The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-12-19

81 don't know anything about i
tender passion, John, except the u
I have learned from novels / have
hidden under my pillow aud read
night, when Aunt Mag was sslseY
You know she Is opposed to now
reading yet. She will let mo rsa3
history and theology q little."
"And how does Charlie get a
with mother now?" John asked.
changing the subject, for It scenes
to him Ellie was inclined to mako
light of his advice
Just at this moment Mrs. DabnsSl
came into the room. Her favorfte
son she thought was spending too
much time with Ellie. He had hard
ly spoken to his mother since bis No.
turn.
"John," che said in the same stern
voice as of old, cit seems you dontt
care to see any one at home but
Ellie. You have been with her all The
time since you got here"
"Why, mother, I couldn't be with
you, for you were giving the serv-
ants their tasks and their weekly
allowance, 80 1 remained here"
1t was the habit of Mrs. Dabney
every Saturday night, at least one
Of her rules to give out to the negro
women their tasks of spinning and
knitting. and at the same tine y
each male and female their allovanc0
Of msal, mCat and nznAsxs-<ee.the
week, q custom handed down 70
the mistress Of The Elms from icf
old ancestors.
"Since there is 80 much talk Of
war and negro freedom, the black
people are getting SO they are always
complaining of their allowance"
said Ellie.
az hope you do not let them COM
plain to you," said Mrs. Dabney.
"No mann" Ellie answered quickly,
but she did not dare tell that Aunt
Ria had told her.
"I doubt if any one did. 1t is
likely you imagined 1t yourself and
you had better keep it to yourself"
Ellie was sorely wounded, and
John although sympathising deeply,
did not think it prudent to say any
thing in her defense. 1t was we'll
Charley was out and did not hear it,
or there would possibly have been a
repetition of the distressing scene
enacted in the preceding chapter.
John was forcibly reminded of that
scene and thinking of Charlie he
asked:
"Where has Charlie gone? l have
seen him only a few minutes since /
come"
ait is not uncommon for your
brother to absent himself from the
family. I have given him up long
ago. 1 only wonder that he hasn't
come to some bad end ere
this"
"Oh MOTHER" John began plead.
ingly, laying his hand en- hers which
held the knitting as of old. "Please,
mother, do try to be patient witt
Charlie till he gets a little wiser, ant
finds out that his mother is so mucl
more capable of guiding hin than N
is to guide himself. He is go thought
less and childish he is hardly respon'
sible. But he has it in his head nov
to volunteer in the union army ant
unless we can coax him and be yer,
gentle and affectionate to him, I an
afraid he will"
eff he does" said Mrs. Dabney
che will prove himself as 1 have al
ways said, an unprincipled scamp
his mother said bitterly.
81 don't think that would prov,
1t , mother, for I am sure it is n
crime to be on the side of the union
I think everyone should have tn
right to fight On the side he wishes
AS for me / am not anxious to fgh
with either party, but will wait t
see which side Missouri takes befor
I decide"
"NIr. Clayton says Missouri will 6
for the union," Mrs. Dabney sal
watching Ellie as she watched Johr
Ellie had been wondering how he
Aunt Mag had talked 80 long withou
bringing in her rich friends.
The name now started a new trai
. OF thought in which John was mike
up. She smiled to think how ia
, from the truth he was, for reall
Mr.. Clayton she thought did not lik
her any better than she liked him.
SIS he a secessionist?" asked Johi
"Oh yes, he has too many negros
! not to be. He talks about maxim
up a company and going to tn
southern army"
"Well," said John, 81 don't beliey
in all tits hue and cry about secess
: ion. Let us stay in the union unit
our rights are taken away and the
will be time enough to secede."
!. Mrs. Dabney looked at her aon
/, establishment. She had expecte
John to espouse the southern eau
8 as warmly as she did herself.
II Sand would you go with the unic
too?" she asked.
. "Not If the union deprives us
b our rights" he said.
q stWell, Won need not doubt that,