New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-01

VlC0 crave o. tteoys ouu 10ss"A1
to the natter; but - soon - he could Leave
her he sought his sister. and requested tnss
the honor of standing with Mise Amman
might be conferred on Mr.. Marshall, xnc
himaelf allowed to take Mr.. MsrshsIFs
partner, she being little girl ON whose
pluck and good nature he could alike REV.
His sister had NO time to enter into Psrticu'
lars, but made tho desired change; ana Mr'
Wise said to Mics AMMAN, II could not sac
ritice Joe, MISS Emily; could not sscr'hce
YOU, so have sacrificed myself, and I'm
volunteer in the noble army If martyrs" |
When. however, a. the bridal cOrtAge
passed through the hall, he saw Joe nudge
n fellow servant with his elbow and point
ont the pin, he felt repaid, though MISS
Amman was holding her mead very n'gn III
deed.
The next morning Little Joe came BY the
"What did do folks sag bout 20 bre''
pin, Mas Tom7'
.Sayi why. they did not know what to
say, joe. They could not take their eyes
of me. That pin Knocked the black ont OF
everything there. The bridegroom couions
hold Q candle to me" said Mr.. Wise; and
joe uRhed aloud with delight. Ibid they
give you your supperF
"Did dat, Mas Tom; an TUX home
SNOWFALL an . orange to Kiah," said Little
Joe.
Late on the evening of the same day Mr..
Wise was about leaving his Office when
way, and Little Joe himself appeared. cob
bling bitterly. tears streaming down h.s
face: "Ob, Lordy, Mas T..m! oh, Lordy!
What is the matter, Joe"
"Oh. Lordy, Mas Tom! kish's done
"Kiah! Is it possihles What was the
natter" asked Mr.. Wise.
At ns. Avw 0nhhaH
Joe. me an him we're down to de creek.
an was playin' baptizln', and I'd done bap-
tised Kish. sn'-Oh, Lurdy! oh, Lordy y
an Kiah was jos gwine to baptize me, IN
he stepped ont too fur, an his legs was 80
short he lost his bolt on me an drOwnded;
an couldn't ketch him cos couldn't stan
widout nOthin' to hold on to. Oh. Lordy
l couldn't get him ont, an jes KEEP on a
hollerin', but nobody didn't come sill Kiah
was done d. OWnded."
II am sorry for you, Joe; I wish I had
been there. But, as far as kiah il CON
cerned, he is better of than before" said
Mr. Wise.
mo, he ain't. Mas Tom." said Joe.
stoutiy; ''leas'ways, Kiah didn't think 90
! hisse'f cos Of he had awanted to die he
could hn' done it long an merry ago. l
don't believe in no such fool talk a. dead
/ folks bein' better of dan dey was befOr.'"
4 Tom was silent, aud Little Joe went on
with renewed tears; II cOme up to Ak you
| to gimme clean shirt an par o draws
| to put On Kiah. You needn't gimme no
socks, COS he AMT got no feet On, Lordy
Oh. Lordy r sobbed Little Joe, ''Of me and
! Kixh had ies' had feet like some folks, kiah
wouldn't ha' been drOwnded"
Take this up to the house," said Mr.
| Wise, handing him q note, land Miss Mollie
will give you whatever Won want"
"Thanky, sir" said Joe. IL know you
l amt got no coffin handy. but you Can
| gimme de money an can git one. don't
reckon it will take much, cos Kiah warn't
dig"
Then Mr.. Wise wrote note for the un
drrtaker and directed J e what to do with
Tho next day was cold and dark and
| misty, and the psupers' hearse that con
vey ed Kish to the graveyard WAS driven 80
fast that poor little Joe, the only mourner,
could hardly keep up. "a he hoped along
| behind it on his crn:ches.
The blast grew keener and the mist
! heavier, and before Kinh was buried out Ut
sight the rain was falling in torrents that
| drenched the poor httIe cHpple sObbing
beside the grave, and the driver of the
/ hearse, q good hearted lri~hln,n. said to
him, "Iu wild ye, o. get up here BY me an
! ye'Ie mind to. I'll take ye back"
4
hop back as he had hoped out. "Thankee,
SIR" said he, "but I'd rather walk. feels
like I'd be gittin' q ride out o kiah's fu-
| neral"
The wind blew open his buttonless shirt,
and the rain best heavily on his loyal little
breast, but he struggled against the storm,
and paused only once on his way home.
That WAS beside the goods box that he aud
Kiah had for y stall. Now it was drenched
| nd ha cir hQa RID vi
mud, and the newspaper that had served
tor cloth had blown over one corner and
| WAS soaked and torn, but chung to its old
companion, though the wind tried to tear it
taway and the rain to beat it down. Little
fJoe stood minute beside it, aud cried
harder than ever.
For several DAYS Little Joe dropped and
ehivered and refused to eat, and 1T length
he sent for Mr.. Wise, but Mr.. Wise WAS out
of town, and did Dot return for week; and
though, when he got home. the first thing
he did WAS tv visit Little Joe. he came too
late, for ZOO would never again rise from
the straw pallet on which ms lay, nor use
the clutches that now stood idle IN the cor
ner.
His eyes Frightened and he smiled faint
| ly as Tom entered like = breath Of fresh
air-so strong and fresh and vigorous that
| it made one feel better only to be near him.
"Why. Joe, how is tbis3'
The little cripple pansed to gather up his
strength; then he said, Busted agin, Mas
Tom. and you can't nuvvur sot me up no
mo-"
.'Oh. stuff ! DIR. North can if cant.
Why dn't you eend tor him when you
found was awavf
IL dunno, sir: nuvvur thought bout it,"
| Turning to the wumaR with whom Joe
lived. "Ard why tue ID didn't you do
~ said Tom angrily.
II didn't know Joe was go SICK" said
! abe. 'Taint no use sen'jn tor no doctor
now. l jss been tel!iu' i've he better not
put IF making peace wit dc Lord +"
II dou', reckon The Lord is mad wild me.
Nancy. What is dope t" himf didn't
use to cuss, and .'idn't play marbles on
Sunday, cos l couldn't play 'em No time
like the buys dat had feet"
'Et You don't take keer you'll be too late,
like Kish. / amt saying where Kish ia
nOw-taint for me to jedge." said Nancy
"but yOn better be trying to open de gate
o Paradise"
Piping the worde out SLOWLY and pain
fully. LITTLE Joe replied Il don't b'Ioeve
keer bout gOin' 'Ies. Kiah can git in too;
but spec he's dar. COS don's zee wba,
dc good Lord could ha' had agin him. H.
Oughtn't to thought hard o no,h,n' Kiah
| done, COS he warn't nuvver DUthin' bu:
| free Niger, an didn't have No ole mas 10
pattern by Maybe He'll let us bofr in. I
know Kiah's waitin' for me- some whar. hut
| dunno what to say to him. You Ak him,
| Mas Toni
He spoke more feebly. and his eyes were
| getting dull, but the old instinct uf servi
! tude remained. aud he added: "Ain't you
got uOthin' 10 spread on the fo'. Nancy, 81
| Mas Tom won't git his knee dirtyi"
| Immediately and reverenrly Tom knelt
! on the clay floor, and. a. nearly IA he re-