Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1873-01-07
BRISTOL NEWS
CARRIERS MESSAGE
DECEMBER 25. 1872.
DEAR READER ::

DEAR READER
A year ago thy hopes were high
And visions of good things filled thine eye:
Around the fair slopes, which edge town.
Thy fancy saw red trains come down.
Whose iron steeds had cooled their nose
In the sweet woods where the Cumberland flows
Fair lots, once moved by lowing kline,
Were studded DER with buildings fine,
And Shops and Mills and Wholesale Stores
Were i'll that fancy eye of yours
Thy faith had grown like Jonah's eourd
Add in less time thy faith was poured
On the parched earth and upward went,
Like other things not permanent.
Bristol paused not: 1t dug the hills,
1t graded streets, made cuts and fills;
1t burned the brick and sawed the oak,
And filled the air with labOrs note:
Buildings went up with magic stride;
Churches and Schools were multiplied:
Stores and Factories increased apace
And Bristol went onward in its race.
You deem it queer and nothing worth
That Bristol spreads DER so much earth
That brick and stone now take the place,
Of board built frames-our past disgrace!
That distinct trade assumes its shape,
And Fact'res rise in spite of fateI
The croakers roll their eyes and groan,
Discussing Scott and Gen. Malone,
And swear that Wilson at MOrristown,
His own irOn-hOrse will throttle down,
To kill off Bristol and cruel (?) Malone,
By butting his own brains against Buncomb.
But Bristol knows that this wind blows
Less evil to her than to her foes:
The irOn-hOrse of Capt. Jaques
Will drip at the nose in Cardinals brakes.
That three million road will then be beauty
When that iron horse gets that EpizOOty.
So level head Capt. Jaques'
Such trips may talk of, but never takes.
He means business and understands it
And will run his trains by the old through transit.
So raise your heads you doubling ones
We've use for men, but none for drones.
Fear not events. Events will come;
But sift your sails to meet the storm.
A half an eye can see the blade
Which cut off half your wagon trade,
1t drove town to special lines,
Which paid The loss hundred times:
For retail trade which pays in money
More profit shows than ducks and honey.
Foundres, Sash Factories and Hardware stocks
Book Stores and JewelTy and Clocks
Banks and Tinneries and Millinery Shops
And Fishers .rade and Kuhnet It's drops
And Shoe Factories and Furniture made,
From wood which deck our hills with shade,
Tobacco Factories, Banks and Schools
And Newspapers with leaden tools.
Have put more money in our purses
Than the wagon trade with all its curses.
For '73 please get you ready,
Wind up your debts-debts it, said ! =?
Yes make but few-they'l fill with thorns
The pillow which your cot adOrns.
Erect new stores of brick and tin
And put new enterprise within.
Leave the old beat of soap and soda,
Let dry goods be your special tody,
Or with crockeTy and rich glassware,
Or furnishing goods clothing
Don't scatter your cash from spoons to sifters,
From Sorghum barrels to green fly bsters;
Your pathway then will be much shorter
And you'll make money, or you ought'er
The Bristol Nc1rS speaks wondrOus plain
Take no offence if it complain.
1t means to carry the flag of Bristol
Till Gabriel sounds his solemn whistle:
And meath that flag ,CW fight your battle
Unarmed by fiends or human cattle.
Should cupid trail his scented vines,
SO As to tangle your feet betmes,
Well record his vict'ry in the NEWS
And save an inch for you-ShOuld you choose.
And then should God, in his limitless love,
Call you to walk mid the splendOrs above,
While we walk i'll the cinders of ruin below,
Your deeds through the NeaOs like the beautiful snow
Shall clothe your fair name with beauty divine,
More vocal than marble, less mortal than time.