The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-15
JOHN BROWNS NEPHEW.
How Larry jerome Worked on a virginian's
Fine Feelings.

=
Fine Feelings.
New York Star.
Mr.. Larry Jerome has been amusing himself
again. Coming over from New York to Wash
ington, few days ago, he found himself next to
a young man from Virginia who turned out to
be as ipquistive as he was fresh Seeing that
his companion pinned for information with an
appetite truly omnivorous. Jerome squared him
self for a bowling time. He lured the inquiring
Virginian into the smoking compartment and,
by the use OF various arts whereof he is master,
launched him in raging sea of interrogation.
Having discovered that the youth was from
Virginia and saturated with the peculiar ideas Of
his section, jerome fired his bomb:
I'm going to Richmond"
you areR Why, I'm from"
"My uncle, said Jerome, was once quite
prominent in connection with Virginia. don't
talk about it much, because still feel sore. I'm
trying to get over the passions and wounds of
the war. you know-terrible thing the war,
wasn't it,"
Eyes, terrible. But what"
'Tm doing it though I'm getting SO 1 can
travel through West Virginia without wanting
to kill the leading citizens. The bloody chasm
is almost brdged. If it were not for my uncle
/ shouldn't feel so queer about going to Rich
mond. I'm rather afraid of myself, though My
uncle, you see
'.Who was your uncle9" said the Virginian,
beside himself with curiosity
'Oh, didn't tell you! Why, John Brown was
my uncle"
"John Brownl You don't mean
81 mean the sainted martyr, John Brown, who
hung at Charestown-hung by set of
bloody outlaws Why, when I think of that in
famous butchery.p shrieked Jerome waving his
arms wildly about and making his eyes pro-
trude, II want to wallow in Virginia blood.
feel as though the sacrifice of the mayor and
City Council of Richmond wouldn't take off the
edge OF my fury. Yes, sir, dol"
Sir" bawled the Virginian, as the train shot
fr%o ole go
You insult me. You insult my noble State y
Then the train shot out into the open, disclosing
the youth, flushed. excited, ready to fight the
whole veteran corps and trembling all over with
passion.
''St down. sit down." said Larry, sadly, pull
ing the reluctant youth back into his seat.
That's all over with me- Can't you let a
stricken nephew grieye over his martyred unclea
Pm too old for fighting. talk-that's all.
The Virginian sat down rather gingerly, look
ing at Jerome with doubtful eyes as he went on
peDsively
You ought to have seen me when was with
my regiment in g. loved the battle. If I've
killed one rebel I've killed a hundred. Always
wore their hair very long, didn't they9 It always
amused me to see their heads lying around
where / had been and all that absurd hair tousled
about Did You ever notice it, No; suppose
you must have been too young"
SIT wouldn't have amused me, anyhow said
the Vrginian, stifiy.
Wouldn't it, indeed! How oddl Now, l al
ways laughed consumedly at our fellows who got
killed You know, commanded regiment of
Vermonters. George Edmunds-he's Senator
now, but he one of my lieutenants then.
Gallant fellow, George was! Too much dash
too reckless, you know-wanted to kill rebels
all the time [ used to argue with him. but it
was no good. He wouldn't take time to sleep
Just wore himself out | never expected to see
him go through. He was shot right through and
through once with grape. That's what gave
him that red nose-really disfgured the poor
fellow, declare. Hello! here we are in Wash
ington Glad to have met you. See you in
Richmond"
And Jerome hustled out of the car, leaving
the Vlrginian speechless and the colored porter
doubled up in commissions on the floor of the
pantry.