ADVERTISING
Vour money back.—Judicioiis advertis
ing is the kind that pays back to TM
the money yon invest. Space in this
p«per assure* yon prompt returns . .
VOL. VIII. - NO 13.
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Cftris&ffliffis
J Mail [
0 O IS sleigh and reindeer re-euforc
-1 =: I by fust trains and ocean
JTll liner*. Santa Ola us is deliver
ing a much larger number of
presents every year. The I'nlted States
postal authorities say tbe (Christmas
mail this season will far exceed in vol
ume that of last winter. And tlien It
was tremendous.
With every baiulet, town and city
sending out and receiving Its quota,
millions of letters and packages some
by sinvlhl delivery, many registered
nnd others with ordinary |iosfuge
travel from and to all parts of tbe na
tion, arrive from foreign shores or pass
out to them. There are al>out Hu.ikiO,-
I.**) persons in this country. A nut
Jorlty of them both send and receive
t liristmas mull, from one to several
dozen pieces each. This gives a faint
Idea of the extent of ttie work tbat
falls UIHIII tbe |HMitnl authorities.
Whether In tlte heart of tbe city or
on ■ rural delivery route the carrier is
loaded down with gifts remembrance*
of loving friends or heart echoes of
scattered families. Tbe letters be
must deliver are easily three times as
many as in ordinary seasons, but his
greatest burden is tbe packages-In
numerable. back breaking packages.
But If the carriers are worked hard,
how about the postottice clerks? Be
sides the Increased amount of matter
they have to handle, they must be par-
BANT A HAJUES TOK POUTIJAN'S RACK ACME.
tlcuiarly careful that tlte regulations
of the department are not being vio
lated. Many article* of merchandise
are prohibited transmission in tbe
mails. Violations are frequeut be
cause of ignorance.
One thirg that causes extra work for
tbe letter sorters is the peculiar ad
dressee on many letters and packages.
Aside from tbe thousands of missives
sent to Santa Clans there are those
* with some such address as "Care of
I.leutenant Peary, North I'olf." Fun
zle addresses are not uncommon, and,
although postofflce people enjoy tbem
ordinarily, they do not at Christmas
time. A frequent form of address Is a
drawing of a plum pudding, with tbe
name, street aud city written in minute
characters on a leaf of • sprig of holly
at tbe top.
Tbe greatest center of postal activity
In tbe world Is probably New York
city,. It Is by far the largest mail dis
tributing or shipping point on the con
tinent, receiving postal matter from
foreign countries, from tbe north, south
and west. It also has an Immense for
eign population that sends home vast
numbers of mouey orders and regiatsr
ed totters. Sjf
In the midst of the Christinas rash
an average of &QOO registered parcels
and 00.000 letters an hour are received
at the foreign mall station lu New
York. Recently one ship sailed for
Europe with 3.000 sucks of ordinary
mail matter and almost 75.000 register
ed packages, while farther vessel car
ried away half a million dollar* la
noMy orders. D. W. DOW.
r? DO not know hi* name, l'vrbaps
I It nu Tom. Most eats of his per-
II suasion art- called Tom. It la •
aort of noncommittal name and la
no burden to tbe rat. Mark Twain
la.m be once killed a promising bancb
>f cHts by overloading them with
name*. He called tbem Zoroaster,
Sour Mash. Apolliuarls and Blather
skite. I once knew a cat named Plupey
Sbute, but he wns fairly husky and did
not seem to mind It. We niijtht com
promise by calling tbla esiiecial feline
Ml caw her. He w»s a I way a looking for
something. Mostly II was for some
thing to eat. and when it wasn't that It
whs for trouble.
Micatvher bail had a httril life What
between Ihe world, tbe flvsli and the
small hoy he was up against It most
of the time. A* a kitten be had been
reared In comparative luxury, but that
time now seemed to lilrn. when he
tiiought of It at nil, like n dim, sweet
dream. Mostly he did not think of It,
Iteing too busy with everyday affairs,
auch as fighting, dodging atones and
looking for provender. The family
where he had lived In lite happy youth
had moved ntvsy, forgetting to take
him along. Tbe next occupant* of the
house did not want bim, bo be was
thrown out on the cold world. He did
not leave voluntarily, but after being
chased out. kicked out. Kicked out and
doused with hot water a sufficient num
ber of times he Anally took tbe bint
that hla company was not desired Ha
did not so much mind the Indignities,
but rude, physical assault puttied and
snrprlsed him. There are some things
that even a cat will not stand.
