CAPITAL CITY COURIER CHRISTMAS NUMBER. I DEATHBED CONFESSION OF A GOOSE DONE. DYJ. I. CALHOUN. t)n n'troth 'heap In tho back ;' ot n liniulsomo city renhtcnco lay ft pallid " shrivelled room bone, tlio mint boanif or nn tunclouded moon ncarco revealing It warcd and twisted outline, Hy It uhlo oaeefully trcposed tho log of a doll, minus tho sawdust, i ft few hacked nnd battered Kpools, tho top of m luiltlng powdor cnn, nnd It inny lw Imagln il without further siioclllcatlotiii, tliftt tho juirroumllnKs wero dull nnd Irkffouio to n gooso lono thnt had hnd nu extended existence un .dor tho happiest possible circumstances. Al- jiiost overy luoniont tho Roosobouo would shiver, nnd crinkle, nud nionn, as tho cold penetrated deeper nnd deeper, nnd fiercer iftiul fiercer Into It shallow nnd ogo-wenkenod frame. A cnt on amatory compiost lent Htopped for n moment to snuff contoinptu lOJsly nt lt floshloss figure, n vagrant dog Bent a shuddor to Its central flhro by pressing It for n moment with a noso us Inquisitive as .a beggar nnd as cold ns charity, while tho wind whistled fitfully nlxmt the henp on which It rested. A sound, gentle as tho patter .of nu asH)U lenf, nnd the sharp nose nud bright eyes of a mouso shof.cd over n spool nud itn gnzo rested with mornful interest up on tho goaso bono. Hy some mysterious Im- juilso tho dying gooso lono Itct-timo nwnro of tho presonco of n friendly spirit. It looked dip nnd snw tlio mouse, whom It feebly rr inoialicml ns ouo thnt had frequently token refuge benpnth it friendly sheltcK when tho liousemnl.l was on her semi-weekly ducting . expeditious. Tho whiskcra of tho little ereu turo moved with tremulous sympnthy, its .eyes glenmed with tender solicitude. It np pronchod nenrer, lnylng onepnw softly upon tho edgo of tho gooso bone, it said: "My dear friend, how do I Hud you hero you who but todny dwelt over tho grnto of i tho wenlthy ownor of tho house hard by, hon ored nnd consulted?" A long, low sigh rent tho bosom of tho gooso bone. "Ah me," it brenthed, "could I butllvo my tllfu over uguln, I would not bo horo now." "Cheer up," exhorted tho mouse, "you inny yet recover nil you have lost." "Ah, no," wnlled tho gooso bono. "To- iinorrow tho chore Iwy will tllng mo nnd my wretchod coniuulons into tho furnnce. Only tonight my mnster, onco my proud possessor nnd best friend, cast mo out with Ills own hand, And tomorrow my wretched . existence will como to nu ond. I hnvo been terribly wicked nnd I am being Justly pun tishotl." "Do not say thnt," replied tho mouse, "you 'hnvo always boon so kind to mo thnt you unust havo n good heart," "No. no. Listen to mo, nnd when I am gono, lot tho lesson of my Ill-spent enreer Insolent and pressing with ouch visit. Then the plnno was sold and he did not como for a week. Ills next visit was followed by tlio dlsnppoArAiico of tho book caso and two rock lug chairs, nnd then in Another week he jamo once more and nil tho furnltuo seemed to follow him Awny. My master grew palo nnd thin, tlio hired girl was discharged nnd I my beautiful young mistress tiegun to sweep tho empty s rooms mid dine tho plcturelcsa watts. And tho winter woro on and tho weather was modernto and tho coal lay un consumed In tho collar, and today tho spring fairly arrived. My master enmo up to mo nud picked mo up nud gazed on mo In rago. Ho hurled mo to the ll wr and was about to grind mo with his heal when a sweet, low voloo said, "Don't apa. You will spoil mo carpet, and it will bo a long tlnio before we caii buy Another." Ho picked mo up, throw mo through tho window and I lodged upon thU heap. Tho rest you know, but you can never measure the remorso I tool" A I toy approached with a bnskot. Daylight had como. Tho mouse lied, but novor forgot tho deathliod confession of tho gooso bono. It told it to me and I tell it again. SKETCHES OF THE LATE CIVIL WAR. HV lll'.V. W. 11. HAWKINS. .sink deep into your heart. Toll It to .others, nnd let mo, dead, ntono for what I did whllo nllvo. Draw nigh." Tho mouse, weeping, cuddled up to Its dis- 'hoartcned nud departing frioud nud received tits dying coutldencos. "I was tnkon from tho