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/ . " ; - . '.' V' ' V M ' * ' . .-SI The Abbeville Press and Banner. BY HUGH WILSON. ABBEVILLE, S. C.s WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1894. ESTABLISHED 184,4 * ;i| ^1^ xasr**im 1 =Reduction= VWWWV* W jl iUUWW I mm - j.i_ FOR THE Next Thirty Days. We Begin Now Our Great C^lo'fcla.jLra.s. This is done in order to close out stock on hand before JANUARY 1st. The New Tariff Bill will make many changes, and we are determined to be ABREAST OF THE TIMES. Our line of CLOTHIXG is .complele in all its branches, for Men, Boys and Children. We have received recently from the mill large quantities of Goods ?? TII A T AJTTGZT RK StOT/T) ? JL JL ^ JL .ML J.WX V/ Vs-? JL JT-fJ V ( These goods are bought at a great reduction and will be sold at Prices Never Heard of Before. : Remember, We ars the Manufacturers of - Clothing and leaders of Z?ow Prices, 4"?^? w #9 ? j*. TVS" Tnfb'ffiiv' a^a V All,g JfWWL UJtW ?? >4fc A.%#Jk&tw We have no old shelf worn out of style stock; all our goods are brand new, and up to date m style, 1st and finish. Every article Ave sell guaranteed as represented, or your money refunded. Bear this in mind, We are . Manufacturers of Clothing and save you the middle jiaa > ritunr. A. (X3H EN. Manager. i . j c? i ?* . V . "0; > . . Mr : . A Christmas Lyric. Tho' theenrili with age seems whitened, And lic-r tresses hoary and old No longer sire flushed and brightened By glintings of brown and gold. A voice Horn tneSyrian highlands, t u-u f ttfa flint rtuuh nurl wt ir IJy the bells of their tropic islands, Still Kingeth ol joy to net: A song which ilir* cpnturies hallow! Though soltprthan April rain TlTiit No'weth on Deici and fallow, a spell that shall ilse In grain? Yet deep as llu; sea-strain chanted On the fluctuant, ocean lyre, By the magical west-wind haunted. With the pulse ol his soul on tire ! A promise lo lift the lowly,? To weed the soul of its tares. And change into harmonies holy The discord of llerce despairs ; A glory of high evangels, Ol rhythmical storms anil calms; AH hail to the voices ol angels. Heard over the star-lit palms. A hymn of hope to the ages, The music of deathless trust, No freeuzy of inortHl rages Can darken with doubt or dust; A rapture of high evange's, But centred in sacred calms! Alt! still the chorus of anuels Thrills over the Bethlehem palms ! still heralds the day-spring tender, That never can melt or close, Ti l the noon of Its deepening splendor Oit-blooms, like a mystic rose, Whot>e petals are rays supernal Of Jove that bath all sutllced,? A nd whose heart Is the grace eternal, Of the fathomless peace of Christ! ?Paul Hamilton Hayne. The Slieplierri* Christina* Vieil, By the gate [of the sheep-fold], hugging bis mantle close, the watchman walked ; at tune? he stopped, attracted by a stir among the sleeping herds, or by a jackal's cry l'ar off on the mountain-side. The midnight was slow coming to hint ; hut at last it oume. His task was done : now lor the dreamless sleen with which labor bles>es its wearied children ! He moved towards the lire, but paused ; a light was breaking around him, soft and white, like the moon's. He waited breathlessly. The light deepened ; things before invisible came to view ; he saw the whole field, and all it sheltered. A chill sharper than that of the frosty uir?a chill of fear?smote him. He looked up; the stars were gone; the light was dropping as from a window in the sky ; as he looked, if, became a splendor ; then, in terror, he cried, "Awake, awake!" Upsprang the dogs, and, howling, ran away. The herds rushed together bewildered. The men clambered to their feet!, weapons in hand. "What is it?" they asked, in one voice. "See !" cried the watchman, "the sky is on fire !" Suddenly the light became intolerably bright, and they covered their eyes, and dropped upon their knees ; then, as their souls shrank with fear, they fell upon their faces blind ami fainting, and would have died had not a voice said to them, "Fear not!" And they listened. "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." The voice, in sweetness and soothing more than human, and low and clear, penetrated all their beinir, and filled them with assurance. They rose upon their knees, and, looking worshipfutly, j beheld lu the centre of a great glory the apparance of a man, clad in a robe intensely while; above its shoulders towered the tops of wings shining and folded ; a star over its forehead ylowed with steady lustre, brilliant as Hesperus ; its hands were stretched towards .them in blessing; its face was serene and divinely beautiful. They had often heard, and, in their simple way, talked, of angels; and they doubted not now, but said, in their hearts, The glory of (Jod is about uh, and this is lie wlvo