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About The farmers' alliance. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1889-1892 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 14, 1891)
THE FAKME1W ALLIANCE. T.TNTOt.V. NEB.. 8ATUm)AY FEB. 14,1601. THE HEARTHSTONE. A Department for Home nd Fireside, dlle4 by M. 8. & a Cpton. Tie enmer stoao of the republic it the aearthtma." "YOU NEVER TOLD US OF THE EVIL OP STRONG DRINK," He stood ia tha door of the Sunday school room, waiting to finish a conver-1 eatioa with a lady who held a boy by the hand. " I "Don't yod think it would be as well to let the scholars take part in some ex ercise on the subject of temperance, Mr. ! Johnson?" asked the lady. "You are the superintendent, and if you should assign the scholars any texts or verses about ihe subject, I know they would ' be glad to get them. You would, Eddie, wouldn't you!" I "What! Say something, say a verse?" j asked the boy, one of the kind whose eyes are forever snapping, hands forev er moving, head forever turning, and to wmuui all occupation is a delight be cause a constitutional necessity. "J would, and I know lots of others would epfak" "Temperance, did you sayfMnquired Mr. Johnson, so coldly that Mrs. At wood tell a shiver at once. ."Yf8.sir" - "Al u : It Is not judicious, I think, to spea on controverted subjects in the Sunday -school, and where a difference of ouiuiou exists. I feel is better for people to think about temperance as they please. But it is time for me to call the school together," and the speaker moved along the entry like an iceberg drifting out of sight: "What did ho say mother?" asked Ed die. "That people had better think about temperance as they pleased?" Mrs. At wood was so absorbed in her painful thoughts that she did not pay any attention to the question. Days, weeks, months, years, slipped by. A hard winter" visited the city of N -. There was hardness in every di rection. The severe cold that prevailed so long seemed to freeze up everything. It reached the money bags in the vaults and the tills in the counters and the purses in the pockets of the capitalists, ice forming everywhere and stopping the flow of money. At least. God knows a very scanty stream of the article drib bled into one poor home in a tall, gaunt tenement house. A m other was, there watching by the bed of a consumptive son, a young man. "A cold night." ho said, "mother? "Yea. it is." "What makes me think it Is snowing? Seems as if it were getting into : bed," he said, in a hoarse whisper. "It is snowing." She wont to the window and looked down into the street. " A rough wind was driving tjie flakes in clouds through the streets, threatening to smother the lamp posts and the very houses. "I can't seem to see anvone coming," ahe muttered. "Its so cofd here " , "1 can't tell whether it is the snow or the serpents," said the son, in a loud whisper. "He is wandering - agara," said the mother, bending over the bed. ,J.'It will be warm soon, I think." :- "Yes. soon soon soon ha-ha!" ; H'8 laugh was that of a mind break ing like aship from all moorings and drifting out into a darksea. That evening a note had been left at the door of a. gentleman in tho neighbor hood, and it read thus: ; ! "There ia a sick man, a consumptive, living in the district at 182 Putnam St. They arc pretty destitute, and if you could get them some wood and coal to night, I know it would be acceptable." "A note from our minister," said Mr. Berry. "He has been callling there to day probably. I will take some wood and coal with me and go at once. I wonder if ray guest would like to come with me? He will have some idea of our poor districts." " ; The gentleman visiting Mr. Berry said he would like to go, and the two started off, a basket of coal and wood hanging on Mr. Berry's arm. Through the snow they tugged, and then they climbed a dark flight of stairs leading up somewhere from the black hole la beled "182." , "Whew! how cold! We'll have a fire at once," said Mr.'Berry, as he stooped over the stove in the consumptive's room, quickly