After that, for the most part, be
lived lu a back alley. He slept In a
burre l by day uml went on voyages
of exploration aud discovery by night.
He did not tlnd much but tribulation
and scraps-straps that were eatable
and scrap* with other felines Home
times, when driven by hunger, he ven
tured ollt by day Occasionally he
c« unlit sight of a mouse, u til til or u
chipmunk Then, motionless and alert,
he would watch It for what seemed
ages. Hie patience* of a cat Is a
Uiiug Unit should be immortalized on
a monument. While on these dally
outings lit? bad to Jump sideways and
Straight np to get out of the way of
playful brickbats and clods hurled In
his direction. He became as expert In
dodging missiles as n millionaire in
evading ii court summons. Only Ml
cawber knew nothing about million
aires. lie belonged to the hoi ikillol.
Most of Ihe time he lived tbe strenuous
life. He bMtwe expert, lu war throng!:
many trouncing*. lie learned to lick
everything be could not make love to
He had no morals to *|>enk of and wa*
never troubled by conscience or altru
ism. When living the simple life he
was mild atul meek look lug and bad a
voice as gentle and pleading aa that ol
a book agent. But when on tbe war
path be was a cyclone anil emitted
yells that would wake up tbe block
He was a bad uiun from the mountain!
and was yearning to make the world
acquainted with the fact.
Now. there are cats and cats, as you
doubtless know. Sometimes there are
too niauy of them, especially at night.
Mlcawber lielouged to this overplus.
The cat's voice when tuned up Is not
exactly like. tbe music Of the spheres
but attracts more attention. When ex
cited by wrath feline language has a
diabolic quality that sounds like blas
phemy. 80 does tbe language of tbe
man wbn la stirred out of bis rest
thereby. If some Garner could dis
cover just what feline small talk means
be would doubtless bring to our ndtlce
an original aud delicious array of
swear words that would enrich the
language
Through lons practice Mlcawber bad
developed a voice that ran all tbe
gamut of hideonsnes*. It scooted
through all tbe scales of discord and
embraced all tbe octaves of labarmony.
It was not musical, but penetrating.
It was chaotic, criminal aud aassult
provoking. It expressed all that Is
tleudlsh and malevolent. It bad in it
the despair and .error of a lost soul,
tbe wail of a defeated demon. It waa
a scandal, an oatrage and an Infamy.
Tbe steam siren got all Its sliding scale
of diabolism, all its crescendo of cussed
ue»n. all its switehbacka and shoot the
chutes of tbe Infernallam of sound
from tbe feilue voice.
Yet to r:gar, Mlcawber's. sleepy
eyes, hla Inoffensive demeanor and hla
playful disposition one could not sus
pect him of harboring such sentiments.
You would, not Imagine that under that
fluffy and amiable exterior could be
rolled np so much noise and depravity
—os the outside, inoffensive and gulle
ts« docility; on the Inside, murder.
WILLI A*MSTON, N. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12. 1906
A
riot and vice, "Childlike and bland,"
like "tbe benthen Chinee," he had un
derneath a double portion of the spirit
of Beelzebub. That Is a cat. That was
Micawber.
His life contained other forms of ex
citement. Once for 11 time lie found a
haven of refuge in a saloon. lie did
not learn to tipple, tor tbat Is a form
of human delinquency that Is beyond
even a cut. He was regarded as tbe
mascot of tbe place and grew OH sleek
and prosperous Vioking as the owner.
One night the saloon blew up from u
defective gas main. In removing tbe
ruins the workmen unearthed one
piece of debris that emitted a wild yell
nnd shot out of the place like a streak.
It was Mlcawber, denuded of hatr, but
very much alive. Many emotions were
expressed in that yell—pain, rage, ter
ror, hunger and fLe outraged sense that
follows the betrayal of childlike faith.
