ff ft if ft 11 fcl - ' ' ' ' ' ' """ 1 11 him ii i ,i - - i .I. ii in i i i ' ..miii i ml w . . , $i.oo a Year, In Advance. - "FOR GOO, FOR COUNTRY, AND FOR TRUTH." Single Copy, 5 Oct. l,. XV. , PLYMOUTH, N, C, FRIDAY, DEC KM BER 2, 1904.. N.37 i . . fi, 1 nose , I , ' j u.iv-.u i.i jove's -keen throes And write of her in -terms of you, I promise not to, gentle rose. Why shrink from me? oh", rose, tut, tut! I wa'k with no poetic s.trut, . . Behold! my clothes ai'e quite in style. Observe! my hair's of recent cut. J gaze at you without a -wink, 1 say: "A pretty shade of pink. A meritorious sort of plant Wh?n taken all in all, I think. m HUNT PATTY'S ' ZiQA IDN'T I go-quick?" "Well, 4 -rv V tolerable;'? sail Aunt Patty, O If O passing the whisk which K she had just pulled out of fOW thumb and finger to see if the loaf was thoroughly done. "And I can go to Jessie Wells' this .afternoon, can't I? You promised." "No, Martha,. I didn't quite promise." '"But I ran every step of the -way, Indeed I did, auntie; and I made all Die beds and dusted." There was a tremor in Martha rark .er'a voice, and the tears came almost into her eyes. "I'll" tell you at noon. There, it is m minutes to nine, and you will be late to school if you do not start this instant." . . "Cut, Aunt Tatty " "If you step for another word, you cannot go at all. How often have I told you about answering back?" Martha picked up her two books and whirled herself out of the door like' a ..tornado, without a word of good-morning. "The cross old thing!" she half sobbed, as she went out of hearing. "She never does let me do anything! I may try and try, and it doesn't amount to a row of pins. And if I can't go to that croquet party I'll be just as bad as ever I can be." I think Martha commenced right awaj'. Slie climbed over the fence and ran down into the lot for an apple, and what with that and the eating of it she was late for school. "My aunt sent mc to do an errand," slia said to MLss Lewis. "Well, you must bring a note, then, or lose a mark. I want you to under stand that school begins promptly at nine." That made Martha still more cross. She slammed the lid of her desk and then hurried out to take her place in her class. It was .spelling, and the very first word she missed, and had to go down one. And then she "didn't :are" in real good earnest, and she .- 1 . 1 t, : 1 .1 twelve o'clock. When ;he went home to dinner she found Grandma Fields sitting by the open-, window in Aunt Patty's tidy kitchen. Now Grandma Fields really was not grandmother to anybody, but h'e was old and sweet and pretty, with a wrinkled face and snow-white Mir; a gown of soft drab, that, though k was made in the fashion of her young days, had almost come round again, rt was gored, plain walsted, nd with coat sleeves: but it had no Vutpes : nor bugles. Then she had a Hilvery-colored; kerchief crossed over her bosom, and a white lawn cap, and altogether she was ns attractive-looking ,as: any grandmother you would wifch to see. She had not a relation in the world, and yet everybody's house was open to her, and she visited about, sewiusr and knitting and darn ing, and sometimes tnklug care of sick people. She was seventy, but she did 7iot--seeTO old. -There was always a great stack of invitations ahead of her, and two months ago Miss Patty Parker had sent for her. "She does so enjoy harvest apples," said Miss Patty, "so let us have her here right In the first of them. And it will give me a good start with all the clothes and bedding and stockings." Aunt Patty kept house for her brother, Mr. Nathan Parker. He was a very comfortable farmer, a widower with three boys and one girl. A very clean, orderly, uorlght woman was Aunt Patty, but somehow Nathan wai so careless, so dilatory. "A bit too pale a Uiiki i'nuji I should suggest a touch of paint i o brighten up the spots on you When nature -nowed undue restraint." As bv you on the orass I lie I fpl no synptmns of a si- '1, Although I note your pe itmc sweet, My spirits stay extreme.y high. And yet your blush, your dainty pose, The bashful way your peta's clo.