Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-07-05

my mother. Mrs Strong. my sister.
Miss Colyer-some Of them" with hun.
cry volubility.
"No, sub, nobody didn' send me-
jes' come Of my own cord. ! wanted
to hear ef the tale were true"
A heavy sigh, almost u sob, escaped
the officers lips, but he clung eagerly
to this one clumsy link in the chain
that must eventually be welded afresh
and bind him and his beloved together
once more.
There are steps there at the end OF
the old balcony. Sit down. old man,
and tell me about the old place. Did
you ride or walk
II walked, sub. Thar amt but two
beases lef' on that place, and by the
time they got home today from fetchin
your nanny and your bro Seth back.
'erds and fo'erds they was plum give
out. You sec, they don get none too
much con these days. But ! was 'bleeged
to come sez, 'Lucindy, ! carn't sleep
wink tonight less'n ! verifies it. >"
Verify what, old man?"
He was conscious Of his own duplici.
ty. He knew quite well what il was
old Dolbear wanted TO make sure of.
Verify the blessed insurance Of free
dom. sub. Mex sho' ef the story that 8
goin the rounds Of the folks as how old
Eben Martins second boy. Strong-him
~ wa named after ole mars-is ben
made head Of Mars Lincoln's soldiers
and sent here to fetch we all the free
dom and the sartain promise Of the land
that flows with milk and honey? Ef it's
true. wants to dus' out the ole meetin
house and hol pra'r meetin thar tonight
to bless dc Lawd, oh, my soul, and for
git not none Of his beneficks
Strong Martin found the old mans
grandiloquence singularly irritating.
Was it really impossible to get away
from the narrow personal bearings Of
this stupendous crisis i'm the history Of
the world? Must he, whose only balm
was found in moments Of exaltation
that lifted him above the universal con.
iemnation of his course into a brief
sense Of well doing. in striking his fee
BILE blows at gigantic wrong be drag
yed earthward by the driveling Of an
Did dotard who In the days Of his PAM
pered bondage had quite looked down
upon the overseer's boys? Was the rev.
erential homage Of this poor freedman
all the substitute destiny had to proffer
him in exchange for the love and conf
dence Of his best beloved ones!
Old Dolbear's rhapsodies reduced the
abstract principle for which he had
been contending 10 the pitiably narrow
limitations Of personal obligation.
Liberty for the human race was a grand
idea, well worth human holocaust,
but the thing liberated was poor,
mean groveler, with whom personal
contact was distinctly disagreeable. Ii
was not easy 10 maintain footing on
the aerial heights Of sublime theory
when the mire of its practical illustra.
ton clogged ones feet heavily. After
all, was the game worth the candle!
He preferred taking Dolbear from a
different point of view. As citizen he
had his limitations. As link between
him and those he loved he would be al
together acceptable. He made haste to
bring his visitor down from his forensic
perch.
Individually you have nothing to
thank me for, old man. Accident has
located me here with handful Of men
TO keep in order. Yes, you are free.
You are no mans slave any longer. You
are free 20 come and go when you please.
You arc free to leave Sans Souci forey'
er tomorrow morning If you have a
mind to- You are free TO care for your
self and your family and to select your
own way Of making living. You are
free to work or to starve. wish you
Joy of the privilege.
"Thankee, sub. The same to you,
boss.
There was a soft, scraping sound on
the balcony step as Dolbear punctuated
his gratitude with backward sweep OF
one foot.