He had trusted nnd In return had had
burled at bim n large section of earth
quake and destruction, tint of peace
ful sleep be bad tieeu hit by a house,
burled what seemed miles upward and
had fallen back to be pinned down un
der a ruin of bWiken bar tixtures, frag
ments of friej lunches and smashed
beer bottiesTWere to be Imprisoned In
tbe blackness of utter darkness for
what seemed unending ages. What
way was this to treat a defenseless and
unsuspecting cat? What had he done
to tbe world that It should blow him up
■ad trample on him in scch fashion?
i in time, U:nvever. Ills Wounded feel
! Itig.t and skill healed, Ills fur grew back
j nud lie was once more ready In wake
a predfJlrtji 1/So u|•[>■•.! rnln company,
j liven eats feel sjiiKi delicacy aliout
venturing Into !•(>■ iv with niimt of
j their clothes ripped off.
j Ktill later In Im COTBW ho was taken
lu by h large and matronly woman
! with mi nulla bio ilisp within and 11 (lou
j hie chin. Here lie regalUßil Mh faith
lu. butQfluitlhd anil ceased for a time
I to be a howling pessimist. ' Having
bad a little orifice cut for liiui Into tti#
kitchen eiitr> way. this lie wore slick
with his frequent onilng* and going*,
tint HOCie stray eats also learned of
the hole,' so 11 small door with hinges
above was placed over the opening,
j Tills hurt Mic iulter's feelings, nod be
mewed piteous!*' until one day tlie
small boy of the house pushed him
through the bole and showed him how
the door wo.-l.nl, liver afterward be
| asked uoli sly's assistance that Is. In
going out, Iltlt when It cattle to get
i ting back, that was a. different matter.
; At first In- pushed against the door,
: but this hurt hi' heel and, illd not
1 effect the desired reVult Then lie
j mewed. Finally lie worked It out with
his small cat bruin. I.ying on bis
back, be pawed the d>or open, then by
i h sudden squirming motiou was
i through the hole before it eould done
again. After that achievement lie
arched his bie k and walked as proudly
a* though be had whipped the blggett
Tom out !>*• block. Nor did ha forget
the trick, rinntly tin- family discov
ered Liitu ut 11. and neighbors eauie to
sec Ills cleverness, If this caused him
any pride. however, lit* never showed
It. Cats are uot afflicted with swelled
head, even though they have 110 ethics
worth mentioning.
When the family whom Mieawber
hail honored with his presence tnoved
it way to a distant city It was with
sincere regret that they were forced
to leave hint behind. As the house stood
vacaut for a (line he again became a
wanderer on the face of the earth, a
tramp, a stray, a vagabond. So once
more he Ivgan carousing and disturb-
Ins the neighborhood, lie had a per
ennial appetite that never was appeas
ed, it wiving that never was tilled.
M lrawlier WHS a handsome «-nt and
valiant wllhal, and among the nonde
script felines of all colors and no color
to speak of he shone resplendent lu a
tulibv coal, striped like a tiger. He had
notv reached an ace when any well
Ifgnlntcd cut should have settled down
and become a respected eltlr.en. Per
haps it was a sense of his unregenerate
condition that caused him to cast about"
for another home. 1 hiring his wander
ings he stopped at a barn ami a farmer
gave liltn milk fresh from the cow.
There were three dogs on the place,
■mil Mica wlier (lit! not slay.
One winter's day he especially felt
the need of a new life. Perhaps it was
Ui'ctiii>>w lu* win eolil; also hungry. It
scented lo him that he was always hun
gry lie was a bundle of appetite, an
Klllmnted .void, an Incarnate longing.
This particular day, which was to
prove n red letter one In Ids career, he
wandered far from Ills usual hauuts.
Finally espying a slightly open door,
his old domestic hnhiN got the best of
him, anil lie ventured In. It was Christ
mas, tin! lie knew nothing of Hint, be
ing a pagan and heathen li,\ nature.
Perhaps tn some subconscious way lie
was sent us a i'hrlstniiis gift lo the lit
tle folks there, but of that l|e also wua
in Ignorance.
When once inside, fie house seemed
deserted, but It was warm. That was
the main thing. No, not unite the main
tiling, for the inward gnu wing contiu
ued The carnal nature of n eat Is as
strong us that of some people. The
only object In the universe now worth
seeking was a dinner. Suddenly he
rtiuglit an unmistakable scent that
inude his nerves tingle and mouth
water. Surely that was milk! Mieow
ber's unerring Instinct located It on n
nearby table, ami with u single spring
he was there. Hut the best laid plans
not only of mice and men, but ulso of
cuts, go oft astray. There was certain
ly milk here, but lu HIICII peculiar guise
that Ills feline bruin could not make
It out. The nursing bottle was a new
tiling lu Ills experience. He gave It up.
