The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-06-21

mel Iurpln talked pontics, and i soon
learned that he was decided In his
views. though somewhat mixed In his
| politics. | found out that he was ad
dicted to the habit of writing pieces"
for the papers, but never under his
own name. He chose rather such noms
de plume as "Vox Populi," Citizen"
and sometimes Patriot" He did not
believe that writing was the profess
sion Of a gentleman unless one could
hide ones Identity. Yet he felt that
the public should be educated by this
means. He was a Democrat, but be-
lieved in high protective tariff. He
disclalmed being lingo. but thought
1t the duty of the government to avenge
the wrongs of any people prosecuted
by a foreign power. And SO the night
wore on and the moon rose higher in
the heavens. | heard Bud and the
colonel discuss the work on the farm
and Judged that the former and two or
three negroes did II all save in the
picking season.
There was contradiction about this
strange household which was perplex.
ing to me. Where had Miss Ellen
mastered the piano. and why was Bud.
with the apparent education of a cul.
tured gentleman. wearing jeans and
doing the plow work In the fields? ]
had begun to weary Of conjecture
when Miss Ellen returned and offered
to show me the view from the cupola.
1t was a weary climb to the top of
that old house, but one felt repaid on
reaching there as the panorama un.
folded itself In the moonlight. The
moon was but fortnight old. and the
night was cloudless. Miss Ellen point
ed out to me the field where the army
Of Sherman had camped on its famous
march to the sea, but had not word
Of criticism to make Of that great gen.
eral. She told me Of the strong young
manhood that was developing to re-
generate the land and seemed to think
the freedom of the slaves a blessing
to both people. She promised to take
me to the negro settlement some day
and show me how they lived She
had a Sunday school there of colored
girls, for" she said. ut is going to
be through the mothers Of the colored
race that we will some day reach 1t
and elevate 1t to what is good and
moral" I stood spellbound, as 1t were,
by her earnestness and faith. and all
my preconcelved opinions began to fall
away under the influence Of this little
brown eyed girl in gingham gown.
That night after retired to my
room the instincts Of the newspaper
man, which had lain dormant since ar
irving at the Pines, began to stir, and
l could not help thinking what pic.
ture this household would make If
held up before Boston audience. But
to turn these kindly people into an OBJ
tect lesson would be the basest In.
gratitude Yet put this idea from me
as would. it would recur to me during
the night, and scene after scene, with
Ellen and Bud always In the fore
ground, kept shifting themselves across
the mental canvas, and argue as
would that to make use of this homely
life with its poverty and pride, its dig
nified endurance Of changed conditions,
as the subject of a news letter would
be an III return for the hospitality
had received, yet / could not put aside
the longing to pen the picture as ]
saw it and to paint it boldly, in order
that others might see it in the same
light as it had appealed to me
The next morning was up early, the
sun, in fact, being only an hour ahead
Of me. Thinking it would be an ex-
cellent chance to see something of the
place and study Its character more in
detail, for l had become deeply inter
ested IN everything connected with the
Pines, dressed hastily and started for
brisk walk. AS | was making the
half circuit of the house by way of ex.
ploration came upon Miss Ellen, car
rying an armful of kindling wood.
"Why, Miss Turpin," l cried, II had
no idea of finding you up at this hour"
you forget the dual character
play" she laughed. 81 am not early,
however, for 1t is late. But you are
responsible for 1t, as you demoralized
the household last night in encourag.
ing father to discuss politics. Doubtless
you saw all his fallacies, but was kind
enough not to point them out to him"
l had been much entertained, / said,
though his politics appeared to be
somewhat mixed and his ideas were
quite different from those had expect
ed to hear him express.
YES" she answered; ''he is half
Democrat and half Republican, With
a dash here and there of populism,
fear, but 1t makes him very angry to
tell him so, as he thinks himself a
hidebound Democrat He can never
forget that Henry Clay believed in a
protective tariff. ! think, next to Gen
eral Oglethorpe, he admires the Ken
tuckian more than any of our historical
characters. But l must not allow my
self to be dragged into political argu-
ment, for | see you are ready to take
up the cudgel for Clay, no doubt, and
since you have come bothering about
so early you must make yourself use
full" She then showed me the wood
pile and told me to bring enough to the