T upon it in a considerable Wbetb®'' ® result -Iked therefrom de- r "■ •” S.“ro'* to out borders. Bat from res that the question cannot be set tled. And what matterl There is too much stress laid upon the mere safety of the soul. jstsr®*^ to smit a g g,v be true that “be gives money't be , . „ . . twice wbo give* J,.,' surely tbe same with onrexa- , pie. - In tbe article headed peters” on our h page, the sprightly edir^^i, Sunday ‘‘plows mighty close to til© low ’’ lie is sometimes called jaensational; we find his writings ■lull of necessary truth, expressed in a piquant and entertaining style that is sure to attract. Do not fail to read the article, and if tbe evil practice there depicted is troubling you, heed tbe wise ad* monitions therein contained. *'^0, may we livered. -aate*' .^iiimun- ). .A, and snch perpetually de- Thp: reading habit. “I don’t know anything that is a surer preservative from dissipating associa tions than a fondness for rending, and I want iny boys to read, even thoagh there is much pernicious literature in circula tion.” Tlius spake a Christian minis ter in our hearing a few days ago, and the numerous periodicals on his table showed that he was practicing his faith. If we take no higher view than this it is wise to foster the reading habit. Only let our reading be of the right kind, and no material harm to the morals can come of it, ‘ though we are persuaded many read in such way that little good is derived. By liasty and careless reading the mind becomes like a seive, through which everything of val* ue escapes, and thus positively injurious mental habits are form* ed. But even this, coupled with the danger of moral harm from reading that wliich is positively pernicious,does not make so groat a risk as that incurred by pro- miscuous street associations in the town or village of average moral tone. But wo would encourage this habit because it is likely to do great good. By it we are brought in*o the highest and best associa tions, come in contact with purest and noblest thought, and find sources of rational pleasure that are otherwise unknown. I IMIGRATION. Our State needs not so much an influx of i)opulation as it does the elevation and development of the people it now has. The ch; r* acter of our citizens is more im portant than their number. Kd- iication is more desirable than immigration. Ono million of in telligent, industrious, patriotic, Christian men and won en are better than five millions of such nondescripts as inhabit Mexico or some of the South American States. We would not be understood as opposing immigration, but rather the idea which many seem to entertain, that our prosperity and general advancement de- I’HE ORPHAN’S LAMENT. BY MATILDA. The world for me uo longer wears A beauty or a bloom, Since all I loved and cherished most Lies buried in the tomb. I once was happy as a lark, But now those days are gone, And I am left an orphan child. All desolate and lone. I do remember well the time, When I was glad and free, A little laughing, merry child, Upon my father’s knee. When, on my gentle mother’s breast 1 laid my nestling head, And listened with attention deep, To all the words she said. And when low kneeling at her feet, She taught me how to pray; I never thought such love as hor’s Could ever pass away. But she is gone—that mother dear. Gone to a world ou high— Gone to a home where tears no more, Can dim her cloudless eye. I know she is an angel now, Among the saints in light; And when I lay my weary head U^on my bed at night, 1 feel that she is near me still, Her orphan child to keep, To fan me with her spirit wing While silently I sleep. I have uo father—mother—friends; Alone I am on earth; A stranger in a stranger’s land, Beside a stranger’s hearth. There’s none to love and blessme here, Since my dear mother died ; Oh, would that I were sleeping now, Thou loved one ! by thy side. But mother! when I go from hence I’ll meet thee in the skies, Where parting never comes again, And love no longer dies. DOING ONE’S OWN WORK. “Never mind what he’s doing, attend to your own work.” “But he’s putting his machine all out of gear; he’ll ruin it.” “Tbe superintendent will see to that—mind your work.” And so he went back to his work, and did it well and earned his wages, So it is in churches. Men are too busy watcliing other people’s work and u\achiaory to do their own properly. And now we propose, as an experiment, that every man and woman begin by doing modestly what first comes, and with faith anil hope build up their own souls, and labor for the impeni tent around them. There are many in our own families who need the word in season and tlie faithful,believing prayer. Wiiat an impression would be made if each one of us could see the coiiveision of one soul—sis ter, brother, child, friend, neigh bor. Direct prayer for one, leads to eftort for one, and the Lord’s po wer is not limited to scores, or hundreds, or thou sands. Bjt hundreds' and thousands are made up of individuals and the redemption of each soul is precious. There is perhaps too much talk now of tbe question of salvation, and shall all be saved or lost at once, or will there be further probation? The opposing opinions and arguments show That, DO doubt, is precious, but tlio great point is the living *' GroA^e mating - ' thia liffTi seb'''’ , vvnole 01 of preparation c^uother. Even if it were promised in some way that a soul should be saved in the end, we need be none the less zealous that the life be given to the ser vice of Christ. 