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(HR1STMAS BY I Charles Dickens | ? - I Che famous Yu'ctidc talc which. j. with Its story of Clny Cim. has ^ touched millions of hearts and wrought for human kindliness. t - They "passed tlirouph the nail and i at ?h! upon an open country road with i fields on either hand. The city had ^ entireh vanished. Not a vest ice of it j was to oe seen. The darkness and ilie wist had vanished with it. for it was a clear, cold winter day. with snow upon j th- ground f heaven!" said Scro.tge. clasp- f inc iiis hands together as lie U?oked f about liini. "I was bred in this place ?; 1 was a. ix?y here." f "You recollect the way?" inquired f the spirit. "Iteineinber it!" cried Scrooge with fervor. "I could walk it blindfold." x "Strauge to have forgotten it for so *r many years." observed the ghost. "Let us go (a." 5 They walked along the road. Scrooge rj recognizing every gate and post and ( tree, until a little market town appear j ed In He distance, with Its bridge. Its t burch and winding river. Some shag|-y ponies now were seen trotting to e vard them with boys upon their backs, fc who called to other boys in country vt gigs and carts driven by farmers. All these boys were in great spirits and s< shouted to each other until the broad fields were so full of merry music that ; a ^ the crisp air laughed to hear it. u "The school is not quite deserted." ; li Raid the ghost. "A solitary ?hild. neg- K leefed |.?y his friends, is left there still." Ii Scrooge said he knew it. and he b eobltod. J*i They left the highroad by a well re- |> xneuibered lane and s??on approached w a mansion of dull red brick, with a littie weatbercock surmounted cupola on fj the roof and a bell bunging in it. It j, was a large house, but one of broken u for'tuies, for the spacious offices were n little used. their walls were damp and mossy, tneir windows oroKrn miu meir gates decayed. ,, They went. the ghost and Scrooge. j, across the hall to a door at the back ,, of the house. It opened lieforc them ., and disclosed a long. hare, melancholy S( room, made barer still by lines of plain S( deal forms and desks. As one of these .,] a lonely l>oy was reading near a feeble ;| fire, and Scrooge sat down upon a form |, and wept to see his poor forgotten self as ise had tised to be. "! wish." Scrooge muttered. putting s( his hand In his pocket and looking about him. drying his eyes with his ]( cufT "But it's too late now." ;V "What Is the matter?" asked the spirit. 0] "Nothing." said Scrooge. "notltinc. v There was a boy sinpinp a Christmas ^ carol at tny door last night. 1 should have 'Iked to pive him somothinp? that's all" u Tlie phosf smiled thoughtfully and waved Its hand, sayinp as it did so. ? "T.ot t:s sec another Christmas." fv r? tope's former self grew larger at ^ t**e words, and tlte room became a lit- j, tie darker and more dirty. The panels ^ s! r-ttil-.. the windows cracked, frag- f irn nts of plaster fell out of the ceil Ing. at d the naked laths were shown ; ir>' ad. hot how all this was brought j. about Scrooge knew no more than you do II * only knew that it was quite ^ correct: that every thing had happen ed so; tli.it there he was alone again j ?-t. ... ,.'i luire h-wl mmn home "%VII*'I1 ilir vnivi ??V p?v..v J for the jolly holidays. He was not rondinp now. but walk- ^ ing up and down despairingly. Scrooge ^ looked at the ghost and with a uioum ful sh ike of his head glanced anxiously toward the door. j" It opened, and a little girl. much ' younger than the boy. canto darting ^ in and. putting her arms about his neck and often kissing him. addressed him a* her "dear, dear brother." "I I: tve eonte to bring you home. u d'-ar brother." said the child, clapping her tiay hands and bending down to " laugh?"to bring you home, home, t home!" "IJotne. little Fan?" returned the s b*?y "Yes." said the child, brimful of glee?"home for good and all. home " forever and ever. Father is so much ^ kinder than he used to be that home's v like heaven. He spoke so gently to me one dear night when I was going to s bed that 1 was not afraid to ask him ^ ote-e more If you might come home. s f.n.t tie said vps vou should and sent ire in a coach to bring you. And '' you're to bo a man." said the child. 