bosom of n mnlden gooso, shot by nn nrilent 8ortman, ns she was winging liar wny south to tho sunny .shores of the gulf, whero sho nnd her kind wero Intending to spend tho winter. Her form was taken to n market and purchased 'by my master. Up to this timo I hail scarcely felt thnt I hnd n suporato exlstunco, but when 1 hoord him say to tho cook that I should bo ttuken out of the body of tho gooso beforo it had been brought to tho table, n conscious ness suddenly awoko in mo, faint and dim at ;flrst, but. soon growing into a keen and prophetic intelligence. I could see adown tho vista of time, with Its great procession of days ond nights. If thoy wero bright and clear and pleasant, I guzed Uou them with happiness. If they were cold ami lowering ttlioy mado mo shudder a .d io oil. 1 1 due timo I was strlpjied from my surroundings of flesh and laid in tho hands of my mnster. Ho wns a good man" and hero tho poor gooso bono burst Into a shower of tears so .copious as to bedew threo kxx1h and a large j, loco of rag that lay beneath It. Hut It soon recovered Its firmness and said: "I must hasten with my story, whllo I havo yet .st length. My master held mo up to the light and I know thnt ho wns admiring my grace ful ard Mender proportions and gazing with rapture upon tho semi-translucent joint of my structure. Ho laid mo down nnd noted tho clour nnd dark spots on my sides, ho bent my olastlo form until It was warty double nud let mo spring back to my former bhupc. I was delighted with myself, with him, with my knowledge of the future and I ftlt that I was born for a great career. My inufter laid mo upon the mantel and said I foretold a mild whiter, with jitrt about enough snow nt Christmas to make It a pleasant season. Ho used to point mo out to Ills friends nud explain my gifts and my value, and ho would consult mo nt nil times when ho wished to learn what tho weather was to bo. And ho ninny happy years went n. I loved him, nnd foretold tho.wenther av.d was glnd. Ah, thoso wero pleasant times, and oh, how fool ishly wicked I havo been." "Once, a week went by and my master never enme near mo but a single time, nud thon ho glanced nt mo hut carelessly. And then a long poriod when Ids visits wero fow nnd far lietwecn, ho seemed not to cure wliothor I existed or not. My heart went out to him In vain longing when I heurd his volco or his step. I grow polfc, and wasted, nnd thin, my life was a burden nud I wished to im turned to dust. At last I learned the fatal truth. My master hud hot rayed my fond nirection uud trilled with my honest heart. Ho had bought a barometer, ono of thoso stuck up, glassy, brassy things that pretends to foretell tho weather, and upon It ho lavished tho coulldeuco and direction that iiad been mine. My heart dried up, a wild wrath took pos nession.of mo and from that moment I lived for revenge. My brain whirled with mad desire, and plots woro tho iwrpotuul burden of my mind. I waited and waited, and loomed patience, and at last my time came Tho summer passed, and just when tho fiost begun to tinge tho plants, I could beo tin ojh ths wlulnv, I luirl my ouco lovod, but now hated master say he must consult mo and seo what kind of a winter It was go ing to bo, so ho could lay in his wlnter'a sup- lily of coal. I nolil my ureniu aim waited, llurnmo:! was so full of wrath that X do celvod him. I turned dark, bluck, from end to end. Ho muttered to himself and stag m.rl from the room. All tlio next duy, and tho next,' and tho next, I heard tho grutlng crash of tho Anthracite coal as it rollod into ) slind lust outs hie. And tlio next nay a ati-nmr. Rini man como in with a bill for thirteen tons of coal nt 111 a ton. My mas ter looked a, tho bill und thon at me. In my frenzy of ferocious glee I was transparent my full length, lie picked mo up aim gown nt mo as If ho would read my very soul. I returned his look with Interest, for I enjoyed Ms miiTerliiB- and iiiv triumph. I was ro- venged. Ha, hal Kevongo Is sweet, ah, weet," and tho decrepit old twite fairly hug Kl Itsolf In transport. Hut It shuddered, whllo it paused, and then resumed hi a lew and