The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar

grow strong as they remembered. Indeed, he was not gone a year. Good behaviour cut two months off the time of his sentence, and b

ad deteriorated during his absence, but he put new blood and new life into it. He did not go to work in the shop himself, but, taking d

again. He was very quiet. Uptown hardly knew that he was a

to one another. "It isn't like him to be qu

o say, "Well, he was a mig

was crushed, but others expressed doubt as to this. There are cal

hat this must be the after-quiet. Bingo, reassured, vol

him with an indifferent, no

gly. He had variously demonstrated his inability to lead during h

oing t

reckon you'll sta

I do even if

f course; but I

f shut eyes. He only marked his humility

l the run taken out of

some of the rude, coarse people of the low quarter who were still sufficiently unenlightened to be grateful-talked among themselves and offered to get up a demonstration for him. Bu

ld to th

een made a tool of by Mr. Bingo. So he revolted against his rule and set himself up as the leader of an

e fight for supremacy became fiercer than ever. The school-teacher is giving you a pretty hard brought the school-chi

r, but he was not sure that he was as good as Morton's. There was no doubt but that his essayist was not. He secured a band, but

that he was surprised to re

rised to see me here,

, I know." Bi

t dropped in

sure, Asbury. Wha

for you that I came to ta

lieve I und

say that the school-teacher is

ot so

ugh. Mr. Morton once did me a mean turn

leap, and then stopped fo

"but I can look over your part in it in ord

e for his wrongs and upon the wrong man. How well the schemer had covered

you know what I di

party. We'll pass that, though. What I want to say is that I can help you to make your

ould be delighted with your aid. I could gi

his at all. All I want is revenge. You can ha

they had a long and close consultation. When Asbury was gone, Mr. B

ike a boom. More bands were hired. The interior of the State was called upon and a m

whelming defeat that threatened him. But in spite of his obstinacy, his hours were dark and bitter. Asbury worked like a mole, all underground, but he was indefatigable. Two

mote upon his ear the sound of music. They were coming at last. Bringing his sword to his shoulder, he rode forward to the middle of the street. Ah, there they were. But-but-could he believe his eyes? They were going in another direction, and at their head rode

e must have known the truth all along, thought Bingo. His allies left him one by one fo

e celebration. He was at hi

but that the thing had been so adroitly managed that he appeared to be in fault, and three-fourths of those who knew him were angry at som

n was c

t too, and they met together to discuss the dangerous factor which, while it appeared to s

d papers and kept an impassive face. When they were all done, he looked up for a

had the gra

se your influe

olitics," was

owed no sign. He treated with neither one party nor the other. "Perhaps,"

gers of the party in power looked at it, fascinated by an ominous dread. Finally it began to rain Negro voters, and as one man they voted against their former candidates. Their organisation was pe

ut no one bothered him except a reporter. The reporter called to see just how it was done. He found Asbury v

had learne

w

ISTMAS

more intimate friends she confided that she was not a "weed widder," but one of the "grass" variety. The story of how her

an much 'bout his onshifless ways, but he des went erlong, twell bimeby hyeah come de wah an' evahthing was broke up. Den w'en hit come time dat Madison had to scramble fu' hisself, dey wa'nt no scramble in him. He des' wouldn't wo'k an' I had to do evahthing. He allus had what he called some gret scheme, but deh nevah seemed to come to nuffin, an' once when he got de folks to put some money in somep'n' dat broke up, dey come put' nigh tahin' an' featherin' him. Finally, I des got morchully tiahed o' dat man's ca'in' on, an' I say to him one

ork's large black contingent from the South. To her the lessons of slavery had not been idle ones. Industrious, careful, and hard-working, she soon became pr

tes. Its pastor was one of those who had not yet got beyond the belief that any temporal preparation for the preaching of the Gospel was unnecessary. It was still his firm trust, and often h

ss contrived to meet them. He knew that in preaching they wanted noise, emotion, and fire; that in the preacher they wanted free-heartedness and cordiality. He knew that when Christmas came they wanted a great rally, somewhat approaching, at least, the rousing times both

is congregation, "we's goin' to h

tion, laughed heartily, exclaiming in admiration of

real sho 'nough one, 'll 'blige me by meetin' me in de basement of de ch

sisters who a little later met the pastor as agreed. Among them was Martha Maria Mixon, for she

out, an' you, too, Sis Jinny, an' Sis Dicey," he added, quick to note the signs of any incipient jea

s beamed a

es fu' to take chawge of each night. Now, I's a-goin' to have a powahful preachah f'om de Souf wid us, an' I want you all to show him what we kin do. On

nough fu' dat," said Mrs. Mixon modestly, "but I'll do de bes'

sed to the appointment of his other committees. After evening services the brothe

must come separation and sadness. For this was the time when those who were to be hired out, loaned, or given away, were to change their homes. So even while they danced they sighed, and while they shouted they moaned. Now there was no such repressing fact to daunt them. Christmas would come. They would enjoy themselves, and after it was over would go back to the same homes to live throug

"I don' believe you doin' anything to'ds dat Chris'mus celebration. Evah time I sees

fore she replied, "Nevah you min', Brothah Willia

ven ef you do'n know it, b

yo'n a new dress," and her tormentor's guffaw

nded people congregated there was much whispering and giggling, for

hisper would fly back in well-feigned affright, "Heish, man, you want to have Brothah Todbu'y chu'chin' me?" But if the swain persisted, there was li

not only should her part at the church be above reproach, but the entertainment which she would give that strange preacher would be

ously. Everyone was a child again; holly wreaths with the red berries gleaming amid the

ve before her, and every now and then she broke her reverie to sip of it. It smelled sweet and pungent and suspicious, but, then-this was Christmas Eve. She was half drowsing when a brisk knock startled her into wakefulness. Thinking it was one of the neighbours in for a call she bade the vi

he stammered,

don' you know me; an' don'

n, is dat you

made a man o' myse'f, to seek you. It's

was forgotten save that here stood her long delinquent husband. She threw out her arms and took a step towa

ack!" he cried, "y

ill, Madison, ef you has

o prove da

at this sudden finding of a husband might be awkward on the morrow when the visitor came to dinner. Nor did she once sus

ling in his carpet bag and was already respectably dressed. His wife looked at him approvingly, but the glance t

ay you hyeah, ain't you

see you at chu'ch by de time de services begin

ut. Then her tears came and flooded away the last hope. She had been so proud to think that she would walk to church with her husband that morning for the first time in so long a while, and now it

she could see nothing of him, and so she sank into her seat with a sigh. She could just see the new minister droop

r until she found that the whole of his closing sentence was flashing through

Madison. Her first impulse was to rise in her seat and stop him. It was another of his tricks, and h

found herself all at once the centre of attention; and her face glowed and her heart burned within h

the services. "I des wanted to s'p

walked out among her congratulating friends, and between her husband

h

ON OF MR.

ille. Through the slow, hot days it drowsed along like a lazy dog, only half rousing now

lth, of consequence and of growth. Granted that there was no effort to realise these visions, they were yet there,

awed respect which all Miltonvillians, white and black alike, showed to Major Richardson in his house on the hill. He was part of the traditions of the

tement, these coloured people had slumbered. They were still slumbering that hot August day, unmindful of the sensation that

fore the sun, and every eye on the platform was staring and white. It is the unexpected that always happens, and yet humanity never gets accustomed to it. The loafers, white and black, had assumed a sitting posture, and then they had stood up. For from the cars there had alighted the wonder of a stranger-a Negro stranger, gorgeous of person and attire. He was dressed in a suit of black cloth. A long coat was buttoned close around his tall and robust form. He

r. Isaac Jackson?" he asked sonorously as he reached

observer and known anything about the matter, he would have found the newcomer's English painfully, unforgivably correct. A language should be like an easy shoe on a flexible foot, but to one unused to it, it prov

well to the fore when she opened the door upon the radiant creature, or she woul

Mr. Isaac Jackson?" in the

h, he li

her his card, which she carefully turned upside down, glanced at

ou'll step in an' wait, I'll se

of my journey. I have travelled a long way, and rest in such a pleasant and

but she felt distinctly flattered at his allusion to the home which she had helped

