The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-09-23

one of the public highways, when
rather rough looking man ran out from
a nearby house and as he drew near
INQUIRED if he couldn't obtain a seat
with me for short distance. l was q
little reluctant to grant the favor,
must confess, for the weather was ex-
ceedingly hot and the road dusty, and
the fellow seemed quite as able to pull
one, with such wheels as he had, as
my horse was to pull tao, with the four
wheels and other weights which were
fastened to him; nevertheless suffer-
ed him to share my seat. The man
tried various schemes by which he had
hoped to find out my name, occupation
and residence, while was equally per-
sistent in keeping him in the dark.
think he told me good deal about
himself, that might be the more in
cllned to crafty his curiosity, and then,
as he looked down at a couple OF hand
satchels which lay at his feet in the
buggy, and apparently becoming heart
less as to the success of his efforts, he
-'sThese here satchels you got here
makes it seem like you were drum
mer, or a doctor or something" eyes,
1 said. And I thought my strange,
inquis1tive friend had covered the
ground completely with his some
thing" and I accept it as my travelling
name.
Rev. J. S. Williams, pastor OF the
HALIFAX circuit, with the assistance OF
Rev. G. II. Whitaker, has just closed
an excellent meeting at Bethesda
Methodist Protestant church. There
were several professions of faith, and
quite as many additions to the church,
and the meeting is regarded as very
successful one in every particular.
Bethesda is well known church, and
Rev. DR.. w. III. Wills, Benjamin Hunt
or, DR.. L. w. Bachelor, David Parker
and RObt. J. V1nsOn, were among Its
worthy founders. These have all passed
. away, but have been succeeded in a
most substantial sense, if in some cases
an indirect manner.
After a drive of over forty miles
across the county am still but poorly
prepared to give an estimate Of croI
conditions, and this is always difficult
to do ON account of the almost univers
al habit of the people to complain ani
9 grumble. I suppose it safe to say tina
t the crop is larger than has been report
!. ed recently. Most of the corn is dr..
enough to harvest, and in some of thu
cotton fields three-fourths OF the boil
are already open-a very rapid ripen
e ing within the past week. The tobacc'
n crop is very talr one, and the curinl
b seems to have been generally success
ful.
1t is notable fact that the month
Of April and September of 1896, e.
r pecially September-were warmer tina
the average August for the previou
~ ten years, and that September Of 189
e. has been quite much warmer, thus ia
! than any September OF the past tbs
: has been reported. But for the drought
at however, the heat of this Septembe
=. would be far less than it is. A 9res
deal of damage, am sure, has resulte
from driving horses during these ht
days in cases where little or no though
he has been given to the humane side {
the question. This, by the way, is
~ subject which merits larger degree ,
p. thought than has at any time bee
:, given 1t by our people, and it Is to /
hoped that the subject will have d.
u, attention at some early day. Modera
h driving is duty, as well as the be
policy, at all times; how much mol
ed SO in the days OF drought, excessl,
=. heat and dust?
News came here early this mornir
70 that two citizens of the communi
had passed away during last night
Mr.. Phil. Taylor, young man, al
Mrs. Tom. Motley, lady Of tamil
[c- Yet think the amount OF sickness
m the country is quite small.
e MN. M. Harrison, of this place,
whom ] have spoken, Is an up-to-da
IN merchant, and does quite an amou
led Of business. He is at present enlargil
Of the capacity Of his gin, having TAX
l>v out the one that has been in use hel
tofore, and Is putting in power q
1 feoder and condenser, with an eleve
A. horse engine, giving 4 capacity il
at, double that Of the old gin, that Il,
no bales of cotton Per day. Mr.. Harris
81 Ek3nka fhaf IN fhia aefsfirn there uff1