-e, Remind me ol oh, pardon me 1 promised not to, gentle rose. Thomas Ybarra. BALANCE, 11 The children were heediei, impertinent, idle, and, try her best, she never could make 'anything of them. She worked very hard, and she used to get very much discouraged. This was her side of the story. Farmer Parker came in1 delighted to see the placid, cheerful face of his guest. Did I tell you she was a Quaker? Well, she was, through there was no Friends' meeting within twenty miles, so it wasn't her Sunday church going that kept her in such a tranquil state. Behind the farmer came his eldest son, George, about seventeen. He had been to the mill and the store that morning, and put down the basket. Aunt Patty began to unpack at .once. "Will that calico do? The other was all sold. This is the same pattern, but it has n pink flower instead of a lilac. I like it better." "It doesn't look like a good Wash pink," and Aunt Tatty viewed it crit ically. "But it was. for my bed, and I liked it," said George, with a depre cating effort to smooth matters over. "And it is not as good quality. If you can't do just what you are toid, you had better do nothing. And you didn't get lemon extract!" taking up a bottle. "You said I might get lemon or vanilla Tom begged for vanilla." "As if Tom's wants were to rule the household." "And here is a whisk broom. You were saying that you needed one, you know." "But what made you get a red one? I have told you several times, George, that green whisks were always the best. And there was not the slightest hurry about it. I would rather have chosen it myself." And so Aunt Patty went through the purchases. Nothing quite suited. Meanwhile Davie and Martha came home from school. Tom was working for a neighboring farmer. The family sat down to their meal, and Grandma Fields said her brief Quaker grace. "Did you know all your lessons?" asked Aunt Tatty. Martha hung her head. "I did hope you would have one good week, Martha; you never seem to get full marks." "And she was late," said Davie. Martha swallowed over a great sigh. "There was no need of your being late, Martha. Nest time don't stop and argue." "Of course I cant go now, anyhow," thought Martha; but she arose and be gan to help clear the table. "Maybe thee would like to look over thy lesson?" said grandma, in her soft tone. "There is only arithmetic this after noon, and geography in the big map." "And the more time children have to play the more they want to play," was the sharp comment. "They are a good deal like kittens play comes natural," was the soft re joinder. ' "You cannot go, if that is what you are hanging around for," said Aunt Tatty, presently; "and come straight home from school, too, or you'll be sorry for it." Martha went off sullenly, and after making a good deal of trouble in school, came home in the same' mood. She wondered if she couldn't run away, or if some one would not take her to tend a baby, or do chores; anything would be better than Aunt Tatty's sharpness. But instead she hung un her sun hat and sat down to sew an over seam in a hateful sheet. And half a dozen girls were having a good time at Jessy Wells'. "That is sewed very neatly," said grandma. Aunt Patty looked at it. "Well, it's middling. You have soiled it a good deal; how often have I told you to wash your hands before you commence sewing? Now you can put on that old sk'rt and go out and weed that row of strawberries." Weeding was not a favorite employ ment. Davie came presently and they began to play "tag" around the beus until Aunt Patty spied it out, and sent Davie to look for eggs. "I don't believe you have found half of them," she said, when he came in. "Come in and set the tab)e, Martha," she called, presently. "Now, to-morrow afternoon you will have to finish that row. You have been a bad, indolent girl to-day." It was so with most of Martha Park er's days. And yet the neighbors, and generally Miss Lewis, thought her a pretty good little girl. "But no one can ever suit Aunt Patty," the child said to Grandma Fields; "it's always something. Oh, I wish you lived here and kept house," and Martha kissed the wrinkled hand. "I'm sure I don't know what to do with those children!" Aunt Patty said as she sat sewing with grandma. "They do not improve one. bit. I think they grow worse." The sweet eyes rested on the fretted face. Now Miss Patty Parker was not an unhandsome woman; indeed, in girlhood she had been very pretty. "Isn't thy balance a little out of gear, Patty?" "My balance?" ejaculated the aston ished lady. "Yes. Is thee careful to give good weight? Like begets like, you know." "I can't imagine what you mean." "Well, thee mustn't be offended,' but I am afraid thee weighs a little too close. Thee seldom gives the children any credit for good measure, and the little over makes a good difference in the feelings of others." "But j'ou don't mean and it does in jure children to be praising them con tinually," was the rather jerky r joinder. "Has thee tried it?" Miss Parker sat silent. "Thee must not feel hurt, Patty, but I thirfk thee means to be a just woman, and an ounce of feeling, or kindly regard, or appreciation, just as much belongs to its rightful owner as a pound of butter. Thee sets a bad example in giving the children short weight, for they pay back in kind." Miss Patty considered grimly. Wasn't grandma right? She never did let the customer scale go quite down in these