Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1892-04-02

or mothers blood would dominate his |
patriotism the colonel knew not Him.
self, he knew slavery was doomed and
often wished his own slaves might be-
come free and happy, but under pres
emit environments he felt that they were
better under his ownership than they
could possibly be if turned out into
the world in their ignorance at the
mercy Of every sharper and specula-
tor.
Over his morning dram, at the
corner beside the great apple tree.
back by the rose bushes and around by
the western gate he meditated long
and anxiously. He loved his country.
his daughter his home and his slaves;
but for the sake of and against an inn
palpable thing men called opinion,
he felt their fate and his own was soon
to be weighed in the balance.
The crisis came and passed. and
Colonel Bassinger retired from the
world condemned by all men traitor
to his country in spirit il not in deed.
Tom and Martha Washington had
1LGN Al NllC liz AlN. ~ otA stAAECAJ OAI NAA1
evil spirit that had come upon the
land change all hearts.
He will but curse and drive us
forth if we ask his blessing Tom
had said. and the love deluded girl
had yielded,
The gilt on new swords was rusted;
I the lace on new uniforms was tar
nished, the howery eloquence Of ora
tors and party leaders had grown
/ hoarse and sore of throat; the big
newspaper headlines alternately tell
4 ing Of victory and defeat had filed all
/ homes with heartaches and terror; the
land was full OF graves and every heart
4 bereaved.
i Weeds and briars were encroaching
upon the margins OF the broad fields,
upon which rested Colonel Bassnger 5
eyes as his rolling chair yet made its
daily circuit of the shaded yerandas.
The wide lawn was u waste. the inner
! door-yard neglected. the trailing vines
and untrimmed rose bushes were run
ming Wild numbered with dead
branches and without leaves
The black tribes were smaller
Many Of the more intelligent had gone
to zine de Yankees ;. the more simple
had fallen prey to Spectator thieves,
who promising freedom, had seduced
the ignorant slaves to run away only
10 be sold to far Southern masters
along the Gulf coast.
The majority OF his slaves, how
ever renamed with the colonel liv-
ing a life Of semi.idleness and perfect
ease. GuerriIlas in various guises
and under different pretexts extortod
money and supplies from the great
granaries, or without pretext boldly
pillaged his vast stores. The bulk 81
his wealth was in foreign banks, how.
ever. and his hold upon the affection
Of many OF his slaves held them true
to him. So he lived.
The land wasted away. Death anC
famine assumed tangible shape. Tn
strong cities were in the hands OF 'tht
enemy" or smouldered ia ashes thai
marked his camp-hres on the all-con
quering march to the sea
, Tom Hardness was in the conquer.
ing host and hurried forward to pro
tect his father-in- laws home We
, dreading to meet the injured father
! whom he must tell that his daughte
the lovely. lovable Martha, the fai
Southern rose-had died in childbirth
! among the Vermont SHOWS.
: TO Union hearted men the comm
: OF the national army was indeed, tn
! bringing Of the jubilee, more truly 80
! them, perhaps, than to the free
slaves.
: 1t was. indeed, so with Colonc
i Bassinger
AS the great army came nearer
attracted the slaves from a thousan
: plantations Only the black foreman
i Uncle Richmond and half doze
others remained true TO Colonel Bias
I niger until the federal commando
/ marched down the wide stage roa
i past the great Bassinger mansion.
The forlorn old Colonel was sittiu
3 in his easy chair. which Uncle Ricl
j mond had draped in a tattered O
e Union flag facing the front gate,
= Tom Hardness came in, accompanit
Il by a federal officer. Tom told his 81
! story DrieAy-and hastily departed
j escape the terrible anger and reproat
i OF the bereaved and long-siIent 0
4, father.
= Calling Uncle Richmond to his sid
i the Colonel bade his faithful old ser
ant help him to bed.
Il He died, few days later talking
! tones OF endearment with his wi
! and daughter, and resting his sorro1
Is dimmed eyes often upon the fappil
i folds Of the old flag which Unc
u Richmond had wrapped about b
posts OF the old-fashioned bedstead.
- Arkansaw Traveller
The Finnish Language,