The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, February 28, 1902, Image 1
1W1C A1W9E
EsrrJIISE 18"5 NEW BERRY, S. C., FRIDAY. FEBRUARY '28, 192TIEAWu 1 fA T'AI
CANDIDATES FOR
THE NEXT CAMPAIGN,
soMEC OF TUINC POSSIBILITIES AND
IL'OSSIUILITINKS.
Momo AftorutRth of the seMplon -POlitlicil
Uhat fro,n About tihe Lobblien of the
Legislhtivo liallo-The Uon
gressional Outlook.
[The State, 24th.]
In another part of this issue is
given a resume of the work done by
the Legislature. It will be seen that
a number of acts were passed out o.
the 1150 bills introduced. But the
members also gave through to some
thing more than bills, joint resolu
piOns and acts.
The "oampaign next summer" is
the roseate future to which nearly
every legislator looks. Some have
become disgusted with public life
and swear that they will not again
onter the lists. Others will "come
back" if their friends "urge them" to
do so. But others think that this
world ha better things in store for
them. Some of the members of the
house at present seek nothing higher
than to become senators. In this
class may be named Messrs Butler of
Cherokee, Richardson of Clarendon,
McLeod of Lee, Aahley of Anderson
and Efird of Lixington, provided
Senator Sharpe retires.
There are several members of the
house who have been suggested as
candidates for the app.ker's chair.
Among them are Messrs Rtucker of
4ndursort, M1organ of Greenville, Wil
liais of Lancaster, and Smith of
K ershaw. Each of them is well en
dowed with Mental attributes, each
has had experience, and 411 are pop
ular.
The house is more prolific of candi
dates for State offices that in the sen
ate. The latter is not "so warm" but
the house is a regular incubator.
There are fully a dozen State officers
who were representatives, but none
of them, eTcept one, was ever in the
Senate.
Among the candidates who will go
from the noisy hall of the house
the racy debates in State campaigns
is the speaker, Lon. W. F. Steven
son of Chebt rfleld, who is a man of
marked legal ability and would add
dignity to,the oflice of attorney gen
eral, to which he aspires. fis
election is no seneouro, but Mr.
Stevenson has never yet sufferud de
feat. The only other announced
candidate is Mr. U. X. Gunter, the
present assistant attorney general,
Who is pQpuif in the State and a
finished politician.
For secretary of state nearly a quo.
rum of the house will offer. The
avowed candidates from the house
are Hon. J. Harvey Wilson of Sam
ter, chairman of the ways and mneans
committee; Mr. J. C. Campbe'll of
Marlboro, Capt J. Hampden Brooks,
thiat ipost gallant of Confedera'e sol
diers, and Col. 4. T. Austin of G*reen
ville, he of the invincible handshake
Other candidates will be Mr. J. T.
Gantt, (Col. E". H. Aull and Mrt. W.
W. llradley of Abbeville.
'The house has a trainecjcan paign
er and a level headed militiamani as
a candidate for comptroller g.'neral.
In the last few days of the tsession
Capt' 4. G. Ilichards of Kershsaw an
rnounced that he had about decided
to enter the race. Capt. Richards
has been a supporter of the Charles
ton Medical college and of Winthrop
in the fights in which those institu
tions figured. Senator Sharpe with
his lusty vociferation will also be
heard upon the stump for thi. oilie.
Capt. Black, sceretary of the State
penitentiary board, is a candidate
for this ofiee.
Mr. Derham may be hard to de
feat for re election. The attorney
general, secretary of state and ad(ju
fant general will not stand for re
,elction. Mr. Derham, Mr. MoMa
494~ arnd Capt. 4ennings will be. there
ighen the carmpaign opens.
Now the house has an aspirant for
Mr. McMahan's offce, h1r. Arthur
Kibler of Newberry, one of thbe lead
era of the house and a champion of
the common schools. Mr. Kibiler is
also an advocate of measures regula
ting the workings of insurance tom
panies. Prof. 0. B. Martin of Graeen
yille has announo.d(himself as a can
didate for State Superintendent of
education. Col. A. It. Banks of
Rock Hill was suggested some time
ago, but he will not be in the race.
