Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-11-11

tueIb NOnl De any MC-brlarS or
Haveys. Well all be mountaineers
standin' together an holdin' what God
gave us. God knows l hate Milt Nc
Briar an his tribe-hate EN- with all
the power of hatin' that's in mean
I'm a mountain man. But Mills peo-
pie an my people have one thing in
common. We're mountain men, an
these hills are ourn. We have the
same KILN instinct when men seek to
rob us. We want to be let alone, an
If We fight amongst ourselves it amt
nothin' to the way We'll fight, shoulder
to shoulder an back to back, against
the robbers from down below"
The mar paused, and as Juanita
looked into his blazing eyes she shud-
dered, for it seemed that the killing
instinct of which he spoke was burn
ing there, She thought of nothing to
say, and he continued:
It's war between families now-but
when your people come-come to buy
for nothin' and fatten on our starva-
NAOhg We AlSA " tu6 MOulldluS Will
forget that, an l reckon we'll fight to-
gether like all damnation against the
rest. Thet's why I'm c~ounselin' folks
not to sell needless"
Then you did not forbid your peo-
pie to sell to me-" inquired the girl.
Why, in heavens name, should l
make war on ye?" he suddenly de-
manded. Does a man fight children?
We don't fight the helpless up here in
the hills"
Possibly" she suggested with a
trace of irony, when you learn that
I'm not so helpless you won't be so
merciful."
Wen wait till that time comes"
said the man shortly. He paused for
a moment, then went on: Helpless!
Why, heaven knows, ma'am, l pity ye.
Can't We see what odds ye're contend
in against? Can't We see that ye're
tightin' Gods hills and sandstone an
winds an thunder? Can't we see ye're
tryin' ter take out of mems veins the
fire in their blood-the fire that's been
burnin' there for two centuries? Ye're
like a little child tryin' ter pull down
a jail-house. Ye're singin' lullaby
songs to the thunder. Yes, l feel right
sorry fer We, but amt a-fightin' ye."
I'm doing none of those things"
she answered with a defiant blaze in
her eyes. "I'm only trying to show
these people that their ignorance is
not necessary; that it's only part of a
scheme to keep them vassals. You
talk about the wild, free spirit of the
mountain men. think that free men
will listen to that argument"
Anse laughed.
Change 'em!" he repeated, disre-
garding the slur of her last speech.
why, if We don't give it up and go
back to your birds that pick at berries,
do you know what will happen to We?
I'll tell We. Thar will be a change, but
it won't be in us. It'll be in you.
You'll be m~ountainized.
Eye can't live where the storms
come from an where the rivers are
born an not have their spirit get into
your blood. Ye may think ye're in
partners with God, but l reckon yen
find the hills are bigger than you be.
How much land do We need?"
"Why?"
Because I aim to see We get it. Ye
say I'm SCARED of We. l aim to show
we how much I'm SCARED. l aim to
let We go your own fool way an fioun-
der in your own quicksand. An if
nobody won't sell we what we want
let me know an, by Almighty God, I'll
make ye a free gift of a farm an I'll
build your school myself. Thet's how
much I'm SCARED of ye. I've tried to
be friends with We, an We won't have
it. Now just go as fur as We feels in
clined an see how much l mind ye."
He turned abruptly on his heel and
went out, quietly closing the door be-
hind him.