ng her stars that she had forced the reluctant Isaac

hile Martha Ann, hastily slipping out of her work-dress and

at he had some important business with Isaac Jackson, but that it was mysterious was shown by the guar

could only leave Mr. Scatters long enough to give orders to her daughter, Lucy, to prepare such a supper as th

and was about to divulge his secret to the hungry-eyed woman when the trampling of Isaac's boots upon the walk told

however honest the semi-fortunate individual may be, he despises him for his attainments. But it was not so in this case. Isaac had hardly entered the house and received his visitor's warm handclasp before he had become captive t

opped into his place at the table was very genuine and heartfelt. Genuine, too, were his praises of Lucy's co

at finally rose heavily l

on heard the story that made his eyes bulge wi

g at him fixedly, "You had a brother some years ago name

I had a bro

brother migrated

out to some o' dem

ld on, I am a Wes

eptin' dat John allus was

about your brother after his

, s

er John landed at Cuba, and after working about some years and living

ic

h, s

t of John? Why, suh, I'm sho'ly proud to hyeah

my mission. 'In the midst of life we are in death.'" Mr. Scatters sighed, Isa

catters gave him one startled glance, and then a

He gone an

ver, there is always a ray of light. Yo

mbere

ckage. He came back with it, holding it as if it were something sacred,-"as one of the executors of his estate, which is now settled, I was commissione

re certain formalities which my country demands to be gone through with, after which I deliver my message and return

hanically. He was dazed by th

' dollahs,"

enes, I wish you to recommend some safe place in which to put this money, as I do not feel

would be the safes' place fu' it.

after that I will not encroach upon your hos

ly. "Ef my house ain't too common, you

but really I couldn't think of being suc

to have you. Folks hyeah in Miltonville

he would be the envy of all the town as his gratitude to Sc

e news, and then started for Albert Matthews' store. Scatters carried the precious package, and Isaac was armed with an ol

ews' store did for the men. Did Mrs. So-and-So remember brother John? Indeed she did. And when the story was told, it was a "Well, well, well! he used to b

ering-place for the coloured male population of the town. It was a sm

entrance with the distinguished-looking stranger. The excitement was all the most hungry could have wished for. The men stared at Jackson and his companion with wide-open eyes. They left off chewing tobacco and telling ta

cer and the three went off together mysteriously into a corner. The matter was duly explaine

in de sto' know anything 'bout dis hyeah bus'ness of ouahs. I got t

sponsible, not only for the money itself, but for the inte

od. With many turnings and twistings the door was opened, the package inclosed and the safe shut again. Then they all rose solemnly and went beh

matter at all, Mr. Matthews," said Scatter

a perfect storm of comment and inquiry broke about the grocer's head. So it came to pass, tha

heard. It was so utterly unprecedented. Then it dawned upon them that

ellow-townsman deserved all honour and respect. His charming manners confirmed, too, all that preconceived notions had said of him. He became a social favourite. It began with Mr. and Mrs. Dunkin's calling upon him. Then followed Alonzo Taft, and when the former two gave a reception for the visitor, his posi

ard impulse given it. It stood aside and looked on with something like adoration when Mr. Scatters

his desire to discharge it, and he spoke glowingly of the great government whose power was represented by the seal which held the package of bonds. Not for one day would he stay away from his beloved Cuba,

ot a new wagon on the strength of their good fortune. It was nothing to what they dreamed of doing when

ather to be pleased with, their homely fare. Isaac had further cause for pleasure when his gues

uban money with me and I knew you would feel distressed if you knew that I went to

he grand creature had accepted and labelled him as a brother and an equal. He hastened

ther counted out the required half a hundred dollars. In a littl

xchanged visits, and sat long together engaged in conversation from which Isaac was excluded. This galled him. He felt that he had a sort of proprietary interest in his guest. And an

said, as the old man entered an

Dunkin slowly, "I didn't come to

Mr. Dunkin was a man of importance and it m

uneasy. He tried to descant upon the weather, but the subject failed him. Finally, with an effort, he hitched h

the proud r

-well-has you evah

hast. Such i

n," he began,

thing hand on the other's knee, "don' git on

got nothi

u 'bout havin' nothin'

c st

. He tol' me d

ing suspiciously int

' fifty dollahs f'o

fifty," added

'om thews. Dat's how I come to git '

ed between them, and they both

he package hastily and with ruthless hands. This was no ceremonial now. The seal had no longer any fears for them. They tore it off. They tore the wrappers. Then paper. Neatly folded pa

in furriners nohow,"

all about my

ine speeches. Maybe we's missed

er the papers again,

here he went t

N

we's seed de

lef' his

y, pointing to the paper on the floor. "He

nstable," said the

hey felt that it w

ear Mr. Scatters' step coming jauntily up the walk. A sudden panic of terror and shame seized them. It was as if they had wronged him. Suppose, afte

nd an honest man? Had he not come a long distance from his home to do one of them a favour? They hung their heads. Martha Ann, who was listening at the door, was sobbing audibly. What ha

that they knew. He had not thought that they would dare to violate the seal around which he had woven such a halo. He saw tha

day, and waited no less eagerly tha

ty and their vaunting arrogance. They ignored the indignity of showing interest in anything that took place in that village, and went in force, eager, anxious, and curious. Ahorse, afoot, by oxcart, by mule-wagon, white, black, high, low, old, and young of both sexes invaded Fox Run and swelled the c

d position within the bar. Old Captain Howard shook hands familiarly with the judge and nodded to the assembly a

case fared a little better on account of the intimateness of the crime involved. But nothing was received with such awed silence

tated its case and proceeded to sum up the depositions of the witnesses. As there was no attorney for the defence, the State's attorney delivered a

uld be given to the jury, he rose and asked

s grant

figure. His eyes swept the assembly, judge, jury, and

ertain knowledge that I possessed, and the seal which I happened to have from an old government position, to defraud-that is the word, if you will-to defraud these men out of the price of their vanity and their cupidity. But it

such audacity had ever been wi

and he was pleasing. A smile flickered over the face of Major Richardson

what I have done. Have I not taught your community a lesson? Have I not p

The judge himself was smiling, and th

South which has been told in story and sung in song. From men of vindictiveness I appeal to men of mercy. From plebeians to aristocrats. By the memory of the sacred names of the Richardsons"-the Major sat bolt upright and dropped his snuffbox-"the Durbins"-the ex-judge couldn't for his life get his pince-nez on-"the Howards"-the captai

ery. And-well, Scatters had taught the darkies a lesson; he had spoken of their families and thei

their seats, and the

hree ominous-looking pairs of eyes, and a crowd composed

ame

til the excitement subsides,"

d to his coachman, "take Mr. Scatters wherever he wants to g

uh," sa

Major," said the m

rnoon. I was greatly moved by it. If you'll give me your address I'll send y

nd smiled at the three enemies, who

on," he said

o

ER OF

rwick was that he was purely and simply a man of the doctrine. He had no emotions, his sermons were never matters of feeling; but he insisted so strongly

t he felt. The difference in their characteristics, however, did not prevent him from attending Dr. Warwick's series of

doctrine of predestination. It was not that he understood it at all, but that it s

ould supply it he was willing to take lessons even from a white co-worker who had neither "de spi'it

victuals to warm over for his own family. And it would not be plagiarism either, for this very warming-over process would save it from that and make his own whatever he brought. He would season with the pepper of his homely wit, sprinkle it with the salt of

e accosted by Isaac Middleton, one of his members, just as he was

his shoulder and smil

said, "you been sittin' unner

'd of de Lawd," replied the preacher with some dignity, for he saw vanis

arly in his pastor's as the

bout pre-o'dination an'

ented to us in a powahf

. I do' know when I's hyeahed a s

upliftin

e matter to-night dat evaht'ing done sot out an' cut

l is allu

ou see I ain't a eddicated m

ended. "But what I feels, I feels, an' what I unnerstan's,

I's been a-doubtin' an' a-doubtin', a-foolin'