Next ho f'spied another cat, oue that
looked like it very .small edition of
himself It remfndod him of Ills own
days of kitteubood. when he bad played
with a bull and romped his way Into
the hearts of the children. He not
without sentlineut. and, hungry as he
was, lie would stop to make friends.
Leaping on to the table where the
small cut was seated, lie proceeded to
make-advances. But never a word
said the other cat. He advanced clos
er, but the kitten did uot even deign
to notice him. Tliis was rank discour
tesy, and he went uway lu disgust.
Stuffed cats were also a new thing to
Mica wlier..
Venturing on his hunger driven way,
he suddenly became rigid In every
limb, lie knew that odor. What cat
does not? It was a mouse. But
where?
Again his Instinct directed him to
the spot. It Was on a table In the
kitchen. and with a bound he was
there. Yes, here was (he hole—two of
them, In fact. Placing his nose down
In cat fashion, he discovered which
hole the mouse used. Knowing noth- j
lug of the mysteries of traps and that
Ails particular oue had caught a small
rodent only the night before, he sat
down patiently to wait for that mouse
to come forth. There the mistress
found him when she returned from •
hurried call to borrow some extra
spool m for the Chylstuuis dinner. Out
of her large heart she took pity on the
wandering feline, and he was reward
ed with a liberal Christmas helping of
his own. He was forthwith adopted
and settled down to an old and re
spected cathood.
Only lie was uot called Mlcawber,
but by the more appropriate. If more
commonplace, name of Tabby. Of his
former wanderings and adventure* he
told m» himself as he purred out his
content and gratitude at bis new found
borne.
A Royail
IPWsemsft
j| Mater ][
THE homemade Christmas pres
ent craze IIUH invaded Russia,
anl the czarina has caught It.
Slip has plenty of Christmas
money and spends It liberally, but In
addition inn WON with her own bands
gifls that will especially please tbe
czarowltz and the four little grand
duchesses. The czarina's life la a
busy one, filled with court and other
puhlU' duties, social entertainments of
a personal nature and many acts of
charity, while she spends some time in
painting, woodcarving, drawing and
literary work. Also she devotes many
j hours to making Christmas presents
I for her children—an occupation which
to her Is indeed a labor of love.
I Probably her most notable effort as
t n woodcarver Is an exact model of a
I chalet ll) tbe imperial pleasure grounds
j connected with the Tsarskoe Sclo pni
ace.
| The original Is the czar's favorite
summer house. In which be,frequently
has his luncheon served when be de
sires to escape from the almost op
presslve splendor of the Imperial din
ing rooms—splendor that lakes away
tlie Imperial appetite.
The model la exquisitely carved In
wliltewood and has eighty-four sep
arate parts. These are so made that
the miniature house can ho pulled
f. down by the czarowltz, who Is now
Uiore than two years old, without be
■ lug damaged. The czarina is an ex-
TO* GIIALKT MAPK RUN T»IK CZABOWTOS
BY THK IZABINA.
pert woodcarver. This ulillity Is u re
suit of her German J>lood and environ
inent.
I As little Princess Alix, daughter
! of th'v late Grand Duke l.ouis IV.
of Hesse and "sweet I'rincess A lice,"
Queen Victoria's favorite daughter, she
I was taught many of the crafts that It
, la deemed proper In Germany for all
; children to know. And It Is because of
| that ability, her deep devotion to her
| children and the Inherent desire of the
Germans "to make things" that the
i czarina plans and executes little sur
prises for the five imperial youngsters
of Itussla. A. J. HlT'!'.
CMMSTMAS EW.
*
j IpHP.RE Is music In the chimney—
| ii On the hearth a genial glow.
Now the house Is making ready
For old Santa Claus, I know.
; And the tune the chlmneu's singing
Is a merry roundelay :
••Joy and cheer—
Christmas's here, ,
And old Santa's on the wag.'
! _
TCJ* VI R y spark that mounts the chimney
' i*' Is a fairy of the fire.
Dancing up to watch for Santa,
Sailing higher, higher, higher.
Till, amid the stars that twinkle,
On the sky pathway they pause.