For adjutant general the house
will have a Confederate veteran who
will try to succeed the gallant old
soldier who will retire to take up the
fight for congresa in the Filth dis
trict. Capt. A. H. Dean of Spartan
burg is a candidate for adjutant gen.
oral. Capt. Dean has been a con
sistent advocate of purity in our pen
sion system. He is well known in
the up country. Col. Jno. D. Frost
of Columbia, the popular and very
elficient assistant adjutant general,
will be in the race to succeed Mr.
Floyd, as will Mr. Paul Ayer of An
derson and the dashing Col. Jack
Boyd of Greenville, who has never
quit being a soldier since the days
when he was a "Johnny Reb."
The office of railraod commissioner
seems to be a soft berth. At any
rate there are inore candidates for
this oilice than for any other.
Among the candj(lt}tes who are so
far in the race are Mr. Henry J. Ki
nard of Greenwood, who is, perhaps,
the leader of the econonists of the
house, although he is not narrow in
his views; Mr. J. 0. Wolling of Fair
field, whose success as a merchant
and farmer would augur success as
a State official, is also in the race.
Senator B. L. Caughrin of Saluda,
author of the "Jim crow'" car law, is
a candidate. Mr. J. C. Wilboorn of
York, the present chairman, will
stand for re-eleption, having served
eight years. Mr. \. Boyd'Evans il
a oapdi(1ate---aud there are others.
No member of tir hotse 4spiros to
be governor--yet. There is one
caudidate on the other side of the
State capitol. Lieut. Clov. J. i. Till
man tad the winner will bavo to de
feat about half a dozen other eandi
dates, among them Gov. McSweeney,
Col. W. Jasper Talbert, Capt. D. C.
Hey ward of Colleton, and Mr. F. M.
Ansel of Greenville.
The leading candidates for . lien
truant governor are 4on. 1'rank 13.
Gary of 4bbeville, whose ability and
ftirnoss 'ta a presidigg oMfleer are a
iomatic; Senator S. 4. Mayfield, whr
has been for oight years chairinan of
the sp4}t}te'9 roost important commit
tee; Senator J. Igyles Glenu of Qhes
ter, and Mr. Cole. L. Ilease.
Since the rodistricting of the Siate,
there have been a number of buds on
the flower of congressional aspira
tions. In the first district it is
thought that Mr. Geo. Legare of
Charleaton will be elected. In thn
secon4 distriot ttle following names
have been mentioned, arnd all will
probably run-Willianm .Wlliott of
B3anfort, G4. Duncan Bfellinger and
J. 0. Patterson of Barnwell, J. W.
Oraft of Aiken, and J. WVm. Thur.
mend of Edgefield. Mr. Bellinger
is the fearless, aggressive and brainy
leader of the anti-trust element of
the State. Col. Croft agrees with
Mr. Bellinger in that fight, and is an
eloquent and powerful defender of
the common people orn the flgor of
the house.
In the th id district the candidates
will be: Senator George S Mower of
Newberry, Senator Qraydoni, ex Sen.
ator McCalla and Wyatt Aiken of
Abbeytlle, Gee. lW l.rince pf Ander
son and Dr. Smith of Pickens. The
latter has not been lheard of muph in
politics, but he is said to be a very
formidable capdidate,
Mr. Joe qiohnsoit will not be ro
elected in the fourth district without
opposition TJe defeated Mr. Stan
yarne Wilson by about 8,000 votes.
It is --umored that Senator Dean of
Greteuville will try conclusions with
Mr. Johnson.
Ini thn fifth Mr. Finiley will stand
for reelection and Gen. Floyd and
Solicitor Hen ry will oppose him. Dr.
Strait will rnn again.
In the sixth no opposition to Con
gyessm'tn Scarborough has developed.
Ini the seventh Mr. Lever's most
formidable opponent Will be Senetoq
IRaysor of Orangebterg, who co4ld
have been elected this time. Rich
land may have a candidate, an4 Surg
ter hats ipaterial iri waiting.
