next day w as a busy one for I Kit li tit* baid," he added, with a knowing wink. “I sect] tie hull performance frew tie wintlah.” “Go way. ye fool niggah.” Aunt Chloe laughed gootl naturedly, ‘1 (loan' keer. It’s a gyarment no gein’inan neetl be shanieti uv. I'm glad yer pleased if ye tlitl go spy in’ roun'. An' I kin say I’se powful takin w if dis cheer. He, he, fits mos’ as giKwl as tie dressin' sack, an’ Miss May's dun saint er punkin pie, so I won't hev tir use de coat ter clar my skyerts uv Hailin’.” In the pleasure anti excitement of the exchange of presents Uncle E1h*ii came near forgetting the few chickens and old “gobblers” a brisk holiday hail left, anti the fact that they must lie fed only oeeurretl to him when Aunt Chloe had gone down cellar intent u|»on the stuffed pickles and rich preserves she had prepared months ago for this day. It was not cold, ami the old darky, proud of his new possession, sallied out to the poultry yard arrayed in its vivid splendor. In his pride anil vanity at the elegance of his ap|M*aranci*. he un- Christmas again, and w® art sitting here; We’ve claimed a few short moments for our own. Just as we have, dear heart, for many a year And so with brimming hearts w’e sit- alone. Come rest your head ujion my shoulder, dear. And let your heart i>our out Its Joy and sorrow, For thes< two sisters art* as strangely near As yesterday is close upon to-morrow. Your hair is gray, dear heart, and mine is, too, Bui the world is not; onr eyes still seek the light, Our willing hands still lind some work to do, Our cars still hear some music to delight. Life has been swiet, dear heart, for you anti me. Guided in many a dark and doubtful way. By the light that never was on land or sea Of Him who gladdened earth on Christ mas day. —Alfred Stoddard, in Detroit Free Press The Message of llie New Year. 1 asked the New Year for some motto sweet, Some rub' of life with which to guide my feet; I asked, and paused; he answered soft and low; •'i Sod's v ill to know." “Will knowledge tiitn suffice. Now Year?” I cried: And, < re the <|iu stion into silence died, The answer earn* "Nay, but remember, too, i Joil’s will to do.” Once more I asketl: "Is there no more to tell?" And once again the answer sweetly fell; ”V’es' this one thing, all other tilings above, God's will to love." — Christian Work. A PLAIN HINT. “O' *‘0 *X^y -O “la’s mom’ ticklkd to dkkp wid dim obkhhin’ gown.” Iain' a massy, what’ll I do? I’ll jes sot down on it keerful like, an’ spread my sky arts out dat way; he’ll nevuh see what I’m sottin’ on. He, he; yes, I’se got my knittin’ in my uprun pocket. Kben’ll fink I’es bin knittin* fur houhs.” “Chloe, cum out heah, and holp n.e put tlis boahd up so dt* snow drippins ’ll run inter de rain bnr’l.” “Know drippins? What’s de mattnh wif ye? Doan’ye know it am freezing? “Kben, I’se dun raidy ter holedut fool boahd up now.” “Wal, holt* it updcn.an’stopchucklin like an ole hen, 1 kaint druv de naiis in fur yer conducshins. 1 blech yer gwine plum ’stracted. I want yer ter oneratan', I’se frew wif tic choahs, an’ when I get dis lioahd up I’se gwint* inter de house, an’ I’se gwine ter sot tlar all ebenin.” “I doun’ keer ef yar sot'by de Huh twill de crack of doom. (W’oiitlah how I’m gwinter get flat dressin sack frum undah de baid.)” Uncle Elien kept his word, only leav ing his favorite corner long enough to eat supper. All ttfl-ough the rooking of the meal, and while washing the ‘stun cheeny" dishes (as she called them) Aunt Chloe was trying to invent some excuse to get her dusky mate out of the house, hut Uncle Klieii sat before the fire anil smoked his pi|M* in a silence and content that was particularly exas- |N*rating to his wife. On her way to the door to empty the dishwater slit* looked over her shoulder and said: “Kben, has ye fed de fow Is?” year, ole woman, an’ dar’s nuffln’li hurt ye in our own yuwd.” Aunt Chloe eyed her liege with illy disguised contempt fully a minute, but this did not disturb her husband in the least. He smoked away, and she was obliged to get thedishpan herself. Uncle Kben laughed softly to himself at the way she slammed things while putting the cabin to rights for the night. At Inst (’hlot* said: “I’se er goin’ ter baid, I is, an’ I wants ye ter ' _ dat eohn cob, anti put out tie light,” then she proceeded to reduce her