changing the mute, rusty piece of iron' into a creature that laugH ed and sang and chuckeled and roared, flashing out into the room a cheery warmth. The companion of Mr. Berry had gone to the sick young man's bed. "I am sorry you are sick," said the visitor. . "Thank you. but the snakes are bad." "He is wandering, sir," exclaimed the mother.',,.' , , 'But you wait a moment. His mind will come back again." The young man had fastened his dark sunkeu eyes on the stranger, and seemed to le making an effert to recog nize him. It was a nainful effort. It was hard to bring bak the ship that had broken from its moorings, drifted off into the wildness and blackness of the sea.-' , . "Don't, don't I know you?" He asked. "Perhaps so." "Did you keep Sunday-school once?" "Yes." "Did Eddie Atwood ever go to you?" "Oh, yes, I remember him." "Didn't you once say you would not have a temperence service and people had bettor think as they please!": ..,...- v- "I dare say, people were rather fanat ical on the subject." . "I am Eddie Atwood." "I wouldn't," said his mother, "It will make you cough." "Just raise me once. I only say it Mr. Johnson for you may still be superintendent i will know what to do another , 3. 1 acted as you ad visedand did as I pleased. You nev r told us of the evil of strong drink. I ruined myself in that way. and here I am" s -.. "Oh. don't, don't, Edward! Oh, quick quick! Help!" screamed the mother.' But no help could reach Edward At wood. His soul had drifted out upon that sea from which no vessel ever re ; turns. .. ' , Thousand of goldcresU annually cross and reeross the North Sea at the wildest period of the year, and, unless the weather is rough, generally make their migrations In safety. And yet this is the smallest and frailest British bird a mertv fluff of feathers and weighing cnljr 70 grains. A TALE OF TMS PRAIRICS. UjrtU aad Sa4r r a Saaday Imw l Bahala, Great is the land of the Dakota, tying between sundown and the laujrh ing water of Minnesota, but greater am iu wondr-raonia ways. Five or six years ago wuiie wandering through that prairie realm a Washington SLir man pawd a quiet Sunday at an in land toa. Tim day whs one of those on which all nature seems to say this U the Sabbath. Tue sun shouts with sacred light, tha dewy landscape sparkled with a divine radiance, the birds joined iu the chorus of tha spheres, while the lowing of the bents and bleating of the Hocks seemed mel lowed, as if even the brutes were touched by the hallowed influence of the day. It was a time peculiarly tit led for the spirits of the dead to be borne buoyantly away to the land of the redeemed; and accordingly - the spirit of a young man had taken iu flight, bat the body was left for human disposal. The morning was yet fresh when the country procession was seen, like a caravan of the desert, moving slowly along the prairie road, ignorant of ' metes and bounds, toward the drowsy village. ; The friends of the deceased, eager to pay him a parting courtesy, bad drafted into service such vehicles as they possessed, and the gathering was none the less earnest jind sincere if carts instead of cush ioned carriages bore them to the vil lage church and again took up the journey to the new-made grave. Some of the mourners and none but mourners gathered there were drawn by horned and cloven-footed steeds, and one conveyance was a wagon mounted with a hay-rick, on which a score of serious people sat cushioned by a few forkfulls of sun cured prairie grass. But the most noticeable and "painful feature of the procession was, t the lumber wagon hearse containing tho plain pine coffin, astride of which the driver sat. un moved and immovable, as if deter mined that whatever became of the departed spirit its . deserted abode should be held in the rural churchyard for rent, to,, lesser worms than man. He clung eagerly to the earthly spoils, unmindful of the fact that he was out of Looping with his surrouudings. and at last stolidly beheld the tenantless handiwork of God consigned to the dust from which it came. There was no professional