The legislature Is the hotbed frorr
which many tender plants are takern
and grafted into the soil of the StatE
offices where their, foliage is liept
moist by the dews of emoluments and
perquisites.
THE WORK OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
AUtS AND JOIN r KESOLUTION$ OF
TIIE MESSION.
A Umplote LINt (1lyan for the Oonvenionoe
of the 'oplu of tho Stato.
The legislature has completed its
work and adjourned, and naturally
the qluestion will b asked, What has
boon done? Below is published a
list of the acts and joint resolutions
ratified at the sessions just closed.
Of the new laws few of them are
of groat importance. The greatest
interest contored in the now jury law,
the new road law and the now county
government law, which were made
necessary by the decisions of the
courts declaring the old laws to be
unconstitutional. The new laws on
these subjects were prepared with a
great deal of care but it remains to
be seen if they will stand the testa of
the courts.
It will be noted that a great many
of the new acts relate to unimpor
tant matters. A large per cent of
them relate to purely local af}fairs,
such as school districts, county mat
tore, etc. There are some unimpor
tant changes in the pension laws, and
some now regulations for municipal
ities. But taken all in all the work
of the legislature has not been of
great importance.
Following is a full list of the acts
and joint resolutions that have been
ratified:
An act to fix compensation of
county oflicerp.
An act to firther regulato the
worl;ing and maintaining the high
ways.
An act to prevent the sale of per
tain ei[plosive firecrackers,
An act to protect keepers of board
ing houses.
An act to provide school books for
certain school districts.
An act to license manufacturers,
bottlers or dealers in mineral waters
and other non-alcholic beverages, the
exclusive use of kegs, boxes, crates
and bottles o%ygpd by thom and ren
dered capable of identification by
the name of the owner, or other dis
tinguislitung mark, stamped, stencil
led, engraved, cut or in any other
manner fixed ther ion.
An act to anioud section 984 of the
revised statutes of 1893 so as to ex
empt dentists from jury duty.
An act to prevent the altering or
removing land marks.
An act to require pqblic gjinnes to
k5eep thejr books fqr inspection.
An act to exenapt school trqstees
from road duty,
An act to amenid sections 4 and 5
of an act entitled "An act to require
the supervisors of the State to pub
iish quarterly reports, so as to make
the said act general, and so as to re
peal inponisipt.ent nets gud part of
acts,"
An act to allow all farm prodlucts
to he marketed ini any toiyn in this
State without license.
An act providing a procedure to
enable the attorney general to se
cure testimony in relation to viola
tion of the anti-trust laws.
An act to prohibit pools, trusts andl
mionopolies.
An act to provide for the r'anning
of public schools on a cash basis.
An act to anthorize the county
treasurer and coutnty superintendents
of tihe several countjes to borrow
money for any fiscal year to pay
school claims of said year.
PENSIONs AND PENSIONEnS.
An act in relation to thle enroll
ment by county and township of cit.
izens of South Carolina who ron
dered military or naval service to the
Confederate States.
A-ni act. to amend section 3 of an
act to providle for pensions for cer
tain soldiers aind sailor-s, now resi.
41ents of South Carolina, Wyho were
in the Servipe of the State or of the
Confederate tStates, in the late wat
between tile States, ao far as it re
lates to widows of Confederate sol
diers and sailors.
An act creating a cou4nt3 penisior
commissioner, defining his dties.
An act to amend an act to exempi
soldiersand sailors in the seric o
the State of South Carolina, or of the
Confederate Statos. in the war ho
tweon the States from taking out li.
censo as hawker and poddlor, by
making same apply to tow1as and
cities.
An act to regulate county aid to
ox-Confedorato soldiera, and to pro
vent their (lisfranchisomient
A joint resolution to provide for
the purchase of 300 copies of the
Confederate Woman's books.
An act to amend an act to declare
the law in reference to the duty of
the county auditor when i false or
improper return for taxation is made.
An act to provide for the repair of
artificial limbs of certain citizors of
the State who were soldiers in the
war between the States.
An act to prohibit the wearing of
the Southern Cross by those not en
titled to do 8O.