broken voice: "But timo brings changes. That cold, stem, coal clerk camo again and again, twloe , a week, nnd then every day He grow more It was ono of tho hottest duys near tho ond of July, 1S7I. Just ono year after tho terrible Imttlo of (lettysl)urg--when Oconto llealon came riishlnn Into tho pnrsouuKO, his face fale with fright, saying that lie had Just come from tho diamond or public sipiuro of tho town and had seen ono of (Ion. Hlowart's raid ers. They woro tho advanced guards of a company of cavalry on a mid through the Uuiiibcrlaml valley. Karly lu tlio morning thoy hud hoard shots and their forces were now oiu'uiuplng on tho hills overlooking Chnmliersburg, one of Us nourishing towns. The citizens woro now withering at tho court house, having a "parley" with some olllcers sent In advance Io liiuko terms for tho sur render of tho town or to demand a law In demnity of tho olllcers of tho hank for Its re demption, otherwise threatened toliurn every House aner pillaging tlio stores. .Mr. iieutoii hastened out, determined to learn the worst and to make arrangements for the safety of his family. Joseph and Wllllo wero eager to go with him, but In advised their remaining with tho family until his return. For more than three years tho Inhabitants had heard ru nors of tho advance of tho rebels, hut hitherto no serious damage was stiU'ered, ox o.itbyafow of It id's army, who ono year liefore, hail inardi'd throtiKh on their way to tho fatal defeat at Gettysburg, which was n'miit twenty-four miles distant. Tho gov ornmciit had established several hospitals In tho town, and tho citizens had shown grent kindness to tho sick and kindness of both armies. A committee of ladles wero constant In their visits to theso woundod men, whom tho fortune of war had left to tho cure of stran gers. Kveiy hlug that tender nursing could do, wasilouo to niltluato the honors of the fratricidal contest, and many wero the loving expressions of mothers In tho north ami south, whoso sous wero restorod or In dying wero not loft without tho convolution of Chrlstalti tenderness and love, as thoy ylohled up their lives away from homo and friends. Tho present raid was conducted by Oen. Mo Causland, who had previously moved on to Hiifrcrstown nnd demanded $20,000, which was paid and the town saved. Tho wholo force, of which this was tho advance under tho rebel commander Don, Jtili.ir A. Karly, who hy a rapid movomeiit, was threatening Washington. Meanwhile plundering parlies wero sont on to Invade the bonlor towns of Pennsylvania and thoso lu Maryland, which could bo reached in safety. Mr. Ilea ton soon learned tho following facts: Tho rebels hav ing been Interrupted by tho forces employed to protect tho border, did not enter tho town until Saturday morning. Thoy had previous ly taken tho prccliutlun of planting two bat teries In commanding positions nnd In get ting up tholr wholo column early on Satur day they opened with their batteries and fired somo half a dozen shots Into tho town, hut thoy did no damage; It was this noise which had aroused tho town very soon after their klrmlstier entered by almost every streot and alley running out west and southwest, nud finding the way clear, their cavalry, to tho number of -1.7) came lu under tho com mand officii. MeCaiisland, and whllo tho of ficers woro recoiinolterlng to art n good Imr- ga'n with tho citizens for tribute, his soldiers spent most o f their time lu almost Indlserlm lunto robbery. Hats, caps, boots, watches, silverware and everything ofvaluo were ap propriated from Individuals on tho streets without ceremony, and when a man was met vlio"oaiipcaianee Indicated a plethoric purse a pistol would lo presented to his head with the order to "deliver!" with a dexterity that would have donn credit to the free hooting accomplishments of nn "Italian Hrlgaud." Their chief rodo up ton number of citizens and gavo notice that unloss .VX),000 In green- hacks or fHXMtiOln gold was paid lu half an hour the town would bo burned, hut no ouo responded to his rait, ami the citizens ol riiamorshurg promptly Informed them that they could not and would not