xo-lozj jrxuu-itiussiviu FARMER: MARCH 29. 1892 poetry- THE OLD NORTH STATE. From the oriental regions, from oppression and Thcy came in search of a happier life. hen the Wood of the brave leaped light and The? lm.kod to a land far over the sea. To a land wh.re the oppressed might freedom fnSSf&e stars hone brighter in the Western skies. us tie iroud North State first blushed to Tfc f Lcr radiant flowers and fields aglow o' L-r own rich eoil and purest air, And vtiduro wild eurpassiug lair. tu there the mockingbird's notes do ring, When i rint'time flowers his presence bung. Thei-e the nightingale tilts his chorus gay As lie ) earns and highs for the break of day. Rrathe 'here a man with a soul so weak Who does not of her proudly spt ak 't WLo - heart do -s not with rapture swell With Lnrning pride no tongue could tell. Rer.eat in poem, by prose or mouth Tuis noble JS.ate and blooming South. Vo braver eoi-s did J anus know, Wheii Kouie in conquering pride did glow; Vo daughters more lovely, your eyes for to greet, Though Venus may trtmble while this Q rei-eat. Her so-s of the bravest, her daughters most fair; Her ci.mate lnos-t lorely, her pleasures most rare. Her forest ar. teeming with all kinds of wood. Her horut-s are delighted with the words of tl e goal. In her hill gold and silver in abundance are And ai? useful ii.in.rals her borders surround. Her sceneries are grar d as the world ever knew, Htr sons to her glory stand firmly and true. Her niountaius are decked with glittering flowers. a her plains lofty pines boast their own grace ful bowers. Her forests are loTely with birdnest in them bni.t. White their respective songsters the swetett music lilt. Then where could be more lovely thau North Carolin a's home? Should any wL-di to leave it and go afar to roam How varied her climate, how pure is the air, Which give heaith to her sons and daughters so fair. She rt ache from the French Broad whose sullen waters 1 oar, . To the !-ui. j eastern regions where At antic's lah the shore. rterhight from Mt. Mitchell's crest of endless Where none but Arctic masses would dare at tempt to grow. To the low ailuYiil regions, and ponds cf sink- Where weee rice fields in culture and hear the croak.in frog. Then turn to nature's beauties, both in and out of dxrs, , , ... First see her mountain gorges through, which ch rystal water pours. Her grammar so magnificent, it makes me long to soar Far up in the areaJ.an l view her landscape o r.- Her fcraves heed first the war-whoop when the frigntsned eagles cry. And t are their noble Uiom to the storm of bat t le v ie ; lut when the battle's iver and the blood-stained la.:iii-r turled. Her euoign beckons otward the oppressed of all tue world. Then "onward" be Lrr motto till crowned by tnd'.ess fame Hei sons wals. home to honor, and speak with pride her Bau.e, Then with enravishicg sympathy we'll sing in gladdening tones The requiem of a pa.-; dt cadence, and oppres si on groans. And feel that she has von a fame that will for ever irlara Her posterity'! obscure t rials or vict'ries march tu cneer, Then praise be to heriionor the goddess of valor and love. The home of the qual's shrill whistle and pride oi tne cooing dove How grand her institutions which afford access to cram A course of useful kuwledge to fashion up the uram ; Tor entering on 1 fe s icean where light-houses are- but lew. Men must deal with lirsh regards, as well as Kind and true. Her soil is vroductiveof manv kinds of grain And other useful products which add unto her gam Her streamlets, creels and rivers add grandeur to tier scenes. And furnish ample xwer for driving all ma chints. : Along her restless witers we hear the ceaseless Of niaay busy spintles and never-tiring looms, nusi And there our nativt cotton and wool of finest grade In Dixie's sunny boriers to useful fabric made Nor is this ail the ust to us those rivers here we see. As they roll their tubulent waters in laughing and glee ; For on their heavingxwoms and gently swelling tide Majestic boats in g-andeur upon them safely nuts. Her railways, too, ire many. Hark ! hear the rumbling wheel, As they're at great swiftness drawn o'er the iron rails. Oh! what la man h vented? There's nothing half m grai.d To tame that locoracli ve to move at his com mand ! hakes lxer tli5rity monarch on Atlantic's hen tv .ward the r s y Mountains we hear her t:retea roar. puviy snore, i dcxf 3 she eve tin, for rest but onward jvv iucvj- t-trides, Till in Pacific's . -s the bathes her panting Too men liar nv the Ughtning their bidding heel, 1 1 Till by it through four country go xv. rds at dash