An act to amend sections 1065,
1000 and 1067 of the code relating
to pensions.
As TO PAYINO TAXES.
A joint resolution to extend the
time for paying taxes for the liscal
year 1901 to March 31st, 11)02, with
Out penalty.
A joint resolution to extend the
time for the payment of connnuta
tion tax in lieu of labor on roads for
the year 1902 to March 31 st., 1902,
without penalty.
An act to amiend an act ontit.led
"An act to raise revenue for the sup
port of the State government by the
levy and collection of a tax on in
comes," approved 5th. da% of March,
1897.
An act to extend the time for the
payment. of t.axes levied and assessed
for tho lIscal year 1901, to pay j(lg."
ments obtained and entored upon
township bonds issued in aid of rail
roads, and interest and principal of
such bonds not. reduced to judgment,
when the railroad has not, been com
pleted through t.he township as pro.
jected, to March 1 st, 190, without
penalty.
An act to amend setion a19l of
the revised statutes of 1893, relating
to the seizuro and sale of a default
ing tax-payer's estate as heretofore
amended by act No. 8-19, approved
20th, Vebruary, 1901.
An act to declare conltracts entered
into to evade the payment of taxes
to be against public policy.
An act to repeal section 270 of the
statutes of 1882, and to fix the time
for the payment of taxes, assoss
monts and penaiticq.
4n act to amend section 334 of
the revised statu~tes relatimg to the
collection of taxes wvithout being
stayed by the process of court..
THIE8E CONOERIN R~Al IROADs.
An act to authorize the Chester
field and Lancaster Railroad com-.
pany to change the locattioni of its
track in certain particulars.
An act to incorporate the French
Broad and Southern Railroad com
pany.
An act, to prohibit hand-cars and
lever cars being left within 50 yard1s
of any public crossing, and to fix the
penalty thorefor.
An not to anthorize the consolida
tion or merger of the cap)ital stocks,
franchises and proporties of the
Asheville and Spartanburg R ailroad
company, the South Carolina and(
Georgia Railroad company, thle
South Carolina and Georgia lRail
road .Fntenisioni company and the
Cai olina Midland Railway company
under the laws of this State, and to
authorize and empower such consol
idated company to make a lease of
its railroad properties anid franchises
to the Southern Railway company.
An act to incorporate the Charles.
ton Union Station comnpany.
An act to incorporate Mount Pleas
ant and Georgetown Riailway comn
pan y.
An act to reguire electric street
railway companies to aflix vestibules
to their cars for the protection of
motormnen.
An act to provide for corporate
agents of iertain townships, and to
prescribe. their duties.
An act to provideothe measuire of
damages to which any common car
rier 'nay be hold for the conversion
to its own use of any property held
by it on consignment or in course of
cnsinment
An act to provido the manner inl
which ownorS or projoectors of any
railroad companios, incorporated un
dr the laws of other States or coun
tricH, may )ecomo incorporated in
this Stato.
An act to requiro all railroad coml
pantliOH dOIngp businosH in thiH Stato
to provido Hpittoons in passongor cars.
An act to further (efino connect
ing lines of common ttcarriors and
fix thoir liabilitios.
An act to ompowor the Uharloston
anid SunInervillo railroad to build
two bridges across the Ashley river.
MUNIt'il'AL (tl'onATIoNs.
Anl act proscribing the lannor in
whioh citi0 and towns tay extend
their charters of incorporation.
An act to amodn sect ion 1 of "An
act to provido for the incorporat-ion
of towns of not loss than 1,0()0 nor
mllore than 5,00() uhabitants," ap
proved th. M arch, I 8t.
An act to amend til aot, outitled
"An act to authorizo aid empower
Cities, towns, townships and otbor
Im11un1icipal corporat"ion1s to issu no
gotiahlo coupon bonds for the ro
funding or payuentt, in whole or in
part, of bonde(l indobtodnoss, and any
lunpai(1 past du intorest, thereon, ox
is'ting at tho timo of the adoption of
the Ir(iselnt conititution," app roved
March ), I1)(S.
An act to r quiro m unicipalit.ies
to provid drains for surface water.
