The National tribune., 1897-10-21

wanted to know what sort of q man he was,
| and told them that didn't think that he
was any better than he should be. He was
Methodist preacher, but he fell far short OF
| what Methodist preacher ought to be.
They said they'd seen me come out OF
that house, and wanted to know IT he was
| there told them that he was not when
left. They wanted to know when Ia last
seen him, and had to recollect when I'd last
/ shaved and seen my own face in the glass
told them two days before.
"'Whcre was he then they asked.
"sOver at Isaiah Morton's, on Red Bud
Creek / said.
Have YOU any idea where we can find
! him now p they asked.
Just rs started to answer that question
that perverse and unregenerate heller started
TO run back to the house, and had all could
| do TO head her off. She jumped over low
part of the fence into a field, and before l
could overtaile her and get her back into the
road the men had got tired ef waiting for me
and ridden on to the house. :"
The boys nearly exploded with laughter
| over this unexpected development in the
Elders stern grave character; Miriam smiled,
in spite Of her seated sadness, and Mrs IN
rule looked as if puzzled whether TO rejoice
over the Elders lucky escape. or to be PANIED
at the appearance OF a trait of dupiicity.
''If We.tcott didn't git his heiier back
I'll send him the best one | have" said
Robert Inrule, chuckling softly over the
story.
.'Tlank you But Brother Westcott has
already his clothes, horse and heiter back,
/ and have mine, as you can see. :"
'.rhey'uns say that yo', advised the peo-
pie t burn the railroad bridges, said Robert
lnrule
Il certainly have" answered the Elder
| relapsing into his sterner mood. 'Ani to
roll big rocks down on the railroads and blow
| up the tunnels. They're using the railroads
] TO crush US. They're bringing in thousands
! of their white slaves from the other States to
! tyrranzc over and oppress us. The Virginia
/ & Tennessee Railroad is the throat of the
rebellion. and | would cut it rs | wonld the
throat OF the arch rebel himself And want
! the people to burn down these poraeries.
where they are putting up meat for the rebel
armies, destroy the factories that are making
clothing and arms. Iwoull have our people
vex and sn,ite the rebels everywhere, even as
! the Islaelites vexed and smote the Midian-
/ ties"
How is the war goin' on elsewhere, FL
der?" asked Robert Inrnle
"Grandly Hosts the number of which
man can scarcely count are mastering for
battle along the banks of the Potomac and
the Ohio. It is as Isaiah predicted
/ They from far country, from the esd of
The lieavci-evcn the Lord nj the weapons of
| His indignation. destroy the whole land.
/ "Howi ye far i,e day of ie Lp.d is at hand; it
| shall come rs destruction from tho Almighty.
| Therefore -haii ALI hearts he faint and every
| mah'- heart shall melt
! . And they shall he afraid: pangs ard sorrows
/ shall take hold nf item: they shall b. in pain.
Rsi silg,I 81 lie ii DI l,nrI
with wrath aud fierce anger 10 lay the and desc
la'e: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out
OF it,
/ wish somethin' d happen purity soon, -
said Robert Inrue. 8 L take the conceit out
O. they'uns over Bull Run. They'uns DO
| crow most aggravatingiy."
LET them. Let them go On and vaunt,
and magnify themselves and their own
strength before the Lord. It'll only make
their own downfall the more woiul The
Northerners were properly punished for their
conceit at Bull Run, just as the children OF
Israel had to be reminded in the same way
that it was not in their own strength but the
Lords that won them battles. When the
Union soldiers go forth to battle again it will
be in a different spirit.
MY heart is sick waiting fur them t. be.
gin,' said Miriam.
My daughter, the Psalms say, Because
of His strength will | wait TOR God is my
defense" +"
A day or two after the Elders visit Miriam
began to notice that the boys had some mys
terry between them. She would come upon
them engaged in earnest conversation, which
would be suspended as she came within ear
shot They would exchange glances with
one another when at table, or sitting viii
the family in the evening, and there were alb
sences that were not accounted for.
One afternoon she heard hen cackling il
f an uufrequented spot behind the stables, anc
walked thither, expecting to find nest o
eggs She came right upon the two boys, SC
busiy engaged that they had not noticed he
, approach.
They had gathered there a large quantity
of fat pine, which they were splitting lite
| strips SO as to be most readily infiammable
and were tying these into handy, compac
| bundles with strips OF paw-paw bark.
Boys, what air yo' doin' 2" she asked il
| astonishment.
, They looked up, much startled
. 40, Sis, I" said Reuben, recovering his wit
first; me an Bidad's Jest gittin som
' torches ready t. go giggin suckers III the Ret
r Bud"
Reub Inrule, she said severely" that's tn
3 first time in yo' life / ever knowed yo' t. tel
t a lie An sich clumsy one, too. Even ga
knows that this haint the time o. the year
f gig suckers. They quit runnin months ago
e when the dogwood blossoms drappped."
| Better tell her the truth, Reub," sal
: Bildad. AIrry is all right She kin b
e trusted whar no other gal could. She allu
stands by u.s."
n I'm willin'," assented Reuben; bnt W
!, don't want father nor mother t know noti
G in bout hit. Me an Bitlad and the West
Y colt boys air a-gwine t slip over an burn tn
e railroad bridge acrost the Red Bud. We'ur
, we got hit all planned out. We air gittir
;. this fat pine ready t take along on OF
k hosses SOS t. give the fire good start. I'll
% Westcott boys know all bout the bridge al
the roads t git thar. They'uns air t te
], their folks that they'uns is comm over T. sta
r, with we'uns, an we'uns air t say that w
N 'uns air gwine over t. stay with the Wes
.. colts. We'uns III start in the afternoon, g
/, t. the bridge little Il dark, sot hit q
a. fire, an be back home afore nvrnin'"
y "Maynt 60 with yo'?" she aske'
eagerly