Brothah Middleton,

ou. You knows Miss Sall

half discernible start and an exc

repeated h

e'y well, she bein'

ooman fu' de longes'. You ain't nevah

de sistah's puffo'm

een gwine all dis time an' I ain' nevah said de wo'd. I nevah could git clean

cher was

k, feahful to la'nch away, but now I's a-gwine to la'nch, case dat all d

t be in too big a hu'y to put ouah hum

n't a-sputin' dat de lady is a m

it," was the virtuous answer, "an' to dat

kin' eye, hit seem lak' I des fo'

ou ain't a

ne to ez soon ez evah

cher, and he began to ha

h some difficulty accommodating his own step to the preacher's mast

dat I wants to thrash out to-night in de solle

hah Hayward," and at the next corner Isaac Middleton turned off and went hi

s hasty pace, and, after furtively watching Middleton out of sight, turned and retraced his steps in a direction exactly opposite to the one i

ncreasing eagerness he hurried on. He was fully rewarded for his perseverance when the light from the window of his i

rd, ef it ain't yo

Sistah Griggs,

industriously dusting

smaht, than

ain't you los' down i

dey's any of de flock." Then looking around the room at the pile

down her ironing-board and resting it in the corner. "Allus when I gits thoo my wo'k at nights I'

be a-comin' in hyeah lettin' you fix fu' me at dis t

no ha'dah lookin' out fu' two

sutny is de trufe. I ain't nevah t'ought o' that befo'. Hit ain't no ha'dah lookin' out fu' two

er. But now the matter was being presented to him in an entirely different light. "Hit ain't no ha'dah lookin' out fu' two dan fu' one." Might that not be the truth after all. One had to have food. It would take very little more to do for two. One had to have a home to live in. The same house

e. "Hit do seem lak you mighty deep in t'ought dis e

een mighty deeply 'sorbed in a little m

bite to eat; tain't much, but 'sich ez

illed board. There was fervour in the blessing which he

n, had no right to raise his eyes to her. She was the prize of the elect, not the quarry of any chance purs

deferential attention whenever he opened his mouth to give

ith a long sigh of content, he stretched his long legs, tilted back

othah Hayward

s I's quite prepah

l' Mis' Eve? Taint nevah right

long. You see, Sistah Griggs, you done 'lucidated one p'int

him with wide open

, dat it ain't no ha'dah loo

othah H

I want to know ef you won't let me loo

wered, "Why, Brothah Hayward, I ain't fittin' fu' no sich eddicated man ez you. S'po

iggs, Sally, whatevah high place I may be f

r mutual felicitations, which were indeed so enthusiastic as to drown the sound of a knocking at the door and the ominous scraping of

" exclaime

he said complacently. "You must 'scus

ally blush

aftah what I tol' you to-nigh

s,

y you stan' up fu

say to you is dat whenevah a lady cook to please me lak dis lady do, an' whenevah I love one lak I love huh, an

wed head, but her hand had stolen into her minister's. Isaac paused, and the si

, all I got to say to you, Hayward, don' you n

i

E'S CO

vivals, baptisms, or on Emancipation Day. The cause of the commotion was the anticipated return of the Rev. Abram Dixon's only

the power from on high, and no intervention of the schools was necessary. Abram Dixon himself had at first rather leaned to this side of the case. He had expressed his firm belief in the theory that if you opened your

d the winds of heaven. If he did not fail utterly, if his labour was not without fruit, it was because he lived close to nature, and so, near to nature's God. With him religion was a matter of emotion, and he relied for h

ert Dixon went away to be enrolled among the students of a growing college. Since then six years had passed. Robert had spe

ut he consented to regard it as of the new order of things, and was glad that he was to have his boy with him again, although he murmured to himself, as

r and son. The old man held his boy o

he said, "you

young man's voice was deep, and comported

yo' father ever was!" sa

er had the advantage

he exclaimed. "You don't mean to tell me dat dey 'l

n a sound body, and one seems to be as n

solemnly. The world was t

ttered, as they s

r than to combat his parent's prejudices. There was no condescension in his thought of them and their ways. They were different;

son's conduct of his church, and the son was equally g

less city children; and, father, it would do your heart good if you could only see

btfully, "but what you doin' in de

that one is the companion of the other, and that the best way to prep

rong doctern, er do you

believe it. I try to hold up before them the r

k of suspicion flashed across his dusky f

ith in your style of preaching the gosp

them all at defiance and attempting to enforce his ideas over their own. Then a perception of his cowardice struck him, and he threw off

ng here," he said, "but I wil

his father tactlessly. "You know dey was a lot of 'em dat said I

ad shown to his ambitions, and his face grew hot at the

e who opposed my going away or even please tho

. So, out of concession to their prejudices, he decided not to write his sermon, but to go through it carefully and get it well in hand. His work was often interfered with by the frequent summons to see old friends who stayed long, not

full of the quiet and peace of God; and yet the congregation which filled the little chapel at Danvers came with restless and turbulent hearts, and

religion before them as a matter of every-day life. It was altogether different from the torrent of speech that usually flowed from that pulpit. The people grew restless und

his head bowed in his hands, broken and ashamed of his son; and when, without a flourish, the preacher sat down, after talking twenty-

ss, and as the people filed out of church and gathered in knots about the door, t

schoolin' done f

mo'n a lecter," was

xon's loyal members, "and bless my soul, de ol' man would pr

nce together. When they were in the house

y teach you to pr

ructions as nearly

ha' been in dat pulpit five minutes, I'd ha' had d

e lived any more cl

sadly, and shook his head as

"I want you to promise me you'll come up and visit me, father. I want you to see the work I am trying to do. I

e," said his father, "but I guess I'd

ther. You come up and

old man

n, and took him to the little parsonage which the young clergyman's people had provided for him. It was a very simple place, and an aged

o' high fo' yo' raisi

see how some of the people live h

t its luxury, but Robert, on coming back after a brief absen

stir in the town. They walked through the commercial portion and down along the wharves and levees. On every side the same sight assailed their eyes: black boys of all ages and sizes, the waifs and st

et into our flock and do s

s own little village, yes, even squalour, but he had never seen anything just like this. At home almo

ears of age. He was charged with stealing cakes from a bakery. The judge was about to deal with him as quickly as with the others, and Abram's heart bled for the child, when he saw a negro call the judge's attention. He turned to find that

the boy by the hand, and together the

so glad!" said the

y for black boys here, and they may not go to the institutions for the white; so for the slightest offence they are sent to jail, w

aid might not reach the ears of the lit

on the child with

teal dem cakes?"

y," was the

llow ate and how tenderly his son ministered to him, he murmured to himself, "Feed my lambs"; and t

looked into the eyes of the street gamins about him, and he began to wonder. Some of them were fierce, unruly-looking youngsters, inclined to meanness and rowdyism, but one and all, they seemed under the spell of their leader's voice. At last Robert said, "Boys, this is my father. He's a p

g that night, and looked with

n'," he said. "I d

ch for me Su

ih, honey. I w

, you wi

or a long time, and at sou

and the father, looking at his son, who seemed so short a time ago unlearned

age and experience, and then he told of the lesson he had le

preached before, and in the congregatio

s over, "I believe I had to come up he

i

ACE Q

nter old coloured m

quent the racetrack? No, suh; no, suh. I's Baptis' myse'f, an' I 'low hit's all devil's doin's. Wouldn't 'a' be'n hyeah to-day, but I got a boy named Jim dat's long gone in sin an' he g

scuse me, you unnerstan' what I means. You don' give a ol' man time to splain hisse'f. What I means is dat dey has been days when I w

I got religion, mo'n thuty years ago, dough I go

to me, 'Si,' says he, 'if you don' ride de tail offen Cunnel Scott's mare, "No Quit," I's gwine to larrup you twell you cain'

adn' winned? W'y, ef I'd 'a' let dat Scott maih beat m

de las' one up! Ef I didn't race dat maih's tail clean off, I 'low I made hit do a lot o' switchin'

putrid little rascal. Des a hundred an' eight, suh, des a hundred an' e

boy; hunch yo'se'f up on dat hoss lak you belonged to him and knowed you was dah. What I done showed you? De

. She's a favourwright too; but dey's sumpin' else in dis worl' sides playin' favourwrights. Jim bettah had win dis race

