Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-03-07
A House on the Hill

re comes the stage down the hill Good bye"
e went home in a bewildering daze; she had almost
Missed to be his wife. He smiled with the confidence
lie man who is accustomed to win. Such love as
must move even a rock.
wo years went by He had not heard from her, so
st he set out upon journey to the low country.
Knew of the neighborhood and found it. He found,
grave beneath a cottonwood tree An old man,
ative of the girl, said to Britts "She spoke of you
before she died. and in her mind-wanderngs she
she was going to you"
was long time before Britts returned home. He
up and down the earth, looking for disspations
bled, followed the races. With him was a negro
ed Tom, not only child of bondage, but the fruit
mortgage. He was an enormous fellow, with a
ncholy song when evening came, an echo from
aric Africa
ne Sunday the little church near Red Clint was astir
the news that Britts had returned but it was only
futter, for the preacher lifted his voice
cried for war. The country was in a desperate
;. And soon the first gun was fired. One morning
S called for Tom, and when the giant had come,
the master said: "Tom, by tomorrow night
all my slaves will be gone. I ruined and
am compelled to sell them. My affairs didn't
prosper when l was away; an overseer ran off
with money, and l am done for"
"But, marster, l hope you won't have ter sell
me-"
II am afraid so, Tom. But not to pay a
debt. You know what | think of you you
know that you saved my life more than once"
"Then what is you goin' to sell me fur,
marster?"
"To build monument over the grave of
Louise Linchester"
ooh, please doan. I KANT stan ter be
separated from you now An besides dat, [
l,Il Il o;,rLl
her like you loved one, sab. Doan sell me. Sell
er piece O de land"
'The land does not belong to me now And
I'll be forced off within year or so. It's only
a question of time. But I won't sell you Tom"
Il thank you, sal, an now lemme tell you
what I gwine do eff l live = gwine build er
monument ter de lady. I'll do all sorts O. odd
jobs o work an raise many things in de truck
patch. Thanks you, marster."
The smoke of the war-guns blew nearer.
Brtts mounted his horse. The negro asked
him whittier he was going "To get away
he replied. III they catch me they will kill
me. | am from the North i was in the
regular army, and [ killed an officer = because
be insulted me = and ran away. I tell you
this, but no one else must be told Goodbye.
I am going to Mexico"
Red Clint was a generals headquarters.
A battle was fought near by, and the top of one
OF the CnlIlneyS was KNOCKED OH, DuI OlnerWlSe
the old house sustained no injury Not far
away, in a small weatherboarded house above
which hung sign announcing general
handise, a black giant sold knickknacks to the
ers. A white man, looking obviously toward the
'lishment, said that Tom was coming money.
e came, with its change of social conditions. A
5e lawyer, speaking of the negro Tom, remarked:
e of the best business men [ ever saw He'll own
7hole community after while" And it was not a
while before he did own Red Clint. He had
led and his children were growing up about him.
S passed, and in a manner less bitter the people
look back upon the war They recalled bravery
9TH sides and were proud of it. Tom went to the
Stature at Nashville, drove down in buggy. He
quite as good a record as some of his white
ren, and was driving toward home, when in the
near his place he overlook an old man on foot.
MT you get in and ride?" The old man looked at
and without replying clambered into the vehicle.
'as ragged and his white beard was long. "Piece