The farmers' alliance. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1889-1892, February 14, 1891, Image 3

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    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 . . .
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