An act to 111power cities and to% yns
to issun oX.Clusive franchises to per.
sons or co:poratiols furnislling wa
tor or l;ghts tllorot.o.
An act t.o ()stablish ulunioipal
courts and (1o1it1o their power and
jurisiition,
Ani not to aut,horizo the establish
mont of board of polic commission
Orto mil itis of not less than 20,000
inhabitan)tH nor more tha.t *(0,000).
(Oontinued in oulr next paper.)
(()1.. .(iIN U. WILLIAMS.
Ieath "ron 0r lnn tllun'ty (qa(l,nt M1n
A (1lte ouf La(urnot ('ounty.
[Special to 'The tatoe.j
Cross Hill, Feb. 24.--Co1. John
Q. Williams died at his home11i this
morning after it long ,n(1 painful
ilness. J"or many years Gol. \Vil
liams wias one of the leading mon of
Laurons county. He was widely
known inl the State. 11e commanded
it company during the war ljetwoen
the Statosi servl upon the staff of
of (kovs. ltmpt.on and Simpson, He
was olnctod to the legislature from
this co111ty in 1890, making a safe,
intelligenit and faithful member.
lie was a man of strong convictions,
hatving the courage to stand by them.
Gel. Jamnes Williams of J,evolutijon
ary fame was his groat grandfather.
Hie married ini 18(I8 Miss Nannie
L. Camtpbell, dalughter of the late
Rtobt. E. Camp~bell, wvho sur. ivoa
lIe bior' his suifferingst with great
fortit.udo, pray ing for suibmilsslin
anid patience, asking his many friondls,
both white and1( colored, to moot him
ini heaven. 11e was a membeor of tile
Methodist church. The dlevottion of
his ving wife was beautiful anud
mo~st pa'hetic. Ito lti v(s andl fr ionds
most tend(erly nutrsedl him and skilled
phiyiciant a1 tttenided himtt, (doing
overything knlown to mtedicali science
to prolong h1is life, but fromt tho first
hlis ca1so isCtO( to be0 hop)olohss. Hie
wvas in his 69ith yeatr.
LaIt.in 1ounmt i nm.
Capt,. hIrady of t,his8 pltco hat at very
slck child.
Mrs. I). J1. Shecaly, near thtis place is
also on the siek lIst. She hs improving
somne for l,he last few dlays.
Mir. A. N. Itowhlnd's babty t hat was
sick with pnfeuimonlia izs abnost entirely
well.
Rlev. J1. K( 0fird of this place was
called to i4exintg,on Co., t,hais week
to bury Mtrs. Lela Agnes Amiek at St.
Tihomas 10. [. Ohurch. She was the
dlaulghter of M r. Anst,on Wessinger'.
Somne r'ogutes enrtere'd Mi r. Sct,t's store
latst, Tuoisdaty night by for'cing off the
weatther-hoatrd ing uinder one of thes
frot windows wit,h ia crow-bar. They
went in atnd lighted a lump) and left it
burning after escaintg through a win
dlow. Trhe amount of gocods t,aken is
net known.
Mothers can safely give F'oley's Honoy
and 'Tar to their children for cought
anid coldis, for it contains no opiates og
ot,her poisons. Gilder & Weeks.
ROOSEVELT AND TILLMAN.
AN UNPILKAANI' sl<t17i lC To 'IlII
FiOHT IN THi:MNAIE.
The 'ri,stit 4sjgg r% t tI Ihe lUt h Out o
lntt 8eusattor thitt (wilog ts th o ('ir'euuts
ntat't' osf 1 I l l io i in,or ('1st4-uiit
of t l a 'te It Migh Io Wel if
ho wero to Witthdraw hiN Ae
ct'Pttst'e of IIte I'resi den t'N
Iivitatini to Dint with
I*riate' lIIory,
Waihington, t'obulruairy 21. -he
Prosident, has withdrawn hi. invita
tion extended to Senator Tillmian, of
South Carolinat, to ltton(d the diniie
to be given tonight in honor of I'rinco
Henry, of I'russtia, at the Vhito
Ilonso. It it Htttod Ihat this aiction
onl the part. of tho I'residlnt wasH
made noceHary from the fact that,
owing to occurroees on t he floor of
the Senate last Saturday, t he Sona
tor from South Carolinii was declarod
in coontmpt of Iho Seiato. Senator
Mlartin, of V7irginilt, avccptetl an in
vitatiot in Sonator Tillm ltan'H placo.