'Iherefore, we say, “Arise, arise, good Christian!” and be faithful to individual souls. “Save with fear,’’—pulliegthem out of the fire. Some years ago a child of Christian parents said to a friend, “You aie the first person who has ever spoken to me directly on the subject of personal reli* gion.” My brethren, these things ought not so to be. “Speak to that young man.’ Let us try if personal faithfulness will not bring the revival we seek and need so much.—Christian Reid. Wiais & FiiiiiH' ■ ‘ OXFOP"' ..J, N. O. r- U R E DRUGS. |®“A11 STASDABD Preparations. PEESOEIPTIONS AOOEEATELP OOMPOUUDED. ALL NEW ! NO OLD STOCK ON HAND! WABIiANTED THE BEST! WHY IT’S CALLED A BREAK. The enquiry is frequently made “Wby is a sale of tobacco in the warehouses called a break? an I but few of the young people are able to answer. In olden times, in the days of our daddies, the weed was all prized in hogsheads JHitolieii before being marketed and when placed on the warehouse floor the hogsheads were stripped off and with a sharp iron plunger breaks were made in the hulks of tobacco and samples taken therefrom and submitted to theinspection of pur chasers. Hence tlie origin of the word “break," and it is used to this day notwithstanAing most, if not all, of tlie tobacco is placed on the warehouse floor in loose packages or pi'es. Persons un acquainted with tlie former mode of seilirg.are at a loss to know the significance of the word break” in connection with the sales of lea) tobacco.—Tobacco Plant. A Eresli Lot of Apples and Oranges, Candies and Confectioneries Generally, which are VERY FINE! A large supply of School Books, Stationery &G., on hand. Any article not in stock will be ordered. ^^Call and see us, we KITO'W we can please you. Jaiaif 1st, 1 Why am I sellhig out my STOCK at re duced prices ? I will answer: FIRST.—Because I am overstocked, SECOND.—The large number of fires have caused Insurance Companies to raise Insurance and cancel Policies. T offer for CASH ONLY, a large stock of ZEIGLER’S SHOES at reduced prices. Over $3,000.00 worth of BAT STATE SHOES at reduced prices. My entire Stock of Ladies Dress Gktods at and below cost. 2 Art A yards of Plain and Fancy Silks, lUUl/ at reduced prices. 100 pairs of Ladies Phfin Mid lUw Fancy Hose, at reduced prices. 10 O dozen pair of Ladies Kid, Silk and Lisle Thread. Gloves. 5 000 yards Best Standard Prints at ,UVV cents. 2 000 yards heavy sheetings and shir^ ,UU'" ings at 8 to 9 cents. r\nn worth of Ready l&de ciothr OOjvvv ing at cost for CASH. old Stand. J. F. KDWAKDS. | W.F.BOGBKS. EDWARDS & ROGERS, OENERAL Hariiare OXFORD, N. C. We keep on hand a well selected stock of HARDWARE of every description, em bracing ^ CROCKERY AND GLASS-WARE, CLEMONS, LEVY & CO., Cotton Conunission fflerobaols RICHMOND, VA We desire to call the attention of cotton pi in ters and cotton shlnb jrs to the advantages ofler- ed by Richmond asac 3t- ton market, and soT clt from them a trial. (»ar market is now firmly es tablished. We have j er- fected arrangement? by which we can ship b oth to domestic and to for eign portsbnas favora ble terms as can bs done Norfolk oj from any other Southern port. Practically, this places Bichmond on the coast. Our Mr. Levy, formerly from Enfield. N. C., gives his special attention to the samplir g and weig .ing of cotton. Liberaladvanccs made on consignments. Correspondence so Ucited. Refei by permission to: John B. Davis, Esq., President Planters National Bank, Richmond, Va.; Isaac Davenport, Esq. President First National Bank, Rich mend, Va.; Messrs. S. W. Ss M. Rosenbaum Rich mond, Va. marllv CLEMONS. LWY % ^O. is, AEEYOU GOING TO B U Y GOAL this winter. If so, leave your order with W. R. Beasley, and he will take name and quantity. This must be done in the next ten days. JOB OSBORN, Raleigh, N. 0. COOKING AND HEATING STONTEIS, POCKET AND TABLE CUTLERY, WOODEN AND WILLOW-WARE, Guns and Pistols, Cartridges, Ammunition AND SPORTING GOODS. We inrite attention to our stock of SEWIMfflACBI?:ES,OILS, NEEDLES AND ATTACHMENTS. We also carry a heavy stock of Paints and Oils, BEDSHBS AND VAKNISHBS. lamps and Lamp Goods. Ladies Straw Hats at 25 eenkk, worth from 40 cents to $1.00. v^^CISIRETIES. Ihese Goods are sold under an Absolute Gnarantee That they are the Finest and PUREST goods upon the market; They ARE FREE from DRUGS and CHEMICALS of any kind; They consist of the Finest Tobacco and Purest Rice-Paper made. OCR SALES EXCEED.K.p„d.cu of ALL leading manufactories combined. Nono Genuine without the trade-mark of the BULL. Take no other. ,W. T. BLACKWELL k CO. ’Bo'c Manufacturers. Durham, N. C. MILLINERY, 100 2,000 2,000 Yards of Velvett as! Velveteens, at rednofed prices. Yards of Fancy Silks at reduced prices. Flowers and Plumes, at COST, andbelowCOSl. A. Landis, Jb. 500 Pieces of Fancy Ribbons. 10,000 Lafe’ Yards Percals, Cam brics, and other Whit* Goods. A. Landis, Jk. Gents’ Hats, Merino Vests. Crockery and Glass Ware. Hose and Cravats. Call and examine, as I am DETBSMIN* ED to sell out tbe balance of my Stock. A.LAJn>I8,JB.