pay any ran som. He had tho court house bell rung to convene thocttlzons, hnplngto frighten them Info tho payment of a largo sum of money, hut no one attended and no sort of ellort was was undo by Individuals or by commltteoto make any terms. All determined that the relH'ls should riilllll tholr threat to burn the town, rather than that thoy should pay trib ute. Infuriated hy tin dolormlnatlon oftlio people; a major rode up to n group of tho citizens and ordered them under arrest. This olllccr said thoy would bo hold for tho pay ment oftlio money, nnd If not paid he would take them to Itlclimoud as hostages and a No hum ovory house In town. While ho was en deavoring to force them Into on cll'ort to raise the money, bis men commenced tho work of llrlng and they woro discharged when It was found that Intimidation would olio t nothing The main part of the town was envolood In Humes In ten minutes, and no time was given oven to remove women or chlldrou or slckoroven the dead. No notice of burning the town was communicated to any ouo, but like Infuriated llonds, tho work of destruc tion wns commenced. Thoy divided Into squads and fired ovory other, and olten retry house, If they presented any prospect of plunder thoy would beat lu tho door with Iron burs or heavy plank, smash iiliauy furniture with an ax, throw fluid or oil upon It and ply tho mutch. They almost, Invariably entered every room of each house rilled the drawors of bureau's, app'oprlutod money, Jowelry, watches and any other va'ualiles, and often wouhl present pistols to tlu heads of Inmates, men and women and d -iiiuiulod money or tholr lives. In nearly halftho Instances thoy demanded owners to uuiihom their property, and In cases It was done and the property burned. The main ob ject of tho men seemed to bo plunder, not a hmiso esooited plllago, all were plundered of everything that could bo curried awny. In most caseslhouses wero outered In tho rudest manner, and no timo whatever allowed oven for families to escape, much less to save any thldg. Many families had the utmost dllll eulty to get themselves and their children out In timo, and not one-half hail so much as a change ol olothlng with them. They would rush from Moro to store, to rob and always tiro tho building at onco lu order to keep the family from detecting their robbery. Keehlo audi o'pless women and children were trio ed llkehrutes, told lusultlugl)1ln got out or bum even tho sick wore not spared. Several In valids had to be carried out as the red Humes licked their couohes. Thus the work of de struction continued for two hours; more than half the town on llro at once; amid tho wild glare of the Humes, tho shrieks of the women and chlldrou, uud often louder than all tho terrible lilusplieny of tho rebels, conspired to present such a hcoiio of horror, us has never been witnessed hy. tho present generation. No ono was spared save by accident, Tho widow and the fatherless cried ami pleaded lu vain that they would lie homeless and helpless, a rude oulh would close all hoc of mercy and they would tly to avo tholr lives. Tho old and the Infirm wero thrust nsldo and the torch applied In tholr presence. In the brief space of two hours tho greater portion of tho town, Its ohlo f wraith and business, Us capital and oleganro woro devoured by a bur barons foe, In n single dy nearly throe mil lions of dollars worth of properly wero de stroyed, and thrco thousand human Isdngs, mostly women an I children Ion homeless and ihmiiioIoss, Of course W. llealon and his family wero In a slate of great fear as house after house was tired near their home. As tho roMs had fired no churches It was hoped that tho parsntiugt would escape destruction, as yet their church luvl not beon built. The family had not long to wait, as the house next tothom was ou flroand tho Humes bursting from tho roof ullolnliu. Hastily selecting such things as could hoovrrled lu tholr bauds and which might bo used to make bis wife and children comfortable for the night, they left their house to tho cruel Humes. Thoy oou reached tho public highway which led Inlhndlreittlon of -Uilpponshurg