Mexico Missouri message., 1914-12-24
CHAPTER vi.

anticipating visit of two weeks. His
accident had resolved him to shorten
II to the nearest day upon which he
felt capable OF making the trip out to
the railroad. Yet June had ended;
July had burned the slopes from en-
erald to ruseet-green August had
brought purple tops TO the ironweee,
and still he found himself lingering
And this was true although he recog-
nized q growing sentiment Of disap'
prevail for himself. In Samson he
thought he recognized twin gifts; a
spark of a genius too rare to be al
lowed to flicker out, and potentially
for constructive work among his own
people, which needed for Its perfecting
only education and experience.
Samson" he suggested one day
when they were alone. Il want you to
come East. You say that gun is your
tool, and that each man must stick to
his own. You are in part right, In
part wrong. A man uses any tool bet
ter for understanding other tools. You
have the right TO use your brains and
talents to the full"
The boys face was somber in the
intensity Of his mental struggle. and
his answer had that sullen ring which
was not really sullenness at all, but
self.repression.
Il reckon a feller's biggest right Is
tn stand by his kinfolks. Unc' Spicer's
gttin' old. He's done been good ter
me. He needs me here"
Il appreciate that. He will be older
later. You can go now, and come back
to him when he needs you more. IL
what urged meant disloyalty to your
people, | could cut out my tongue be-
fore | argued for it. You must be-
lieye me in that. Iwant you to be in
the fullest sense your peoples leader.
| want you to be not only their Sam
son-but their Moses"
The boy looked up and nodded.
Il reckon we aims ter be friendly.
all right" was his conservative re-
Spouse.
The painter went on earnestly:
Il realize that am urging things of
which your people disapprove, but 1t is
| only because they misunderstood that
they do disapprove. They are too close,
| Samson, to see the purple that noun.
tains have when they are far away.
want you to go where you can see
| the purple. II you are the sort of mau
| think, you won't be beguiled. You
won't lose your loyalty. You won't be
ashamed OF your people"
Il reckon l wouldn't be ashamed. u
said the youth. Il reckon there hain't
no better folks nowhar."
I'm sure of it. There are going to
be sweeping changes in these noun.
tains Conditions here have stood as
immutably changeless as the hills
themselves for a hundred years. That
day is at its twilight. l tell you,
know what I'm talking about. The
state of Kentucky is looking this way
The state must develop, and 1t is here
alone that it can develop. Here are
virgin forests and almost inexhaust
ible coal veins. Capital is turning
from an orange squeezed dry, and cast
ing about for fresher food. Capital has
seen your hills. Capital is inevitable
relentless, omnipotent, Where it comes
it makes its laws. Conditions that
have existed undisturbed will vanish
The law of the feud, which militia and
courts have not been able to abate
will vanish before capitals breath like
the mists when the sun strikes them
Unless you learn to ride the waves
which will presently sweep over YOU
country, you and your people will &c
under. You may not realize it, bu
that is true. 1t is written"
The boy had listened intently, but a
the end he smiled, and in his. expires
sion was something of the soldier VIII,
scents battle. not without welcome.
Il reckon If these here fellers ali
a-comin up here ter run things, an
drowned out my folks, hits a RICH
good reason fer me ter stay here-an
holp my folks"
BY staying here, you can't hell
them. 1t won't be work for guns, Blu
for brains. BY going away and com
ing back armed with knowledge, yo,
, can save them. You will know how I,
play the game"
Il reckon they won't git our land
ner our timber, ner our coal, withou
we wants ter sell hit. reckon eff the
tries thet, guns will come in handy
Things has stood here like they 10 now
fer hundred years. reckon we xii
keep 'em that-away fer a spell longer.
, But it was evident that Samson wa
2 arguing against his own belief; that h
! was trying to bolster up his resolr
: ton and impeached loyalty, and tina
at heart he was sick to be up and Il
! ing to a world which did not despis
/ dedication" After little, he wave
r his hand vaguely toward down b,
: low"
[ Eff went down thar" he questione
g suddenly and irrelevantly, would
$ hev' ter cut my ha'r?"
g MY dear boy" laughed Lescott,
can introduce you in New York studio
!. to many distinguished gentlemen VIII
/ ,,.o,td faaI fhaf than Aaoa. -.