of old came to the prophet by the river of Ulai. J)ire':lly the angel cont inued : "For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord !" Again there was a rest, while the words sank into their minds. "And this shall be a sign unto you," the annunciator said next. "Ye shall find the babe, wrapped in swaddlingclothes, lying in a manger." The herald spoke not again ; his good tidings were told; yet he stayed awliile. Suddenly the light, of which he seemed the centre, turned roseate and began to tremble; then up, far as the men c:>uld see, there was Hashing of while wings, and coming and going of radiant forms, and voices as of a multitude chanting in unison, wji.iiu in find in tlift highest, and mi earlli peace, good-will towards men !" Nut once the praise, but many] limes. Then the herald raised his eyes as peeking approval of one far oil'; his wiiii:* stirred, aud .spread slowly and majestically, on their upper side white j us snow, in the shadow van-tinted, like mother-of-pearl; when they were exp inded many cubits beyond iiis stature, he arose lightly, and without effort, lh?ated out of view, taking the light up with him. Long after lie was gone, down from the sky fell the reirain in measure mellowed by distance, "(Jlory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men." When the shepherds came fully to their senses, they stared at each other stupidly, until one of them said, "It was Gain iel, the Lord'* messenger un-1 to men." Xoiie answered. ' ('h**st the Lo.'d is horn ; said he) not so?" Then anoih'T recovered his vo ce, uod replied, '"That i> what hes iid." " a ml <i:<l In- not :tlsi> s:i\*. in the cif.v i of David, which is our He'hiehem! yonder. And i iiat we should linet him a l?i lie in swadilliug-eloilies ' And lying in a manger." The lirsi speakergazed into (he lire thoughtfully, bill at length .-aid, like one oos-u-sscd of a sudden resolve, "There is but one place in Jlethlehemi where there are mangers ; but one, and | that is in the cave near tneold khan. Jirel liren, let us go see this thing which has come to pass. The priests and doctors have been a long time looking for the Christ. Now he is born, and the Lord has given us a sign by which to know him. Let us go up and worship him." " But the liocks !" "The Lord will take care of them. Let us make haste." Then they all arose and left the ! mara/i. Around the mountain and through the town they passed, and came to the gale of the khan, where there was a man on watch. "What would you have?" he asked. "We have seen and heard great UiimiH to-night," they replied. "Well, we, too, have seen great thinus, hut heard nothing. What did you hear?" "Let us, go down to the cave in the enclosure that we may be sure ; then we will tell you all. Come with lis, and see for yourself." "It is a fool's* errao<l." "No, the Christ is born." "The Christ ! How do you know ?" "Let us go ami see first." The man laughed scornfully. "The Christ indeed ! How are you to know him ?" "He was born this night, and is now lying in a manger, so we were told ; and there is but one place in Bethlehem with mangers." "The cave?" "Yes. Come with us." They went through the court-yard without notice, although there were some up even then talking about the wouderful light.N The door of the cavern was open. A lautern was burning | within, and they entered unceremoniously. "I give you peace," the watchman said to Joseph and the Beth-Dagonite. "Here are people looking for a child horn this night, whom they are to know by finding him in swaddlingclothes and lying in a manger." For a moment the face of the stolid Xascarene was moved ; turning away, lie said, '"The child is here." They were led to oneof t he mangers, ar.d there the child was. The lantern was brought, and tne shepherds stood by route. The little one made no sign ; it was as others just born. "Where is the mother?" asked the watchman. r\t tlm wnmpn tnnlr the hfthv. ? "' ? and went to Mary, lying near, and put it in her arms. Then the bystanders collected about the two. "It is the Christ !" said a shepherd, at last. "The Christ!" they all repeated, I falling upon their knees in worship. One of them repeated several times j over, "It is the Lord, and his glory is Iabove the earth and heaven." And the simple men, never doubting, kissed the hem of the mother's robe, and with joyful faces departed. In the khan, to all the people aroused and pressing about them, they told their story ; and through the town, and all the way back to the viarah, they chant ed the refrain of the angels, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will towards men !" Tlie story went auroaa, connrroeu uy the light so genrally seen ; and the next day, and for days thereafter, the cave was visited by curious crowds, of whom some believed, though the greater part laughed and mocked.? From 11 Ben.?Hur: A Tale of the Christ," by Lew Wallace. A Hymn of l'rniN<>. ()8, S8. 