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

J.
give up to 'em. And we can do it."
"That's dreadful hard talk, Andy, but
there seems something in what you said
shout the fust lick. hadn't thought O
that. I say, Andy, you amt goin' to de-
CART your old father kase be got riled and
spoke kinder sharp Let's argerfy this bus
iness--I've got the handsomest clover 10,
you ever seed and the primest wheat you
ever set eyes on. I want you to look at 'em
You shan't go-what tall; it'll make.-
Wen argerfy and keep COOL"
So things quieted down. The women
were happy as crickets, and Andy went
through the story Of the fights he had been
in at Belmont, ct Fort Henry and Fort Don.
olson, where Logan was wounded at Shiloh
at the Big Black and Champion Hill, and
finally at Vicksburg. But even then he was
not done. There was not time that evening
to tell us all. In listening, the Squire was
so proud of his son and Of the success of the
Northern Army, that he almost forgot he
was Democrat.
Next morning before they started, Susan
had to show her husband her piece, and how
she could weave. He left her weaving with
all her might. A woman needs strong ank
les to work the treadles, and, in weaving,
she gets them.
They went out to look at the wheat and
clover. The women saw them walking
around. and at last to stop by pair of bars.
The old man held down his head good
deal, as if listening, while Andy made ges-
lures as ii engaged in telling something
When they came to dinner, Of green's and
/ plenty of other things, the Squire said:
"Old woman. If what Andy's been tellin'
| mes true, there's some mistake about this
Golden Circular business, and I've got to
look into it; and if it's so, and it seems to
be so, then them lawyers to town has been
| lyin' to me the cussedes:'
| When Andy's furlough expisel, and he
had started TO return to the army. his father
gave his best wishes and hoped his safe re-
tnrn. He hoped too that he might be vic
torious over the Rebels in every battle. Su-
san held up her baby as high as she could
that he might see it to the last. 1t would
be hard to undertake to tell how much en-
couraged Andy felt.
Soon after this, it was talked about
among the Oopperheads, that the furlough-
ed soldiers had been converting the people
of Rose Prairie to Unionism. and couple
of lawyers came down from the county
seat to see about il.
Mr. Clifford being the most influential
man, they called on him first. After go.
ing through considerable long, smooth.
and slippery introduction, they told him
their business. He cenfessel he had
changed his mind. and he thought men Of
learning ought to know be ter than to be de
ceiving plain farmers who couldn't be ex-
pactei to know all about politics. And
bow could they know, when they never
had much schooling md this was because
the blasted old Shareholders where they
came from didn't w.nt no schools. One Of
them. who il tiglrin to - to the Legsa
ture, let out, in quite speech filed with
genuine Copper Democracy. telling about
Lincoln's tyrannr, the overthrow of the
Constitution. high taxes, the ruin Of the
country, concluded by saying we ought tc
let the south 60.
| "PE tell you," said the old man. "what
they'd soy of you down in the army if you
talked that way to 'em''-they'd say vou
was d,mnei traitor; and if you had nc
fust-best friend with you they'd string
you up; AMI if was with 'em, Them's
my sentiments. fair and square,"
"This is very strange, Squire Clifford
very strange indeed. Why, Sir. you be.
!opg to our order. Of the Knights of the
Golden Circle, and you cannot have for
gotten the solemn oath you have taken,
nor the dreadful penalty which attaches to
the violation of that OATH"
This made the Squire mad.
Get out Of my house. you Internal scoan-
drel-you traitor to your God and your
country. You lied to me to git me into it.
Git out Of my house: And IL any oil
you Golden Circulars tech hair of me or
mine, I'll send for An ly ani the rest Of
the boys, and. by the Jehoks, they won't
leave greese-spot Of your whole gang
Git our of my house; Eli have nothin to
do with traitor to my country and the
old flag Of the stars AMI stripes"
The lawyer went-they both went.
When be was gettlqg on his horse, he
said.
"Good by. Mr.. Clifford. You've got to.
be Yankee nigyer, see. Thrust be you
want nigger wench." M
"Yes do; want thosand Of em. I
amt afsard Of niggers IS much as I was.
I'm ashamed. though. ever was . traitor
like youias. Yes was traitor, and I
helpel to dsht again Andy and Susan and
her baby there. But thank God in bis mer.
oy, Pm traitor no longer"
1t would have done you good had you
seen how pleased the woman were to hear
the Squire give the lawyers his mind.
The Rock Island Railroad
Bridge Burned.
From the Rock Island Qil.l Argus, June 10.
Between two and three o'clock this after.
noon, "wednesday the l5th) FIRE was dis
L covo~.~i ~, Shn lo-or and of .ho I-~.. ~:.s