ing speed. I Then ought not Ninth Carolina receive our wil- llLglote, I Sinra,?Ler LaTpv hrders so many glories Her ho:ne are .t. delightful and will for- ever he While such At pleasant gl ' This huhjct U Hoping North brighter hiii" brauty haunts th m in , ; k to finish I'll decline, u ' -i -iTS. splendor to daily t I R. C. Fry. ilrjiFarmfip from April 1st mt 1 for Fifty I ! -t . i . ST- i I f w W1115. Makeup ;j J V. HOW THEY DROVE THE SHERIFF 4 4 It is a wicked shame 1" said little Mrs. MacDonald, turning her flax wheel with a fierca energy. "Of course Mr. Libby can't pay his debts after being ill all winter, and now just as he is getting better and planting is coming on, he must go to jail. I should like to know how Peggy and the chil dren are to get anything to eat while he is gone! If I were a man, he shouldn't go. But there! Men folks haven't half the spunk as women !" "I am sure, Marie," returned gentle Mrs. Noble, looking mildly into her pretty neighbor's flushed face. "We are all sorry for him, but our husbands have as much as they can do to pay their own debts." "Oh, we can't any of us afford to pay the money," replied Marie. But Sheriff Watson is such an old coward that he might be frightened away. It won't do to go against the law," said Mrs. Noble shaking her head solemnly. "The law I" cried Marie, nearly up setting the wheel in her wrath. 4 That's the way with you Americans, Abigail ! You'd see a man roasted alive rather than oppose the law, but the French people are different, I'd have you know." , Marie MacDonald was a lively, warm hearted woman, impatient of wrong and eager to help all who need her sympathy. Her ancestors were French, and from them she had inherited her great vivacity and quick temper. Her husband was a Scotch man, and though he considered his wife the 4 4 smartest" and most lovable woman in all New England, he some times wished she was not so impulsive. On her part, she found her husband's cautious ways and guarded speech a real trial sometimes, but love an re pect taught each to overlook the other's faults. Just now her indignation was roused against Solomon Libby 's creditors. Mr. Libby had been ill all winter, and hav ing a large family to support, had got into debt to a grocer in the neighbor ing town. The country was new and money was scarce, so when Mr. Libby was notified that if the debt was not paid he must go to jail, there was no one to help him, much as his neighbors desired to do so. As Marie ceased smeaking, Mrs. Noble arose, and taking the tea she had come to borrow, started for home, leaving her neighbor alone with her black-eyed baby. The afternoon sun shone warm, so Marie placed her wheel under a spread ing maple near the house, and, putting the baby on the grass near her, went on with her spinning. The house was built of logs and stood on a sloping bank, at the foot of which a little brook fretted and gurgled at the pebbles that sought to stop its way. Above her rose a forest of grand old pines towering straight up into the blue sky, while their tops swayed in in the light breeze, making mournful music and wafting sweet incense all around. The soft sunlight came through the shade and laid along the ground in little patches of that indescrible color that no artist can copy, the color of a sunbeam on a bed of pine needles. Marie's white forehead was puckered into two thoughtful wrinkles, and her usual merry song was hushed. Pres ently the baby began to cry, and she took him up ; as she sat "nursing him, her eyes suddenly brightened, and sh clapped her hands and burst into such a peal of laughter that the baby crowed in sympathy. Marie sprang up and throwing a light shawl over her kead and ran down the wood road leading to Mrs. Noble's wifh, her baby in her arms. Her light feet pressed the vivid moss as she hurried on, and her dress bent clumps of grace ful fern3 growing by the roadside. All along the path rose patches of arbutus, full of sweet wax-like blossoms just ready to fall from among the shining leaves that sheltered them. A cat-bird called out in mocking tones as she passed, and a tiny squirrel crossed her path. She soon reached her neighbor's house, and ran in flushed and panting. Mrs. Noble came forward in alarm. 44 What has happened?" she asked anxiously. "Nothing," replied Marie breath lessly, 44 only I have such a good plan, and if you will help me, I am sure we will drive the sheriff yet. I want you and Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Butler and Mrs. Libby to help, and we will save Mr. Libby from jail." Marie now proceeded to unfold her plan, which seemed to interest her neighbor almost as much as herself. Together they visited the next neigh bor, who, in turn, promised to let the other two women know the secret. 