Colonel Carter of CartersvilleSmith, Francis Hopkinson
General
Colonel Carter of Cartersville
Smith, Francis Hopkinson
Virginia -- Fiction
"Yes, Chad, for you and me. There's no hard work for you any mo', old
man. Go and tell Henny."
That night at dinner, Fitz on the colonel's right, the Englishman next
to aunt Nancy, Kerfoot, Yancey, and I disposed in regular order, Chad
noiseless and attentive, the colonel arose in his chair, radiant to
the very tip ends of his cravat, and, in a voice which trembled as it
rose, said:--
"Gentlemen, the events of the day have unexpectedly brought me an
influx of wealth far beyond my brightest anticipations. This is due
in great measure to the untirin' brain and vast commercial resources
of my dear friend Mr. Fitzpatrick, who has labored with me durin' my
sojourn Nawth in the development of these properties, and who now,
with that unselfishness which characterizes his life, refuses to accept
any share in the result.
"They have also strengthened the tie existin' between my old friend
the major on my left, who oftentimes when the day was darkest has
cheered me by his counsel and companionship.
"But, gentlemen, they have done mo'." The colonel's feet now barely
touched the floor. "They have enabled me to provide for one of the
loveliest of her sex,--she who graces our boa'd,--and to enrich her
declinin' days not only with all the comforts, but with many of the
luxuries she was bawn to enjoy."
"Fill yo' glasses, gentlemen, and drink to the health of that greatest
of all blessings,--a true Southern lady!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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