The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-08
SOME VERY ODD CHARACTERS.
Told of i'm the Series of ''Some Drift
wood Caught from the Current"
BY +. S. I'll.

BY f. S. I'll.
A family of Purdys of -- Co. furn-
ished some of the bravest soldiers In
the Civil War. There were five OF
these brothers, splendid specimens OF
physical manhood, but unlettered. The
mother of these boys was of stern
mold and held herself proudly, in spite
of her limited attainments in the realm
of letters, and possessing nigh sense
of honor she was quick to recognize
true worth in others She was won't
to seek the society of people OF cul-
ture and refinement where she was al
ways welcome because OF hef natlNe
force of character and her unlllncnlhg
patriotism in sending out her boys
cheerfully to the conflict, and assum-
ing the rougher cares and duties erst-
while performed by them, that she
might hold things together against
their return.
BY her indomitable energy and the
practice of the StricteSt economy she
was enabled to care for the helpless
ones of the family, and to strengthen
the things that remained. when ne
cessity of purchase brought her to the
store she would mount her cr1tter
and with a basket of cotton on her
arm she would pick out the seeds as
she rode along, or as she stood and
give her orders at the grocery Tor
such things as she had not yet learned
to manufa cture at home. Inquired OF
concerning some family of ordinary
social standing in her neighborhood
she answered with some asperity: l
can't tell you anything about the
Jones', l only visit the ). ). rs
Of. F. V.'s)
This anomalous condition of affairs
holding herself aloof from the circle
in which she was entitled to move,
Cd hxv cd
and social prestige to move in the
circle she affected-isolated her some
what, but she grmly faced these self
imposed conditions and flung defiance
at carping criticism.
1t came to pass in the current Of
events that one of her sons became
enamored of a neighbor's daughter of
higher social rank than his own, but
somehow love is a kind of leveler of
the finer distinctions of rank and caste,
and she accepted his suit, and prep
arationS went forward for the con-
summation of the union. The stones
filed a very strong caveat. not consid-
ering him her equal in wealth and
social standing. But somehow the at
fair went forward and in due course
of time the marriage took place at
the brides home.
After the ceremony was over and
quiet had fallen upon the circle around
the ample fireside, the groom heaved
deep sigh Of pent up repression and
remarked: TIN 'gwinter take er chaW
o terbacker now, | is"
When the time came for the bride
and groom to leave for their future
home the parents of the bride showed
much concern by their weeping, but
Mrs. Purdy made a still more noisy
demonstration, which seemed a little
strange to the company, but, after
ward she explained to a friend that she
had "nuthin' agin Polly-Ann" out the
Stones kicked up" and she thought
she would kick up too.
At the close of the war her sons
all returned unscratched except one,
who lost an arm, while all were well
to the front in every engagement of
their regiment Brave i'm war these
stalwart fellows were no less brave in
taking up the task of rehablitasing
the old plantation which plainly
showed the devastating hand of war
i'm spite of the heroic efforts and sac
rifices of the widowed mother.
One of these boys who had exhibited
great prowess in the manly sports Of
the neighborhood and on the field of
battle, but had now settled down for
years to the quiet pursuits of peace,
attended one day political meeting
and seeing a fight i'm progress promptly
threw off his coat. remarking that he
must have hand in that as he hadn't
eft err fout sence Mr.. Lee surrend-
cred" Without knowing anything of
the merits of the case he threw him
self on the weaker side. and their op
ponents were soon forced to cry
Enough" In later years he has
withdrawn from the exctements of
public gatherings to the extent that
his friends chaffed him on the loss Of
a fighting Snirif % ~ nIlipflV
served that he would leave all that TO
the younger ones. Got all / kin do
now fitin' grass. No time for nothin'
else. l jes kin make buckle and tung
meet by lickin' out my tung consid-
ibul'