Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-06-10


tie Cut-Nose? Seems to me I'd like
to try my rife on those fellows just
cnce,' replied Hiram.
Never fear. That there Niger
Godfrey is sharp enough to take care
of his own skin. He amt agoin' to
take no more chances than he has
to, allow" said Joe Pettus.
That's as true as the declaration
of Independence Joe, but Cut-Nose
amt that sort at all; there amt moth
in sneakin' about him. He is as
vicious an cruel as they make 'em;
at the same time he is brave man
an don't fear nothin', neither man
nor beast. An if he amt in the muss
from start to finish you may kiss
me-" volunteered Frank Inness.
SAY" he continued, Il hear that
the preacher has enlisted and is 60
ing with US as a private in the
ranks, wonder if it's true?"
Il shouldn't be at all surprised"
said Petrie. He is not the kind of
a man to hang back when he is need
ed, and seeing he has no family to
keep him at home, should not think
it strange if he made up his mind
to go with u.s."
You are right Stephen, Mr.. Gray
ling has already enlisted and will
be by your side when the order to
march is received" said John Arm
strong. There seems to be some
personal motive which influences him
in addition to that of patriotism,
what it is / don't know but l am
sure the incentive must be a very
powerful one. He is to be at my
house tonight; perhaps he will in
form me what it is
If he took notion to wise any,
body up as to any other motive
than what is our'n you'd be the
man he'd tell it to JOHN suggested
Joe Pettus.
However that may be l think it
would be we'll to close up the store
even if it is little early and get
to our homes. We don't know how
soon the order to march may come.
Hiram you may lock up right away.
Good night boys, get all the sleep
you can while you have the oppor-
tunity." With these parting words
the store-keeper took up his hat
and made his way up the hill to his
home, where he found the preacher
in conversation with Mrs. Armstrong,
Frances, and Mrs. Badleigh, who had
run in to talk with her friends about
the great uprising of the Indians
and the dangers that threatened Mr.
Grayling, Jesse, and the others, who
were expecting at any moment to be
called to the front
Good evening brother Grayling
it is very good of you to spend with
us what may be your last night be-
fore leaving US for the seat of war.
We are all greatly pleased and the
more so because there is little mat
ter / wanted to speak to you about
before you leave"
Then after greeting Mrs. Badleigh
he said-"I am sure the ladies will
excuse us for a few minutes brother
Grayling, will you kindly step this
way?"
And together they entered what
Frances called Fathers library"
Brother Grayling, / am sure you
will pardon my presumption, but !
have for months past been thinking
that you, like almost all our preach
ers may not be overly we'll provid-
ed for as to this worlds goods. If
am unpleasantly abrupt in saying
this it is because we have little time
for mere roliteness. Now ! happen
to have in the western part of the
state some land, one hundred and
sixty acres, and while / have never
seen it myself l am told it is well
located and that the soil is excellent.
Some day that land will be very
valuable. Now while you have been
doing the Lords work here among
us, you have received but a mere
pittance as compensation, making it
impossible to lay by anything for old
age when you can no longer work ;
some provision should therefore be
made against that time. Here is a
deed of that land, conveying it to you
and your heirs forever, which ! beg
you to accept and with it my fer
vent hope that you may live long to
do good among us and in your old
age enjoy whatever of comfort it
may be able to bring you"
And the good man made this gen.
erous gift as though it was but a
small matter, and without the slight
est thought of what a noble thing he
was doing.
Not so the preacher. For a full
minute he sat silent, looking first
at the document on the table before