daily household matters. "I suppose my temper is a- little spoiled. Nathan and the boys are very trying. But I want to do right, and if you think " "A" just balance," said the sweet old voice. "Give what thee would like to get.' "Oh, Aunt Tatty," cried her niece, flying in from school breathless and ex cited, "the whole menagerie is going to pass at the crossroads just at four. Can't Davie and I go, just for this once? There's the most . splendid chariots, and a great elephant, and " Davie brought up the chorus and promised to be such a good boy all day to-morrow. And Martha would sew a few blocks of patchwork the next day. "There, children, don't be so noisy. Davie, will you promise to mind sister? And Martha, will you keep hold of his hand,, and not let him go into any danger?" It was wonderful that slio did not say, "I know I cannct trust you." The children promised and rr.n off delighted, and it was full supper time when they reached homo again, their faces attesting their, enjoyment. "Now, I'll run and hunt up the eggs," said Davie, as soxi as he had finished his meal. "I had to go out to tie barn, end I did it," said his aunt. "Oh, Aunt . Tatty, how g03d ycu were! We'll, I'll bring the chips and kindlings," and he came tugging a great basketful, though generally this waa one of the boy's hardships. "What a nice lot," said Avxt Tatty. Tavie stared. 'iEii't there soncttiag else? Don't you want a pitcher cf water?" "George brought one." So Davio sat cn the d novate? wi"i his father and told bin all about the 'nagerie, and it was quite dark when Aunt Tatty called bin to go to bed. Martha hurried round iho nent ncrn iDg, and found time to sew 0:13 bbcfc of patchwork. And she was in such a gay good humor all day that Miss Lewis asked her if she was bewitched. "I think I must be, for Aunt Tatty praised me this morning," was her reply It really was quite wonderful what a change came over the Tarker house hold. The children were not angels, and they often forgot in the midst of their best intentions; but there was a moi'e generous allowance made . for them, a good weight thrown into the balance. For sometimes the kindly impulse, the ready will, is as much as the deed itself. And she found that the generous measure reacted upon herself. The pleasant temper of her earlier years came back. One morning Aunt Tatty found a beautiful handkerchief case lying over her plate at the breakfast table. The sides were gilt bristol board, with her initials handsomely worked in green, and around the edge a puff of green ribbon. And inside were two pretty handkerchiefs, and some neatly hemmed ruffling for neck and wris!s. The donors' names were attached. George had given the material, Mar'.ha had done the work, and her father had purchased its contents. Aunt Patty was so surprised that at first she could hardly speak, and her first impulse was to call it a piece of foolishness; then she bent over and kissed the little girl. "Oh, Aunt Patty, I'm so glad you like it we all are! Gracie Conover made one just like it for her mother, and I thought, and we all thought " - "That my birthday deserved a re membrance? Thank you all. I hope I shall grow a little better " "But you hare grown just splendid." interrupted Martha. "Somehow you make me think of Grandma Fields, only she is a Quaker and an old lady " "There, don't flatter me any more. The coffee will get cold. I have been using her balance lately it gives bet ter weight," and Aunt Patty blushed. The children stared, but their father had a quiet little twinkle in his eye. Waverley Magazine. The Kaiser's Kitchen. Feeding the German Emperor is no light task. Despite all that is said about the Kaiser's Spartan habits, there are few monarchs who keep more elaborate tables. He has no less than four chefs Schliedcnstueker, a German; Harding an Englishman; an Italian and a Frenchman so that he can have his meals for the day served in the style of whatever nation he may happen to fancy. Each of these chefs has his staff ot assistants; while, in addition, there is an individual who may safely be do scribed as "sausage maker to the Kaiser." His majesty is very fond of the huge wrhite frankfurter sausage, and has a supply of them made fresh every day in his own kitchen. When engaged in maneuvring his army on a big field day these frankfurters and bread washed down with lager beer invari ably form the Kaiser's lunch. In addition to all these cooks there is a special staff to prepare meals for the younger of the princes and the princess, who are not allowed to par take of the rich dishes the elder mem bers of the family indulge in. Stray Stories. . A Gay Old Bird. Excluding Marquette, Mich., which city boasts of a man 10T years old, I Bark River, Delta County, is