4 4 Now, " said Marie at parting, 4 4 don c tell your husbands, for if we fail they will never cease tormenting us if they find it out." So each woman kept her own counsel and they all watched for the sheriff. I The following day, while Maria was I busy with her houshold duties, she heard a sharp, imperious rap at her door, and on answering the summons encountered Watson, the sheriff. Mr. Watson was a round, short, red faced man with sandy whiskers and green eyes and a low, wheezy voice. He was exceedingly unpopular on ac count of his insolence and cowardice. It was a mystery how he ever got the office of sheriff. Just now he was mounted on a tall, lank white horse, and was so inflated with the sense of his own importance that he seemed ready to burst. Marie said to her hus band afterwards that he looked for all the world like a great, yellow pumpkin. She answered his salutation very graciously, however, and brought him a drink of water from the well. 4 'Is this the direct road to Solomon Libby 's?M he asked. 44 Oh, yes," replied Marie. 44 1 am going to Mr. Libby 's on an unpleasant errand, madan," he con tinued, unwilling to lose the oppor tunity of letting her know that he was sheriff. 44 1 am Abner Watson, the sheriff perhaps you have heard of me." 44 Oh, yes, indeed," said Marie." Mr. Watson considered this a compliment and became inflated. 44 Yes, madam," he continued, 44 there are disagreeable duties about my office, but they must be performed,' no matter what my feelings are, and if people will not pay their honest depts, they must take the consequences." 4 4 Certainly they must," assented Maria, hypocritically. Mr. Watson bowed low and drove on, thinking what a sensible woman Marie was. Before he had gone ten steps Maria blew such a blast on the big dinner horn that the old white horse took fright and gave a leap which nearly unseated his rider. " I wonder what she is blowing for?" thought he, 4 k it wants full two hours of noon." Just then he heard an an swering call ahead of him. He stopped his horse abruptly and listened. An other and another, each in different directions, and the echo catching the sound flung it from tree to tree till it seemed to the affrighted sheriff that the woods were full of horns. Mr. Watson well knew how unpopu lar he was, and visions of an infuriated mob rose before him. He pictured himself tied to a tree and beaten. The horrible thought was too much for him, so turning his horse, he applied whip and spur, hoping to escape from the men who, ho felt sure, were after him. When Marie saw him pass the house, she blew another blast on the born., and then sat down, shrieking with laughter. Great was the consternation of the loafers at the village tavern when they saw Mr. Watsoa tearing down the road, bareheaded and wild-eyed. His gaunt horse was covered with foam, and on reaching the door, she theriff failry fell from the saddle into the arms of his astonished friends. They gathered around him, asking eager questions. 44 Is it Indians?" asked one, 44 Indians!" panted the sheriff, "worse than that!" 4 'Why, I should think there were a hundred armed men waiting to waylay me! The woods were full of them! They kept blowing horns to get their crew together! I tell you," he continued, a3 he mopped his wet face, 4 4 they are a desperate set! It's as much as a man's life is worth to go among them." For a while, Mr. Watson was con sidered quite a hero by a part of his townsmen, while others laughed at his adventure, but he was never tired of recounting his narrow escape to any who would listen. He could not be induced to go again to collect the money, till one day Mr. Libby came to town, paid his debt, and told the story of how five women and five dinner horns had driven the sheriff away. 44 Marie," said John MacDonald when he heard the story. 44 Ye did weel, an' I'm na' sorry, for Mr. Libby is a puir hard-workin' mon, but I should na' thought of such a plan." 44 Of course you wouldn't," replied Marie, putting her arm round his neck caressingly. Don't you dear slow old Scotchman, that it takes a French man to understand finesse." Dora Annis Chase. THE HERO OF HIGH BRIDGE. BY FORREST GRISSEY. 