9
r 9 t in Mi i m i id n i v i r w i
if 'i ii !! a It SI
W!4
nmjji AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY NEWSPAPER. "iCTJS'
"Vol. VII. IV ow Bloomflolcl, JPn., Tuesday, Xelnm,ry 4, 1873. TVo. 5.
Ioomfifftr fims.'
IB PUBLISHED BVBRT TUESDAY MORMIHQ, BT
FEA1TE UOBTXUES & CO.,
At New Bloomfleld, Terry Co., Ta.
Being provided with Steam Power, and large
Cylinder and Job-Presses, we are prepared
to do all kind of Job-1'rlntlng la
good style and at Low Prices.
ADVERTISING RATKSt
Trantient 8 Cents per lino for one Insertion
12 " " two Insertions
15 " three insertions
Business Notices in Local Column 10 Cents
per line.
Notices of Marriages or Deaths Inserted free.
Tribntes of Respect, Ac, Ten cents per line.
YEARLY ADVERTISEMENTS.
One Inch one year
Two inches ' " i8-00
VFor longer yearly adv'ts terms will be given
pun application.
Truthful of Snow.
BT GEORGE B. HEUBEHT.
Beautiful Snow I No. thank you ; oh, no!
I'm not very sweet on Beautiful Snows
For while the earth's wrapt In Its spotless folds.
As a rule, I am rather a martyr to colds I
Beautiful Snow I with a cough on your lungs,
And a chill that each nostril carefully bungs?
Beautiful Snow T well that's rather a jest,
With a big mustard poultice stinging your
breast I
Beautiful Snow I when a delicate thaw
Makes the air chilly, and damp, and raw 1
Beautiful Snow 1 they may sing, whom it suits,
I object to the stuff because it soaks through
my boots.
Beautiful Snow 1 with Its floating flakes,
My mind will mix with rheumatic aches ;
Beautiful Snow! In the hillocks and clumps
I do not admire, while choked with the
mumps!
Beautiful Snow! In fact, Is all bosh
Crisp, it's a nuisance thawed, It Is slosh
Beautiful Snow Is like Beautiful Star,
Admired by me only when seen from far l
Tried and Proved.
-mTRS. CHARLTON'S accounts were
JjA. not coming out right; there was a
deficit of five dollars in the treasury and
nothing to show for it ; the very five dol
lars she was depending' on to make all
square with the market man, whose little
bill was sure to come in next morning.
"And, of course, to-morrow's dinner
will be oharged in it, because I ordered it
to-day," said Mrs. Charlton, knitting her
pretty brows ; ' if it wasn't for that I should
bave enough. . O dear I Oeorgio, do you
suppose I could have spent five dollars and
not remomber anything about it ? When
I am so particular, too 1 If I could only
find that memorandum I mode in John's
office an old yellow envelope it was, an
old yellow envelope that lie banded me, and
I wrote everything upon it. I declare,
Georgie, I don't believe you hoar one word
I say."
A young lady was sitting in the bay
window her head outlined against the dark
pane like a head in a cameo.
" What a becoming dress that is, Geor
gie," said Mrs. Charlton, dropping bor
pencil, "such a real old-fashioned apple
green shade, cut pompadour and trimmed
with mechlin. But, there, you make me
forget my trouble Why, Georgie, what a
far away look there is in your eyes. O,
what a selfish sister I am, to Bit here worry
ing over my miserable accounts, and not
asking a word about yourself. Mr. Hart
was here this afternoon, I know, Goorgie j
tell me quick, has anything happened ?"
" Only that he has asked me to marry
him," said Georgie, quietly meeting the
wondering blue eyes that rose to hers.
" What did you toll him ? O, Gcor-
'gie!"
" Told him I would tako a day to con
sider it, and he may come for his answer
to-morrow evening."
" A day to consider ? Then it must end
in your refusing him, Georgia, for if you
loved him you would liavo answered him at
once. Imagine me making John wait for
his answer when he first told me he loved
me I"
' Vou ana 1 are ditterent, dear, you
know," answered Georgie, briefly, and
drawing out bor little gold watch, she ad'
ded " In twenty-four hours more it will be
decided one way or the other."
