The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-29
Books and Authors

81 u
54 Strong in its appeal to high emotions
Is the tale Of 1.-THE Little Shepherd OF
Kingdom Come" by John Fox, Jr. The
story Is one Of the rending by civil war
OF those ties which man holds dearest,
told In q way that arouses intense inter-
dest incidents Of 4 the civil war. These
We're not the breaking Of family neigh
borhood of community ties by death or
wars devastation, but the tearing of
tender bonds of blood, sympathy and af-
lection upon the rock Of individual prin-
ciple In strong characters. They were the
parting OF parents from children by di-
verse views upon the questions which
divided the north from the south, the
like parting of brother from brother and
lover from sweetheart, and the bringing
OF these together again in the positions
Of enemies under the cruel exigencies of
war, driving, in such situations, the iron
into the very soul. It was In Kentucky
that such partings were most frequent,
and 1t Is with these that THE Little
Shepherd Of Kingdom Come deals. It is
unfortunate for MI. Fox andshi readers
that the writer's art was not more nearly
adequate to the material, unfortunate for
his readers at least, that he could not
have had a more Intimate, first-hand
knowledge of the experiences he por-
trays. But that was not Mr.. Fox's fault,
of course.
Chad, "just Chad" at first, who knew
naught Of his birth and family, lack
which carried with it differences that were
not to be overlooked, awoke one day to
find himself without kith or kin, and for
his inheritance only an old f1intlock gun,
a faithful dog and storm shattered
mountain cabin. The possibility Of being
bound out to a despicable farmer led him
to quit the cabin and with gun and dog
set out, mere mountain waif to battle
with the world. And the world very
promptly gave battle. But the boy found
home with a mountain farmer Of the
better class with whose family he formed
strong ties. After a time fortune leads
him to the home of a, major "a gen.
tleman of the old school, as he would
be called now. Chad makes hit with
the major. The following, abbreviated in
part, was one of the incidents that sealed
the majors friendship for him:
Chad, like all Kentucky mountain whites, at
least of that time, chewed tobacco and drank
whisky, even as child. The major and Chad
to the sideboard for Refreshments. Pouring him
SELF glass Of whisky, he was about to drink 1t.
when he turned to Chad and asked: fWill you
Join me?' Chad seeing nothing unusual in the
invitation. accepted and drank off glass of the
lquor with the utmost gravity. The major was
greatly ann, amused and yet grave To learn more
tobacco. This, again, Chad accepted
Don't you know It's very bad for little boys
to drink and chew?' asked the major.
s'No. SIR"
''win it keep me from gett,n, to be big
MANI"
"Yes" ss @
Chad threw his quid in the fire.
Well I be damned said the major under
his breath. Are you goin' to quit p
Eyes, SIR
Chad is found to be related to the major
q nd fho hi
Chad becomes Chadwick Buford, gentle
man." He: also becomes attached to a
beautiful and fine spirited girl who in time
returns his affection What fairer out
look for youth of strong will, exceptional
ability and high purpose?
But the storm of war breaks at this
point. Chad's friends of the farm on the
mountain side, his benefactor the major
the girl whom he loves are all in sympathy
with the south; the boys heart would
lead him that way but for a sturdy pa
triotism which has taken, deep root In his
nature. He simply cannot overcome this
He joins the union army, apparently cut
ting forever every tie /; with those
who have been most to. him, except that
with brother of the girl he loves, who
goes with him northward-s Another broth
er goes to the south. s'God grant that vol
two may never meet IS the heart broken
prayer of the old father Of the brothers
as they take their leave, one for the
north and one for the SOUTH.
To go further with the outline might
be to take the edge off the story for some
prospective reader. The possibilities OF
the material, which are largely realized
are apparent enough. What matters it If
the drawing of Chads character is bit
untrue and inconsistent, chiefly in the
earlier chapters? What If there is here
and there a too obvious effort at detail?
The action is. rapid. the situations are
tense, there is no tagging of interest and
there is enough contrast of comedy and
tragedy to prevent monotony So the
reader who seeks only amusement will
be satisfied. And for him who reads for
something more, for historical light say,
there is the picture of Kentucky's suf-
ferings in the great war. unquestionably
drawn with accuracy.