Ole Mammy's Torment

d through all the bare branches, he came haltingly up to the end of his lonely pilgrimage. It was given t

silence that bars all sight and speech fell between the freed spirit has

he one soul who loved me and believed in me," he said, in a half whisper. "His poor, black hands have uphe

Brier Crook church. He was given a place on the hill, beside the Chadwicks, w

he funerals of two generations. "I reckon every cul'ud person around heah was present. Three ministahs a helpin', an' fo'teen wh

He do seem so onfeelin'. He loved that man bettah than anything on this yearth, an' I s'posed he'd take his death mighty hard; but what you reckon he said to me this mawnin'. I was i'onin

unt Susan. "That sut'n'ly sounds

tear. He jus' wandahs around the yard, same as if n

by the c

thrilled him, as he rocked himself back and forth among the dead weeds, with his arms around his knees and his head bowed on them. She knew nothing of the music that had sung wordless longings into his simple child-

folks less'n a mile an' a half away, an' besides, you hasn't

put such a notion in yo' h

s suspenders. "The Rev'und Gawge wanted me to go," he said, in a low tone. "Besid

s. Most of the volumes were upside down, because her untutored eyes knew no better than to replace them so, when she took them out to dust the

to school to keep him out of mischief. "Why, that John Jay he hasn't got any mo' mind than a grasshoppah. All he knows how to

d Mammy's opinion so often, it was no wonder that he kept his head turned bashfully aside, and stumbled over his words when he timidly made his request. It was the sight of George's books that gave him courage to persist, and it was

the far future he might be fitted to preach the gospel George had proclaimed, aroused all her grandmotherly pride. Some

" she muttered under her breath. "What if the mantle of Gawge Chad

what was passing through her mind, he was not prepared for the abrupt change in both her speech and manner. He almost lost his balance when she suddenly gave her consent; but,

d softly through the leaves lying on the path. Resting his arms on the fence, he

my promise," he whispered. "I wondah

ender crescent of light, and into its silvery wake

out at his elbows; but there is a broad smile all over his bright little face. Wherever he can find a strip of ice to slide across, he goes with a rush and a whoop. Sometimes there is only a raw turnip and a

t after his long walk, than he begins to be the worry of his teacher's life, as he was the torment of Mammy's. It is not that he means to make trouble.

n window, lit up by the red glare of the sunset. They see him come running up the road, snappin

ake them laugh, he stops at the gate a moment. Do they wonder what he always sees across those snowy

of John Jay's nature. Under the bubbles of his gay animal spirits runs the deep current of a strong purpose, and in these moments he is ke

E

riber'

ch changed to Brier Croo

lling as foun

d to illustration