Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1888-08-04

floor,
Yes" said the oldest man on the
opposite side, smoke We will once
more-oncc more" and my old father
remarked to me; Sit down, my little
child, once more; only once So |
rolled a cigarette, and they all began
to roll cigarettes and smoke in perfect
silence. Then suddenly, | smOothed
my face, sat up straight, threw my
cigarette away and said: at seems
that this is q serious occasion. Let us
be serious. Let me hear what j. the
occasion OF this council
an the first place, they said, there
is a strange fatality, the red disease
coming on our children, Of which they
are dying n by one, and some one is
very cruel, and some one loves not his
people, and loves only to afflict them.
Why should he love to aflict them?
Who knows? We know that you
brought strange medicines with pecu-
liar odors TO your home some time
since. but we have been cautious, and
We have waited long, and have in
quircd Of the Mexican herders who
We're here: Was there such "a thing
n that unknown thing and that thing
which the grandfathcrs said did not
exist, as IN American-bOrn -orcerer?;'
and the MeXicans replied; Yes, there
was and We said: is there one, per-
hap-, among us?' and the MeXicans re-
piled: no doubt And then we went
to the Mormons 10 the east Of here
and the same questions were asked and
the same answer gave they. And then
We went TO the Americans dwelling
among u, and these questions We're
asked. and they pretended that they
did not understand them, but they said
there wa, no doubt Of great and dire
evil in the American who lived with
them, and 50, little brother, there is no
doubt that your whole intention is TO
cause affection among US
| asked them if that was all they
had to say, and they told me a long
story. They reminded me Of occur
rences that had takeg place on the
very first month Of mSliying among
them-a remarkable Observation Of
my every act. They told how they
had 50 long been deceived; how ! had
eaten from one bowl with them; how
| had breathed one breath with them
and worn one costume with them; had
endured the SCOTS Of my own people
for the sake Of that costume.
They enlarged on all the things that
had caused them to be 80 stupid as not
to sec what my intentions really were.
OF course ! could not possibly repeat
the whole story. 1t is a very long
one. II may have been about twelve
O'clock when we went there; it was
growing daylight when the thing was
owe Once or twice my father tried
TO speak. j put out my hand 70 81
lence him, for | saw hat the matter
was getting very serious. !.
When my accusers We're done ]
turned round, dropped my head on my
breast, and said: at is wonderful
what wisdom You display. You are
stupid TO have been deceived 50 long.
The only wonder is, my brothers and
fathers, this, that you have at las,
discovered, absolutely, my true char
a%cter.n
Ny old father Strengthened himself
up and looked at me perfectly dumb.
founded, dropped his eyes on the floor,
and did not dare to look at the Others
opposite.
My old brother looked around from
behind me and said: beware Of jok.
ing according TO your usual way"
turned on him. 'Jokingl Whoi i,
ioking9' said !; 'fancy a lot Of people
50 stupid, so foolish. so like cubs
whose eyes are not yet open, as tc
have seen me come here, and not sus.
pect evil OF IL. Fancy II people, seeing
me article by article adopting Their
dress, curing their children of disease.
n by one, smiling on every one.
uiuinH nf nv tnhna,n anl food 90 -
who came to my house; eating with
one hand from "a single bowl with al
who invited mi to eat or were invited
to eat with me, and still these brother,
and fathers Of mine TO be so stupid a,
to think that | was u man thinking n,
evil"
II there is any thing these peopl,
hate 1t is the Mexican. They max,
crusades against them. because tn,
Mexicans bring their sheep 70 eat NJ
all the grass on their ranges. But
had been keeping the Mexicans off, $,
l said: Had any of you professed tn,
least ingenuity you would have seel
that when headed parties Of you
young men and drove the Mexican
away | was acting against you, though
you always gave me praise and said
way your friend; because the Mexican
love YOU so well that they come her,
not for II day but for many days, ant
Ia order that they may be comfortable
they bring thousands of sheep, tina
they may settle close beside you TN,
be brothers and friends"
Then my father, sitting there on hi
stool, with his head upon his breas,
raised his eyes and looking aroun,