weeping and no set programme for the mourners. They sobbed in solos or broke forth iu a symphony of emotion as, under chang ing feeling, the heart leaped forth and recoiled. , , The deceased had come from his pa ternal roof near the Baltic Sea ouiy a few years before, but so quick is the transformation here that ho seemed al together, an American, I was told. He had taken a homestead under the Stars and Stripes, and bis sister, a nretty Danish girl, had recently joined' him. Her loneliness and subdued sorrow made her more than usually interest ing aud attractive. As the only rel ative of her brother she succeeded to his estate and kept open the little prai rie home. In six months she knew enough English to conjugate the verb "to love," and within a vear she was married to a young school teacher, who, becoming enamored of her beauty, succeeded in winning her af fections. ; Sorrow for the dead was transformed into love for the living crape gave way to- flowers and clouds to sunshine. The young husband was the next year elected to the Legisla ture, in which he has since taken an active and prominent part and stands now in the line df political promotion. It is more than likaly that ere many years pass by, be wilt come to Cpngress as the representative of his people, and then the pretty Danish, girl, who wept her lonely weep a,t her brother's grave in a foreign land and would not be comforted, will become a bright par ticular star in the social firmameut of that Nation's Capital. Yes, great ars the Dakotas. but greater still the inspi ration and possibilities of our country ' Social Laws for Girls. , Yon think the laws of society are severe. You do not believe that con ventionality is a great sword held np, not to strike you, but to protect you, and you shrug your pretty shoulders and say, "I knew I was doing nothing wrong, and I don't care what people say." Now, my dear, you must care what people s.iy; the world is a great judgment court, and usually. the inno cent and the ignorant are protected by it, though occasionally, some one fall ing into the mire of scandal and gos slfv is brought into tho court all be draggled aud disfigured, and the jiuige, not being able to see the virtue thac is underneath, decides against tho victim, and all because she did net care what the world said. I wish you would think even of the most innocent things. . Sometimes I fear you think I am a little bit severe, but 1 have known so many girls who were so thoughtless, yet so good, and who only found pro tection in the word of conventional ity. It may hang over your head, as did that of Damocles, but it is as a warning. It will -protect you from evil-speaking, from the making of in judicious friends, and it will insure you much more pleasure than if all the world ran helter-skelter and be came like a wild Irish fair day. Conventionality protects yon, as does the best mother, frowning at and forbidding not only that which is, but also that which looks wrocr. RuU AsunoA, in Ladies1 liomt Journal. Very Absent-Mlnded. One of the most amusing cases of absent-mindedness on record is that told on a certain famous professor of one of the northern colleges. He was one day in a book store deeply ab sorbed in tiudin a work to prove some question in dispute. The store was well lilled with customers and as the professor started to leave he stopped to shake hands with a few friends. Lust of all he extended his hnud to a sweet-faced lady near the counter, say ing: MJood moiMiiig.mndame. Your face looks very familiar, but I am un able to recall your name." Ahsorlx-d in thought he passed out without await ing the ludy's reply. She was hia wife. Drake's JHayazinc A FRIEND OF LINCOLN'S. HE FELL ON THE FIELD OF CHICAAMAUGA. A Tnr KMtackUa Vba Tfcrait Baaar sal Utf kwmj fra Ma A Bad af IKf . tta BrtwMa Umli aad th . Tmb . The story of President Lincoln's confederate brother-in-law is one of the most interesting and pathetic f n all our war history, says the Louis ville Courier Journal. It is full of the pathos of friendships broken and divided lives. The