1. Oh holy, holy Lord, Thou God whom we adore, We reverence thy [sacred] word, Thy sovereign aid Implore; Lei every henrt he filled with fear, Aiul all our worship be sincere. 2. Ye people of the Lord, \V hose service ye en joy Draw near fto blra] with sweet accord, Your souls' best powers employ ; In song. In prayer, In earnest praise, To heav'n your sweetest voices raise. 3. Extol the name of God, Ills wondrous love proclaim, And tell to all [the worldj abroad, The honors of b is name: Let men and angels praise the Lord, His name be honored unci adored. A. The heav'nly hosts shall Join, The millions of our race. In grand seraphic [sweetest] souk. To praise God's wondrous grace; And all the universal throng Aloud his praises shall prolong. 5. Let loud hosanas ring. Throughout God's vast domain, And all creation [loudly] sing, in one exultant strainOii holy, holy, blessed Lord, Thy name be honored and adored. 0. The triune God we bless, The Father and the Sou, And [Holy] Spirit, all divine, United, Three in One ; We land, we magnify the Lamb, Father and Spirit, Great 1 Am. iMHe.? iiieauutcrau umuug w ucmu, vi any H. M. tune by omitting the words in brackets. \V. J. Wilson. San Saba, Texas. December. I. Oh ! holly branch and mislleloe, And Cnristnias chimes where'er we go, Am! stock inas pinned up in a row ! These are thy gifts, December! II. And if the year has made thee old ! And silvered all thy locks of gold, Thy heart has never been a cold, Or known a lading ember. in. The whole world is a Christmas tree, And stars its many candles be, Oli! sing a carol joyfully. The year's great least in keeping tv. For 011 co, on a December night, An angel held a candle bright. Anil led three wise men by Its light 'IV* ifhowi o /.hi 1,1 UM1M ttlppnini?. ?Harriet F. Illodgctt, in St. N'lcholos for December. (ioil's KiriN on Christ hii?n-I?i?.v. Hells, Hint with silvery cadence Are ringing the Christum* in, Lilting our thoughts to the Saviour Who breaks the letters of sin, We list your sweet confusion, Ami clear to our hearts ye say. "Spars something out of your treasures To feed Hod's birds to-day." For lie is a churl, and thankless. Who last locks heart and hand Al Christmas-tide to tl?e needy And the stranger in the land. ?.Margaret JO. Sangster. i if all die days in all the year The Christmas day to you oeiongs, The Christmas-day, mv children dear. When Ittr and ne??r sound happy songs ; For. on thai day, at early morn, While loud rejoicings tilled the skies, The loveliest, of babes was born. The light of heaven in His eye*. ?Margaret Ey tinge. A t Christmas he merry, and thankful withal, Aud feast thy poor neighbors, the great with j the small. ?Tutsser. ! i All OI?l null's Christmas Pnrtj. BY WLLJ, CARLTON. Trim up the parlors, good-wife, and make lhum extra gay; Fori'wito have a party, on this cold Christmas day : The friends that are Invited will be here?do not doubt! ijl I'll go myself and bring them, unless they'll come without. . Oh yes! you've been a guessing, perhaps ? month or two, About- vi,i/ ('hrlstmas party, and what I meant. , *, to do; . The tirst whose invitations have all been left to me: You're not quite sure concerning the guests " you're going to see. ' $3 ??V Our children??No, not this time; they've children of their own, Whose Christmas-trees are bending with presents newly grown; They've not their life-vines Dlnuted. with love-flowers all about? . Just what we worked ho hnrd lor, when we tirst started out. Our cousins??Well, not this tliue; 'tlsn't what the plan intends ; They're all quite earthly prosperous, with any amount of friends; The world Is always offering success an upward hitch; But Christmas wasn't Invented entirely for the rich. J our preacher and his familyThey're working now like sin, A-sortlng out the slippers and other gifts sent in One turkey that I know of is on their kitchen blaze; A cheery, popular preacher has good times, nowadays. You don't know who you've cooked for?? Well, that in most too bad; Of course you've no cur'os'ty?no woman ever had! But still, your hands and heart, wife, liave well nlgb gone to war? A woman works much happier, when she knows who it's for? . . . * *'< I'll tell VOU one:?a crlnnle l.lin.t vnn and r both know. Is living in a small bat, half burled in the snow? His body liravely struggling to coax his soul to stay; I'm going to get that cripple, and keep hlra him here alt diiy. And one's a poor old woman we've never called our friend. But whose yid life grows heavy while struggling to its endWithout a merry Christmas for twenty winters drear! To-day she'll hiive a picnic to last her all the / year. 1 ' And one's an old-style preacher; brimful of heavenly truth, . , ^ '' VJ'yS Whose eloquence lost fashion, or ran off with bis youth; And younger men and prettier, with flowery words came nigh; And ho the various churches have stood the old man by. . ' He tried bis best to please them and serve Jehovah too? He tolled each separate Sunday to "get up something new;" They wanted elocution, and curvey-gestured speech! Aud now this grand old preacher can't get a place to preach. But I've a strong opinion, that angels crowd up near Tbat man-deserted leader, his Ood-llke thoughts to hear;? We'll have a Bible-chapter made over good as new, s When he to-day talks Gospel,end asks the. blessing, too! * "And who else?"