The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-12-29
CHRISTMAS ANECDOTES.
AS TOLD IN THE COUNTRY DURING
THE HOLIDAYS.

Each District Has It's Rare Character,
Some Stories Related.
OVER GEORGIA, Dec. est is the sea-
son for the Christmas story-tellers The
excitement Of politics has abated, and the
people ara enjoying the holiday season.
In the rural districts the holidays are
largely spent in storytelling. The rarest
characters come to the front now, and the
country is a theater of unadulterated
originality. Great crowds are collecting at
the crossroads stores and at the county
seats, aud the plantations remote from
stores are the scenes of hilaritv.
HEAR THE STORY TELLERs
Merchant Ray Of Crawford county, who
is shrewd tinancier having successfully
accumulated fortune buying and selling
produce In the country, has many years
been regarded as the best story teller in his
district. On one occasion a farmer sold him
some eggs. The eggs, as usual, were packed
IN cotton seed to Keep them from breaking.
When the merchant sold the eggs he
emptled the seed on the floor 10 be swept
out with the trash. The farmer, after
trading about among the boys, returned
for pay for the eggs and to get his basket.
The merchant was writing when the far
waited his eyes fell upon the seed lying on
the floor. A new kind OF cotton seed were
being sold in the county and they were the
first to attract the attention of the farmer.
Look heah. squire Ray" he SAID, "what
kind of seeds is these heah,n STOPPING TO pick
them up.
1t flashed into the merchants head to sell
him the seed.
"They are this new kind of seed, but that
is all | have left. / wanted to try them
myself"
Ray kept writing and spoke in an uncon-
cerned manner.
well, shorely, squire, I'd like pow'ful
well 70 git some or them frum yer" said
the farmer, mere interested.
Ray looked up and said: "Well, Uncle
johnnie, you see the pile. It's all I've got,
but beings it's you, you may have 'em
You've got better place to test em than /
have, and il you'll promise to give 'em
fair and square showing beside the others
I'll give em to you for the eggs"
"'Pon my word Squire Ray, I'll give 'em
the very best test, and if there's anything
in 'em I'll fetch it out" He ra1ed the seed
up very carefully and put them in HE
basket, and took them home and planted
them.
HOW THE SEED TURNED OUT.
II was good season and crops did well.
leuJ tOlu tH6 JOk6 10 Uu6 DcyS ABOUT MS
store, and when the farmer came 20 town
at Christmas Ray got crowd about him
and began to talk about the SEED. Said he,
they are undoubtedly the best in the state
Everybody that planted 'em speaks in the
highest praise of 'em, aud tnst say they lust
won't do without them next year, Pre-
tending to get the first sight of the farmer
who stood in the crowd listening, Ray
said: Now, there's Uncle Johnnie -.
INV "a
know how they come out.
First time I've seen him since sold 'em to
him. Amt heard what he thinks 'bout em.
but leave him to say what good they are "
The crowd fastened it's eyes upon Uncle
johnnie. The old man looked triumph
antly about him. He Strengthened himself
up to bis full hight, and said proudly:
"Well, planted the Ray seed, righL side of
the other kind Give 'em the same kind of
attention. Piowed 'em alike, hoed 'em alike
and picked 'em alike, and l make no mis-
take when say the Ray seed made twict as
much as t'other kind" The old man waved
his hand proudly. and a shout went up
from the crowd.
The joke was then told by Merchant Raw.
and the old farmer has never spoken to him
since
a DUELIST CAME ALONG.
Once during the Christmas time, Young
man stopped at Rays store, and he kept
the crowds of hearers thrilled wi h a re-
count of the duels he had witnessed and
those he had read about in history. He
was well informed on this particular line
He had fought duel himself He knew
all the duel phrases and dotted on dueling.
jackson was his ideal of q man. ANY man
that had as many affairs" as jackson. he
would say triumphantly, was entitled to be
president or anything else. Everybody be-
lieved the gas Of the youngster
except Merchant Ray. The mer-
chant bore it patiently until bis
patience wore out. He come from behind
the counter, and in a quiet way remarked
that he agreed with the young man in
every particular He said that he
could appreciate perhaps more fully what
the young man said about duels than any
body else present, because he had fought
duel once him self This announcement sent
him spring from his chair and grasp the
merchants hand. 30. l didut know" he
said, THAT we were kindred spirits. O, sir,
I'm so glad you told me. / can appreciate
you more now. l thought you looked like
brave man. But come. brother, and tell
us about your affair.""
HOW RAY TOLD 1T.
Ray fastened his thumbs in the arms of his
vest and, with a lofty air, went on to relate
the circumstances of the duel. Said he: "It
was the most thrilling experience of nv
life" He told how he felt when he cooliy
took weapon to shoot down fellowrnan.
He described the look of his antagonist
when his pale face met his How he
trembled, and what fear possessed him.
And how these fears vanished when
his back was turned upon
bis foe. and the word ''firer was
given. MY heart was stone," said Ray,
with vigorous stroke on his breast: 'my
soul was gone" The intent young man
bowed his head and kept his ewes on Ray.
20, it was terrible moment, said Raw,
when the word was given. We turued
sharply and fired. The young man Jumped
up and popped his hands,
And you killed him he exulted.
NO." said Ray calmly, che killed me-"
THE STORY OF THE WICKED LAD.
Farmer Bloodworth of Cedar Creek. who
is the best tale teller in his section. will have
his hands fgil from now until time to plow
in grain. He once knew q wicked country
lad, living near him, who attended Sunday
school In village by his parents order, 10 the
hope that 10 would break him from swearing,
That boys experience was not a pleasant
one, 70 hear Farmer Bloodworth tell 1t. and
the particular interest .ng glow be gives 20
It leads many 20 believe that Farmer Blood.
worth was tine Identical lad. The boy. as
all country boys are. he Eaid, was green,
aud the town boys, whom ho says are
always very smart, conceived the idea Of
making sport of him.
Tie moment be entered the church all the
youngs ere eyes were turned upon him. aud
the s9ickering began. They would tbump
paper balls az him, hide his hat aDd a8atch
IL ia A. A.