1 opening lior eyes, "and are never to ' J1 c?>me back here, but first we're to be n togeth >r all the Christmas long and * have the merriest time in all the 1 world" * "Yo'i are quite a woman, little Fan!" exclaimed the boy. She < lapped Iter hands and laughed ' and ttv-d to touch his head. but. being ' too little, laughed again aud stood on * tiptoe ' t embrace him. Then siie began to drag lit til. in Iter childish eager s lioss. toward t!ie door, and he. nothing t fa go. accompanied her. v "Always a delicate creature whom j u a |?rea!!t might have withered." said the t! ?st. "but she had a large heart." ' " "So she had." cried Scrooge. "You C are right. I'll not gainsay it. spirit. | ? God f .rbid!" v "She died a woman," said the ghost. and had. as I rliink. children " "One #ild." Scrooge returned "True." said rho ghost?"your neph ?w." Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind ind answered briefly. "Yes." Although they had but that moment eft the school behind them, they were tow in the busy thoroughfares of n :ity. It was made plain enough by he dressing of the shops that here, oo. it was Christmas time again, hut t was evening, and the streets were iglited up. The ghost stopped at a certain waretouse door and asked Scrooge if he mew it. "Know it!" said Scrooge. "Was I ipprentieed here?" They went in. At si^ht of an old rentleman in n Welsh wig sitting betlnd such a high desk thut if he had >een two inches taller he must have mocked his head against the ceiling j 1 Scrooge cried in great excitement: ' "Why. it's old Fezziwig!" Old Fezziwig laid down hV* pen and ookod U|? :u the clock. which < d !?? the h<>ur of 7. lie wIiImhI his ; lands, adjusted Ids capacious waistvat. laughed all over himself from his hoes to his organ of benevolence and 1 ailed out in a comfortable, oily, rich, i at, jovial voice: "Yo iio. there! Ebenezer! Dick!" 1 j Scrooge's former self, now grown a j oung man. came briskly in. aceompa- i lied by his fellow 'prentice. ] "Dick XYilkins. to be sure." said , jcrooge to the ghost. "Bless me. yes. i There he Is. He was very much at- i ached to me, was Dick. Poor Dick! tear, dear!" "Yo ho. my boys." said Fezziwlg. no more work tonight! Christmas ve. Dick! Christmas. Ebenezer! Let's ] iave the shutters up." cried old Fezzi | j ig, with a sharp clap of his hands. I before a man can say Jack Kobiu- 1 i?u!" lu came a tiddler with a music book i nd went up to the lofty desk and lade an orchestra of it and tuned i ke fifty stomach aches. In came Mrs. ezziwig. one vast substantial smile. a came the three Miss Fezziwlgs. earning and lovable. In came the six oung followers whose hearts they j roke. Iu came all the young men and I omen employed in the business. In line the housemaid with her cousin. le baker. In cauie the cook with her rot Iter's particular friend, the inilklan. In came the boy from over the ! ay. who was suspected of not having I nard enough from his master, trying ! ? hide himself behind the girl from | ext door but one. who was proved to 1 ave had Jicr ears pulled by her inis ess. Iu tliey all came, one after iiother. some shyly, some boldly. : j me gracefully, some awkwardly. one pushing, some pulling?in they , II came, anvhow and evervhow. Awav ' ' . icy all wont, twenty couples at once, atnls half round and hack again the < titer way. down the middle anil tip J 1 gain, round and round in various ' ages of affectionate grouping, old top 1 uple always turning up in the wrong kioo. new top couple starting o!T ' gain as soon as they goi there, all i 1 >p couples at last and not a bottom ' no to help thont. When this result ! as brought about old I'ezziwig. clap-' : ing his hands to stop the dance, cried 1 nt. "Weil done!" a.nd the fiddler lunged his hot face into a pot of pnr>r especially provided for that puros,.. But. scorning rest-upon his re- j ppearanee, he instantly began again. 