The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1912-10-24

the heavens. | heard Bud and the
colonel discuss the work on the farm
and judged that the former and two or
three negroes did it all save in the
picking season.
There was a 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 Il weary climb to the top Of
that old house. but one felt repaid on
reaching there as the panorama I'M
folded itself in the moonlight. The
moon was but a 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 a 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 n blessing
to both people. She promised to take
me to the negro settlement some day
and show me how they lived. She
had n Sunday school there of colored
girls. for" she said. lit is going to
be through the mothers Of the colored
race that we will some day reach it
and elevate 1t to what Is good and
moral" | stood %spellbound. as 1t We're,
by her earnestness and faith. and all
my ~preconceived opinions began to fall
away under the influence Of this little
brown eyed girl In n Bingham 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 a pic
ture this household would make If
held up before a Boston audience. But
to turn these kindly people into IN OBJ
ject lesson would be the basest in
gr titude, Yet put this idea from me
as | would, it would recur to me during
NAN hASHNs "iN '''iN lNN SNNlit, 4
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
nifed endurance Of changed conditions.
as the subject of n news letter would
be an Ill return for the hospitality !
had received, yet | could not put aside
the longing to pen the picture as I
saw it and to paint 1t 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 he an ex-
cellent chance to see something of the
place and study its character more In
detail, for | had become deeply inter.
eSted in everything connected With the
Pines, | dressed hastily and started for
a 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," | cried. Il had
no idea of finding you up at this hour"
You forget the dual character /
play" she laughed. Il am not early.
however, for it is late. But you are
responsible for it, as you demoralized
the household last night in %encour1g
ing father to discuss politics. Doubtless
you saw all his fallacios. but was kind
a,n,rI, ,nt 4, ,,nf,t tlnp, ,,t to hin, -
| had been much entertained, | said.
though his politics appeared to he
somewhat mixed and his ideas W re
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 it makes him very angry 70
tell him so, as he thinks himself a
hidebound Democrat. He can never
forget that Henry Clay believed IN a
protective tariff. | think, mex to Gen
eral Oglethorpe, he admires the Ken
tuckian more than any of our historical
characters. But | 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 bothcring about
SO early you must make yourself use
full" She then showed me the wood
pile and old me to bring enough to the
kitchen to last two full days.
Miss Turpin." | said a little later
as | entered the kitchen with my arms
loaded down with short oak logs, is
1t really necessary for you to do this
work."
She looked with surprise at me, and
/ thought / saw a faint color come 70
the surface Of her skin. but | could not
tell. for she was lighting the fire. She
saw that | was earnest in my question.
and. still %kneeling in front Of the stove,
she turned her frank face toward NE
and said:
II would resent the question, Mr
Palmer. did ] not know that a kim