The Columbus journal., 1900-10-10

. simon GREY'S FAMILY. 7
al - IL
A STORY OF COUNTRY LIFE. k
III BY " L. PARKER, GUIDE ROCK, NEB. IL
A STORY OF COUNTRY LIFE.



~~
I II another man had struck me. I'd
strike hack. quicker than lightning. I
wouldn't wait for q proof. OF to get my
weapons all polished and in order. I'd
just simply give him the full benefit
Of my bare nst. I would lick him, just
as I am"
"Ah. pa" said Jimmie::" I remember
one time Of your pitching onto q man
just as you were. and he made you say
enough"
Jimmie. you don't know what you
are talking about l was discussing the
affairs Of nations. I tell you. 1t is I'M
American-like. to let them Spaniards
think us afraid Of EN-"
PA" said Anna. III you don't watch
yourself, you will be a perpetual fault
finder. l 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. l don't believe he'll
ever do 1t. He don't care anything
about the starving Cubans. or our q
tional honor. He il there for the pur-
pose Of helping the rich men; he don't
care how many helpless people starve."
"Well, Simon" said Cynthia. so far
he hasn't hurt rs any. I eve 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.
rs it possibley" said Simon in as
constituent.
"Hurrah for Mckinley" Jimmie
shouted.
"Jimmie-! said Simon. impatiently.
BE quiet. Who told you. Mary. that
war is declared?"
The newspaper says So" said Mary.
and so it proved to be. Simon was
fooled" again, as Cynthia expressed
it. for in big. black letters the paper
announced that war had been declared
against Spain. and the President had
called for $1,000 volunteers.
BOonsville was in a 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 no confidence
in him for managing a a There
never was but one Republican that he
knew capable of doing such =
thing. and that was Abraham Lincoln.
and If he was a-living today he would
not be q Republican.
All eyes were now toward Mckinley.
A great responsibility rested upon his
As commander-in-chief Of
the army and navy be was at the head
and directed all.
About the first order he gave vas to
the Asiatic squadron, and We all knoS
its result.
Commodore Dewey, following the or
der Of his commander-in-chief, sunk
the Spanish feet in Manila Bay. No
such battle had eve been known in the
history Of the world, and Dewey be-
came a national hero.
In the meantime the Flying Squadron
and Admiral SIMPSONS feet went In
Of SPANS Atlantic feet, sup
posed to be neal the West Indies.
Young men were still hurrying to the
front, and among the volunteers was
Glen Harrington.
gOOd-by, but he said he felt 1t his duty
to 60. Long were the farewell words,
and vinnie's eyes followed him as he
away to board the train that
was to bear him to the coast. She was
proud of her lover, and she admired
him, more than ever. for wanting to
be a soldier, yet the thought Of his go
ing filed her with dread.
Many soldier boys would lay down
their lives. Would he be one Of these
called to die for his country?
The thought filed her with breads
md the true meaning Of var came to
her.
Simon was very much surprised when
he heard that Glen Harrington had
enlisted.
Cynthia" he said, Il am glad he's
gone. and 1 hope he'll never return"
why. Simon Grey, how dare you
talk so?"
II didn't exactly mean that ! wish
he'd get shot. but I wish he'd stay in
Cuba. 1t would make one less Kepub-
lean vote in BOonsville, besides saving
Us the unpleasantness Of a Republican
We'll. Simon, We might get q soE-in-
law with q worse fault than vOtin' the
ticket. Let's not ridicule
the Republicans now. They have done
Ill right so far. Wait till they do
wrong"
Ito be ~continued.)