The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1889-09-19
THE OLD BRIDGE.
That Spans the W. & A. r. r. ON Pow.
der Springs Street.
FARMER BEACH" HAS BAD DREAM.

whatever the cause, fell to meditating the
other night after tea, then fell asleep, and
sleeping, dreamed.
My dream carried me to town, and late
at night, after attending to my onerous du-
| ties as member of some committee and
taking las the dream would have it) few
soothing potations of the mild brewed bev-
erage of Germany, set out to return
1t was near the wee small hours, and
as l approached the bridge which spans the
track of the W. & A., on Powder Springs
street, my heat swelling with pride over
the growth and progress of our beautiful
little city, l was suddenly startled by the
appearance Of misty cloud before me 1t
was not steam, for no train had passed
within an hour. AS | drew nearer to it,
from the enveloping folds of the mist, there
stepped forth a spectral form 1t was that
of man, but tall, feshless and bloodless
"a skeleton. Stretching forth its bony
fingers, it seemed to bid me "standp' l
did so at once SO did each particular
hair" and my eyes did stand forth from
their sockets. Still the spectre spoke not
At length happy thought struck me l
had in the breast pocket of my pants
small flask containing few drops of DR..
Elixer Browns Sequard of life (of which l
usually carry a supply which had been
manufactured at great risk by moonlight,
in the mountains of North Georgia
Taking this out, offered it to the spec
tire. A ghostly smile suffused his face as he
seized the flask, and as the life giving
drops disappeared through his Gaping
jaws blush light enveloped the form, and
a sepulchral voice broke the painful still
ness of the scene, saying:
Ny mortal friend, canst thou tell me, if
there exists in this city sightless speci-
men of the Felis Tigris p
AS soon as could find tongue | replied:
I'VE have in our quiet town many won
deriul things, but I know not what you
meal. Please talk United States. | am
not heather Chinee.
Then again spoke the spectre.
Il would ask, is there in your town a
Blind Tiger?i
No, not even young one" l fastened
to reply. Our good mayor and aldermen
have banished these animals from our
midst, and are now preparing to shed
food of light upon all the dark corners of
our city, so that there will be no lurking
place for the monster"
"Dost thou mean to tell me, interrupted
the spectre, that there is no spot where
thirsty man may find that soothing bever-
erage which delights the soul p
You forget, my friend" answered l. that
this is progressive age, and that old Gus
toms are giving place to new and better
ways. This town is now led by the hand
OF the spirit of progress.
Show me the evidences of what thou
sayest," said my ghostly interlocutor, adj
vancing as he spoke and standing upon the
bridge
Look about you, )" said l. "See all the
new and beautiful buildings that adorn our
town. see the wires of the telegraph and
the telephone, which gives us speedy COM
munication to the rest of mankind; and,
then too, we are soon to have electric
lights which will forever dispel the dark.
ness of night from our city; but be careful
my friend 7 l exclaimed suddenly, as l
saw the ghost stepping backward, "or you
will fall through that large hole in the
bridge, which the carpenter has forgotten
to adorn to-day with its daily patch"
Again the spectre grinned a CHASTITY
smile and said: Speak on and tell ne
more about this progress.
"Well," said l. I'VE are going to have
$4,000 hotel on the summit of Kenne-
saw, and a dummy railway around the
mountain, and-and-and we are going to
have electric lights.
Go on, said the spectre, as paused a
moment to take breath.
I'VE shall have new fire apparatus, new
water works, railroad to Austell, and we
shall have free schools and-and electric
lights.
What more p asked my listener
well, we hope to get cotton factories,
shoe factories, broom factories and furni-
ture factories in the near future" con-
tinued l, "and-and-electric lights-and
before our country's next centennial, in
1916, we hope to have a new iron bridge in
place of the patched up concern on which
you are now standing
An angry glow seemed to light up the
spectral bones as l mentioned the bridge.
Heesprang back and stretching forth his
arms, pointed long bony finger at me
and asked
What impious hand shall dare remove
this sacred structure ??
Our aldermen have so decreed, was my
trembling reply.
The ghostly form stood for a few mo