1 lough there were no dancers yet. as j the other fiddler had been carried dine exhausted on a shutter and lie ere a brand new man resolved to beat ini out of sight or perish. When the clock struck 11 this don>stic ball broke up. Mr. and Mrs. Vzziwig took their stations, otic on ? it her side the door. and. shaking) amis with every person individually j s he or she went out. wished him or or a merry Christinas. When every- j ody had retired but the two 'j :ices tliey did the same to tlietu. and uis the cheerful voices died away, and ; lie lads were left to their beds, which , ere under a counter in the back shop, j IMiring the whole of this time | crooge had acted like a man out <>f | is wits, ilis heart and soul were in ' ( tie scene and with his former self. He i orrooonueu evpryuuug. rnunuurn-ii I ; veryihint:, enjoyed everything and; i nderwent tlie strangest agitation. j ; "What is tlie matter:" asked the j host." i "Nothint: particular." said Scrooge. i "Something. I think." the ghost in- i isted. I "\o." said Scrooge: "no. I should ike to be able to say a word or two to ly clerk just now?that's all." His former self turned down the j imps as he gave utterance to the ! ! rhh.-and Scrooge and the ghost again j food side by side in the open air. "My time grows shoit," observed the pirit. "Quick!" This was not addressed to Scrooge r to any one whom he could see. but r produced an immediate effect, for j gain Scrooge saw himself. lie was j ilder now. a man in the prime of life, i ] "Ma n-iri nut thi? luirsli and viiritl I f Inea of later years, but it had be^un j, o wear the siu'tis of eare and avarice, j 'here was an ea;;er. in*eedy. restless j notion in the eye which showed the assion that had taken root and where ' he shadow of the growing tree would ! all. ] He was not al??ue. hut sat by the ide of a fair younu' .irirl in a nioijrninj; < Iress in whose eyes there were tears. 1 rhich sparkled in the lijrht that shone : ' ut of the Hhost <>f <'hristnias Past. ' "It matters little." she said softly? '< to you very little. Another idol has 1 dsplaced me, and if it can cheer and iMiifort you in time to come, as 1 von Id have tried to do. 1 have no just ause to grieve.*' ii*i >i lins displaced vol Ihe I rejoined. I "A ;:o'(lcn one." "This i?> ihe even handed deslimr of the world." lie said. ' There is liotliinir on wliieh it is so hard as poverty, and there is nothing it professes to eoudeuin with sr. h severity as the pursuit of wealth." "You fear the world too inaeh." she answered yently. "All ;.oar other hopes have inert ed into the hope of l>ei?s beyond the ehanee of its sordid approach. ! have seen your noMer aspirations i";>n o;r o'i > 1 >y one uniil the master :?: n. . *in. enp> sses you. Have I "Yi'iiat i i' lie retorted. "Kven if 1 have iro-vi r.rt-h wiser, what then? I a.a eh mired toward you." She sliooi: Per head. "Am I?" "Our e< ntra t is a a o:d one. It was mad" when we were both poor and content to be s > until in stood season we eon Id improve our worldly fortune by our patient industry. You are chaii-'ed. When it was made you were mother man." "1 was a boy." he said impatiently. \J.. ... ... .?? .? j...\a!- fnet line* Imf Ill' W ^ . !. Ill !