two were devotedly attached to one another; their friend ship was like that of David and Jona than. The story is worth teliing now. Ben Hardin Helm was bom in 1831. His father, Hon. John L. Helm, was a prominent lawyer and politician, once governor of the state. His son. named for his maternal grandfather, was sent to West Point. He graduated In 18ol. and was assigned to the Second dragoons. He only remained in the service a year, and then resigned to enter upon the practice of law. Young Helm was known as a rising young lwyer all over the state. ' He was elected to the legislature and made a creditable member. . He married Miss Todd, and a year thereafter made a visit to Illinois, where be first met his brother-in-law, Abraham Lincoln. They formed thon and there a friend ship which was more like the affection of brothers than an ordinary Ukiug between men. Helm fully appreciated the kindly nature, the quaint wit and force of expression of Abraham Lin coln, while' the other' formed a deep attachment for the thoughtful, schol arly, handsome, and polished grand son of old Ben Hardin, whose son had been the contemporary and friend of Lincoln years before. When Mr. Lincoln became president, one of his first thoughts was, "What can I do for Ben Helm?" It must have been about the middle of April, 1861. when, in response to a cordial personal letter of invitation. Helm came to Washington to visit his brother-in-law. He ; was a strong southern : rights Democrat, and a personal friend and follower of John C. Breckinridge. He did not doubt the good intentions of his brother-in-law, Mr. Lincoln, or his desire for peace, but he read the signs of the time aright, and felt that events and destiny would be too strong for any man. Helm fully appreciated the magnitude of the task before Mr. Lincoln. While here he saw a good deal of his old army comrades, and they were nearly all going south. Mr. Lincoln, called Helm into his private office, and. handing him a sealed envelope, said: 'Ben, here i some thing for you. Think it over by your self, and lot me know what you will do." Going to his room. Helm opened the envelope. It contained his nomi nation to be pay-master in the United States army, with the rank of Major! Nothing in his life ever touched Helm like this. He knew the position was one of the most coveted in the service; that the rank of major at his age (thirty), was very exceptional in any army; that he could exchange into the line with any old major. In common with all graduates of the military academy, some time in their lives. Helm had a strong desire to (ret back into the military service. Hore was his opportunity, a chance brighter than be had ever dreamel of! What should he do? He happened that very afternoon to meet Col. Robert E. Lee, just promoted to the command of the First cavalry, with whom he had somo acquaintance. "Are you not well, CoL Lae?" said Helm, : seeing he was under strong emotion of some kind. "Well in body, but not in mad.", responded the stalely Virgiuian. He looked the soldier and gentlomon ol the long lineage that he was. "I have just resigned my commission in the United States army," Lee continued. "In the prime of life, I quit ft service wherein were all my expectations and hopes in this world!" Helm handed the letter offering him the position of major and paymaster with rsnk from that date, to Col. Lee, who read it without a word, ' "Did you know that Mr. Lincoln was my brother-in-law?" said Helm. "No, I did not" said Col. Leo, but let me say one word. I have no doubt of bis (Lincoln's) kindly intentions, but he can not control the elements. There must be a great war. I can not strike at my own people. So to-day I wrote my resignation, and have asked Gen. Scott as a favor for its immediate acceptance. My mind is too much disturbod to give you any advice. But do what your conscience and honor bids. Good-by." And so thoy parted, never to meet again on earth. It is no wonder that Helm slept but Tittle that night or the one following. Mr. Lincoln sail not a word to him, and bis wife did not