'p de cause. 'Tain't gamblin', o' co'se; I wouldn't gamble fu nothin', dough my ol' Mastah

owed it! I knowed it! I had my eye on huh all de time. Oh, Jim, Jim, why didn't you git in bettah, wa

ing erroun' wid dat hoss. Fust t'ing he k

ettah. Dey didn't leave you dis time. Hug dat bay mare, hug her clo

! an' dat hoss o' his'n gwine des ez stiddy

say dey's neck an' neck; now I see 'em! now I see 'em! an

! Dat boy done th'owed de reins away. Come on, Jimmy, come on! He's leadin' by a nose. Come on, I tell you, you black rapscallion, com

ne 'roun' an' see dis hyeah bookmakah an' den I's gwine dreckly home, suh,

e

DER OF

ist as a coloured neighbourhood. The inhabitants of the little cottages were people so poor that they were constantly staggering on the verge of the abyss, which they had been taught to dread and scorn, and why, clearly. L

life, save that mother toiled later in the evening at her work, if there was work, and that father drank more gin and prayed louder in consequence; save that, perhaps-a

debate, and paused to listen. It was not a very polite thing for Miss Coe to do, but then Miss Coe was a reporter and reporters are not scrupulous about being polite when there is anything to hear. Besides, the pitch to which the lusty young

with a smoky fire in it, and about it were clustered four or five black children ranging from a toddler of two to a boy

and was holding forth to his brothers and sister

as a Santy Claus. Dat's somep'n dat yo' folks jes' git u

d a dreamy-eyed little chap, who sat on a

, less'n why'nt he bring huh de dress she prayed fu' last Christmas." He was very wise, this old man

ued the believer. "He say dey's a Santy Cla

stove pipe; how you s'pose anybody go

tears to Arabella's eyes. The children seemed utterly nonplussed, and Tom was swelling at hi

r piped up, "I don't know how, but he comes th'roo' that away anyhow.

dn't let it be known. He only said, "Aw," contem

Santy Claus," sai

t he never come h

little he miss it in de night; dey says he'

y new view of the matter, and then finding no answer to it

don' go to see col'red peo

contended Sam. "Aw, dem col'red folks dat's got the mon

e world she knew, and it was hard to believe that her friends who prided themselves on the

a Santy. We'll put a light in the winder, so if he's ol' he

said

thish month," chirp

siasm in Sam's plan, though Tom sat

the sill, but she still stood outside the palings of the fence and looked in. She

but Tom's voice broke in, "Don't you know the

good Lord, we started wrong, but won't you please, sir, send Santy

Arabella was tur

as she did, for in a few minutes a big woman

y," shrieked

children? Bless dey hearts, an' dey done sot dey lamp in

he had placed her basket, but the cry of the children stopped her. "Oh,

d and then a rush of tears quenched the smile. She gathered the children into he

ell you?"

d his mother, and she le

write it. She came to the parting of the ways. One led home, the other to the newspaper office where she worked. She laughed nervously, and took the former way. Once in her room she went throu

r believe in Santa Claus again. They will lose their faith forever and from this it will go to other things

and that oldest boy is scarcely ten." Suddenly she sprung to her feet. "Hooray," she c

t as if she were the mother of a large and growing family, and she

ting old and didn't see your house last year, also I am getting fat and couldn't get down that little stove pipe of yours this year. You must ex

en the next day. Mother was really

l you," said

apers, all resplendent in a new muffler, he strode up to a boy and remarked bell

i

HO

in granite shafts exactly alike. On one was inscribed the name Robert Vaughan Fairfax and th

Hill and laid there had given it a start as a cemetery. Many familiar names were chiselled on the granite head-stones, and anyone conversant

s, a life-drama or perhaps a tragedy. And who was more likely to know it than the postmaster of the quaint little old town. J

he man in charge, a grizzled old fellow with an empty sleeve, sat behind a small screen. He looked up as I entered and put out his hand towa

I do for you?" he ask

y," I returned, "and I am anxious to know the story,

Fairfax an

es

nger about her

gain, "and so t

it down." He opened a wire door into his little cage, an

axes were the leading people in this section. By leading, I mean not only the wealthiest, not only the biggest land-owners, but that their name counted for more in social circles and political councils than any other hereabout. It is natural to expect that such a family should wish to preserve its own name down a direct line. So it was a source of great

l the darkies should knock off work and take a holiday, in his haste and excitement he jumped down from his horse and ran all the way to the house. I

s introducing young Vaughan Fairfax to the light, a little black pickaninny of her own. Well, if you're a Southern man, and I take it that you are, you know that nothing ever happens in the quarters that the big house doesn't know. So the news was soon at the white father's ears and nothing would do him but that the black baby must be brought to the house and be introduced to the wh

e nurse that had brought the pickanin

olemnly, 'they have made a silent compact of eternal

s wife looking at him from among the pillows, he knelt and offered a prayer, and asked a blessing upon the two children just co

ttle darky Ben, until an incident in later life gave him the name that clung to

tramped together over a Virginia plantation. In the matter of deviltry they were remarkably precocious, and it was really wonderful what an amount

as reached when one of his fine young hounds was nearly driven into fits by the clatter of a tin can

tten off so many times before that they were perfectly confident of their power in th

cruel treatment which the dog had received. 'I want

and Ben looked back at him. S

tion?' old Fairfax as

, and Ben dug his big toe into the sand at t

is father, 'who played that trick

er turned to the black boy. His voice took on the tone of command which he

and flashed a furtive glance from under his brows at hi

instant retort from his you

en, and 'You didn't,' re

y. 'Well, if I can't get the truth out of you this way, I'll try some other plan. Mandy,' he hailed a ser

ept such a close eye upon her that she couldn't, and when brought back at the end of three hours, their fare had left the prisoners rather hungry. But they h

Vaughan answered again, 'I did it,'

mploring glance at his boy maste

, Mas,' me an' Mas' Vaugh

ky and took in his answer, the circumstance became too much for his gravity, and his relaxing laugh s

and so it was, and from that day forth the black boy was 'Cahoots.' Cahoots, whether on the plantation, at home, in the halls of the No

ogether in everything, and when the call came that summoned the young Virginian from his college to fight for the banner of

in his gray suit were addressed to Cahoots: 'Take good care of

flung back and galloped af

ry beds of ease even for the officers who wore the gray. Robert Fairfax took the f

of musketry rising above the cries of the wounded and dying came to the ears of the slave waiting in his tent for his master's return.

s voice pierced throug

e front, early

s body den,

dies in that murderous fire. It was all w

ack without him.' It was a w

you'll h

. Whah di

locality of Robert Fairfax's resting place

old prairie schooner, gotten from God knows where, started out from the dismantled

teps. The very harness was cut by the balls that had grazed it. But with a light in his eyes and the l

n an abandoned position and brought

u do it?' Th

home widout him, and I didn't keer ef I did git kille

er one having taken the oath of allegiance, and if there were any rebels Cahoots was as great a one to the day of his death as his master. That tomb-stone, you see it looks old, was placed there at the old master's request when his dead son came home from Malvern Hill, for he said when Cahoots went to the o

i

PROM

ica when the boom was on; when every little African, fresh from the fields and cabins, dreamed only of untold wealth and of mansions in which he would have been thoroughly uncomfortable. These were the devil's sunny days, and early and late his mowers were in the field. These were the days of benefit societies that only benefited the shrewdest man; of mutual insu

knowledge, "I jest takes the Scripter fur my motter an' foller that ol' passage wher

ical quotation the old gentleman closed his eyes and got ready with his best amen. But as the import of the words

ead that way," said

air. "I been preachin' dat t'ing wrong fu' mo' dan fo'ty yeahs.

nd lot upon terms so easy that he might drowse along for a little time and then wake to find himself both homeless and penniless. This was the promoter's method, and for

as a likely house-boy. He was polite, plausible, and more than all, resourceful. All of this he had been for years, but in all these years he ha

d it thereto. Behold, then, Jason Buford in the r?le of Moses. And equipped he was to carry off his part with the very best adv

o offering was too small to be accepted.

where people would rush to buy. It was glowing enough to attract a people more worldly wise than were these late slaves. They simply fell into the

of the new-fledged Moses. He had heard of Sister Jane before, and he had greeted her coming wi

pension, or that due to her deceased husband, and she would therefor

She was hardly settled in a little three-room cottage before he hastened to her side, kindly intent, or its counterfeit, beaming from his features. He found a weak-lo

asked, rubbing his hands for all the world

pointing to her charge. "She feelin' mighty po'ly dis

othahs come to see you to offah

f down. You set down, Aunt Dicey. Tain't no use a runnin' ro

could be of any assistance to you, a-fixin' u

come, dough I don' 'low I'l

l soon be better,

suh, 'til I rea

ick," broke in Aunt Dicey Fairfax, "but I re

said Mr.