and tlienco to Harrlshurg, tho former place was eleven mllosillstnut. There they hoped to find friends and shelter. The day was exceedingly warm, one of tho hottest In July, Unaccustomed In the fatigue of long Journeys on fool, they wero soon ovorpowod by tho Client, but they wero lu haste to roach the open country where thoy could hn suf.) from tho further outrages of the enemy. They soon found a sha dy place near a stream of water, where they stoppeil awhile to rest, whllo they look roun- ell aslo their future movements. W. I teuton had many friends among tho farmers and It was determined that the larger boys should bo left In tho cure of a Mr. Freeman, whose farm was only a few miles from Hhlppens burg. It was lute lu tho evening when the wenrv travelers, now loft destitute, reached the home of their hospitable friend. He had heard of thodlsastcr and had seen the road crowded with the Heclng refugees he had al ready taken Into his burn a iiiimherof women and children. W. llealon and his family were ns tenderly cured for as tho cir cumstances woul I permit. After a hearty meal, during whhih theexeltlngscenesof the day wero recounted, the weary travelers were glnd In rest their limbs, ou beds spread In the lower rooms of the house. Mvery room was filled hy those who were so fOrtuuoto as to Had temporary shelter for the night. The terrible scenes' of the day nud the excite ment through which they hnd passed drove steep from many eves. Devout Ihnnkstilness went up to the Divine ruler for life preserved, with no hitter thoui'hs toward the fo , there punlseinent wns left In Hint whoso voice Is more terrible In wrath, who bus declared "vengeance In mine, I will ropov " Imlent night tin y learned by fugitives rj- Ivlng overy hour that the rebels had all departed and that the union forces wero la rapid pursuit. It was not many months nftor tho scenes hero related, that tho national armies wero victor ious over nil the foes of the republic, and tho nation hnd washed out 111 blood ono of Its greatest Bins, that of holding their follow men In the clnlns of slavery, llosldes, the supremacy of the federal union was restored ami the rebellious, through great sullerlnsr went tnimht obedience to tho taws of Clod and man. First submission to"lho powers that 1)0," wlilch aro ordained of Ood anil noxt tho loving of our nelghlsirs as ourselves, and tho doing unto others ns wo would hnvo thorn do unto us." As soon ss penco was ngnlu restored to tho volloy and tho penplo wero assured of protec tion foi their families and homes, nearly alt tho fugat Ives returned. A fow of their hus bands hnd lecii made prisoners by tho enemy and woro retained as hostages, and it was moiiv weary months beforo thoy woro ro leased by an oxchnugo of prisoners. Tholr siiircrlugs weronftaii extreme from tho cruel treatment they recolved and tho ohsconroof sulllclent fond and sholtor all this Intonsl (led by the llllh ofcrowded encampments and the Intense heat of a southern cllmnto. Many never returned, but perished, mlscrnblyln tho places orthelr confinement. As tho fugi tives entered tho town whnt a scene of desso- lotion met their eyes, nothing remained of their former happy homes but black and crumbling walls and desolated jrurdens nnd fields. The patriotic states further north con tributed lllx-rally towards pressing wants, they hnd not felt tho Iron heel oftlio war as tho iKirder slates wero now feeling, and tholr hearts worn moved wlthcnmpnsslnn. It Istruo thoy s nt thou andsof nolilo fathers a id soi s to perish lu hultlo.but tho foo was not at their doors. The noble stato of Pennsylvania mado liberal appropriations for tho rebuilding of tholr homes. Within ayjnruroso a new city, built ns If by mnglo. by the unsubdued cour- n go oftlio people. Of course no money could re. place the precious rcl'cs of the pust.ond works of art which hnd boon transmitted through many generations; lumnny Insluuces brought from their homes In the old world. Tlio Heatons fully expected to see only tho ruins of their house, hut to th"lr great surprise nud Joy thoy found that by tho great exertions of the neighbors