know of Mr. Lincoln's offer to her husband. . Helm was ambitious. He felt that with op portunity, to him mifht come a great reputation. He knew that Lincoln would need no urging to advance him whenever it was possible and proper to do so. Mrs. Helm was desirous of going abroad. She desired for her hutsoand some diplouihtic position that would give them an opportunity of seeing Europe, and livine in good so ciety. There is no doubt ftheJL Mr. Lincoln would have f Iren Helm al most anything in his gift to have kept him from goinjr south. Sumter hnd been fired on, and the first call for 75,000 men was made. "I will go home," said Helm, to the president, "and answer you from there. The position you offer me is beyond wh t I had expected in my must hopeful dream. It is the place above all others which suits toe." "Lincoln" said Helm, with a tremu lous voice, "you have been kind aud generous to me beyond anything I have known. I bavu no claim upon you, for I opposed your candidacy, and did what I could for the election of another, but with no unkind feeling towurdyou. I wish I 'could see my way. 1 will try to do what Is right. Don't let this offer bo made public yet. You shall have my answer in a very few days." General 'Helm told a very dear friend all this, and added that be could have had the commission of a brigadier general ol volunteers In the three months' service, retaining bis rank in the regular army as mujor besides '') "1 nover had sucn a struggle," said Gen. Helm, long afterward. "The ideal career was before me. The highest positions in tho profession I was educated for. were opened to me in one day. I would not only be tho youngest officer of my rank in tho army, but could transfer at the earliest possible moment . into one of the cavalry regiments.. With the changes then Occurring in them by resignation, I would certainly have been a full colonel within the year. Think what a career, wh.a possibilities were open ed to'me! Then 1 could have been a general officer of volunteers besides. Such an opportunity rarely offers It self, and it almost . killed me to de cline.' One can readily understand It Several years ago, while examining some papers in the war department, the writer cm me across a brief mem orandum rending thus: "Helm, Ben Hardin, nominated for Paymaster in the United States Army, April 27, 1861. Declined." He soon joined his neighbors in the confederate cause, and promotion after promotion followed until he became a full-fledged brigndler general, and on Sept 20, 1863, whilo leading his com mand against Thomas' corps, Holm wus fatally wounded, and -died on : the mornfng of tho 21st "I never, saw Mr. Lincoln more moved," said Senator Davis of Ken tucky, "than when he hoard of the death of his young brother-in-law, Ben : Hardin 'Helm, only thirty-two years old, at Chlckamaiua. I called to see him about 3 o'clock on the 22d of Sep tember, 1863. I found him in the greatest grief. 'Davis,' said he, 'I feel as David of old did when ho was told of the death of Absalom. Would, to God I had died for thee, oh, Absalom, my son!' I taw how grief-stricken ho was," said Senator Davis, In a tone full of memories, "ho I closed the door and left him alone." Tolesi of tho Kijht Do you ever lie awake at night Acd thinkand think an J think Of a hundred thousand -foolish things , , Whicli "hung 'round'1 midnight brinkl And do you at tho same time hear Tho hollow, gurglluff-rgurg Of your stationary washutaud, Like a bungling burrlar's burg While the latticed window shutters flap The saahes (full of pane) ; . And the myriad voieos of tho night Talk nonsense to vour brain! You don't! I do. And the ghostly, gruosoino groaning Aud the melancholy 'straiu Of that measly mourning, uionning, Gurgling, guzzling water main, Wrap au eorio, imv i:kcry, nllacy, , Fallacy sort of souud In tho meshes of tho midnight. Which entwine roe round and round, My llesh creeps all in heaps, Finally Bleeps, Whilo tho melancholy moaning And the hungry, hollow groaning - Of the stiind Keep liiY slumbrous soul a-uoaring Up and down a