Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-07-09
SPANISH PEGGY.
Coat us ! s'om page I've


large fortunes. So bad was the gov
eminent that people had starved there
in the midst OF abundance. He begged
to have Cuba ad9egit tied into the union.
Such novel IA had never been
urged before upon men who were
struggling TO get living out of the
scarcely upturned sod of a new state.
Some older men smiled at each
other, thinking the United States had
all she could do at that time to take
care of her own territory But it was
fattering TO have a rich island, repre-
sented by an elegant man OF the world
dressed in the best clothes which
money could buy. appealing TO them
for protection; and they helped their
neighbcrs stamp vigoToas applause
every time he rounded one Of his glow
ing periods with-.If Cuba may only
be annexed 10 America
Still there was hard-headed ele-
,ment that held out against the stranger.
They would give him fair play, but
they would test his arguments.
Look at Abe Lincoln" one Carolina
settler whispered to another during
the stir which followed the conclusion.
@I'd like to hear what he thsr'ss. He
can beat this fellow all hollow making
a speech"
ABE says the fellow looks Just ike
gamblers he saw in New Orleans when
he went down with the fatboat."
ar
s'and | have been watching him close.
that this brown gentleman, with his
shiny hair and eyes, is a runaway slave
putting on a bold face and trying to
get through to Canada. Some body
servant that knows how to wear his
masters clothes
What spite would Shickshack have
against runaway slave?" objected the
first man. And his hair is as straight
as that little girls at the In'ian's cabin.
I'd sooner take him for horsethief.
We've had some fine looking horse
thieves in this part of the state"
Mahala Cameron's father, who, on
account of building the mill, had
claimed and obtained the privilege Of
naming the town, and had called it
New Salem for old Salem where he
was born on the Massachusetts, coast,
put in his word.
'I had an uncle,' he said, that fol-
lowed the sea, and made voyages to
Cuba. It's about such place as the
man describes"
While private opinion thus see
4eouynl fdn rour IF Miptor. Croyh m c
pupils on the front benches, reused
from drowsiness to keen interest, stood
up at the strangers bidding. and ac-
cumulated the worst kind of case
against him. For however they at
tempted Ompompanoosuck-
Own, own; p-o-w-m, powm-'
"A-u-m, aum: p-a-u-m, paum-"
"O-m ON: pom, pom; Ply, Ply, ON
pompy-" it was not right; and the
audience began to laugh with appre-
citation of a joke. Martha Bell Clary
heard her own brother Redmond
shouting with such delight as she
struggled hopelessly with Ompompa-
noosuck, that she turned and made
what was called in New Salem "a
mouth at him. Though the lecturer
: endeared himself greatly to the Grove
boys, it was plain he had only put UP
Minter Grayham's scholars to be made
ridiculous before their parents and
friends.
I'D hate to have him for a relation,
even if | was as bad off as Peggy
Shickshack," whispered Martha Bell
10 Mahala Cameron
$50 would l." responded Mahala
81 don't believe he has any book to
give as a prize. And l don't believe
he has any plantation in Cuba, either
Shickshack's wife came in late, and
sat by the schoolhouse door, looking
steadily at the speaker. 1t was the
first time the village had ever seen her
at any meeting. The women nearest
were more occupied in being repealed
by her than they were with the annex
alton Of Cuba 1t surprised nobody