The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-06-23

MS mOtner anO nus sisters also came
round him, and there was great time
They all kept looking at him. He wa.
tanned. There is scarcely = person old
or young in the whole North who does not
know the exact color of the vicksburg tan
1t is said, the Rebels were worse tanned
which is likely, since Gen. Grant is tan
ner, Andy's clothes were so clean they
seemed new, and the blue cloth was very
Ane. The women thought his beard wal
so funny, for it was only little bunch
around bis mouth. They could not keeE
their eyes of the bright, round little but
tons on his blue vest. and his shining pat
ent leather sword belt. His hair was ou
so as to make him look almost as smart a,
General Logan. His father was proud, h'
knew his boy was handsome and smart
but he had returned han dsomer and smart
er than he expected. After the first few
words Susan said little, for she began II
hurry the supper, but one could see by thu
glimmer of her eyes, under their lashes
that she had pleasant thoughts.
Then they had good supper. It shou ID
have been good, for they had been prepar
ing victuals for several DAYS. Everything
on the table, and around the house, locked
as though they had wedding. It was
very nearly wedding.
As soon as supper was over. the old man
commenced. He spoke of the wickedness
Of the war, Of high taxes, Of the overthrow
Of the Constitution and the ruin OF the
country, and concluded by saying we ought
to let the South go. Susan and the women
tried to get him to talk OF something else
while Andy interrupted and tried to ex
plain; but he would listen to nothing, and
he talked till he had nothing more to sag
He made out terrible case. Then Andy
said:
81 see how this business Is, dad. Some
OF them lawyers up to tie county seat have
been larning you these things. And now
let me tell you, the they sound mighty big
thar's scarcely word O. truth in 'em from
one end to the other.n
aWhat's this, what's this!" said the
Squire. "Do you mean to call your fathe'
a liar9 Say, Sir, am I a liars Am ! /,
liar.?"
Andy's bunch af beard began to:worl
in curious way, and he waited little be-
lore he spoke.
"Who talks about liars but yoruself'
Shan't tell you what the army would
say Of yon II YOU talked like that among
them! I'll tell you. They'd say you was
a id traitor; and il You didn't harper
to have first best friend by you, they d
string you up. And I'll tell you, too, VIZ
think heap more of an out.and-out Rebe
than we do Of the traitors at home, who
when we strike the Rebels lick, hell
them to strike us back"
"You git out of my house. If you are
my own son you shun't insult me in it,
I've done with you you shan't have none
of my Rronerty-znqt hait--out of nv
house-I'li have nothing to do with voul
"That suits me if it does you, Susan
pick up what things you want now, ant
leave the rest for another time. Well %
to Bob Reynolds. He's good Union man
Your dads Cooper, | know. You'll hear
different story one of these days, dad
mind tell you"
"You may 60 to the devil for all kere'
Andy buckled on his sword and s,oot
waiting kr Susan. She was running around
taking care of her things; her sis ters-in law
were helping her; while Mrs. Clifford triet
to soothe her husband. He would listen t.
nothing; his son had turned out to be .
Yankee niggsr, aud it must be he wanted
nigger wench- he would mt speak to him
and he never wanted to speak to him again
Pie house, lately so joyful, had become ,
house of u.ourqins All the women folk.
cried, and the baby, seeing something wa.
wrong. cried louder than any body else.
At last Susan was ready. and crying. sht
left the house with Andy; and they wen,
away through the lane In ddition to this
trouble, Susan had another. which was on
account ola piece she had just got in the
loom, and she had thrown the shuttle only q
few times to SEQ haw it would look. Her
father-in-law had planted patch of cotton
for her and plowed it, and she had hoed,
picked, got it ginned, and spent almost all
Winter in spinning and coloring. She was
going to have piece of check for dresses
for herself and baby. Now she did not know
what would become of it. Perhaps the old
m3n would cut it out of the loom.
They had gone quite distance. when
Mrs. Clifford came into the porch and called
her,
Susan, you forgot your pocket-handker.
chief"
She went back, while Andy waited. She
was gone long time. Once she came ont,
lingering, then hastily went back. At last
she came running, and looking pleased, and
said his father wanted to speak with him.
He turned, rather reluctantly, ard found bis
father filling his pipe by the fireplace. II
want to ak you one question, Andy. An
swer me nov, fair. Sayin' nothin' about
them Northern chaps, amt it shame to US
as comes from the South to be fghtin' and
killin' our kind o'folks, and some on 'em
our own kinp
II don't want no dispute and trouble With
you dad, but ] can answer that mighty sod
den. 1t Is q shame-but the shame is theirn'