Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1883-10-12
Ups and Downs
Pou1eal LIFE IN IAAsAaK TOWNSHIP
By BENJAMIN BRoADAxE.
CHAPTER XIII.
IN WHICH LITTLE Accy APPEARS.

CHAPTER XIII.
IN WHICH LITTLE AGGY APPEARS.
Il is not the purpose IF the author
to either moralize or philosophize. We
prefer to leave that for the reader. Il
out of the mixed up mass Of events
and among all the peculiar character.
,stics of the people whom we have to
deal, you can draw good moral, you
have not read our little story IN VAN. Il
you can but gam an insight into what
IS commonly known as ring politics,
and see how the masses of the peo-
pie are made to subserve the pur-
poses ofso called leaders of politica
parties, you have learned something
which will benefit yourself in the
future. If you think we have drawn
some of our characters too strong, pray
sit down to sober thought and see it
they do not fit a class Of men. We
are not writing of any one man, it is
not our design to be personal, but to
depict a class of men.
We have shown how hard men strug
gle to maintain the position Of leaders,
and in Dipper We have shown what
fool an Office seeker may become
and right here reader think how many
there are, no less fools than he-for-
saking perhaps not a sweetheart but
their dearest friends. and noblest traits
Of manhood. for office. Gradually lcos.
ing their individuality honesty and in.
teg,ity to serve the purpose of some
ring or clique in order to get Office.
But We have one more position to
portray. and do not think this over
drawn. 1t is the hate which may be-
cone demonical led on by constant agi.
tation of so called political questions.
The great agitators always take care
Of themselves, when a squall which
they have helped to bring on comes,
but they manage 10 turn brother
against brother, and fathers against
children, bringing on worlds Of mis-
cry.
1t was night and a little face pressed
against the window pane of "a lowlv cot
tage at the foot Of a hill near Sting
town in Tanbark Township. 1t was a
sweet childish face and the large dark
brown eyes were sad and moist with
tears.
The childish fingers held on to the
sash moment. and then the little
elbow rested upon the window sill,
while the little pale cheek sank in the
palm of the hand.
The child could not have been over
five years old, and It's face was one of
angelic sweetness. A sigh escaped
that young breast. Alas that breast
SO young should heave sigh. and the
great dark brown eyes were turned up
to the brilliantly lighted mansion on
the hill.
"Aggy where are you darllng!" ask.
ed a feeble voice from the interior Of
the house.
"Here mama," the child answered,
her voice having little of bright and
joyous childhood about it.
"What are you doing 2"
Looking at the lights IN Mr.. De-
Solon's house and yard. oh mama how
lovely"
Lovely child, yes there is party
there tonight"
The soft strains OF music floated
though the air, and descended to that
wretched hovel as if to let the invalid
mother and her only child know, how
happy people could be. Little Aggy
only five years old had never known
what happines was. True she had seen
lovely homes, coy rooms, where the
hearth stones cleaned warm and
bright for Others, but not for herself.
she had seen other children at their
sports, had heard them laugh and
shout in their play, but for herself she
had only know happiness as it was ex-
pressed in others.
ats very pretty" said Aggy to her.
self, "oh that bright house on the hill
with its grassy lawn, and tall trees, with
the flowers, it is so nice"
Come away Aggy," called her
mother.
"But mama I want to stand here and
look at the house."
THAT is wrong Aggy. come here"
"Why is it wrong 2" asked the child
turning away from the enchanting view
at the window, and entering |
the room where her invalid
mother sat in her easy chair.
Harriet Clement had been an inva-
lid for years before she had lived in this |
but had been abroad so
long since that on her return, none of
her Oh associates recognized her.
Her husband had died four years be-
fore her return to Tanbark and she mad
lived incognito since her return.
Those who had known her in her
youthful days as a plump healthful girl
would not recognize now the pale weak
woman, who sat in her easy chair, her
only child at her side.
"Why is it wrong mama to look at
at other people who are happy"
Because child you might become
covetouS."
"What is covetous, mama Z"
"Wishing to have what other people
own"
"But is that wrong2"
eyes"
81 can't help it mama"
"Help what child"