"My
great grandfather carried it at the battle of New Orleans," she said;
and reverently the young man took the gun and pressed the butt to his
shoulder, taking aim. "No wonder our country has a spirit that can't be
crushed," he remarked, lowering the ancient war hound and looking into
its black mouth.
"When we've got such guns?" she said, smiling down upon him, still
standing on the chair.
"No, not such guns but men who do such deeds and women who are proud of
them."
Jasper looked round and saw that the young man in his carelessness had
the gun pointed at him. "Here," he called, "turn that thing tuther way."
"Why it isn't loaded, is it?" Tom asked, returning the gun to Lou.
"No, but them's the sort that usually goes off and kills folks. Thar's
an old sayin', ma'm," he said to Mrs. Mayfield, "that thar's danger in a
gun without lock, stock, or barrel--you kin w'ar a feller out with the
ram-rod."
Lou replaced the gun and sat down. Tom stood over her, slily showing her
some verses. Mrs. Mayfield, glancing round, understood that it was a
"poetic situation," and remarked to Jasper.
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