Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-03-23
An Arkansas Phenomenon.

Inc other day, while in the Southern
part OF this State, I stopped at an old
log farmhouse just as dark, rainy
evening set in L was particularly struck
with the quaintness of the place, and
when saw an old colored man moving
around the yard humming in that pecu-
mar manner characteristic of his race
L was for time lost in the remembrance
OF ante-bellum days. The proprietor of
the farm, man with deep, melancholy
eyes and voice that sounded like a
6enediction, invited me into large,
square room, where a log fire blazed.
In one corner, near the fireplace, sat a
churn, and hanging from cross-be;an
was long string of twisted tobacco.
The farmer, George Grafton, introduced
me to his wife, ''hale old lady," and
to his little boy, lad about years of
age. The appearance of the boy i'm
pressed me. His large eyes and an
expression of face so marked and strong
for one so young engaged my attention.
Pretty soon the father and mother left
the room to s'see about SUPPER" the
husband not having become so enlight-
ened with the march of progress as to
allow the wife to do all the homework.
wish," said the boy, looking up
suddenly, ''that those chickens would
keep off the porch. They make me
nervous
looked up surprised "You are very
young to be nervous" I replied.
"1es, L am very young, and yet am
very old. 1t seems strange that 1 have
lived so short a while, and that other
people have lived so long. and yet when
my mind drifts back to the time when
TO Il r
think L have lived very long time. My
brain. physicians say, is developing too
rapidly, and that / cannot live. Very
few people have died from excess of
brain. There may be something in
premature mental development, howev-
er. But | do not see why my body
should suffer. At times L am sportive
and play with the children, and then 1
crave to be alone, to sit down and think.
1 have read a great deal. My father
and mother are unacquainted with this
accomplishment. / was taught by an
old colored man who lives with US, and
who was taught years ago by his young
master in Kentucky Do l bore you?"
Sc No; l am Interested"
"What do you think of the Gospel as
it is preached to-day?"
81 hardly know what to Think" l
answered, not daring to hazard an
opinion.
ssThe Gospel is source of trouble to
me. L have read papers attacking the BIZ
BILE and attempting to destroyits Divinity,
and have waved them aside, but to-day
/ found an old book, the life of Charles
XII, of Sweden, by Voltaire. In pre-
face to the work are some of the strong
est expression l have ever seen in print.
He begins by q quotation from Aristotle,
Incredibly is the source of all wisdom, }
and proceeds to annihilate everything
unreal. He could believe nothing that
reason teaches him is impossible. He did
not believe that Caesar, in full armor,
could jump into the sea and not sink.
He did not once refer to the Bible, but
somehow | could not help making COM
parsons. But yet, when | read the
story of Christ, when | live in its poetry,
beauty and simplicity, push away ev-
erything else and only see brig ht star,
little child, man, crucitiNion."
The old gentleman entered and an
nounced that supper was ready. could
not eat for looking at that boy. could
not realize how one so young could
while the father and mother were & put
tin away the dishes,' [ retired to the
sitting-room with the child.
90 Mister. lend me your knife" he
said. ''Mister, have you got dog?
My Uucle Jim caught a pole-cat and
Aunt Riah wouldn't let him come into
the house He had undergone an entire
change. He talked in 4 manner so silly
that at last, | went to bed to get rid of
him. Next morning | asked him if he
could read, and he kicked, at me,
snatched up cat, and ran from the
room-Lttle Rock Cor. louis
ellie Courier -JOu7eai.