"But you used to be so different," re
marked Mrs. Charlton. " Only last Sum
wcr you felt just as I do, and what nice
little talks we used to have 1 You liked
to go out mnrketins with mo, so you would
know how to manage if you married a poor
man, you said."
"That seems a long time ago," replied
her sister, detaching as she spoke a tiny1
charm from her guard, and, as it turns
out, I am not going to marry a poor man.
That is, if I docide to take Mr. Hart."
" Don't for worlds accept him unless
you love him 1" urged Mrs. Charlton,
whose own happy marriage had been a
decided love match, and a happy one.
But Georgiana, who had now taken a
lowly seat before the fire, and was gazing
into the coals, had a very different ex
perience. Bho, too, had loved with all her
soul, and the man she loved, after paying
her every attention all Summer, had sud
denly departed without a word, jilted her,
she bitterly told herself, and now love
seemed like the cruelost of moc keries.
The sting was not gone yet, and in her
reckless, defiant mood, shohad almost de
termined to marry Mr. Hart, aud bo world
ly. These were the thoughts in her heart
as she sat before the fire in rather a dreamy
attitude, her littlo hands lying listlessly on
her lap, and the unshed tears gathering in
her beautiful eyes.
There was the turning of a key in the
front door. Mr. Charlton had come
home.
"O. there's John," said the little wifo
hurriedly; "pray, Georgie, don't say any
thing about that missing five dollars."
Mrs. Charlton shut down the desk-lid
and flew about for John's dressing gown
and slippers, and thus for that evening
effectually diverted his mind from the
dangerous subject of accounts. Georgio,
too, camo brilliantly to tho rescue, and
commenced her usual sparring and joking
with her good-natured brother-in-law.
'O, by-the-bye, Georgio," he said,
suddenly, " whom shall I invite to sit op
posite you at the table to-morrow ? We
ought to have some one here to cat New
Year's dinner with us, and not leave a
whole side of the table empty. Shall I ask
Mr. Hart?"
"No, I thank you," said Georgie, ma
king a stately bow ; " I shall invito Baby
to be my vti-a-vii, and fasten her up in her
little high chair to eat plum pudding."
How different it was last year," said
Said liaura, thoughtfully, "mamma was
here then, and John's Uncle Gray with
his two little boys and Cousin Phil."
The shutters were closed, the curtain
drawn, and as the New Year's eve pass
ed softly away the Charltons did not know
how tho snow clouds were filling all the
sky, and how fast and thick tho flakes were
falling on the whitened roofs and streets,
Happy New Year I Happy New Year I
The salutation went round next morning,
and even baby ecstatically shouted, " 'appy
noo eer 1"
" But, oh, John, see how it snows 1"
exclaimed Mrs. Charlton, as she lifted up
the curtain; " it is almost up to the horses'
knees and ever so much deeper where it
has drifted. Come here, baby, and see the
pretty white snow 1"
When they descended to the breakfast
room, there was Ueorglana with a scarlet
shawl bugged tightly around her shoulders,
her face close to the window pane, looking
out disconsolately at the fulling, whirling,
dancing flakes.
" Now, do you suppose that postman is
such a coward as to let a storm like this
keep him from his rounds this morning?'
was nor nrst question as ner sister en
tered.
" Why, what s the matter now, Geor
gie?" 'exclaimed Mrs. Charlton, laughing,
Ono would think your whole fate de
pemiea upon getting a letter tins morn
ing."
' Perhaps it does," said Georgiana,
turning away from the window "it is a
curious Btudy in lifo how often the great
things are determined by tho little ones,
The breakfast hours passed away event
less Mr. Charlton mourned over the late
ness of his morning paper, and Mrs. Churl-
tou silently wondered whether the snow
would keep the market-man from sending
in bis bill that day. If it could be post
poned till John gave her mt quartor'i
allowance, then her mistake might be so
easily managed. Or if she could only find
the lost memorandum. Meanwhile her
sister, feeling low-spirited, and utterly at
odils with life, tried, nevertheless, to sip
her ooffee with an air of pleasantry and
wear a brave holiday smile,
Suddenly there was the grand excitement
of the postman's well-known ring.