one hyeahd de washin' o

ell and happy in de injoyment of de pension dat

dat money. I ain't nevah gwine to live to 'ceive

s rich plum about to slip from his grasp, just as he was about to pluck it? It

hat money for the race. It must not go back to the

hile, 'ceptin' Sis'

n. "Then leave it to her

to do with de money of de d

been good to me sence I been layin' hyeah on de bed of affliction, an' dey ain't nobody more fitterner to

the other with resignation, and

ne Callender had received a back pension which amounted to more than five hundred dollars. Thereafter Mr. Buford was seen frequently in the little cottage, until one day, after a lapse of three or four weeks, a poli

t's behalf, but in spite of all his effor

crowded the court room to look upon this stranger who had com

e prisoner at the bar he started violently, but checked himself. Wh

ading out her black arms, "if it

force, and the bailiff succeeded in keeping the old lady in her place, although she admonish

ave been less a man if it had not been. He came over a

the court and its officers into her bosom was enough to disconcert any ordinary tribunal. She patronised the judge o

the stand as the v

name?" asked

e is, and you one of de Fairfax fambly, too. I 'low ef yo' mamm

rapped f

he said; "you must answer the questio

use me, my name hi

turned purple. He had a dozen witnesses there to p

give your name as

thundered

u know Jane Callender ain't my real name, you knows dat yo'se'f. It's des my bus'ness nam

court that your name

t dis late day an' p'ove my name an' redentify befo' my ol' Miss's own chile? Mas' Bob

but we want to establish the fac

e it

nor, I o

the ordinary lines? I believe that my brother for the defence will have nothing to complain of. I believe that I unders

a thing or two himself, and ove

rs. Fai

ou call me dat fu'? My name Aunt Dicey to you an' I want you to un'erstan' dat righ

you take the name of Jane Callender

y, dat Sis' Jane Callender

you to use thi

tuk down sick unto deaf, an' Brothah Buford, he say dat she ought to mek a will in favoh of som

rother Buford

an' offered to 'ten' to Sis' Jane Callender'

er she ought t

come bright an' early next mornin', I was layin' Sis' Callender out. Brothah Buford was mighty much moved, he was. I nevah did see a strange pusson tek anything so hard in all my life, an' den he talk to me, an' he say, 'Now, Sis' Dicey, is you notified any de neighbours yit?' an' I said no I hain't notified no one of de neighbours, case I ain't 'quainted wid none o' dem yit, an' he say, 'How erbout de doctah? Is he 'quainted wid de diseased?' an' I tol' him no, he des come in, da's all. 'Well,' he say,

t what you have done is

eah she sut'ny would tend to yo' case. You alluse was sassier an' pearter den yo' brother Nelse, an' he had to go an' git killed in de wah,

clear-cut face of the young Southerner. Turning to the attorney for the defence, he said:

continue the examination of any of the rest of these witnesses. We have got that story from Aunt Dicey herself as straight as an arrow from a bow. While technically she is guilty; while according to the facts

s the facts warrant. But before we do this, I want to see the stamp of crime wiped away from the name of my Aunt Dicey there, and I beg leave of the court to enter a nolle prosse. T

, but I do know whut I gwine to do, cause I done 'vested it all wid Brothah Buford in his col

office of this c

Whaih is he? Brothah Buford, whaih you?" But no answer came from the surrounding spectators. Brot

nt back to her little cottage after her dismissal, but

to sof' soap me aftah you been carryin' on. You ain't changed one mit

certain things that lawyers have to do whether they like it or not. You don't understand. That man Buford is a sco

n't know dat. Set down a

lazed forth. "Well, I hope to de Lawd you'll fin' dat r

f we find him we are going to send him where he won't inveigle any

you git dat rascal, but I don't know whaih he

ay. In the meantime we

mory of other days made the young lawyer prolong his visit and his explanation. W

or. She opened it, and a small, crouching figure crept in. It was Mr. Buford. He tur

llender, you sut'ny

come in hyeah an' set

testimony you give in the court

ow, you didn't 'spla

ty slippery, and they might catch me. But I want to beg you to go on away from hyeah so's you won't be hyeah to testify if dey do

ctly willin' to he'

urriedly, "we col'red peopl

' of dat money dat I b

rus' on that," answer

with the promoter. Three times in the window had she waved a lighted lamp. Three times without success. But at the last

eturned to the room, "set down

biscuits was in his nostrils and he could not resist the temptation to sit down. He was ea

at the back door, her large form a toweri

she said calmly, "set down an' he'

cell. The man's face was ashen with coward's terror. He

d," said Fairfax coldly to hi

in' to say," said

imidate you, but Aunt Dicey's word will be taken in any court in the United States

in an impotent snarl. "What do you

y cent of the property you have accumulated by fraudulent means. Third, I want you to leave this place, and never come back so long as God leaves breath in your dirty body. If y

were drawn back over his teeth in something that was neither a snarl nor a smile. His eye

"do you want to send

ithout a cent," sa

d fight. "I won't do it. I'll stay hyeah an

," and the attorney t

God! I will do it. Jest let me out o' hyeah, d

to him coldly, "You

es

t once and take

And Aunt Dicey, no longer a wealthy woman and a capitalist, is baking golden brown biscuits for a certain young attorney and

e

DOM OF

s one of the first to cast off the bonds of his old relations, and move from the plantation and take up land for himself. He was anxious to cut himself off from a

t fellows he answered, "No, suh, I's free, an' I sholy is able to tek keer o

naturally, I take an interest in you, and want to do what I can to give you a start. It's more than the Northern gov

Jerry perceived it and thought it directed against h

nemmine me. I's free, an' w'

me. I don't blame you now. It must be a great thing to you, this dream-this nightmare." Jerry l

ith him his few belongings; these largely represented by his wife and four lusty-eating children. Besides, he owned a little mone

, and pay for it as he could. As was natural for Jerry, and not uncommendable, he chose at once the latter course, bar

inclination, drawing him away to idle when he should have toiled. What was the use of freedom, asked an inward voice, if one might not rest when one would? If he might not stop midway the furrow to listen and

rned an end furrow and laid his misgivings snugly under it and was away to the woo

hungry birds to devour them. She sent the fierce sun to scorch the young crops, and the clinging weeds to hug the fresh greenness of his hope to death.

ugh to eat, and nothing paid on his land or his mule. Broken and discouraged, the words of his old master came to him. But he was proud w

lled The Law. They had their risks to run, but so must all beasts that eat flesh or drink blood. To them went Jerry, and they were kind to him. They gave him of t

me as their emancipation measured, and they saw themselves the re-manacled slaves of a hopeless and ever-growing deb

His second year was better than his first, and the brokers swore over his paid up no

just as his cherished prophecy is about to come true. Isaiah himself could not have been above it. How much less, then, the uninspired Mr. Brabant, who had his "I told you so," all ready

hat his oldest boy, Matthew, was away at school. By the tenth year of his freedom he was arrogantly out of debt. Then his pride was too much for him. During all these years of his struggle the words of his

dese yeahs-tekin' keer o' myse'f an' him, too. I wo'k in de fiel', he set in de big house an' smoke. I wo'k in de fiel', his son go away to college an' come back a graduate. Das hit. Well, w'en freedom come, I des' bent an' boun' I ain'

o had not been so successful as he, some even who had stayed on the plantation and as yet did not even own the mule they ploughed with. The hearts of thos

rry's not dead yet, and although I don't wish

with a mere strained thinning of the lips that had no element of mir

to find his house and barn in ashes, his mules burned and his crop ruined. It had been very quietly done and

