Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-10-19
A STORY OF COUNTRY LIFE.
Observation-Disclosures

if another man had struck me. I'd
strike back, quicker Than lightning. I
wouldn't wait for IL proof, or to get my
weapons all polished and in order. I'd
just simply give him the full benefit
of my bare fist. 1 would lick him, just
as / am"
"Ah, pa" said Jimmie;" 1 remember
one time of your pitching onto a mar
just as you Were, and he made you say
enough"
Jimmie, you don't know what you
are talking about. 1 was discussing the
affairs of nations. 1 tell you. 1T is I'M
American-like. to let them Spaniards
think us afraid of en-"
Pa" said Anna, "if You don't watch
yourself, You will be Il perpetual fault
finder. 1 believe our government will
, settle this difficulty all right. Any
way, they surely know more about it
than we do"
Never mind, my daughter; you'll get
tired a-waitin' till Mckinley declares
war against Spain. Islon't believe he'll
ever do it. He don't care anything
about the starving Cubans. or IL ma
tional honor. He is there for the pur-
pose of helping the rich men; he don't
care how many helpless people starve."
"Well. Simon," said Cynthia, $50 far
he hasn't hurt us any. l never saw
times improve faster for the laboring
classes. Wages are high; everybody
has work, and prices for farmers prod
ucts are getting better all the time"
Their conversation was here inter-
rupted by Mary entering the room. She
had been to Boonsville and brought the
mail.
"War is declared,' she said.
us it possible?" said Simon in as
constituent.
"Hurrah for Mckinley" Jimmie
shouted.
"Jimmie!' said Simon, impatiently.
BE quiet. Who told you, Mary, that
war is declarcd?"
"Ihe newspaper says so," said Mary,
and so it proved to he. Simon was
"fooled' again, rs Cynthia expressed
it, for in big, black letters the paper
announced that war had been declared
against Spain, and the President had
called for 10000 volunteers.
BOOnsville was in q state of excite
ment, and young men commenced to
talk of Joining the army. People won
dered how long and disastrous the war
would be.
Political Simon said the war would
prove what kind of stuff Mckinley was
made of. He said he had 10 confidence
in him for managing Il war. There
never was but Republican that he
ever knew capable of doing such n
thing, and that was Abraham Lincoln.
and If he was a-living to-day lie would
not be a Republican.
All eyes We're toward Mckinley.
A great responsibility rested upon his
shoulders. AS commander-in-chief of
and directed all.
About the first order he gave was to
the Asiatic squadron, and we all know
it's result.
Commodore Dewey, following the or
der of his commander-in-chief, sunk
the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay. No
such battle had ever been known in the
came Il national hero.
In the meantime the Flying Squadron
and Admiral SIMPSONS fleet went in
'search of Spain's Atlantic fleet, sup
posed to be near the West Indies.
Young men were still %hurrying to the
front, and among the volunteers was
Glen Harrington.
1t was hard for Winnie to bid him
good-by, but he said he felt it his duty
to go. Long were the farewell words,
and Vinnie's Eyes followed him as he
walked away to board the train that
was to bear him to the coast. She was
proud Of her lover, aud she admired
him, more than ever for wanting to
be a soldier, yet the thought of his 60
ing filed her with dread.
Many soldier boys would lay down
their lives. Would he be one of those
called to die for his country?
The thought filled her with breads
and the true meaning of war came to
her.
Simon was very much surprised when
he heard that Glen Harrington had
enlisted.
Cynthia" he said, 81 am glad he's
gone, and I hope he'll never return"
why, Simon Grey, how dare you
talk soY"
II didn't exactly mean that 1 wish
he'd get shot, but l wish he'd STAY in
Cuba. 1t would make one less Rennh.
lican vote in Bo%onsville, besides saving
us the unpleasantness of n Republican
son-in-law."
"Well, Simon. we might get a son-in-
law with a worse fault than votin' the
Republican ticket. Let's not ridicule
the Republicans now. They have done
all right so far. Wait till they do
wrong"
Cynthia, you are not the loyal Piopu-
list that you used to be. I'm sorry to
say. You seem to think that every
thing grand and good from Nc.