?I have sent word to all in my mind's way. Who can't afford a dinner that equal to tlie The Day; And some good prosperous frleuds, too, will come with smiling lace, To keep those poor from feeling tbat they're a separate race. Andoneof them's a neighbor; who, though sincere, no doubt, Once couldn't quite understand me?and so we two fell out; And every Sunday morning we've passed each other's door, , , And have not known each other for fifteen years or more: V Vtt I went to him last evening, and said, "Old Iriend,see here; We're both tip-top good fellows: now, doesn't It strike you queer. That we're assisting Satan to sow the grain of strife? Come over, sure, to-morrow, and bring along your wife. Just come and help up, helping some poor ones draw their loads, Who've stalled upon the side-hills of Life's uneven roads." He looked at me in wonder?then stood a moment still? Then grasped my hands, and whispered, "My dear old friend, I will." I think you're with me, good-wife, from what your features say; And that's the kind of comp'ny we're going to have to-dayThrough which 1 hope a true love for all manIrirwl ma it rno rt\ A sort of Christmas party where Christ would feel at home. LEGISLATIVE TALK. .lfr. \V. >V. BnllN Letter to the Anderson Intelligencer. In the House it cannot be said that any remarkable talent has been shown either by ' any of the old or new members. The general average of intelligence in the House is good, but there are no shining stars to set it off. If one were asked to name the lenders, it is probable that he could only say that the Speaker was the leader. There were no leaders on the floor. The members generally seeiued to make up their minds how they would vote, or knew how their con?Mtueuts wanted them to vote and their votes went in that way, regardless of what was said on ihe lloor ol the House. Messrs. Watson, of Anderson, Gary, ot Abbeville, and Ellerbe, of Marion, might be considered to nearly apnroach a SDecles of leadership, though each ol tliem was frequently iu tbe minority. Among tbe Conservatives there was no leader, as none was needed. There was nothing to lead to. .Messrs. Weston, Thomas and Pattou, of Richland, and (Judsden. ot Charleston, probably showed more talent as debaters than any other speakers on the floor of the House, but as t iiey were of the minority faction their eloquence had little effect, save as it tempered ttie utterances of their opponents. The Constitutional Convention bill, as it was amended by tbe House and finally agreed upon by the Senate, provided for tbe meeting of the Convention on the third Tuesday iu oeptember. Each county is to be represented in tbe Con ventlon by as many delegates as it has representatives in both Houses of tbe General Assembly. The delegates are to be paid a per diem of Stand mileage going to and returning from tbe Convention of five cents. The election of delegates Is fixed for ttie third Tuesday In August. ?o there will be enough time iu the Summer, after tbe crops are laid by, for a thorough canvass of tnn counties by the candidates for seats in the Convention). BRIEFS FROM BRADLEY, Heutli of <i Mhii?Cotton Stolen? l.ovinK ll?Hrt<i I'nited. Bradley. S. C., Dee. 2t, 1SW. Our community U under a sad shadow at present, on account of the sudden death of our esteemed townsman. J. H. Youngblood. Mr. Youneblood, if we are Informed correctly, was born in Hum well county of this State and . i.u '< >i?u In iinnntv speilk III7> tmjfllimu uaja iu o...v. v . moved 10 this county ten or eleven years ago. and commenced merchandising in a small way, bui t>y good judgment and prudence had bulll up a lucrative and successful business. He was highly esteemed in our community and was one of God's noblest workers, and an honest man. Married, at Chiles Cross Roads on December lit, 1S9I, Mr. .1. S. Hoedcll. of Bradley, to Mrs, A. K. sproule, of liittlo Mountain, Trial Justice W. K. Cot It ran. otliciatlug. Tuicves are on the rampage in our vicinity. On the night of the 21st, two bales cotton were stolen from our town; one belonging to G. T. Sibert and one to I.. M. O'Dell. Look out for them Ivenboe. A