Ann and the children, worn out and worried, went to sleep in spite of themselves, but h

em before. He had impugned their skill in the hunt, and they were ravenous for him. Now he was fatter, too. He went away from them with hard terms, and a sickne

e went to ponder on his circumstances. Then it was that Cindy Ann came into the e

y, you do' know nuff

ut whut I got a right to

t any right to be a-pryin

w'ok an' struggle erlong an' h

nd ended by te

you got a little some'p'n, an' dey ain't gwine stop ontwell dey's bu'nt an' stol

to, Cin

u' you

n an' a ba'n an' buy a mu

m Brabant. He'

u ain't got no mo' pride den a guinea hen, an' you got a heap less sense. W'

n, shutting her mout

more sense a woman has than a man when she come

he might have awakened early without spoiling his wife's plans. She was

sullen at once as his master approached, but his pride stiffened

so I must come to you. You let a little remark of mine keep you from y

ade no

sing, "you haven't yet shown that you're able to take care

o prove this a lie b

nd you the money

won

nd let her build in her own name. She's got more sense tha

en' dat money to Cindy Ann. W'y ef a ooman's got

u take i

in his throat. "An' nex' time ef I evah gets a sta't agin, I'll keep my mouf

ev

PH OF OL'

ut profligate spouse, William, Nancy Rogers had, with reprehensible haste, taken him for

-waitin' fu' to step inter my shoes, no mattah h

e sut'ny did unmind huh' o' de dawg in de mangah." The friends of the two women took sides, and a war began

ust recognise divorce, and of equal necessity, re-marriage. So when the Rev. Isaiah Johnson had been appealed to, he had spread his fat hands, clo

o each other, both gave collections on the same Sunday; but between th

two that "they might bofe be 'peas,' but dey wasn't out o' de same pod." But on its being repeated to Sister Pease, she resented it with Christian indignation, sniffed and remarked that "Ef

to regret her step, for the unregenerate William was good-looking after all, and the "times" that he and his equally sinful wife ha

f the year the good widow remained unmarried she could toss her head, go her way, and look down from a far height

man des baihin' dat man in huh prayahs, a

ed along the river banks, and the horse-chestnuts budded and burst into beautiful life. Then came summer, rejoicing, with arms full of flowers, and autumn with lap full of apples and grain, then winter again, and all through the days Nancy danced and

; and both she and William, strangely stricken together w

-but when Will and Nancy both "came through" on the

hook her hands and embraced her, crying ever aloud between the vociferations of the congregation, "Oh, sistah, he'p me praise

herself. But then if she hadn't sh

embership with the church, it struck him that nothing could make upon his congregation a profounder impression for good than to have the

led of it her rival must advance before her in public opinion, she acquiesced. It was an easier matter with "Sister Wi'yum Pease." She agre

tell you? Des see how easy Sister Wi'yum give in." He was near to losing his cause and the wind was completely taken out of his sail

ice was begun they were all seated together on a f

mn the preacher rose and announced his text-"Behold how good a

multuous tide of oratory. Right at his three victims did he aim his fiery eloquence, and ever and again he came back to his theme, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethr

emarks the minister shook hands with each of them, then raising his voice he said: "Now, brothahs and sistahs, befo' you all gives dese lambs de right han' o' fellowship to welcome dem to de fol', I wan

nds, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is; and now let the congr

lled by the full chorus of the congregation, rolled away to the rafters of the little church, th

raight up to them and spoke: "Nancy Rogers," she said, "I know you; I kin see claih thoo you, and you ain't a foolin' me one bi

yes, but she replied in all meekness, "I's a full-blown Christian now, an' I

mer husband. She looked at him with unveiled contempt, t

been so cheerful and companionable grew morose and sour and shut her doors against her friends. She was as one dead to her old world. The one bit of vivid life about her was her lasting hatred of the woman who bore her name. In vain the preacher sought to break down the barrier of her animosity. She had built it of adamant, and his was a losing fight. So for several years the feud went on, and those who had known Ann in her cheerier days forgot that knowledge and spoke of he

n, one of her neighbours, dropped in and settling herself with a sigh annou

been polishing, and unheeded, it

t!" she e

assured her, "de ol'

she was sick;

l' o' sorror des a few minutes ago

, she wouldn't let me do nuffin' fu' huh in life, but I sut'ny shell try to do my duty by huh in death

r in the little room which held the rigid form. Nancy entered and made he

h of what happened. When Nancy leaned over the bed, as if in obedience to the power of an electric shock, the corpse's eyes flew open, Ann Pease rose up in bed and pointing a trem

eared in a twinkling. Women holding high numerous skirts over their h

ultimatum, old Mis' Pease immediately resumed the natural condition of a dead person. In fact there was no one there to

ot help to

el

ING OF JU

another much as the smoke wreaths had puffed, floated, and thinned away. Then Handon Gay, who was an ambitious young reporter,

a real lynching," said

said Fairfax, "but if a real, live lynching

udged by his hair, which was freely sprinkled with gray, the speaker might have been a man of forty-fiv

I thought that you physicians

aid the doctor gravely, "in fact

g for his pencil and notebook, which he was,

minute he did not seem to see them, but sat gazing abstractedly

I was practising at the time down in the little town of Bradford. It was a small and pr

aly, one of the more prosperous of the townsmen. Here I boarded and here also came my patients-white and b

strange conclusion for a young man to arrive at, and I will not deny that the presence in the house of my host's beautiful young daughter, Annie, had something to do with my decision. She was a beautiful young girl of seventeen or eighteen, and very far superior to her surr

an to care for Annie, and anybody could see that, he transferred some of his allegiance to me and became my faithful servitor also. Never did a man have a more devoted adherent in his wooing than did I, and many a one of Annie's tasks which

me, and he would tell me little secret things that he had overheard her say that made me throb with joy and swear at him for repeating his mistress' conversation. But best of all, Jube was a perfect Cerberus, and no one on earth could have been more effective in keeping away or deluding the other young fellows who visited the Dalys. He would tell me of it afterwards, chuckling softly to himself. 'An,' Doctah, I say to Mistah Hemp Stevens, "'Scuse us, Mistah Stevens,

ceptions, he would give way and roll on the floor in an excess of delighted laughter until from very contagion I had to join him-and, well, th

ian and friend, told me all about it afterward with tears in his eyes. Only he was a big, blunt man and his expressions did not convey all that he meant. He told me how my nigger had nursed me as if I were a sick kitten and he my mother. Of how fiercely he guarded his right to be the sole one to 'do' for me, as he called it, and how, when the crisis came, he hovered, weeping, but hopeful, at my bedside, until it was safely passed, when t

else. He would go, but before I had time to realise that I was not being ministered to, he would be back at my side, grinning and pottering just the same. He manufactured duties for the joy of performing them. He pretended to see desires in me that I

saying? All human love and gratitude are damned poor things; excuse me, gentl

endship to Jube, which he had been at such gr

ressed me. No sense of sorrow, present or to come, forced itself upon me, even when I saw men hurrying through the almost deserted streets. When I got within sight of my home and saw a crowd surrounding it, I was only interested sufficiently to spur my horse into a jog trot, which brought me up to th

e faces, and, oh, with what terrible patience they were trying to gain from her fluttering lips the name of her murderer. They

?' I

'That black--' She fell

mother had broken down and was weeping,

appeared.' He went to the door and said

ard the sudden movement of many feet as the men separated into searching parties, an

noted his skulking air, but as he had grinned in his old good-natured way they had, at the time, thought nothing of it. Now, however, the diabolical reason of his slyness was apparent. He had been shrewd enough to disarm suspici

each with the determination not to shoot, but to bring the culpri

half my own, half some more malignant power's. My throat throbbed drily, but water nor whiskey would not have quenched my thirst. The thought has come to me since that now I could interpret the panther's desire

n our quarry crouched in the corner of a fence. It was only half light, and we might have passed, but my

ne see me,' he said sullen

Ha

word up with oaths, othe

terror dawning in his eyes. He turned to me, 'I's moughty gla

excess of my passion I struck him full on the mouth. He made a motion as i

ard, 'w'y, doctah! I ain't stole nuffin' o' yo'n, an' I was comi

hink of him as a monster. It's tradition. At first I was told that the black man would catch me, and when I got over that, they taught me that the devil was black, and when I had recovered from the sickness of that belief, here were Jube and his fe

ions met us as we made our way up to the house. All was very quiet and orderly. There was no doubt that it was as the papers

e an animal's and his face went the colour of storm-blown water. This was enough to condemn him. We di

e least of it, save that Hiram Daly stepped aside to let me be the first to pull upon the rope. It was lax at first. The

vered, and the last I remember of him as he went into the air was a look o

e the dead man might hang as a warning to his fell

We got de one. Cut him down, fu' Gawd's sake.

