The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-02-10

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self-repression. ..@ w
II reckon a feller's biggest right Is
to stand by his kinfolks. Unc' Spicer's
gittin' old. He's done been good ter
me. He needs me here"
II appreciate that. He will be older
later. You can 60 now, and come back
to him when he needs you more. If
what urged meant disloyalty to your
people, could cut out my tongue be-
fore I argued for it. You must be-
lieve me in that. I want you to be In
the fullest sense your people'sy leader.
want you to be not only their Sam
son-but their Moses"
The boy looked up and nodded.
II reckon ye aims ter be friendly,
all right" was his conservative re-
sponse.
The painter went on earnestly:
/ II realize that am urging things of
which your people disapprove, but 1t ts
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. l
want you to 60 where you can see
the purple. If you are the sort Of mau
l think, you won't be beguiled. You
won't lose your loyalty. You won't be
ashamed of your people" r..
81 reckon / wouldn't be ashamed"
said the youth. 81 reckon there hain't
no better folks nowhar." .
"I'm sure Of 1t. There are going to
be sweeping changes in these noun
tains. Conditions here have stood as
immutably changeless as the hills
themselves for hundred years. That
day is at its twilight. I tell you, 1
know what I'm talking about. The
state of Kentucky Is looking this way.
The state must develop, and It 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 1t comes,
1t makes it's 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 your
country, you and your people will go
under. You may not realize it, but
that is true. It Is written" .... &c.,.
The boy had listened intently, but at
the end he smiled, and TN his express
sion was something Of the soldier who
scents battle, not without welcome.
81 reckon If these here fellers air
a-comin' up here ter run things. an
drowned out my folks, hits a right
good reason fer me ter stay here--an'
holp my folks" . .- w
"By staying here, you can't help
them. 1t won't be work for guns, but
for brains. BY going away and COM
ing back armed with knowledge, you
can save them. You will know how to
play the game" ....3... s..
81 reckon they won't git our land,
ner our timber, ner our coal, without
we wants ter sell hit. i reckon ef they
tries thet, guns will come in handy.
Things has stood here like they Is now,
fer hundred years. reckon we kin
keep 'em that-away fer spell longer"
But it was evident that Samson was
arguing against his own belief; that he
was trying to bolster up his resolu.
ton and impeached loyalty, and that
at heart he was sick to be up and 60
ing to a world which did not despise
"eddication." After a little, he waved
his hand vaguely toward down be.
low" ;,...... ..... .. ...
"Ef went down char" he questioned
suddenly and irreleYantly, would I
hev' ter cut my ha'r?" .H.
my dear boy" laughed Lescott,
can introduce you in New York studios
ta many distinguished gentlemen who
would feel that their heads had been
shorn if they let their locks get as
short as yours. In. New York, you
might stroll along Broadway garbed 10
turban and burnouse without great.
ly exciting anybody. think my own
hair is as long as yours" -
Because" doggedly declared the
mountaineer, "I wouldn't allow nobody
ter make me cut my ha'r."
'Why?" questioned Lescott, amused
at the stubborn infection. ..,..
81 don't hardly know why" He
paused, then admitted with glare as
though defying criticism: sally likes
hit that.away-an' I won't let nobody
dictate ter me, that's ALL" .
The leaven was working, and one
night Samson announced to his uncle
from the doorstep that he was study.
in erbout goin' away fer spell, an
seem the world"
The old man laid down his pipe. He
cast a reproachful glance at the
painter, which said clearly. though
without words:
II have opened my home to you and
offered you what had, yet In my old
age you take away my mainstay."
81 lowed you was a-studyin' erbout
thet, Samson" he said, at last. 1--WE
done ther best fer ye knowed. |
kinder lowed thet from now on ye'd do
the same fer me. I'm gittin' along In
years right smart. :"
Uncle Spicer," interrupted the boy,
II reckon ye knows thet any time ys