New-York tribune., 1900-05-27

1t was family noticeable, but IT was there, and
it did more to make Mrs. Morgan cease to mourn
than all the blOWingS and buSteringS of rea-
soned wrathful sermons which her husband could
infiict upon her in a month For the little woman
had a great, silent love and respect for this
fresh, clustering spouse of hers. and as for John
Morgan it was known through the village how
his reason almost left him for two dreary nights
during which the doctor held it not improbable
that his wife would pass from him.
1t was only in the fitness of things that when
the political horizon became overcast and the
cloud did at last burst the village should
wait with a compiacent curiosity to hear what
John Morgan had to say before making up its
mind definitely on the issues involved in the
conflict; and while the nightly little crowd as
sembed at the postoffice d0gmatized consider
ably concerning each fresh piece of news, there
was always left open loophole for escape, or,
rather. regret, should the position to be taken up
by John Morgan when he appeared make a re-
cantation necessary. The pOstoffice pending the
arrival Of the evening mail, the village of
st. Stephens. and John Morgan represented
equally the positions of Speaker, Leader of the
House, and when necessary, the whole Opposl-
ton. There was consequently no little cOnster-
nation and not a little wonder when the time
came that John Morgan ceased altogether from
his attendance at the scene of debate, and those
who skilled in noting such things dated his
absence from the day on which news came 70
him that his sons regiment was ordered on
active service. Hes feared for the days news.
and that's what's the matter wi him., said one
man, and the villagers did not speak in dis
praise Of such unspartanlike conduct, although
they smiled furtivey certain loud voiced
decianatlOCS concerning the virtue OF hdrulnoOd
kept ringing in their ears; and they listened in
silence when John Morgan, loud voiced and
emphatic as usual. gave it as his explanation
that the post always late and the evenings
were chilly winter drew near.
As was the case Of Mahomet' and the noun
tain however so it was with John Morgan and
the villagers; if he would come to them, they
assuredly would find themselves gliding up to
him where he sat ensconced in his comfortable
armchair in the house on the hill, and from the
vantage ground of his own hreslde he would
enunciate the correct attitude to be adopted con-
cerning the war and its consequences.
Il take my facs from the Ofeeshal reports in
the paper there, where ye see them for yer
selves if ye want TO" were the closing words
wherewith he invariably fortified an argument
which, standing by itself a mere statement
unsupported by external authority. might seem
somewhat shaky; and the emphasis Of the de
livery generally insured silence. if not verbal
acquiescence Mrs. Morgan at the opposite side
Of the fire swiftly clicked her knitting needles,
and with faith beautiful in its simplicity recon-
ciled without effort the numberleSs cOntradiC-
t;ons-sO they seemed to her-Which character
lied her husbands many utteIarces in the course
of the day.
cevng daily papers and so it happened that by
the time when the weekly news budget should
arrive q great and decisive battle had been
fought, and throughout the land the first thin
wall Of grief was spreading and spreading as
names of men who had once been fathers broth
ers, lovers, were placed upon the nations list OF
dead The sorrow wall spreading daily, but
yet it had not reached the northern village,
and by John Morgan's cosey fireside the chances
with an earnestness which the gravity Of the
situation easily rendered excusable. John Nor
gan's arrangement of the forces, told to the
rather unusually crowded audience. was sublime;
but a difficulty, unfortunat inasmuch that upon
a satisfactory explanation and solution OF 1t de-
pended his entire position, had arisen, and John
Morgan more than ordinarily loud voiced
and more than ordinarily aggressive and en-
phatic objection after objection, rendered with
a quiet assurance and firm were urged against
his theory. He had uttered his usual concluding
dictum, but it failed to silence the persistent OBJ
jector. who went the length of asking to be
shown where in the public print certain state
ment TO lee found, and John Morgan, with
much external gravity and soul consuming per
lexity and suffocating wrath, was ostentatiOus
~ hunting for a passage which he was well aware
was not to be found in the rustling pages of the
paper. The deadlock thus occasOned was on the
point of becoming iTksOme to the audience,
when the outer door was opened and a neghbor
his way up from the postoffice stepped into
the heated circle and laid a letter on John
Morgan's knee. IT'S from the seat of war" he
said sententiously he sat down; "A see On
Her Majesty's Service on the envelope" hav-