The invitation was extendedsI to Soi
tor Tillttan, owing to the fact, that
he is the ranking minority memoer
of the naval aflftiri committoo.
Thoro was i seontattional s(lquel to
tho doision of tho President to olin
iitto Sonator Tillmaln'N 111110 from
the list of dinner guests. '['ho I 'rsi
dent Hont for Sontit or Crockrolt, of
Missouri, and aHko<i im1tn, asi a friend
and Democratic collongue of Si'nator
Tillman, to HlggeHt to the 1lttor tHe
propriety of withdrawing his accopt
ante of the dinner invitation. ''he
l1resident explained his alt.if(<d in
the matter and stiid thit, in view of
the conteipt proceedintgH, Se,ntator
Tillint,'H prosnce woultd not only
be an affront to the Senato, but, a dis
courtesy to Princo Itonry. Senator
Cockrell accepted the cot11niiHHion
and later tolophono(l to the I resi(lent
that Sonator Tillman ahbolutely re.
fused to withdraw his aoeptance in
responso to the Pritnt's Hug
gestion. The PreHiderlt. then imt
mediately cancollod tht invit at ion in
a noto ho diiapatehod direetly to Sot
ator Tillan shortly hoforo noon to
day. [n this noto, which wts vry
brief and formual, the 1'rosident, Htated
he regretted ho was obliged to with.
draw the invitation. Simultaioonuly
Senator Martin, of Virginia, wias in
vited to take Sol.ator 'TIllimian's place
at the dknner as tho next. ranking
DoioCratti tmohor o' t.hc Sonato
naval affairH commit-toe,
ri 'itE SIDENT'S I.i-"I"Ilt.
The following is tho ltttor from
thte White ir71 wit hdrawing Mona
tor TIIlman's4 invitautiont to dlintt theore
tonight;
"'White H ouse, ebrtuary 21.
"The Prestident regrets tha~t hte in
comp)elled to withdraw Ite invyitaitionl
to you to (din1 tonlight ati the White
"Very truly yours4,
"Goeorgo U3. Cortelyoni,
"Secretary to the P'resident."'
MtENATolt Tl!J t\.AN's1 C~o.MMKfNTl.
CJommiientitng nipon' thte letter Sonai
tor Tillmatn say14:
"Thte Prestident, of couirse, hias the
right to inivite any on1e he choos1e4 tc
dine with hinm, oilicial ly or ot herwise,
and aulso has the right to withdraw~
sucht intvitation. AM I amtf not cont
scions of htavinig dlott anythintg, por
Aeonal or oflicial, which1 gives thet
President t.he rightt to insult me, I
am surprised at his acetiont. The in.
vitation to this ditnntr came1 to mtl
unsought and unexpected, and1( Mo fat:
as the withdrawal is4 concornted it is14
matter of absolute indiff'erorneeto me.
It in thte motive b)ehind( it which soeki
to put rme in the con)rditionl of unwor
thiinests to meet the Presidemnt, and
is guest before final action by the
Senate. P'rintce lionry, the Presi.
dent's guest, comes from a coumntry
whose customr makes ml. obligatory
upon any mant who regards himself
gentleman to promp)tly reosent ant int
sutit, antd t.ho method is by chtaliongu
to a duel. That was oncee the cus
torn, butt it in now obsolete in the
United States, and( we have bo0or
forced as a people here to cling t<
the 01ld Anglo-Saxont rule of conid
ering thte lie direct as the first bl1ow
and no man couldi hold up his hoea<
in decent society sihouldl he, bein1
near enough to answer the lie with
Iblow, not. give it.
