Semester 2 HW3

Andrew Krell
English 101
Professor Young
February 7, 2016

          We are introduced to Kelly on page 58-59.  While Onion is hiding behind a tree, he witnesses a conversation between the drunken Kelly and his prisoner, Pardee.  Kelly is clearly a pro-slaver who is trying to force Pardee to sign a resolution.  He gives Pardee a paper and says, "I got several resolutions here saying the Free State men is liars and law-breaking thieves . . . You read them out loud.  Then sign them all" (McBride 59).  A discussion follows where Pardee refuses to sign, after looking at the papers and gives them back to Kelly to read to him.  Pardee blames not knowing what the paper says on poor eyesight, but it is clear from the conversation that Pardee is lying and he really cannot read.  It is not clear that Kelly can read either, because he refuses to read the paper for Pardee and even gives it to Nigger Bob to read out loud.  Later, both Pardee and Kelly admit they are illiterate, which brings a previous land title deal at Big Springs in question.  

"I can't read!" Pardee said.                                                                                                                  That stopped Kelly cold and he took his hands off Pardee like he was electrified.  "What?  You said you could!"    

"I was lying."

"What about that land title at Big Springs?  You said it was . . ."

"I don't know what that was.  You wanted it so damn bad!"

"You blockhead!" (McBride 63).

          

         The Red Shirts are pro-slavery soldiers.  Nigger Bob uses the term when he is telling Onion that  both John Brown and Dutch are murderers.  He tells Onion that, "[Dutch's] riding on Brown now.  Got a whole posse looking for 'em.  Every redshirt within a hundred miles is rolling these plains for him" (McBride 68).

Nigger Bob was a slave and the driver of the wagon in Kelly's posse.  When Kelly insisted Bob read Pardee's resolution papers, he said he could not read.  When Kelly forcefully persists, Bob anxiously says, "Een-y. Mean-y. Mine-y. Moe. One-two-three." to the amusement of everyone but Kelly.