half dragging, half carrying a miserable-looking wretch between t

of the group, and we saw in the full light the scratched face of Tom Skinner-the worst white ruffian in the town-but th

d to the dead girl's side. In the excitement they had not yet washed or laid her out. Carefully, carefully, I searched under

, and read my own doom. It was the skin of a white man, an

I do not know, for something kept crying

y his brother in, but he waved me away fiercely, 'You he'ped murder my brothah, you dat was his frien', go 'way, go 'way! I'll tek him home myse'f' I

d, and I-I-stood there between the two murdered ones, while all the

e time in silence, which was broken by neither of the men,

ir

GER'S PH

goes. But certain men liked him and certain women loved him. He is dead. That is all that will be said of the most of us after a while. He was but a weak member of the communit

n he was still so short in stature that he got the name of the "tadpole." Naturally, he came to know much of horses, grew up with them, in fact, and having no wealthy father or mother to indulge him in his taste or help him use his knowledge, he did the next best thing and used his special education for himself in the humble capacity of voluntary adviser to aspiring gamesters. He prospered

ood man down. 'Tain't no use a-talkin', you jeth can't. It don't do me no harm to go b

were surer and his knowledge more direct af

prophesy, on occasion, the success of three different horses to three different men, no one ever accused him of being less than fair with the women who came out from the city to enjoy the races and

is pains. The profession of his subject is against him. He may as well put aside his energy and say, "Well, perh

e back with the horses to his old stamping ground and to happiness. The other tracks had not treated him kindly, and but for the kindness of his equine

y broke, Misthah Johnthon, but I wath pretty badly bent. I goth awa jutht at

his class. He did not, however, throw away his rubber's clothes. He was used to the caprices of fortune, and he did not know how soo

inspired the confidence of the old Negro who came u

rentially through his

pened in a smile as he answered: "Well, I do' know'th I'm

t'man, an' ef you is I thoug

ook a little ol' to be doin' the gay an'

ese money-mekin' t'ings. W'y, I seen de man des' stan' dere an' mek money by the fis'ful. Well, I 'low I got sorter wo'ked up. De men dee axed me to bet, but I 'low how I was a chu'ch membah an' didn't tek pa't in no sich carryin's on, an' den dee said 'twan't nuffin mo' den des' a chu'ch raffle, an' it was mo' fun den anyt'ing else. I des' say dat I could fin' de little ball, an' dee said I couldn't, a

thell game, an' dey did you." The old

I los' dat money, an' dee ain't no way fu' me to hide it, an' ef dee fin' out I been gamblin' I'll git chu'ched fu' it, an' I

push wo'kin'?"

old Negro, indicating a part

ou thee me, remembah, you don't thee me. I don't know you,

g foolishly on. The three young men-ostensibly there was only one-were doing a rushing business. They were playing very successfully on that trait of human nature which feels itself glorified and exalted when it has got something for nothing. The rustics, black and white, and some who had not the excuse of rusticity, were falling readily into the trap and losing their hard-earned money. Every now and then a man-one of their confederates, of course, would make a striking winning, and this served as a bait for the rest of the spectators. Schwalliger looked on with grow

e only lucky." He was so flippantly shrewd that his newness to the business was insolently appar

" he said, "I

y your luck anyho

at it again and shook his head. He began a

hyeah befo' all thethe people, becaut

d the flippant operator; "ever

ver and anon sending wistful, i

owed the retreating Negro. They stayed about with the crowd, while he followed on and on until Schwalliger ha

me fu'? I do' want to play wid you; I ain't got but

you." And he set the table down and began to manipulate the ball dexterously. "Ne

little ball four times out of five. He was grinning now and the

you got?

rs, and I will lay it a

it in?" aske

he man displayed it ostentatiously. The tout's eyes flashed as h

he said, and plan

n under the other, and laid the three side by side. Schwalliger la

f "Murder! Robber! Police!" came from his lips. The police at Bennings were not slow to answer a call like this, and they came running up, and Schwalliger, who, among other things, was something of an actor, told his story trembling, incoherently, while the operator looked on aghast. Schwalliger demanded protection. He had been r

bler even as the Negro had said. Well, there was nothing but justice to be done. The officers returned the eighty-fiv

uietly into a corner with them, and there was the sound of the shuffling of silken paper. La

chwalliger was not a

ur

FERENCE O

ith her mournful eyes upon you, that her mother had "bin daid fu' nigh onto fou' yeahs." Then you could have wept for Patsy, for her years were only thirteen

estic burdens. She had never reckoned upon any other manner of release. In fact her youthful mind was not able to contemplate the possibility of any other manner of change. But the good women of Patsy's neighbourhood wer

saac was slowly recovering from the chicken-pox. Patsy Ann's powers had been taxed to the utmost, and Mrs. Caroline Gibson had

oracle. "Patsy Ann, how yo' pappy doin' sence

y broke up at de fus', but he 'low now dat de

"Oom huh. Yo' mammy bin d

mighty

' a colo'd man to wait; but we'n he do wait d

Patsy, in loyal defence against some vaguely implie

nd Mrs. Gibson gave her

n calling for attention drew her away and le

uld thi

child and returned, Patsy Ann asked her, "Mis' Gib

y. Then she answered, "Chil', you do'

ppy ain' up to no dev'ment, 'case

'yin' men den de preachahs demse'ves? W'y Brothah 'Lias Scott done tempted matermo

said Patsy

in his haid, an' w'en a widower git gals in his haid dey ain

, but she had never dreamed of the possibility of such a thing in connection wit

her thou

d git a chanct to go to school. He allus s

dat's de las' t'ing. He des a feelin' roun' now. You po', ign'ant, mothahless

er o' the chillen

y ain' no ooman goin' to tek keer o' nobody else's chile lak she'd tek keer o' huh own," and Patsy felt a choking come into her throat and a tig

she run the risk of having a step-mother. Come what may, let her be compelled to do what she might, let the hope of sc

her father; but she began to watch him with wary eyes, his goings out and his comings in, an

suspicions were immediately aroused and she saw dim visions of her father returning,

he had not at the same time made the parent widow-proof, a hard thing to do at best. So it came to pass that with a mysterious hor

n he was later than usual she could not sleep. So she slipped out of bed, turn

et the solemn, round eyes of his little da

xclaimed, "what you d

o ax you, pappy." Her voice quivere

little lady gal now?

she answered, "No, suh; de chillen bin ez good az good could be, but oh, pap

puttin' dis hyeah foolishness in yo' haid?" Then his laugh rang out as he patted her head and drew her clo

right kin'," a

you don' know. Go to

o Patsy's bedside. He leaned over her. "Po' little baby," he said; "what do she know about a

had "gal in his haid," and was going to bring her a step

hand. First she scrubbed them assiduously, burnishing their brown faces until they shone again. Then she tuss

toilet, which she made with scrupulous care. Then taking a small tin-type of her mother from the bureau drawer, she put it in her bosom, a

corner she paused again, spat in her hand and struck the watery globule with her finger. In the direction the most of the spittle flew, she turned.

mind and that was to get beyond the reach of the terrible woman, or was it a monster? who was surely coming after her. On and on she walked through the town with her little band trudging bravely along besid

She walked on with her head in the air, t

les blew for twelve she got her little brood into the shade of a poplar tree and set them down to the lunch which, thoughtful little mother that she was, she had brought with her. After that they all stretched themselves out on the grass that bordered the sid

start, and shook her charges into activity. John wept a little at

in the doorway of a whitewashed cottage caught her eye and attention. Once more she paused and consulted her watery o

tukahed out. Come in an' tell me all 'bout yo'se'f, you

said Pa

', whaih y

" was the tru

know? Whai

" said Patsy Ann, "an' I's runnin'

looked kee

' name?"