kinky wool to braided subjection, anti to envelop her rotund form in a voluminous nightgown. Having done this, she eliiiilM*tl ponderously into bed, totally forgetting her liushnmi's in vari able. habit of looking under it Ik*fort* , laying his diminutive form in the rather restricted apace reserved for him. This time lit* got down on his hands and knees more stiffly and laboriously than usual. Instantly Aunt Chloe was bolt upright in bed. each ridiculous little braid bristling in a different di rection around her fat black face. husband and wife. Uncle KImmi tlrove a thrifty trade ail day in his (MMiltry yard, and Aunt Chloe was busy in-doors with the preparation of a feast tht-good old tlarkiesonlyailowed theuiselvcsonce a year. Chloe had with great diflicuity fished the dressing gown out from under the bed and finished it early in the morn ing, making sure of its hiding place this time. True to expectation the basket from “Miss May” arrived Christ mas eve, and beside the gootl things promised con tained many useful things to gladden the childish hearts of Uncle EIh*ii anti Aunt Chloe. “Chloe, I’se mos’ tickled todeff wif dis dressin' gown.” lie was hobbling up and tlown the cabin, Christmas morning, arrayed in all its gorgeous splendor, while his wife (enthroned in a big rocking chair, that Uncle Kben bail with much putting and (milting just carried in from itseuneeal- ment in the barn) beamed her approval. “I knowctl dat war no punkin' iintlali ij:f m f When Santa Claus sees that layout he will surely be touched.—Truth. A Time of I’cacc anti Good Will In tin* mind of Christendom tin* Christmas season has for centuries been set apart as a time of peace and good will among men. To the religious feeling originally prompting this dis tinction lias been added a sentiment cultivated by the social customs and usages of tin* people of all Christian lands. It is the time of gift-making, of reconciliations, of reunions, of tin* overcoming of resentments, and the burying of feuds anil enmities. It is the season when men try harder than at any other time to cultivate the spirit of happiness and peace. It is lieeause of this ctT’ort, iiecuiiKCof this prevalent feeling that the Christmas season is generally associated with what is tenderest. sweetest and holiest in human life, that it is so pleasant always in .anticipation and so delightful in recollection. Who cun doubt that each recurring Christ mastide does leave the whole world positively better than it found it a gentler, kindlier spirit among men. more love, more sympathy, all the world somewhat further along towards the day when war shall be no more and the peace of God .shall reign throughout the earth? — Christian Work. New Year’* KcMoliitlon*. | One vow will not suffice the* long year through. One prayer a twelve-month’s needs may not allay; Grown every morn with pure r< solve anew. And live each day as though ’twer< New Year’s day. —Frank W. Hutt, in Ram’s Horn. A WONDER. fortunately forgot that, the color of his coat was the one that male turkeys totally disapprove of. Instantly there was a whir of many outstretched wings, anti every gobbler of the lot was upon him. The ground was slippery, and Uncle Elien very stiff in the joint s.soof course the oltl man went down at the first on slaught. Aunt Chloe, recalled from the gleeful contemplation of her goodly stores by a series of yells and wild imprecations, hurried to the scene of discord. It was with the greatest difficulty ! that the turkeys were driven away,anti ! Uncle Kben rescued from his (icriloiis predicament. "Hain’t ye got no sense, ole man? Doun* ye know dat turkeys kaint bar dt* sight ob red colors?” Aunt Chloe had led Uncle Elien to the house anti was brushing the snow and flirt tiff his back. I “Use got moahsensedan a fool woman I tint’ll nick a merbillion coat fur a gem’- j man dat’s got ter tend turkeys for n lils | j in.”—Chicago Saturday Evening Her- ' alt). “1 wonder if I wuz all dressed up an’ put in a wintler. if anyboti\ would long to have me?"—Life. ^ A PrrNcul for HU Urauilfiitlirr. "I’m saving up to buy you a Christ mas present, grandpa,” said Willie. “That’s very nice of you, my 1m>\.’' Mud t tit* oltl gentleman. “How much have you got?" "Well," Willie replied, “if you’ll give me ten cents. I’ll hate eleven altogeth er.”- llar|K*r’s Young People.