An Unoficial Patriot

of nature."

chen of the small but comfortable new home, and the no less unaccustomed speech of the natives, themselves, were a never failing source of amusement to the children a

most amusing of all. The haggling over a few cents, or the payment of money between neighbors for fruit or milk or services of a nature which he had always looked upon as ordinary neighborly courtesy, filled him with mirth. One day, shortly after their arrival, Be

could have fainted! Selling twelve peaches to a neighbor! Why, a mountaineer wouldn't do that! And then he had asked me to take them!

ed it, immensely. He chuckled over it a

an object in the middle of the street. Hoots and shouts of derision went up. A half-witted girl circled slowly about the outskirts of the crowd making aimless motions and passes with her hands toward the object of interest. Voice

t is

ook out there! It'

hat you

o man by that name

l a trigger, never g

! Let's take her a

will you, Dave Benton. She's askin' fe

ng his neck to see over the heads of the crowd. His two brothers took a surer method. They dodged under arms a

ne tole me down yander dat he lib down dis a-way. Wha

mad delight. "It's Aunt Judy! Oh, Beverly, come quick! She

rms about his neck and half-sobbed with joy. Then she tried to pick up the younger boy in her arms, as of old, but her strength

hite with rage. He struck out with both fists at those who were nea

calling the old black creature "aunty" had served to clear a space about them. Every one had fallen back. The halfwitted girl alone remained with the center group, making aimless passes, with ill-reg

nt's a

her, b

Virginia prea

that some of thei

s leg in an effort to help his brother. Suddenly Roy swi

ttle-devil!" he ground out betwe

e the threat before the astonished and half-amused bystanders realized the danger. Beverly s

instant!" he commanded, loosening the boy's grasp. "

behind them, leaving a hooting mob outside and Da

ing the weak-minded girl alone circling about the gate, making inarticulate noises

e for her having come. Indeed, Judy would not or could not tell exactly how she had managed it herself. That she had been helped forward by some one seemed evident. But Griffith's plea would not suffice. She was here. He was avowedly the cause of her coming. She was a free negro. He was giving her employment. That was against the State constitution. Clearly, she must be sent away. Griff

f!" remarked Dave's father, sotto voce. "Wond

he boys call her ant, 'n' the little gal, too. She rid

' mine kiss a nigger

I shoul

that the j

gned and executed. Aunt Judy was officially and legally declared not to be employed by, but to be a visitor in, the family; "and, furthermore, it is declared and agreed, that, in case of her becoming indigent, or in case of her death while within the borders of the State, the aforenamed Rev. Griffith Davenport binds hi

ent goes! Fancy Aunt Judy looking upon herself as a guest of the family! Ha! ha! ha! ha!" The idea so amused him that he laughed uproariously. Five minutes later there floated out on to the porch, where Judy sat with the children telling them wonderful tales o

to aunt Judy's tales of adventure. "She do talk the quarest, schure, an' it's barely

tell us all about the twins just as soon as supper was o

make sure the ears of Rosanna were not too

is des so spilt dat

mean?" a

ain't no name fo' hit. Dey is mouldy. De onliest reason why dey ain't in the lock-up is k

e twins are so bad. You are just mad at

spilte, I tell yoh. Jerry, he's a teamin' an' he can't watch'em, an' dey maw s

s of Washington," suggested Beverly, wink

shin-ton-white ner black. Mebby dem dar folks had some 'f o dey cum dar; but dey sholy did leave de whole lot back in d

go away, Aunt Judy, you don't know what morals are," he said, "that's all. In Washington

life at the capital. In her opinion, the seat of government had no redeeming qualities. "Stay dar? Why, dis chile wouldn't stay

ight, I'll bet you," piped up Howard, as

oly dus lib high; de nex' mont' dey sorter scrabbles erlong, an' de las' mont' dey sholy is hawd times. Dey ain't no use talking, dey sholy is dat! Now I'm des' gwine in 'n take a good big jorum of pepsissi

le avail me to omit, also, of men and of women, who hooted, stared at and otherwise indicated that she was less than human and more than curious. She was the pariah of the village, albeit LeRoy's fists had done their perfect work in that she was no more stoned. But she was content-so, at least, she asserted-and not even the longing for Jeny and Ellen a