"Two hours lute," said Mr. Charlton,
looking at his watch and then hastening
to the door for a little news from the out-
siuo worm, i wo luners, and the news
paper, too, for a wonder. The postman
said he had found the newsboy up to his
elbows in a drift at the top of the bill, so bo
offered to help him by taking till the pa
pers for this street. The man looked like
polar bear, with his shaggy coat, and hat,
and beard all white with the thick, cold
snow. There would be no more letters for
that day, he said, for the trains were all
detained, and there was no knowing when
any of them would get in. The horse cars
had not run since midnight, and there
were only two or three omnibuses, on run
ners. " Is there a letter for me ?" asked Geor
gie, looking at his hand.
No, Miss 1 But two for Laura, per
haps she will divide."
If Georgie had hoped to find any straw
to cling to in the postman's coming, it has
beeu in vain. Had she hoped for anything?
She hardly knew herself J any way, it was
all over now, and she started rather aim
lessly to leave the room. Laura called af
ter bor.
" Georgie, dear, would you mind stay
ing with baby a little while for me ?
Nurse is half sick, and I want to go into
the kitchen to see about dinner. She
won't be much trouble, will she? If you
only keep an eye on her, and see that she
is happy with her playthings. Nurse will
be in the next room, and you can take your
work or your reading."
"Just what I should like," said Geor
gie, brightening. "I'll take care of her
the whole morning, Laura, and you need
not be disturbed about her at all." So
away she ran up stairs to find her littlo
bluo-eyed niece, who always shouted with
delight at any attention from her pretty
aunt Georgie.
" Deordie, Goordie 1" cried tho little one
gleefully, springing into her arms as she
entered the room, and then nurse was sent
off to try to get rid of her headache, and
baby and her grave young aunt began a
series of glorious romps which ended only
when both were thoroughly tired out.
" Tired, Tot, are you ?" So am I. Lot's
have a rest 1" and drawing a great rock
ing chair up in front of the fire, she seat
ed herself with baby in her lap) tho big
blue eyes looking dreamy and quite ready
for sleep. Georgie looked steadfastly
down at tho innocent baby face, while the
round dimpled fingers hold hers in a tight,
warm clasp. She had been told that the
child resembled her.
Are you like me, little Tot?" 6he said,
softly, "and are you going to ho like me
always? I was a happy little girl once,
with ever so many to love me, and I had
beautiful times.
1 Don't you be like me after you're
twenty, baby, because you'll be a woman
then, and some ono, splendid and noblo
will come and make you love him. But
if you are like roe he will go away, and
never care for you, and that will break
your heart, little Tot so you can never love
anybody again, and then maybe you will
grow reckless and wicked, and marry some
one you don't care for, if you are like your
aunt Georgie."
And there she fairly broke down and
began to weep passionately. Her poor
aching, erring heart was trying to fight its
way out to peace, aud she did not know
how near the victory was. It was baby
who helped her to conquer at last ; and
and when, for by-aud-by sho grew calmer,
and looked down on the child, now peace
fully asleep, and went on in hor old train
of thought, mingling all sorts of fancies
with it, about what she thought Tot would
do if she should be like her aunt Georgie.
Suppose it were really so, that her own
lifo would decide what Tot's lifo should bo.
Of courso there was no truth iu tho fancy,
but suppose it wore true, and her owu hand
had the power to decide Tot's future, then
would she be willing to let her darling
niece grow up to ongut ner womanhood
by a loveless marriage ? Sho gazed at the
sweet little innocent face, and shuddored
at tho thought. No ! a thousand times no !
It would he better for baby to live alone
all the days of her life, without any lovo,
aud keep her soul white and pure. And if
bettor for baby, why not bettor for aunt
Georgie herself?
" Never mind, dear, you may )o like
aunt Georgie all you waut to, for she
means to save us both of us. Life is going
pretty hard, little Tot, but you must be
brave and true, and not let any fulso
thought stain your soul. And then, if you
are very lonely, you may come and live with
aunt Georgie, aud whatever else we miss
of, we will at tloast be honorablo women
I will not accept Mr. Iljirt I will not ac
cept him, and may Heaven help me always
to be a true woman 1"
So she mode her resolution aud won her
victory ; and sitting there lu her quiet
room, with baby asleep in her arms, many
oalm and peaceful thoughts came over her
and refreshed her soul. She had Indeed
begun a new life with new year.