Patsy Ann M

' got a st

ain' got none now, but

'bout step-mo

e. Dey sho'ly is aw

h and set down. You ain' nothin' mo' dan a baby yo'se'f,

ur little brother John taken up on a full bosom and rocked to sleep in the most motherly way, with

e ten-pins crosswise of her bed

came a troubled and disheartened man. It w

all I do? Somebody don

o say, was a wom

and she took him by the hand and led him to wh

om home an' dey ste

h an' foun' a mothah." It was a

was explained to her, and with pen

e kin' of fo'ks dat dey mek step-mothahs ou

ft

OMING OF '

w, from door to door, through alley gates, over backyard fences, where they stood loud-mouthed and arms akimboed among laden clothes lines. No, the cause of it all was that Erastus Smith, Aunt Mandy Smith's boy, who had gone away from home several years before, and who, rumour said, had become a great man, was coming back, and "Little Africa," from Douglass Street to Cat Alley, was prepared to

dden a very popular resort. The old women held Erastus up as an example to their sons. The old men told what

ined to help put the finishing touches to the two little rooms which Mrs. Smith called home, and to the preparations for the great dinner. The old woman wiped her eyes as she said to her companion, "Hit do seem a speshul blessin', Lizy, dat I been

ful. Des' look how many young men dere is in dis town what

onnerful chil', an' de way he tuk to work an' study kin' o' promised so

ahs ain't no bettah den anybody else dese days. Dey des go roun' tell

e chaih an' 'zort w'en he was a little boy, I thought hit was des what he 'ud tu'n out.

preachahs is ez worl

Rastus, he had de eddication, fo'

brown-faced girl, with large, mild eyes

t mebbe you might like to decorate 'Rastus's room," an

brought to lay at the feet of her home-coming hero. No one in Cat Alley but that queer, quiet litt

f their locality, and had loved as children love. Later, when Erastus began keeping company, it was upon Sally that he bestowed his affections. N

meeting that was to be. She had a brand new dress for the occasion-a lawn, with dark blue dots, and a blue sash-and there was a new hat, wonderful with

lised it all the more as she penned the loving little scrawls which at first she used to send him. Now they would not have to

adiance one should have looked into the dark eyes of Sally as

e creaked. She arose and hastened to the window. A young man was coming down the path. Was that 'Rastus? Could that be her 'Rastus, that gorgeous creatu

ee you agin, a great big, grown-up man. You're

led superiorly when the old woman wept glad tears, as mothers have a way of doing over returned sons, however great fools these sons may be. She set him down to the dinner whic

for him right straight along for seven years now. Of course, it don't do to let white folks know all you're thinking; but I have kept my ears and my eyes right open

o' 'bout bein' a preachah,

he president of your ward club or something like that, and from that on it's an easy matter to go on up. You can trust me to know the wires." And

said he wanted to go about and see something of the town. He paused just long enough to glance at the flowers in h

o' don't 'member little Sally Ma'tin yo' used to go wid alm

d my mind," sai

t one was gone. In fact, he did not get in until nearly four o'clock in the morning, looking a little weak, but at least in

mind for some time, that he would go to church the ne

he was still her 'Rastus, and a great comfort to her. There was no vanity about the old woman, but she paused before the glass a longer time than usual, settling her bonnet strings, for she must look right, she told herself, to

ppointment, but it was somewhat compensated for when she saw him stalking into

y Martin from her little mirror. She was going to see 'Rastus, 'Rastus of the old days in which they used to walk hand in hand. He had told her when he went away that some day he would come back and marry her. Her heart fluttered hotly under her dotted lawn, and it took another application of the chamois to take the p

s proud when she saw the object of her affections swinging up the aisle to the collection t

reath came quickly; he had looked at her, surely he must have seen her. His mother was just behind him, and he did not speak. Maybe she had changed, maybe he had forgotten her. An unaccustomed boldness took possession of her, and she determined that she would not be overlooked. She pressed forward. She saw his mother take his a

e crowd as well as she could, and for that

ed out of the church and down to her own little house. In the friendly shelter of her room she took off her gay at

xt

AND TH

ially, for nothing so gladdens the heart of the Washington mother, be she black or white, as seeing her boy in the blue cadet's uniform, marching proudly to the huzzas o

wanted him to have. When, however, he entered the Cadet Corps it seemed to her as if the first steps toward the fulfilment of all her hopes had been made. It was a hard pull to her, getting the uniform, but Bud himself helped man

not go to school, sat and looked out of the window on the uninteresting prospect of a dusty thoroughfare lined on either side with dull red brick houses, all of the same ugly pattern, interspersed with older, ug

ow his company "A" was getting on, and what they were going to do to companies "B" and "C." It was not boasting so much as the

would clap her hands or cry, "Oh, Bud, you'

her own confidence, would break in with, "Now, don't you be too sho', son; dey ain't been no man so good da

-waving, shouting, hallooing crowd. Its component parts were strictly and frankly partisan, and so separated themselves into sections differentiated by the colours of the flags they carried and the ribbons they wore. Side yelled defiance at side, and party bantered p

turbulence. In the midst of it all, with blue and white rosettes pinned on their breasts, sat two spectators, tense and silent, while the breakers of movement and sound struck and broke around them. It meant too much to Hannah and "little sister" for them to laugh and shout. Bud

step, then she sprang up, crying shrilly, "There's Bud, there's Bud, I see him," and then settled back into her seat overcome with embarrassment. The mother's eyes danced as soon as the

y of some great mechanism, and at his command they moved like clockwork. Seen from the side it was as if they were all bound together by inflexible iron bars, and as the end man moved all must move with him. The crowd was full of exclamations of praise and admiration, but a tense quiet enveloped them as Company "A" came from columns of four into line for volley firing. This was a rea

he adherents; they felt vaguely that all was not as it should be, and the chill of fear laid hold upon their hearts. What if Bud's company, (it was always Bud's company to them), what if his company should lose. But,

doing splendidly, they'll win, they'll

ng at a quick step, but the boys' hands were steady-hope was bright in their hearts. They were doing it rapidly and freely, when suddenly from the ranks there was the bright gleam of steel lower down than it should have been. A gasp broke from the breasts of Company "A's" friends. The blue and white drooped disconso

was Bud, Bud, and it was he who had dropped his bayonet. Anxious, nervous with the desire to please them, perhaps with a shade too much of thought of them loo

nted to think what his mother and "Little Sister" would say, but his misery was as nothing to that of the two who sat up there amid the ranks of the blue and white holding each other's hands with a despairing grip. To Bud all of the rest of the contest was a horrid nightmare; he hardly kne

by one of Company "E" when on the march, halting in line, could raise their spirits. The little girl tried to be brave, but when it was all over she was glad to hurry out

was so terrible to her, this failure of Bud's. She couldn't blame him, she couldn't blame anyone else, and she had not yet learned to lay all such unfathomed catastrophes at the door of fate. What to her was the thought of another day; what did it matter to her w

ttomed chair. She sat there weeping silently until she heard the sound of Bud's step, then she sprang up and ran away to

ud?" asked

ssu

w, supper's put

want no

on, Bud, I reckon

f thin arms were put around his neck and

Sister," "Mammy an' me know you did

ound his little siste

spoiled the company's drill; they say "B" would have won anyway o

prouder dan if you'd won," and pretty s

o encourage him to hope for next year, but he h

l time, Bud lingered around and seemed

er school," said Ha

I want to go any

ou shamed to talk that way! O

o show my face

boys ain't a-goin' to give you

to go, ma; you don

n'; but I did t'ink it would make mo' of a man of you, an' it ain't. Yo' pappy was a po' man, ha'd wo'kin', an' he wasn't high-toned neither, but

ped her hand in his. "You ain't a-goin'

, as he braced his sho

n could make him

ses were over he was called upon to address the school. He spoke readily and pleasantly, laying especial stress upon the value of discipline; toward the end of his address he said: "I suppose Company 'A' is heaping accusations upon the head of the young man who dropped his bayonet yesterday." Tom could have died. "It was most regrettable," the officer continued, "but to me the most significant thing at the drill was the conduct of that cadet afterward. I saw the whole proceeding; I saw that he did not pause for an in

Bud forward, and the boys, even his detra

ot in uniform,

ear it after yester

the officer said to him, and Bud could

en he related it all at home that evening there were t

prouder dan if you'd won

you 'bout backin' o

oo busy to answer; he w