raging, roaring Nightmare land. . Kaa cf Kstal. Men with irdn constitutions do not always last the longest. Wagons and carriagos are now-a-d iys made, many of thom, with iron axles. They aro much stronger, per haps, at first than those with wooden axles. ' . . Are they the best? It is not our purpose to pass judg ment on this matter about which the best exports may disagree. Our ob ject is to call attention to the fact that if there be a flaw in an iron axle, look out for s smash up when the first ?o vere strain is experienced. It will not do to load too heavily, in the belief that the iron axle will bear up auy burdon. 1 Men with iron constitutions are apt to think they can stand anything. The world ia full of illustrations of the great mistake such men make. Aa Invention That Paid As large a sum as was ever obtainod for any invention was enjoyod by tho Yankee who invented the inverted glass bell to hang, over gas jets to prevent ceilings from 'being blackesid by smoke. Presence of Kind. "Lend mo $15, will you?" "Cer Uunly, How nvich did you sav9" Fifty doihirs.,,-l'uck. HIGHLAND V We have H aerses ef tk skovesvea wmJeb set aiMllea. A eartiitaete vf ftr waat a hood mim tfiiuftl. warns a eooo vsarot. stauja, weta t lisauu run e4 we wW sviyrise rm wtJi BARN AT WABASH PATGSS wiLLUS! En::3T, c:Ff I Bwaapm w rnn iipponaa a aaia-araa wosa-a a l w I I akaloa Fraanrii Coank atj,kaa. All af tHi f tr lliUv V-, am- iiiai 1 Frtuik Skua liuoM uJtut!.. r.il 4 tt .a. I feava tht bmt tiu. 1 In v -.aoa t ay tua and sail aortas aa t-. UH yea kattar horsas for t wner thsa y otkar lapnrter or kra4, I wiU tf T' ' ' " M at eoBiiay to wf f laes, aa4 yen sil be taa iude. ar fv, a m lis V,tf I ktaokrtrmTUioo- l a9tliaO.BrQ. aV. WMTu--r-4 aun C j. x. A tkrea-fourtas of a auia ef railroad station a,d Oraf. V to tr aaaiue or et ese DSiLD WUH TK3 GSOVra AND Savo Mid.dIo IProfLto! coo acres on own thee a aiw plaittd Suited KttnAx, TLeilj t xi!L Ct::Sc Trw ta r:i2. Zr"i Cz-zzMzl pacieu to CJLr.Tr cjl:. .t. ta Meskef vrest tsiifp-v et I ,7 rr;:m:j iz:Tsj o Czi. C; i ad a o a Wiora na of t..vrr, iiuC . i.aaBl'aBJUBa' Axtuaos waaa wi-iyh.,, Addrcn CRETB NURSSSIZS, ct C R OCXs I Ct ITcrUi C-. O CtBtrally located tad ntwly frr'-ied ttircrrrJ., C1 LARGE AITD Terr, $1 25 tc $1.50 Per tzy. NON EXCELLED DISC HARROW -II LAWRENCE IUPLEUE11T CO., . TV 11 J. .W HARTLEY, State Agent. -BLIT.fi STUmO. The finest grora&Sooir Photograph Gallery in the State. All Work in the finest finish. Satisfaction Guaranteed. 2263 nth street. iotf. T. W. TOWNSEND, Proprietor. The Latest Improved and Best End-gate Seeder. S3. -- .if pi tic " a;: . STOCK FARM J. B. EIX Go. Frv'T'c, shirz, rccrrr.:, arzzzzuziZD hmnw kntsea, Kj tftr tr t Milsrats trim. I hi satis to acc4 - v. rta tat we , u late sum "a, V 1 - r jfr fa t ta.V4a t ? - J i. 7 a La L 10arw4k U3 ft r H xe r KkaaM mm air a4 - . - Avvt fair was twavty-twe ' -. or n4 StI sw f. 1 Wlllt f-w f - 13 B(taaa Park 1.ma, T. OTJTEIER&QOX7, ectstj or ngliali Shiro, Pcrc!::rcaciLa Frczi pt fea4 la4tMla I j nor, m o i- w aou a tr i. EXTOT. mmw2& c: xrnt, t:i::A: I have the bur aa4 bst let of farohwoa rf M ef srV . aira wet of tt MMiMipfti. I avr tmnri r-1 i sutlllefia, wait), loUarwltk mj iilt jf lw9r ,,. of tea aaest oollaauwa efhonas avar mi a ea ataa's sr. i -f c::io vin e? r:LA::D c:::::.v cv:::: Jumbo 11X3, thi lawk Flnt Priu xil Tha lanrMt hard mad tha nrmt IndtvKua1! ewsai rv r"l f 1 itor wtwt. I kavt pics of al r ana either swafor s ,1 tha faraer'a koa the most valuable skow 'wtU, aa4 Mn faalHXuknowa to Poland China !-. The f o " to j le for ist, Humbe Usti Doctor V .1: Orutnt Ui Tomb Jaataa lWGSTaad Jumbo Jr.. Vol. UA. P.C. u: iMpaotloa iBVtted. Free livery to drift to fans on t "m M Q. w Baldwin, Uvaryaaaa. Ca'M(r- "t f-j-f . . . IN !V-i:-;l . , UI3 Cz'AtftlZ, Fr;rj . l Wholesale and Betail Dealers ta tttf . l FARII nACimiERI. Best in tho market. Ho Far me r should bo T7f thout ono ,For Sale by We can maho you special prices on a 2 . 1 : '..-r-.- '..1 . Send in your order i.t. nnnA . ww. J. W. HARTLEY, Lincoln. Nob. n l S3tf