the home of the enly centenarian iu tna upper 1 ncnlnsula of Michigan. He i- still in good health and believes he will live for twenty year? rnore. His name is Levi P.ivcrs, and, like the Marquette centenarian, he is of French descent, his father having fought with Lafay ette iu the Revolution. Ho has been twice married and- is twice a widower. He has eleven children, three grand children and five great-grandchildren. He nay easily be taken for a man of seventy cr less. IDs tn!nd is clear and his ucmory is gcod. Questioned as to the secret of his longevity, the old aau replied that ho had observed no partic ular rvlo cf health; in fact, for tha past ccbly years he has violated about every injunction laid cow:i by medical men. Detroit News. A Town Phono Service. Tho towa cor.ncil cf Qucenstown, Cape Colony, contemplates putting t:p a plant for telephone and water worki service; the estimated cost is nearly U ! FtoHlNC. ii . . . waking in the morning, ta.l me tariy, mother, dear, For Peanuts Fink and Spider Jjrown and Brioktop will be here. And we U iow where the iishes swim and where the shade is cool, And- v iiere's a dandy diving place beside the swimming pool. I've brung the kindlings in, motlu-r, you wanted me to chop; I've filled the woodbox till the wood is pi!liiiK o'er the top; I've curried all .he horses as my father b ide me do; I've mi!ked the cows, and slopped the pigs, and led the chickens, too. I've weeded out the onion bed and banked i lie celery, And I've tran.-olanted cabbage plants and propped the apple tree, And I ve salted v the sheep and fixed the chicken coop. And run a.! the errands, mother, till I felt my spirits droop. So, if you're waking .early, cad ine early, mother, dear. For 1 k.iow where the graylings play and where the pools are clear. And I've dug M the worms 1 want and cut an alder pole, And corks will bob to-morrow morn in that old iisliin' hole. J. M. Lewis, in Houston Post. "Do you ihinl: his words have any weight?" "Well, he makes some pretty heavy speeches.". Cleveland Plain. Dealer. . , "Old Mrs. Grum hasn't been in such good health for years." "Uiiy, 1 never heard her complain more." "True. But she has more energy." Life. The microbe is a modest iieast, But with his tiny sticngtu He makes a name unto himself Ten syuabies in length. San Francisco Bul'etin. "I hear you spoke to Mr, Gtrtx last night about your love lor his daugh ter." "Yes." "What luck V "Great! He never touched me." Philadelphia Ledger. She "What reason have you for be lieving Miss Eiderleigh to be a man hater?" He "She told me she was thinking seriously of openiug a cooking school." Chicago News. "Why did you marry your divorced wife again? Old love come baok?" "No. By the time I paid her alimony I had nothing to live on, and so I mar ried her for her money." Judge. If a bird in the hand Is worth two iu the bush, Then a man with a pull Is worth two in the push. Bride "George, dear, when we reach our destination let us try to avoid giv ing the impression that we are newly married." George "Al! right, Maud; you can carry this suit ca:e." .New Yorker. Guest (at summer hotel) "You didn't advertise the mosquitoes you have here!" Proprietor "No; we only ad vertise the attractions." Guest "But you advertised the view, the air and the grub!" Puck. Braggsby "I am getting immense re turns from my magazine contributions these days." Waggsby "Yes, but you mustn't be discouraged. After awhile there will be less returns and more of your manuscripts will be accepted." Baltimore American. "Well," said Gassaway, "if there's one thing I hate more than another it's x long-winded bore." "Yes," remarked Miss Knox. "It seems I've misjudged you, then." "Why, what do you meau?" "I always had an idea you wen; stuck on yourself." Philadelphia Press. "What Is your idea of harmony la politics?" "Same as that of most other people in my line of activity." an swered Senator Sorghum. "Harmony consists in having your own way aud persuading the other people to be re signed td fate." Washington Star. "Dca't you think the expenses of run ning a campaign might be curtailed?" "Certainly," answered Senator Sor Chuu. "It would be 110 trouble to cur tail 'cm. But the real trick is tn ex pand 'cm, and at the same time re strain idle curiosity concerning dls-bu;-Lc.neuts." Washington Star. The First Matcha. Tl;o lirst re: lly efficient lucifer match nuirt be nut to the credit 01 Joha. Walker, of Stockton-on-Tees. England,, who in ISl'7 places them on the market; x u.-'-r the name of "Congreves." la otuiment to Sir William Congreve; ho Inventor of the war rocket It is estimated that some ?2,G0O.0O0,-. COO worth of gold has beea found dur-C ig the last ten yeart.

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