Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1889-09-12

pint OF guanO INTO my lace, hilu pe-
Eforo I had time to wipe my eyes or
spit out the stuff, my sight aYas OBJ
soured by an old guano sack--that
didn't smell by any means like the
last rose of s,,mcr---being bound
over my orbs Of vision. ] was then
led three times around the room and
halted in front of the Grand Tycoon
on the cotton bale.
"Benightcd brother farmer, who
hath been groping in darkness, the
light of organized agriculturalists IS
now about to break upon you"
spakc the Tycoon. "You arc now
within the sacred precincts of the
Farmers Alliance, and in order to
nndclibly fix upon your mind great
truths, we will proceed to carry you
through the ordeal of initiation.
That handful Of guano cast into
your eyes is intended to show you
the folly of an undue use of this cx-
pensivc commodity. a limited use
of guano in the right place is pro-
per but you will not, I hope, soon
forget the lesson taught you about
its abuse. Now carry the bcnightcd
brother to the Grand Vicc-Tycoon
for further instruction."
| was then violently turned
around, my guards released me, and
l was told to go straightforward at a
brisk trot. This | did, but soon ran
against ten rail fence that had
been secretly builI iii my pain, and
in. the fall was skinned from head to
heels. | was soon brought up stand
ing again, the guano sack removed
from over my eyes, and | was car
ricd before tho fellow sitting on the
pile Of sacks. With look of pity
ing contempt this Vicc-Tycoon spakc
to me thusly:
eBcnightcd brother farmer, seek
inn the light of truth, we admins
tered to you the Fence Degree, in
order to impress npon your mind the
fact that to BIZ prosperous farmer,
it is necessary to avoid a too close
intimacy with a fence. 1t is the
habit of too many farmers to sit
astridy rail and watch niggcr
work his crop. We trust that the
lesson you have just learned will not
be lost. The six wcll-drcsscd mon
you see over III that corner repre-
scnts the mercantile world, and We
will now proceed to administer to
you what ii known in tho Alliance
rs the Ok, or Hcwcr Of Wood Dc
gree"
My guide then stepped up and ty-
ing Il board over my cycs-likc they
do fence breaking stccrs-l was led
into the center of the room. Soon
I heard q great scuilling at the door
and the six fellows representing mcr,
chants forced into the room littlC
spotted bull calf, as wild as a Texas
pony. lie was brought up along.
side of me, and the pair Of us yokcd
together, one of the merchants hold
ing 4 rope tied in the ring of the
yoke. | thought had seen pretty
tough times, but l soon knew that
my past experience was but childs
play compared with the ordeal be,
fore me. That little bull and | wcrt
turned loose, and the time we made
around that room would shame &
race horse. | knew I had to kccr
up or my neck would be broke. II
had always been a mystery to me
how Il steer could turn its yoke, but
il is no longer a secret. The bull
turned his twice and turned mine
three times. yelled for some one
to head us, but the louder | hollcrcd
the faster the little bull travelled
Just as gave myself - for lost We
were brought to standstill, the yoke
removed from my bruised and bleed
ing neck, and I was again led before
the Grand Tycoon, who consolngl,
addressed me thusly:
"Bcnightcd brother, seeking wis
dom, the lesson you have Just re
ccivcd is to impress upon your min,
the sad truth that you are but F.;
beast of burden for the commercial
world. The merchant has yoke 0
s"rvit"Ac upon your neck, and yol
can only look for relief to Far
mcrs' Allianccman. We will nov
administer to you another dcgrc,
showing the difference between casl
and credit"
was again taken in hand by two
merchants, who iorcibly tied a strons
cord around each Of my thumbs, an,
in 4 twinkling was suspended to ;
ridgc-polc. That yelled with pain
and begged for mercy, it. is needles
a. IL l.