44 How came that man here?" 4 4 Can't tell you; and what's more neither can the superintendent nor any of the officers," replied the roadmaster of one of the extreme southwestern lines, as we shook hands with the keeper of the High Bridge, and swung on to the rear platform of the officer's special car. 4 4 All anybody knows about him," continued the roadmaster, 4 4 is, that just as the company had about given up getting a good, responsible man to take the place of the former keeper, who had been mysteriously shot, this man walked into the superintendent's office and applied for the place. I was in the office at the time ; and I never saw the superintendent so taken back in my life. He just looked at the fel low in blank astonishment for a minute, and then blurted out : 4 Why man alive ! you don't want that job ; High Bridge is the loneomest place on God's earth.' 44 4 All the better,' said. the fellow, in a cold-blooded way. 44 4 Very well, then, the place is yours,' said tne superintendent, and that's the beginning and end of all this company knows about Argus Steele." Let me explain. I had just been ap pointed superintendent of bridges, on this line, and the general superinten dent and roadmxster were showing me over the road ;" introducing me to my future duties and sub jrdinates. The latter were uniformly ignorant and faithful, and discharged their monotonous tasks with a dogged per functoriness which even the most ener getic tracksman acquire sooner or later. But the keeper of High Bridge was a startling exception to the rule, So strong was the impression he made upon me. that on entering the car, I scarcely exchanged a dozen words with my companions over the next fifty miles of our journey. Probably I would have given him only a passing thought had I met him in some select circle of Boston or Balti more, but to meet a man of his fine pre-ence doing a wtitchman's duty at a solitary station in the southern end of semi-civilization ; that was the wonder of it. On the shelf in his little 44 look out," at the southern end of the bridge, were several old Greek and Latin classics and curious work on occult science, in rich bindings, which only a man of rare learning and fine mind would have been able to read, let alone enjoy. The man had those clear, steady blue eyes that I fancy are the special property of heroes and poets, or of those who would become such if the rich opportunities are presented. Another thing I noticed in his room which seemed even more out of place in his perch on the edge of a precipice between two rock-ribbed mountains than did his classics, was the most modern make of a wheel. I had laughed outright when I saw it lean ing against the wall and told him that 44 Bighorn" or 44 Mountain Goat" was the only breed of bicycle that Could operate in his territory. His only re ply to my bantering was a sort of half hearted smile, good natured enough, but far too sad to be an expression of r. muse mon t. From that time on for three years and over, I saw Steele every month; but the first impression which he made on me always remained, and the better I came to know him the stronger was my conviction that the man had some hidden mystery in his life that would some time come to the surface again. But I never though of this without also thinking with a good deal of enthusi asm, too, that man had the right kind of stuff in him, that, whatever came, he would come ous all right in the end. Of course we got to know each other pretty well, in a way. Occasionally he would make some statement of facts, and when pressed for his au thority, would cite his experience in different countries which showed a wide range of travel. Once I remem ber, after I had made an unusually close inspection of the bridge, I made Lliie remark that it seemed as though an earthquake couldn't dislodge that bridge. "Think so?" was his laconic answer. 44 Well of course I don't know," I answered, 4 4 as I never witnessed one. But you don't seem t3 share my faith, perhaps you have felt one, and know more about it?" 4 'Yes, I have been in one," he re plied, at the same time turning his face from me, and chocking audibly. Of course I changed the subject, and never referred to it again in his pres ence until the morning of April 24th last, just after the severest earthquake shock which has been experienced in the Southwest since 1868. And well might I refer to it then, even in Steel e'3 presence, for it shook that bridge, just as the early morning ex press was due, so that the addition of 500 pounds to its weight would have plunged it into the bottom of tne ravine below. This is how it happened, and I give it in his words, as he gave it to the officers of the road. "Gentlemen, a3 you will not be able to understand all the circumstances without it, I will explain to you that I was stopping in Naples with my young wife and little