The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1867-10-04

SoENE-Bondholder's parlor.
DRANATIs PEEBsoNE-A gouty bondholder in his
easy chair, sitting by table drinking wine.
Aragged man, with bare feet and tattered gar
ments, preceded By a little boy and girl,
"GoOd:: afternoon, Mr. Boudholder-I
have brought you present. Here are two
little children, your slaves for life, give
them to you, if you please, for no fault of
theirs, except they are white But, sir,
/ Z could not help is--they eeHsd not help it
their father and mother both dead, were
white. These are my little innocent grand
children-aH you and your party have left
me, and the bonds you hold are mortgages
on them. as upon myself cannot pay
| the debt-take the little ones"
Boudholder-"Be ofF-get out-take
the dirty little brats from me-"
Poor Man-"Please, sir, don't speak so
harshly; it frightens the little girl. The
boy does not seem to start at your angry
tones, else he would not double up his fist,
but the girl is timid.'
Bondholder-"Get out-be off with the
brats, or I'll ring the bell for servant to
put you out, you impertineDt scOundrel."
Poor Man-'You needn't ring, Mr..
Bondholder. The day of ringing little
bells has passed away, aud you needn't
ring for servant, for am your servant
And as you have no chairs for servants, I
will stand here a moment before go, and
have little talk with you.
''And you will listen. And you will
! not speak cross nor interr upt me.
Once, when you we're afraid of the
draft, you wore the kindliest smile. And
you patted me on the back and said was
dear, good, patriotic man.
81 listened to you then, and, by the Eter-
nal, you shall listen to me now.
"Do you remember those days There
was war. You, with your oily tongue,
helped to bring it about. It was more of
war than you thought it would be. You
were coward, great, big coward. Don't
look ugly, for I don't care worth cent
And you were afraid to go to war. You
made long speeches about saving the Un-
ion--protecting the observation-disclosures
ing the laws-and helping the poor man.
"You said the war was to restore the
country to peace and prosperity. You
said the object of the war was not to cOerce
the States, nor to deprive any people Of
liberty.
''You said those who would not fight
were towards, I was no coward, Mr.
Bondholder, 80 went to war. You were
a coward, you dare not go. and you hired
me to go. 1 took your money and went
And now, when / have returned, l fnC
that I owe you more than you gave me
. and that must now work to pay mysel
for being shot at and to pay you big in
terest on the money you let me have.
: ''And I End you are exempt from taxa
ton, that you hold the wealth of the ma
ton in your pockets, and that I am you
slave.
''In short, Mr.. Bondholder, you are
s coword, a cheat a swindler, a tyrant,
: robber, great bloated aristocrat. Whe
o the war came on was poor but homes
b man. knew but little of your tricks an
: financial plans. had wife, and love
(. her very dearly. She wore no silks for
1t could not buy them. We had no gran
d home as you now have. We drank milk
l. you drink wine. and 1 pay far it. Gu
: home was a poor mans home, but it was
happy one.
''Do you know. Mr.. Bondholder, hoy
. you wLined and begged of me to go to wal
! You said the country was in danger. YO
J. promised to care for my family. and I
g look out for my interests, if I would G
J. and fight for you. You promised, vel
ie you did. aud you lied to me all the whiI
d While was fighting you were sPecula,inl
P 1 bade nv wife goodbye and went to wa
y Ny son went to war;
D. ''You made war speeches. You prom
}" ised great things to the soldiers. 70
ID lied to all of as soldiers, you did, and 20
know it. Don't look mad-I'm not afFai
n of cowards-I don't care worth a dim
ut ''I vas wounded in the battle, and hs
Sc starved in the hospital. Ny son uas ki
h led by the Confederates while on cottc
u expedition to enrich your loyal cousin
It the army as General. I had hard tin
u of it, and at last came home.
nd ''My wife died from neglect. Y
ID never cared for her. Ny son was kill,
N. while helping on the crusade for cotton al
e. negroes. 1 came home to find you rio
IT, and me poor-my farm covered with wee
VS. and mortgages. Ny wife lies in the ohurc
ce yard for your benefit. Ny boy sleeps by
Ar cotton fsld for his Generals benefit.
"Tbese are his children, They are I