The National tribune., 1901-02-28

HOLD ON, MIR. SMALL, SAID 81, p
Small that he was quite as good as he
was, if not much better in some respects,
in spite of the latter's wealth and negroes.
Mrs. Hartsaorn felt it still more keenly,
but she did not have her husbands re-
sources. She could only reply to Mrs.
SmalPs depreciatory glances and words
with others meant to express righteous
condemnation of the wicked arrogance of
''rich folks and meanwhile sought con-
soiation in her snuff-stick.
Mr.. Small had brought away from his
farm wagon, in which he had had load
ed some bedding, the chairs and the cook
ing utensils and food. He had proposed
that he and his wife should have COM
Portable bed in the wagon, under the low
growing branches of a beech, while the
negroes slept around the fire. What to 90
with Mr.. and Mrs. Hartshorn was a prob
lem. They resolutely refused to put them
selves ION an equality with the niggers,' y
by sleeping around the fire, not even if
they Were given a separate fire. Mr.. and
Mrs. Small as strenuously objected to put
ting themselves on an equality with them,
by sharing their sleeping accommodations
in the wagons.
When 81 arrived on the scene Hart
shOrn was trying to force an admission
from Small to equality, and share in the
wagOn-hed by an appeal to general politi-
cal principles and an assertion of his su-
periOr devotion to Southern Rights. Small
might have possibly waived the point if
he and HartShern had been alone involved
but Mrs. Small was adamant against the
slightest descent toward Mrs. Hartshorn's
level.
Il done tell yo'," said Hartshorn, way
ing his knife and his stick in the air, and
firing a great volley of tobacco-j juice with
precision at 4 neighbOring toadstool I'm
SO strong in my ijees that ! wouldn't
leave nary Yankee alive. They'uns orter
t be killed jes' as fast as our men kin
git at they 'uns.''
''Of co'se they'uns orter t. be killed."
acceded Mr.. Small. I've alters held
that"
whats the sense, I'd like t know"
snapped Mrs. Small, ''of we'uns a-keepin'
that whole passel O. they'uns down thar
at Andersonville, feedin' EN- yictuals that
we'uns've t raise, an which had orter be
sent t the soldiers in the field? Why
didn't they jes' shoot 'em down when they
kotched 'em, an be done with emp"
'.Suttingly," echoed Mr.. Hartshorn de-
lighted to be in accord with Mrs. Small
THAT was my ijee, 'zackly. r
Kind, Christian folks" whispered 81
to Shorty.
The discussion was interrupted by or
ders given to the negroes as to the prep
arations for the night and for supper. At
the first opportunity Hartshorn renewed it
with the assertion:
Il tell you, no man on airth has bin
truer ter Southern prinsepuls nur me. I've
fit fer them all my life, an I'll fout fer
'em as long as live, an ter the las drap
o. my blood"
Fer a foutin' man you'd done managed
monty well in lodging the conscript of
ficers," sneered Mrs. Small.
Il done went inter the army quite as
fast an quite as fur as yer husband done
went, Miss SMALL said Hartsborn, with
leer of triumph at his shot. my cabin
mus be a mile or two neareder Atlanty
than his house, or rather you'rn, for hit
was yOurn, and not his'n"
My husband jes' plum couldn't go ter
the war. on count of u bealin' in his year,
men," Mrs. Hartshorn put in spiritedly.
He jes' wanted ter go moutily, all the
time, mem. But | jes' knOwed he couldn't,
an KEEP him at home. Thar wuz nothin'
at all the matter with yer husband, mem.
He could've went, if he'd "a wanted ter"
The law obleeged my husband ter stay
at home, an take keer of his niggers,
Wash Hartshorn,' answered Mrs. Small,
contemptuously ignoring the wife. You
don't know much o law, but at least you
know that much. An you know, if Won
know anything vallerble, which / much
misdoubt, hit was even more needful fer
them what had niggers t. stay with 'em
an keep EN- at work raisin' pervisions fer
the army than hit wuz ter fout. Common
folks, who hadn't nothin' else, could fout
That's all they kin do t pay up fer livin'
an cumbrin' the airth. We'uns have I'll
take keer O. they'uns all the time, same's
we'uns do our niggers, an why shouldn't
they 'uns go an fout fer we'uns?'
.'Yes'm, l know all about yer 20-nigger
law, an heap more law besides, that's
bin made to grind the faces o. the pore.
answered Hartshorn, lashed into anger by |
the woman's superciliousness, 'an' when
the wars over, an the pore men git back,
tharll be settlement with you paw-paw
quality that yo'uns won't like at all, | |
warn you. Inheritin' or mebbe stealin' a |
Niger or two can't alters make some folks |
Pharaohs. t trod down an run over folks |
what hain't got none. l. tell'-
You darst talk that-a-way [ me, .ight |
afore my face, Wash Hartshorn, you pore, |
contemplate wind-sucker," shouted Mrs
Small, rising from her seat in rage |
you jes' git up an mosey right outen
hyah, an take that snuff-dippin', clay-eat-
in wife O. your'n with you. Cl'ar out,
done"-