Meanwhile, down stairs the others had
been busy in their own way. The turkey
was baking finely in the oven, the veget
ables were all on, the jellies set, and the
pudding just beginning to boil, when there
was another ring at the doorbell, and Jane
had to run up in the hall to answer it.
In a moment more Jane came back and
reported tbat it was a gentleman all cover
ed with snow and muffled up, so she could
not see his face, aud be wished to see hor
master on business ; so she had spoken to
Mr. Charlton and then came directly away.
" I wish you had waited to hear his
name," said Mrs. Charlton; "if dinner was
ready I would go right Up there."
When Mr. Charlton was called out into
the hall he would uot have known his
cousin Phil from the Great Mogul if it had
not been for the honest gray eyes, and, a
moment after the familiar voice.
" Got snowed up on the railroad," said
Phil. " I have got business to transact
two hundred miles beyond here, but the
train cannot go an inch further to-day, they
say, so I thought I'd come up and make
you a New Year's call, old boy."
" Bravo 1" exclaimed Mr. Charlton.
"We were talking about you only last
night, andwishing you were here."
The new-comer was a stalwart young fol
low, with a fine, noble face, not without its
few lines of care, perhaps pain. Ho glanc
ed hurriedly arouud the library as he enter
ed, then seated himself comfortably before
the glowing grate, and began to answer
John's questions about the weather aud
his businoss prospects.
And why haven't you let us hear from
you?" asked John: "I have been anx
ious to hear how you were gotting, along I
can tell you 1"
" I supposed you had had enough of
me," said, the other, with an odd little
laugh ; " but I am the inevitable bad penny
you see 1"
An hour passed by, aud it was almost
dinner time. Mrs. Charlton looked proud
ly at her successful achievement, and then
glanced at hor kitchen clock,
Sho hastened up stairs, cast a curious
glauce at the heavy overcoat in the ball,
and then sped up to her own room. There
was Georgio, to all appearance perfectly
happy and contented, playing bo-peep with
Tot, who had just waked up,
"Oh, you two darlings 1" exclaimed Mrs.
Charlton. "Now lot me call the nurse to
take baby, aud you hurry off and got
dressed, dear, for dinner is almost ready,
and we are going to have company, after
all 1"
" Who ?" asked Georgio, in surprise,
"I don't know. Some one who has come
to see John, aud he has been here au hour
so of course ho will stay to dinner now,
Now put ou your green Bilk, Georgie, and
look beautiful, for maybe it is some ono
splendid a hero for you."
In her present frame of mind, Georgie
would have worn the dress she then had
on, wliicu was simple as possible, but
Laura would not like that, she thought,
and one must not begin by being selfish, so
sho compromised matters by arraying her
self in a black silk, with her plainest or
naments. Then, meeting Laura on the
stairway, they wont down together, when
suddenly John Charlton threw tho library
door open, and there stood Cousin Phil !
Mrs. Charlton, with a little shout of de
light, rushed forward to welcome him, and
when he had replied to eager greeting he
looked past ber at Georgie. It was as if
eye met eye, and thought leaped up to an
swer thought, but they only bowed gravely
at each other, aud uttered the few words
that politeness demanded, and then, half
bewildered by the surprise, and the sudden
tumult in ner heart, Ueorgie silently pre-
coded him into the dining room,
' Now, Phil, what have you been do;
ing?" said Laura, as soon as her husband
was fairly launched in.the carving of the
turkey. " Has business been going wrong.
or what is it that makes you look ten years
older than you did last summer? And
why haven't you written ? I think it was
very uukind not to let us hear from you.
even once."
" Even once may be once too often
suid Phil, sarcastically, and then, as if to
atone for his disagreeable remark, he
plunged into a glowing account of the bus
iness trip he had made, talked of politics,
the times, anything, everything except lust
Summer and the reason he had not written.
Goorgie, sitting opposite to him, tried to
eat her dinner in stately indifference, but
succeeded only iu looking very dreamy
and demure, as she trifled with the mor
sels on her plate.
