The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1903-10-15

The Little shepherd q Kirsdos
ce~e" bee sset u vhst ~s are ieehine
fer 10 the great A~eriesn novel; Il !.
rsdeiert ef th> soil and Of Americsaisu.
The Civil War. which has become, even 10
generation that knows IL only ny tradi-
t'on. rather hscknevsd theme, IL made
here vivid background, throbbsue rHh
truth.
The Little shepherd is 'scbsa,' jest
"chsd." When the sser, epeus--an sdors-
BILE little b-y in the Cumberland Noun
tains. sole Survivor Of gsans family from
which death, after striking down father.
son. and daughter. has ju.t plncked the
mother. Not ~Chsd's" mother, tho as
near mother as snsthing the little boy
had known. ''No,t people were very Mind
TO him, looking upon him a. one Of the
wandering wsifs one finds throughout the
Cumberland upon -hom the good folks
Of the mountain do not visit the fathers
sin. He tne- What he vas thought to be.
and Il msitered 50 little, since Il made no
discrimination against him. that he had
accepted Il without question - The harsh
ct term attached 70 these "horn orphans
~as "wood-coit." name noetic sud re-
doleni Of the Yirgin uplauds. Later. the
civilized obioquy Of the bar sinister vas
to burn his soul like white-hos iron.
But the lonely little chap 6, one Of "ns-
'urs's noi,lemsn"--no reader cen doub,
that from the start,
Chad Il not al alone. for he Ia.
Jack" sheeP-dog really NJ 10 he his
dog aud TO figure in his story from be- I
ginning to end There l. no part Of the I
book more fascinating than these opening
chapters. which sho~ the two funr upon |
mountain world ~ unconditioned rs pnrelr
sylvan creatures. Mr. Fox hasa fam
like sense Of nature aud dps his pen into /
her heart ~hen be would body forth her /
aspects. lie is virile. coiored. sinple in /
bis style. his innate scnsitivcness leading
grip 10 his narrative.
Il amt noshin' but a bov. hut got An
aok like man nov, q. "Chsd's summary
Of the situation ss be faces the universe
n bis absolute loneliness on the rnotntaio
lie does "ack like man" 90 the end nrI
q
scends 10 the blue grass iowiands. whrre
the s~eet aud bitter swat him in Ic.inr-
ton. He learns 20 love. discover uhat il
b. % 20 cared for. aud writhcs with tro
hercr soul-thrusfs. the one uh.u hf.
nearest and dearest recoii before The i
stigma which he hears from those Mo
bad loved not wisely hui too WE'LL the
other, When they srurn him with fercer
luminosity because be elect. 20 wear the
Blue instead of the "trav."
No longer Chad "a. uw,od-.of, t
but Chsd~ick Buford. of Kentprt, ti.,.
blood, when the long gathering resent
mvnt Of the South burst forth ia rehcliion
Do agonired in his struggle 90 know where
duty Jay. IL meant more than life az
death Co him. Like 81 mouutafr,,rs
Chad had little love of state and oniv
love Of country. vas frsf last, and All thc
time simply American. 10 vas not reason
1t va Instinct" In the narration oil
ne ensuing strife a. part Of his story. ;
NF. f"f rrescrtes q natural stand The
'ef'e ~ith which be portray tnc huctua-
zone OF the butterfly conte- ed struggle is
INST OF the artist rather than the nartiran .
In the last chapter Of this esouf.it. ,
story. Chad and Jack" set out again !
lie was starting hiss life over afresh. with
pc nlu capital, a. strong body aud y stout
heart. Tn biz breast atill burned the
spirit iast had led bic race TO the land
bad vfcnchcd 60 from savage and kipc
had made it The high temple for th. ~or-
'tiQ OF treemcn-thc Kingdom come for &
ne oppressed OF carih-and. himself the
unconscious shepherd Of that Spirit. he
fs going ic help carry its ideals across
continent Co another sea aud ou-who .
,no~s-io the gates OF the rising sun u
his b. almost The sole touch Of emo
ritine into which Mr. For D. BETRAYED
here Is sense OF curtain" TO his
'hrasing here.
TIE Little shepherd uf Kingdom
.ohe D. hook one loves 90 praise. IL n
ouches the heart hv as human FEELING
eieraies che soul hy Co. clean ideals. II
.raiiucs good taste by its artistic blend Of !.
.aiure and ari.-Lifrrary Bige.i.
>ancar Cured a.. d. -,