The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-10

10 O'Clock a boy came rusnlng, al! gu. ~
breath. into the schoof-room; exclalmi,nk,
"Deed, ma'am, 1 couldn't hep BEN aare
dis mornin' not ter save my life. NY i, lnt a
my done got COW, an.de COW v az an de
cow done GONE AFR de calf. an / done gonv
AFR de COW, an / spec / De mty e'
sr,ar,,;,, nny oy,ine nj r dis yere.
ihei ri a,.sn nJ y, Sunday school consisted OF
| wy ' 49, hotween the ages OF ana ~
u ,ns, from bright, and one rear oLiSr
nalna sort Of boy Tollsy unl.kv any b. tn hoe
;n the wide world but just hlmse, lid on on.
. .onSr" gave his name as 'Chrls'
e..!.""hris what!" | asked.
| Name Chris" he repeated. ~,
but have you no other name
| Done tolc YOU my name tore nalne
Chris :" and he looked at me In amaze
ment Mt nv stupidity. So as '.Chrls he
was registered, and that melodious mono
syllable was the only name he ever ackno"-
lodged. th,,c
Ills dress was the most wonderful INNS
that ever was seen, ana was arrangeu VIII
ont the least consideration OF times anu
seasons. On a stormy winter day, When
the cold seemed to pinch ones very bones,
and an EsuuilnauX suit of furs would nave
becn comfortable and suitable, Chris Would
dawn uDon the school in smiling satistac-
tion' alfred in the thinnest possible sum-
mer clothes, and usually baretooted. On
warm spring day when every one else Threw
aside extra wrappings, he Wouid irequenI-
| " appear with two suits OF woollen ciotnes,
| one over the other, and an oVercoat tnat
reached to his heels, the tatters uasglns
| on the ground, and collecting mud fringe
| around the edge of the garment. WIN
| this costume he wore usually one boot ana
| one shoe. or if he 50 far CONFIRMED TO fash-
| ion as to wear pair of boots, one leg OF
his pantaloons was sure to DC tuckeq III,
and the other left hanging down. UNI
fnrmity was something that his soul alb
horred. Surmounting this varied attire
was hat-but that must have paragraph
all TO itself. .....
| No description can do justice to that hat !;
it was without its like in the "loe w9 }aui.
| His mother had made it out OF some piach
material. quilted. 1t was Immensely large
of 40 particular shape, and the binding was
sewed so tightly round the edge that the
rim-broad enough for a Quaker-Was
drawn down almost straight, and rested on
| his shoulders. This article he wore wrong
side out through the week, SOS ter keep
ltoder side clean for Sundays" ne eA-
planned: and as the lining was OF bright CO.
lored calico, he looked, ut little distance,
as if his head had turned into big sun
flower.
Every Sunday I read to the class some
part Of Bible history, and the next week
questioned them as to what they remem-
bered of it. On one occasion | had taken
the story of Adam, and Eve, Chris seemed
particularly interested, and abandoned his
| usual occupation of pinching his neighoors
| for fully five minutes to listen. The next
| Sunday when l asked who could tell me
ANYTHING about our last reading, his hand
| went up instantly. -,
"Can you tell me about it, Chris"'
asked.
"Yaas'm, kin tell heap. Boy, III mash
yer mouf ct yer don't quit toolin' wild me.
| Guess knows as much as you does" This
last was addressed to one Of the class who
audibly expressed bis doubts as to Chris
| telling anything about a lesson. 1t was the
| first time he had attempted such thing,
and the children were astonished beyond
| measure. Having quoted them, said,
" Now, Chris, let us hear how much you
can remember"
"Yals'm. De Lord done made Adam
and Eve, an put 'em in de garden of Ersi.
| IBov, I'll choke yer eyes outen yer head Ell
yer don't quit rollin' 'em at me.] Dey get
| 'long we'll huff till Eve done eat de apple ;
zen she carry one to Adam, an cuSS at hana
| TO eat il, an den dey done druy 'em outen
de garden, an put al 1ngan at de gate 10
keep 'em from comm back"
"What kind of an engine was it, Chris? u
l asked, when he paused, breathless.
Fire engine. ma'am,' responded Chris,
triumphantly. He had understood angel as
engine, and this accounted for his interest
in the story. He had once seen fire engine
that greatly interested him, and nothing
could persuade him that it was not the very
same article that had barred the gates OF
Eden against the return of the exiled pair.