girl at the time when the great earthquake of Casamicciola occurred, in 1883. We were buried in the fa' ling buildings, and when, weeks after, consciousness returned, I was ly ing in a hospital. Those who had res cued me from the ruins stated that the dead body of my wife was found beside me, but not the slightest clue could be found of my child, dead or alive. From that time to the day which I applied for the position as keeper of High Bridge I did nothing but search for some knowledge of my child, but with out any tangible clue, and only enough of that which was intangible to form the basis for a hope .or an impression that she was living. Under that im pression I have not only scoured Italy but every country in which I had hopes of finding a clue. Much of my search pilgrimage his been made on the wheel which some of you have noticed in the "look-out" at the bridge. On the day which I ap plied for the position as keeper, the last of my fortune had beon spent and I had only a few books and my wheel. I could part with neither of these. My resources were exhausted and must be replenished. More than this I was led to seek this position from the very fact that it was solitary and isolated. The impression was so strong upon me that, as I had exhausted several years and thousands of dollars in search of my child among the people, without re suits, there might be a paradoxical providence in pursuing an opposite course of retirement, seclusion and rest .from pursuit. "I obeyed that impulse, whether wisely or not I was in doubt, until the moment when on the morning of the recent accident I took down my lantern preparatory to making my beat over the bridge, before the evening train should cross. As I stepped on to the track, in front of the 'look out,' I re membered that I had felt strangely do pressed all the preceding day, and that my mental state was not unlike that in which one recalls the impressions of a bad dream Before I had taken six steps the whole sickening recollections of the moment in which the earthquake began to rock the walls of Naples crept over me, because the first of those sen sations was being repeated. I knew what was coming, and I must confess, gentlemen," that the motive of stopping the train, which that instant I heard whistling around the mountain side, before it should reach the trembling bridge was intensified by the feeling that upon my success in saving that train hung that for which I have spent the best of my manhood, the discovery of my child. To signal from the look out end of the bridge was, as you know hopeless, because of the curve at . the other approach. It was equally hope less to attempt to run the length of the bridge before the train would be upon me. That moment my eye chanced to see the flash of my lantern light upon the nickel of my wheel, which I had taken outside to oil. It was my only hop ! To make it tread the centre of the track, across the bridge in four minutes, meant life to that train load of human beings and perhaps to my child who could? Anything less meant well, you know. 44 1 caught my lantern on to the han dlebar and sprang into the saddle. With nearly my whole weight thrown into every stroke, she responded to my will like a part of my body. I could feel the vibrations of the bridge in crease with each second as the roar of the swiftFjr approaching train grew louder and louder. Could I save it? A moment more would tell. As I flew over that last span the rocking was tremendous! But, gentlemen, if the span had snapped when I was within a rod of the abutment, I believe that ma chine would have made a leap and carried me ov r, at the speed she was under. Well, you know the rest ; the wheel saved the day, and, gentlemen," said the hero of High Bridge, in a broken voice, " that train carried a messenger of the Italian government who brings me certain proof that my child has been discovered and will soon come to me. If the carpets and furniture of ilie director's room had never felt the touch of tears before, theydld that day. If you should happen- into the vice president's room of this railroad you would notiqe' the wheel which made priceless time that night over the rock ing bridge. At the desk you will see a man of middle age, who never looks up at the wheel without a brighter gleam in his clear, blue eyes ; a gleam whose warmth and tenderness is exceeded only when a tall and beautiful young woman enters, and resting her arm on his shoulder, says with a slight foreign accent: 4 4 Father, dear, aren't you 'most ready to go home with me?" Wheelmen's Gazette. Dr. V. N. Seawell, Assistant Lec turer for the State, will visit Rich mond and Montgomery counties and address the citizens in behalf of the F. A and I. U. at the following times and places : Ellerbee Springs, April 16. Green Lake, 44 18. Oak Dale, 44 19. Hoffman, 44 20. Laurel Hill, 44 21. Rocky Ford, 44 22. Pike, " 23. Brownsville, " 25. Terrell, " 26. State Line, 4 27. Hamet. " 28. Speed Town, " " Providence. ' 4 29. 