Phil asked for Tot, finally, and when the
desert came she was brought down in all
the glory of a new white dress and crimson
sash. She was shy of him at first, but soon
recognized him as an old firiend, and gam
boled aboiit bim like a playful kitten. '
" What a darling she is," said he, ad
miringly, and began to search in his pock
ets for something to please her. flndinsr
nothing but an old carte de visite of his
own ; but that was joy for Tot, who doted
on pictures. She seized it with a gurgle of
baby delight, and made as if she would
eat it up at once.
"Oh, don't tear it, Tot, don't tear it 1"
exclaimed Mrs. Charlton, "brincr it to
mamma, and let her keep it for you."
But that was not Tot's idea, and she
raced up and down the room with her
treasure, stopping at last ou the floor iu
the corner by an ottoman, it was a home
mado one Mrs. CliaHtan bad contrived her
self, by nailing bright bits of carpets on
an old box. Tot tiped it over, and began
tugging at the carpet with great energy.
" How comical children are," said Mr.
Charlton, looking after her., "Now that
old ottoman is ns good to her as a new
country to explore would bo to Dr. Living
stone. What is she doing, Laura? Hiding
that picture away, upon my word 1" And
he hastened to stop her.
' Why, there are more things in hero !"
he exclaimed ; ' it's a regular treasure
house.
" Here is an old yellow envelop, to be
gin with." And with thumb and finger,
ho drew it out from between the ottoman
cover and the wood.
"O, my memorandum?" cried Mrs.
Charlton,running across the room to get it.
" It's a list of all I bought last Tuesday,
and O, I declare, if here isn't the five dollar
bill I thought I had lost tucked into the en
velop. How careless in me !"
"Here's half a cookey," said Mr. Charl-
tion, making further explorations, " and a
leaf out of the primer ; and what's this ?
A letter for you, Guorgo you must havo
dropped it someplace, and Tot has hidden
it away here."
" A letter for me !" she exclaimed, com
ing forward.
"Y'es, and on my word tho seal isn't
broken. Well, Miss Tot, this is very fino.
The letter may havo layed there six
months, ever since tho child first learned
to walk. I only hope it wasn't an invita
tion to a party."
Georgie was reading it with dilating eyes
and a wondering blush on her cheeks.
Philip approached aud glanced curiously
at the envelope, postmarked several months
before.
" So you nover got it ?" he whispored ;
" what would your answer have been if you
had ?" .
For an answer she turned and clasp bis
hand. True love never runs smooth, and
that was doubtless the reason why uncon
scious little Tot, following strnie hidden
guidance of uature, had seized the waiting
letter of appeal and put it safely away, till
months of delay and doubt had tried poor
Georgie's heart, aud proved it pure gold at
lust.
"Well," said Mr. Charlton, after a
brief comprehending look at the radiant
pair, " this is what you call a happy New
Year, I suppose?" And wasn t it?
Railroad Ketituurauts.
A correspondent of tho New York Ob-
terver says: XSot long since, in travelling
fiom Basle to Paris we became hungry.
As if divining our condition, the guard put
his head in at the window of the train and
politely asked, "Shall I order dinner for
you at the next station ?" " But we do not
stop long enough for it," was our reply.
"True; it will bo served iu tho traiu for
three francs, and the dishes removed at
the next stopping plaj'e." "By all meaus
order it." The telegraph carried the or
der ten miles ahead in a moment, and
whon the traiu drew up at the next sta
tion, the door was opened, und a circular
basket, 3 feet high and 1 foot in diameter,
was put in our compartment. Upon the
top were a knife and fork, spoon aud nap
kin; a bottle of water and a flask of wine,
and a glass; a little suit and pepper and a
large roll. Opening a door in the side of
the basket, we saw four shelves, on each
side a dish. The.flrst was a hot soup, the
second a slice of a la mode beef, the third
vegetables, and the fourth hulf a cblckeu
and salad. A bunch of doliuious grapes
was also found on one of the shelves.
We ate our dinnor quietly and comforta
bly, while the train rushed along at thirty
miles an hour, and then rostorod the dishes
to their places. When the next stoppage
was mado, a porter removed tho basket and
received tho pay.