"As for my being in contempt of
the sonato, which I presuiie is the
excuso for this insult at the hands of
the Presidont-that I deny. I have
boonl guilty of a breach of the rules
and the privilegm of the Senate.
The Sonato was not sitting as a Court,
but as a legislative assoleIbly. It has
the right to expel me, if it sees fit,
and I am ready to abide its judgment
and action. It has the right to ar
rest mn1 and to hold llme in custody
until it takos (lisposition of my case,
but it has no right to gag me, and
the President has no right to judge
111o guilty of conduct unbecoling a
gentlenan, unloss ho bolis all his
autoeodonts, which load one to bo
lieve that 110 Would have done just
as I did nnder the circumstances.
As to which of u1s is the gentleman
in this mattor, in viOw of the un
011ghlt invitation to dinner at the
WVhito I[ouso and its indecent with
(rital, 1 am willing to ibido by the
judgmont of all bravo and self-ro
spoctil1g m1en,"'
Trimic to Our Old Itchn,.
lar hack ill 11y mntsings my t,houghts
have )eenl cast
To the cot where the hours of ily child
hood were passed;
I love all Its roomm t) the pantry and
hall,
But that. blessed old kiteihen was dearer
than all,
Its chairs and It.s tables nlone brighter
could he,
And all 1s 8urrou1nd(lings were sacred
to 1o
''o the unai inl the eelling, te hiteh on
the door.,
And I love overy crack on the old
kitchen Iloor.
I retumher the tive-plaee with mu)th
high and wido,
Tho old fashliole1 ovenl that. stood by
its side,
Out, of which, ea(-lh. 'Thanksgivinig,
camle puddings andt pies,
Tinta, fairly bowildieru(d and dazzl(od Our
1Oy ("8.
Atd th(n, too, St.. Nicholas, slyly and
still,
('8amo down overy Christ,mas our stock
ings to fill;
Wilie the 11al-k or the axe-handle ou1t
by the (oor
i)id not, pass for I1s hoofs, while carry
ing his st.ore,
Itut t,h dearest 1 memories I've laid
up inl yore,
is the mother that, t,rod on tho Old
kitchen floor.
1)ay in aidll day out, from morinlg till
night,
1ler foot steps were b'usy, her heart, al
ways light,
l"or It seemted to mhe thln, that she
knew not at care,
'1he smil was sO gentle her face used
to) wearI;
I remembeIihr with pleausuire wvhait Joy'
filled 0our e3yes,
Whelin 8131 told us8 the st.ories that child -
renf sO prlize;
we'd heard 1.,hem )( bf(o
I"lr)om 1hCr lips8, ait the~ wheeil, oti the old
kitchen floor.
I rememCIfber the3 in1dowV, whereo miorn
IngZs I'd 3run,
Asa soon as the dayb)reak, to watchl for
the31 sunf;
And3( thIough3t, whe 131mIy heaId searicely
rched to the3 sIll
That 11t8lept thlrouIgh t,h 0night11 in the
trees onl the1 hill
Anld the small1 t,raot of ground11 that my
e'yes thore could11 view
Was all the world that myl infancy
11ndeed(, I careI'd not1 to knlow of it,
1"or a worlId of itself was that, old
kitchen 110o)r.
at, their wvill,
But the3 wheel and it,s mullsic for'ever
arc still;
Th'le band Is moth-eaten, the wheel
laid away,
To b)e used on our cart 0on 1.hose brighlt
Th'le hearthstonie, 80 sacrecd, 18 just as
'twas then,
And the voices of chiildr'en ring out1
there again;
And ye who (1o (aily, cr'oss over that
sill,
St.01 lightly, dear children, for 1 thin1k
of hor still.
I ask 1no1, for hlonor, buit thuis would I
crave,
That, when tihe lips speaking are closed
in the grave,
My children would gather theirs round
Atid telthem of the mother who long
ago died(;
> 'Twould be more e.nultring, far' dearer
to me,
Thani inscription on granite or marble
cotuld ho,
To have them toll often, as I did of
yore,
Of the mother who trod on the old
kitchen floor.
Geo. WN. E~ddy.
Mt. Tabor. N. J. Feb. 22 1902.