who remalinl, tho drowns confined to tho house aljolnleg, and beyond the robbery of a few articles of value n nthor damage was sustained. Mud Indeed wero tho stories told him oftheeondurt of the Invaders who, driven In desperation, by thn tosses thoy had sustained hv tlio fre'piont inlds of the na tional forces Into tholr own borders, woro de termined to icuvonnlv a track of desolation on tho road of tholr detreat, Tlio house of an old and feeble man of eighty was entered, and hceauso his wife earnestly remonstrated against tho burning, thov fired the room, hurled her Into It and lockod the door on the (U'sldo. Her da'igliler rescued her by burst ing lu tho door beforo her clothing was on lire. Tho widow of a iiuttonul soldier who hud no menus of support, got on her knees and iMnrgeo' to savo her and her little ones from tho fang of rebel wrath, but while she wns thus pleading for mercy, they fired her llttlo house and stole ten dollars, tho only mniipy slip had In the world. An aged citi zen, prostrated byslcknesssothut ho was un ohlo to bo out of bed, plead In vain to I o spared a ho'rlhlo death In tho Humes of his own house, but thoy laughed at his tcrrorand fired the building. Only through the kindly effort of somo friends ho was curried away to safety. Thn wife of a Jowolor lay dead, and although they wero shown tho dead body, thoy plied the torch ami burned tho house, A neighbor hold her dying bubo In her arms and plead lu vain to sparo her house. Such aro some of tin horrors of civil war, which oven the high civilization of tho nineteenth century has not been able to subdue If only the memory of these sad times will soften the hearts of tho now generation as thoy rise, It may bo that peace and good will to all men may yet prevail. Thominco pio was a Christ mna favor lto in tho timo of the poet llcrrick, who wroto of it: Tho while tho meet U a-tbrtsldtag For tho rare minco pie, And die plums stand by To fill the paste that's a-Lncedlng. Tlio Duy Iteforo Chrlitma. MV nniTiau twsr'' riJ-2Ww T m at miB&L Fat Turkey I've been living high lately. Wonder w hut's the mutter. What ht this C'hrhituitu businetia any vrny? 'lliln Turkey (who has consumption) You will know beforo night; lu, tal Telephone at tho CoviUKH oftlce U !&), 4 ' MISS MARIE JANSEN'S Famous Sons from ERMINIE. , THIS AFTERNOON AT FOUR. - We take pleasure in offering to our readers, through our columns this xocek, by permission of the owner and publisher, Mr. It. A, Saalfehl, Union Square, New York, the famous song entitled "This Afternoon at Four." It is sung nightly, with round after round of applause, by the popular soubretlc, Miss Marit Jansen, in the Opera ofJinninie, at the New York Casino Theatre. Itfjfat qfter L. 8. Itnto. fr By MAX FREEMAN. ipllliip&lppl This nf tcr noon at four SI - tnon walla nt my door, Drcss'il to kill from head lo pSplpplSilffliBali g8$S;E5Ep ln -- Btcotul time go to Ghorut. ; f f fr sEmfm too, Then to tho .lnnco wo go. dre cwHcll' WWlo Jao-nctlo, IWlorM Imlr lllco mll-lcr's ( Ills suit so nout, Don t ho look sweet? I;llo n no - bio man ho 1 fcafprfMs mmWMWmmwm E5C ' P f P fr - m & JL A M JU f4tfhmki B.3." Sa die. Silk and striped hoeo, Turn up my nose, Llko a fash-Ion a bio la - dy, ) My par - a - tol Looks gay and droll, And a bo-quct of Jack ro res, ) K EC3, 35S JgE y- ':' gpgifeala m U i J . f' P P P 7J , i CHORUS AND DANCE. Piu Unto, p fr P $&it$Egmm. v ftgg 0 -v And tho band wlll play so charm -lug Volso and Mln-u - ct, Valso and Mtn-u - et, J j!i!L& p sraisi fr P -JH-mMms Wln-u - et, They will play an alr-y, falr-y Valso nud Mln-u- ct, Alr-y, falr-y Mln-u ct. i 0 THE -0 -p-siWrr gf r r m TfJSElTfJEx AND ELKBIJBExEi CHRISTMAS PRESENTS -TT-ij. JVT TIIEi t t ' V. TIU 4HVa, -i lobe wfjne-JsPTice is&lotnine: Jaiouse TSffs ttR ffr TTplj? C J sarsretrn Silk Mufflers, Cashmere Mufflers, Silk Handkerchiefs, Silk Ties, Plush Ties, Fur Caps, Elegant Silk Umbrellas, And several other articles in Fine Furnishing Goods suitable for Holiday Gifts, which we are selling at exceedingly low prices. GLOBE ONE-PRICE CLOTHING HOUSE, Corner O and ioth. E. M. EISFELD & CO., Props. 1