The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-07-15

red scar athwart his forehead; never
flushed nor disconnected 4; his voice sweet
as woman's, and full of tenderness when
ever he spoke of or to his old mother.
Folks wondered that he should come
home if he couldn't conduct himself lit,
tie more socially and neighborly and in
deed, many slrmised that he would net
have returned at all had it not been for
his mother.
But at any rate, there he was and they
must make the best of him. erich, too;
no doubt of that, fo- didn't he lend Squire
Fordham three thousand dollars, all ia
double eagles, after the latter's mill was
burned ? Bnt then he took an unoon-
scionable rate of finterest-seven PER cent,
not mill less; what regular old Shy
lock he must be! And as set-of to his
riches don't he drink wine every day at
dinner with his fathers awful fate before
him ;? and amt he forever with pipe
between his teeth and didn't he play
cards, and carouse, and sing songs all
night, and drive about the country all
day, with those friends of his who came
from Boston? Old mates in the mines,
were they? Humph Guess they were
gamblers, by their superfne broadcloth,
and their gold chains and things p
So went the gossip, and Nick cared for
it all not red cent, but went on his way,
turning neither to the right nor to the
left dabbling little in fancy cattle, but
oftener going off for days shooting or
fishing; more oftener going down to Bes-
ton for nobody knows what; evidently
enjoying life in his own way, despite all
that was said of him and his goings on.
At last the war broke out. The young
men volunteered by scores-by hundreds
by thousands. Weeping mothers pack
ed their kits and said, "God bless you"
Sad, broken circles met around homely
boards in the brown arm-houses. Poor
old fathers, with stern faces aud sad
hearts, strained every nerve TO make both
ends meet while the "boys" we're away
| fighting, and sweethearts and wives sat
themselves down to weep over husbands
and lovers marching away for the cruel
swamps of Virginia.
In the midst Of it all, report began
to spread that Nick Dudley was seces-
sionist And indeed, his conduct was
somewhat suspicious.
Before the storming of Sumpter, he was
heard to say dozen times that he "sym-
pathizod with his misguided Southern
brethren" Since that momentous era,
he had held his tongue, never joining in
the excited harangues of his neighbors in
the village scbool-house; attended no war
meetings; offered no money for the cause,
and did nothing to encourage enlistments.
1t looked bad, certainly. Al length the
public feeling ran so high that Nick heard
of it, but he only laughed, calling them
a pack Of fools for their pains, and said
he would give his opinions when called
upon for them, not before. But no one
cared to ask him point blank what he
thought, for wholesome fear of his PROV
ess was prevalent in Springdals. But
Nick got caught at last.
"Come, father, teas ready" aaid Lizzie.
Eyes, child, in q minute. What's this ?
Three hundred thousand more men called
for by President Lincoln p
"The Lord pity their poor mothers" !"
said old Mrs. Hopkins, wiping her eyes,
as she thought of Ben, her first, born,
away in the army.
The Deacon cast his eyes down the
column. "Humph! what's this New
reglment-under the Presidents procla-
nation, Colonel Dudley has been COM
missioned by the Governor to raise reg
iment for immediate service"
Il wonder if that's Nick" said Lizzie.
"No. He's secessionist." grumbled
the Deacon.
"He isn't" spoke up Cioily-then
blushing like a rose.
"Why, Cicily, child," said Mrs. Hop
kins, chow do you know what be is p
"Why, he told me Ga white lie)-that
is (conscience-strlcken)-he didn't exact
ly say SO, but II know-that is, l
think"
Dett0r % qulte sure OF What you are
saying, Cioily."
Cicily Hopkins-sweet Cicily Hopkins,
from New Hampshire-down for visit
to her cousin Lizzie, came blooming into
Springdale one June morning, and Nick
stared at her whenever and wherever he
could, like real heather as he vas and
before many days he had made some pre-
tense to call over at the Deacon's where
he stlaightway received az introduction
to pretty Cicily, who wondered much at
his great moustache, and rather liked his
looks, but denominated him perfect bear
afterwards, when she and Lizzie were
talking him over. Then he invited Miss
Lizzie (and Cleily, of course, to ride over
to Accomac popds with MIN, to fish for