Gaze and blink.
Nod and wink.
Waiting for old Santa Clans.
ALL the coals that glow and sparkle
On the hearth or In the grate
And the embers there assembled
Are but eager -eyes that wait
For Krlss Krlngle, who Is coming
With his pack of sweets and toys.
Sledge and deer.
Bringing cheer
to a million girls and boys.
ABTHUK J. BURDICI.
ADVERTISING
\ Your money back.—Judicious advertis
ing U the kind that pays back to you
the money yon invert. Space in this u
| paper aasurei you prompt returns . .
-
WHOLE NO. 358
Professional Cards.
HUGH B YORK,
PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON,
Office: Jeffreaa Drag Store.
OrriCK HOURS: 8 to io A. M.; 7 to 9 P. u
Willianinton, N. (J.
I'hone No. J.
Night Address; Atlantic Hotel.
DR. J. A. WHITE.
mm DENTIST
OKFICK— MAIN STRKKT
PHONH 9
1 will be iu Plymouth the firnt week in
every uther mouth.
W. «. Wttlte*.' J. S. Rhode*.
DRS. WAR RUN & RHODES,
PHYSICIANS
AND SURGEONS.
OKRICK IN
Bxoos' J)RUO STORK
'Phone No. 20
BURROUS A. CRITCHER,
ATTOKNKY AT LAW
Office: Wheeler Martin's office.
'Phone, 23.
WILLiAMSTON, N. C.
S. AT WOOD NEWELL
LAWYER
Office formerly occupied by J. D. Biggi.
Phone No. 77.
'VLLLIAMBTON. N C.
wherever Mrvicel are deiired
ipecittl attention given to examining and tnak
ng title for purchaaera of timber and timber
I 'and*
Special attention will be given do real estate
[ exchangea. If you wish to buy or aell land I
can helpyou- —■ PHONI4/
P. D. WINSTON S. J. EVKRBTT
WINSTON & EVERETT
ATTORNRYS-AT- WW
WLLUAMSTON, N. C.
'Phone 31
Money to loan.
A. R. DUNNING
ATTORNEY-AT LAW
ROBHRSONVILLK, N. C.
HOTEL BEULAH
I>. C. MOORING, Proprietor
ROUKKSONVILI.K, N. C.
Kates fj.oo per day »
A Firs'-Closs Hotel in Every Partic
ular, The traveling public will find it
11 most convenient place to stop.
t STRAW NO. 2
"Straws show which way the 4 '
p wind blow*." i
t liiijlit reasons for patronizing 4
y local insurance a^euta.
p I von can get the best policy
6 obtainable at conservative cost. i
2. The home agent stands as a
P medium lietween the insured and
t the Companv. 1
V You do not get one kind bf
f- policy and think you you are get- 1
t ting another.
4. The long distance transient
a insurance agent agent expecting 1
L never to see you again sometimes
F pumps hot air.
f 5. In case of misunderstand-
» iug you have someone to tell your i
« troubles to.
W 6. You keep a small part of
K> your money circulating in Wil- i
f lianiston irstend of sending it to
r Greenville, Scotland Neck, Tar
fe. tioro, Raleigh, New York. Rally- {
L hack. .
p 7. You do iiecause you want to.
a S. You get Insurance that In- i
ft ures.
B. T. COWPER
L Life, Fire, Accident.
'Phone No.
f farmers and Merchants B'k B'ld'g
'liil't .. ijLl Lit. : ■ Jll . ill.l ;J. ull.i.
WOOD YARD
Provide for
the Winter •
Have you a supply of good
Pine Wood? If not give
your order to
F. S. HASSELL
Phone Ht Farmers & Merchants Bank
o 1 i.h'S
Pocky Mountain Tea Nuggets
% Bo«j Msdioms for Bmy PtopU
Brings Ooldsn Health tad Renswjd Vigor,
\ ■ -"-rifle for Constipation, In r litr jstlon, Ll»a
i! KMoey Troubles, Pimples. Eo/ema, Impure
■ n.l. Una Breath. Siueetah Bowels, Headache
iin.'ka.'lß. It's Booty Mount.il l Tea In tab-
I form, cents It b'.jc. Oenutnejmada by
■lusria bam CoHTivv, MsiHson, wis.
GOLDEH NUGGETS FOR SALLOW PEOPLE