30. Macune, May 2. APPOINTZJiiri1 Dr. N. M. Culbre h, Lecturer for ths Sixth Congressional District, will ad dress the members and friends of th Alliance at the following times, and places: BRUNSWICK COUOTT. New Britain, Friday, April 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. Mt. Pisgah, Saturday, Bethel, Monday, Town Creek, Tuesday, NEW HANOVER COUNTY. Masonboro Hall, Wednesday, April Harnet Township, Thursday, PENDER COUNTY. Rocky Point, Friday, Canetuck, Saturday, Atkinson, Monday, ROBESON COUNTY. Ten Mile, Saturday, Great Marsh Alliance, Ashpole, Tuesday, Maxton, Wednesday, RICHMOND COUNTY. Old Laurel Hill, Thursday, Hamlet, Friday, Elerbee Springs, Saturday, Zion, Monday, ANSON COUNTY. . Lilesville, Tuesday, Marven, Wednesday,' Union Church, Thursday, it April 8. 9. (t t( 11. April 16. 44 18. 44 19. 44 20. April ?!. 22. 23. 25. ii tt April 26. " 27. V 1 44 2 J Hopewell Church, Friday, Speaking: to begin at 11 o'cld, at each place. The public, boX and gentlemen, cordially invito tend ther e meetings. jL-"- Appointments of Hon. G. W. Wil cox, Lecturer of 3d Congressional Dis trict, Jon s county : Pleasant Hill Alliance, March 28. Trenton, Tuesday, 44 29. Pollocksville, Wednesday, 44 30. Fraternally, J as B. Stanly, Sec'y Jones Co. Alliance J. Z. ' Green, Lecturer of Union county, will address the public at the following times and places: Price's School-house. Tuesday, Mar. 29. Benton's X Roads, Wednesd'y, 44 30. Goose Creek, Thursday; 44 31. Richardson's Creek, Friday, Apr. 1. Ento, Saturday, 44 2. Speaking will begin at 10 a. m. J. M. M ewborne, Lecturerer Second district, will speak at the following places in Lenoir county: La Grange, Monday, Deep Run, Tuesday, Woodington, Wednesday, Sharon. Thursda , MarcDsT 29 it it 39 31 State Lecturer J. S. Bell will be at each place and address the people. J. T. Askew, County Lect'r. Dr. D. Reid Parker, Lecturer 4th Congressional District, will address the brotherhood and citizens generally in Nash county at the following times and places : Nashville, Tuesday, March 29. Springhope, Wednesday, " 30. Stanhope, Thursday, 44 31. Stony Hill, Friday, April 1. Speaking will begin at 11 o'clock a. " m. at each place. The merchant, tha preacher, the lawyer, the teacher, tho mechanic, the carpenter, the farmer, the laborer are all invited to attend these meetings. C. H. Baines, Sec'y Nash Co. Alliance. NOTICE. It is requested by the Executive Committee of the N. C. Farmers' State Alliance, that all propositions for the meeting of the N. C. Farmers' State Alliance, for its annual session the sec ond Tuesday in August, 1892, should be addressed to W. S. Barnes, Sec'y Treas. N. C. F. S. A.. Raleigh, N. C. The propositions should be in this office by the first of May. Please give rates , or board and facilities for taking care of the officers, delegates and friends who may attend. W. S. Barnes, Sec'y-Treas. N. C. F. S. A. NOTICE FROM STATE EXE TIVE COMMITTEE. The State Alliance does not expenses of anyone visiting?' mg to Alliances except the v dent or Lecturers, and v Mu invitincr speakers to address thtV should expect at legt to pay their c , penses. S. B. AleSjider, J. M. Mewborno, J SJohnstm Committee. f If you will plant cotton, plant V a ti t ct-r.i. "cv.. f.nio n r per bushel, f . o. b. Fayetteville. N. C. I have sold none of my crop forlcn than 10 cents per pound. I refer 1 7 permission to J. & O. Evans, Farmers' Exchange, Fayetteville. Addreea . Jas. S. Evans, (765) Fayetteville, N. C. STILL - ALIVE! THE - MOSELEY - HOUSE, Cor. Wilmington and Hargett Sts ., Baleigli, 2ST- O- Convenient. central, neat, pick et with all the necessary corr.f for the travelling public. Rates, $1.50 to $2.00 per day. : rates by the week or month. Make Your O-ezti Checs v Send $1.00 to C. E. Kl? tinger Powell, H- D , r receive ten rennets and complete lnstru; for making cheese at home. , (nu i waniea. v To sell a pair of nice match horses, strawberry rAon n rrTl ry -arairtht. U 111 rmrmrla JLfrh. t hl"C'S years old this spring : have been worked torn: Erice $110 each. Apply to V. H. WORTII, 8. B. A., Or JXO-NT, Jefferson, N". C. i2' TleOTsiva Faimer from April Mlf&i M for Fiftj CCIllS M-P your Clubs. 7 1 r K 4 ) , y - sj