# ,r I l\ IHIillVI. IMII. with h t head turned from him. she resumed: "You may-the memory of what i* past half makes me hope .vmi will have pain in this. A very, very brief lime ami you will dismiss the recollection of it gladly as an nnprotiiable lream from whieli it happened well that you awoke. May you be happy in the life you have chosen." She left him. and they parted. "Spirit." said Scrooge in a broken voice, "remove me from this place." lie turned upon the ghost ?Nid. see Ing that it looked upon him with a face in which iu some strange way there were fragments of all the faces It had shown hint, wrestled with it. "Leave me! Take lue back! Haunt me no longer!" In the struggle. if that can be called t struggle in which the ghost. with no visible resistance on ^I was uin'i-t nrbisl that its light was W burning high and mg \ connecting that I at? V with its influence over him. lie seiz' ^Kea" ed the ex tinH down upon its J head. [IK ? Ol l.l? .NOT 1IIHE . ., . TUi; 11(;I1T The spirit dropped beneath It. so thai the extinguisher covered its whole form; but. though Scrooge pressed it down witii all his force, in-could not hide the light which streamed from under it in an unbroken tlood ipon the ground. He was conscious of being exhausted inil ?tvcivi?::i Jiy ;in Irresistible drowsiness and. further. nf being in bi* own iKNltvoni. Hi' gave ii:i> rap a part in-; nii'cc'.c. i:i whirl: !:i- hand relaxed, usd barely ?11 1 to reel to bed before lio sank a heavy sleep. iBg|g (^Chapter fTj k Three Si Tin: sKlOM) OK Tin: TIIUKK Sl'tUtTS. ^WAKINt! ill the jnidI die of a pr.wii * Ljft, piously tough snore ' ?. and sitting up in lied to gel his y"7)yw thoughts together, s- Scrooge had 110 occasion to he toid that the hell was again upon the stroke of 1. lie felt that he was restored to consciousness in the right nick of time for the especial purpose of holding a conference with the second messenger dis [latched to hint through Jacob Marley's intervention. Hut, lindiug that he turn ed uncomfortably cold when he began to wonder which of his curtains this new specter would draw back, he put them every one aside with his own hands and, lying down again, established a sharp lookout all rouuu the bid. for he wished to challenge the spiiit on the moment of its appearau o and did not wish to be taken by sur prise and made nervous. (Continued on page 7) Wants to)Help Some One. For thirty years J F Bover of FVrtile.Mo. needed help and couldn't ind it. That's why he wants to help some one now. Suffering so long timself he feels for all distress from Backache. Nervousness, Loss of Apvtite. Lassitude and Kidney disorW? II.. ch nu's thijf T^lpptrir* vork wonders for such troubles. 'Five lx?ttles." he writes, "wholly lured me and 1 am now well and learty." It's also positively jruaran:eod for Liver Trouble. Dysjiepsia, Wood Disorders, Female Complaints ind Malaria. Try them. 50c at M L Allen's. old papers tor sale cheap by the hundred at The Hecoud ifliac. Fmtehmal Kingstree camp no- 27. //'Hf Kiorui mbiitiw?? >'g _!v^ I ?t and 3rd Mond?: oQ gPI )] Night* In each K^Ta/l month. ufesSjHt Wf/J! Visiting diopters cor '' Smlv/ dially invited to conn s ^ _ /ctr' /&-/ up and sit on a stumj " ... i Jn; iy or lmng about on th> )Itnl)s. Thos McCutchen, 27 Cap Corh A ?1)AK ;.IVAMP JK. y.MP, N<? 435 I Jtjf (? railed School \ iWikT3V?i / lteiison. s C.? V ?3 X Saturday G E I:EM BEKT. E. B. McElveen, 17-4-6m. Con. Com. ? DC of DP. v ' Kingstree Lodge Mm? No. 91 ; v, v Knights of Pythias wxy'"* Regular Convention* Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday nights Visiting brethren always welcome, v.astle Hall 3rd story Gourdin Building. (j. D. Jacobs, C. C. C. 0. Burgess, K ILS&M F Tax Notice. The tax books will ? e open for collection of taxes the 15th day ??r October n<*xt. Tax lfvy ;is follows; For State 534 mills ' Ordinary county 3!4 ,4 " Roads 1 Special roads 1 " " Cons't. school 3 " A capitation tax of $1.00 on all male ; persons bet\*en the ages 01 ana ou years, and fU mills levy on all catile, sheep, goats and hogs in part of Anderson, Pt'iin and all of Suttons township-: also oO ffs per head on all dons; also 2 mills for retiring Itonds and 2 miils for high scliool in Kings tree township; 4 mills for retiring bonds in Lake City township and 3 mills for reliring bonds in Greelyvilje School Distiict No. 2.', Comiuutat:on (road) tax $2.00 l evy lor Special School District afollows: For Nos 16, IT, 18, 26, 27. 