Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-11-23
THE WHITE co55LER.
The Part 1t Played in a a and a
Dinner.

The Part It Played In a and a
Dinner.
Major Beasley Carter was a well
known citizen OF northern Alabama. He
was something Of o character, proud Of
his lineage, though he could not trace
1t further back than a few hundred
years. His forefathers, he ayowed,
were ca pliers, and he often spoke of
the great civil wal in England. Indeed,
one not acquainted with the history of
that conflict and its ''long agonies,"
would suppose that the major had heard
the belehing Of divers lannon's He
cared nothing for recent political fac
tions, regarding with contempt the re-
publicans and democrats, but looked
with extreme hatred upon the round
heads. To him our civil war was a con-
fict between the tory gentlemen and
the barebones. Sometimes, . Tax
Ding mp - daily paper (which he knew
was much inferior to the old-time news
letter sent out from Wills coffee housel,
he would say to his wife that he wanted
10 see If they were still burning witches
in New England.
Zilda Carter, the majors daughter,
was declared the hardsomest girl in the
Limestone neighborhood. She had been
literally educated and OF course could
not share her fathers absurd views.
She did not, however, attempt to argue
with him, for she knew that the only
unpleasantness that had ever ONE up
between her parents was caused by a
sighting remark which her mother had
made with regard TO Charles the First.
Just about a yea ago Zilda was per-
mitted TO visit a friend who lived in
New York, and, before returning home,
she went down into Connecticut. While
in that state she and her friend Ia
young lady well known TO he family
ate Thanksgiving dinner at a farm
house.
When Zilda told her father hat she
had gone into New England he frowned;
but when, suddenly moved by a bold
impulse, she told him that she had
eaten Thanksgiving dinner at a Con-
necticus farm house, the old fellow
rayed.
.'You are net a true daughter" he de-
clared. "You know that our family has
ever turned q cold countenance upon
every patriarchial institution. The
cold-blooded fanatic tried TO destroy our
Christmas, and yet you, a member of the
high-minded class that holds Christmas
in endearment, make confession, as il
were, of a flagitious error by giving
e~ountenance TO a Thanksgiving day. /
am ashamed of you, and never again
can l repose full confidence in YOU"
sWhy, MAORI said Mrs. Carter, q
weak but sometimes ~assertive little
woman, ''the president of our common
country sets aside the day, and instead
of frowning upon an observance of IL 1
think that it is our duty not only To the
Lord, but as good citizens To the presi-
dent to-"
s'To do WHAT the major struck in.
"To observe Tue day"
"You think SOP" said the major, pac-
ing both hands ON the table rs though
he had his wrath down and was deter
mined TO hold IL, ''you think we ought
to burn old women, don't you"
'.No, l don't think that"
.rOh, yes, Sarah, come out now and
acknowledge that you do think 1t.
Stand right mp nov and declare your
principles. Admit that you would
like to see old Sue Hackney tied out
there to the horse block and burned up.
II you want to take up a contribution to
raise money enough to hire somebody to
tie the old woman, I'll throw IN. l will
not hare IL said that 1 have ever stood
as an obstruction TO any enterprise got
ten up by my wife. Zilda, get the
clothes line ready. Yonder m q
man down the road. May be we can
hire him. We can assure him that the
old woman IL not very strong, as she
has suffered with rheumatism for y
number Of years. What. you don't
want TO burn her? Then your first les
son hasn't wholly converted you?
Hznnphl you'd better take another"
The major hastened out into the gar