2*, 20, :r>, oo. 37. 30, 40 4 mills For No> 14. 19, 20, 21, 25, 32, 34, 41 2 " For Nos 15, 31 :t " For No. 28 12 " For No 24 0 * I will be at the following places mentioned below forcolleclion of said taxes: October. Hehmn 21 Kingstree 22 (ireelyville 24 and 2") Gourd ins 20 S n; tons 27 Trio 28 Harpers 20 Salter- 31 j November. I Benson 1 Blni nning vale 2 M orris vi tie 3 Khems 4 Cr.ur;ii 5 Rome 7 Lambert* 8 Ards X Roads 9 lohnsonvjlle 10 Vox 11 Prospect 12 Leo 14 Scranton 17 and 18 Kingstree 19 Lake City 21 and 22 Cades 23, King-tree 2u, 26ami 28 L ike City 29 Kingstree 30' December | King-tree 1,2, 3 and 5 ' A hake uiy Kingstree from 7 to31 inclusive Upon all unpaid taws after December 31 a penalty of 1% will be added for, January. \% for February and 5% to loth <lay of March, alter which the b"<iks will l>e closed and executions issue" upon all unpaid taxes. Those who de-ire to pay their taxes through the mail would expedite matters by dropping !he Treasurer a postal asking for t he amount of their tax so as to avoid sending the wrong amount, also stating the township or townships (if property is owned in more than one) and if possible give school district where P'opertv is located, also state whether poll or totd tax, or both are wanted. Alter paying taxes examine your receipts and see if all of your property is covered, if not, see about it at once. My following the above suggestions complications and additional cost may be avoided. J Wesley Cook. O-ii-tf County Treasurer. Hanks on Sure Thing Now. "I'll never be without Dr King's New Life Pills again," writes A Schingeck. M47 Elm Sim St, Buffalo, N Y. "They cured me of chronic constipation when all others failed." Unequaled for Biliousness, Jaundice, Indigestion, Headache, Chills, Malaria and Debility. 25c at M L Allen's. / CHRISTMAS CAKES | | ?? We have in stock a Fresh Supply of all the ingredients for Your Christmas Cake, such as Citron, Raisins, Currants, Spices, Figs, Dates, etc. %. l Nunnally's Candy If you are undecided what to give your girl for a Christmas present, come to us and get one of our fancy baskets of Nunnally's. We have them in all sizes ?1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 pound baskets. Nunnally's is best. Fruits and Nuts |i Of course we have plenty of them; we always do. English Walnuts, Pecans, Butter Nuts, Almonds and mixed. , ^ In Fruits we have Apples, Oranges,Bananas and Lemons I galore. i4 National Biscuit Company's Fruit Cakes in 1, 2 and 5 pound tins. They are conceded to be better than home cooked. Also a varied line of their Fancy Crackers. ? :i! I" Heavy Groceries I 1 We always keep a full supply and we sell at very close prices. "Town Talk" Flour?The Best on Earth. ' * 9 Street and Cochran's Orange Brand Hams. Swift's Premiun Brand Hams. Sole Agents in Kingstree for Chase & Sanborn's : M Coffee. ' | If it's something good to eat 9 we have it. t |j Jacobs & Scott I Next to the Post Office. I y Ms Drug Store ] 4k ' wi Complete L,ine J of Stationery I I Box Paper and Writing Pads in the latest styles, . with or without lines. ?J Agents for Eastman's, Dorothy Vernon, Rodger & Gallet's and Colgate's Soaps and Perfumes. New line of Tooth Brushes, Hair Brushes, Shaving Brushes, Combs in all styles, Hot Water Bags, j Ice Bags, everything in the sundry line at Scott's Drug Store I