Litchfield enquirer., 1875-01-14

fl 4an, q could not sacrifice Joe, Miss Emily, could not sacrifice you, so have sacri- led myself, and am volunteer in the no I bieSarmy of martyrs.
 When, however, as the bridal cortege passed through the hall, he saw Joe nudge fellow-servant with his elbow and point the pin, he felt repaid, though Miss Annan was holding her head very high in- deed
 The next morning, Little Joe came by the office; What did the folks say bout yop bres' pin, Mas Tom?'
 Say? Why, they did not know what to say, Joe. They could not take their eyes of me. That pin knocked the back out of everything there. The bridegroom couldn't hold a candle to me- said MT. Wise; and Joe laughed aloud with delight sBqt did they give you supper?'
 Did dat, Mas Tom; an I tux home a snoE-ball an a orange to Kiah,' said Lit tie Joe.
 Late on the evening of the same day, Mir. Wise was about leaving hls office, when Little Jse's crutches sounded in the doorway, and Little Joe himself appear ed. sobbing bitterly, tears streaming down his face: Oh, Lordy, Mas Tom! oh. Lordy!'
 | What is the matter, Joe?' | .Oh Lordy, Mas Tom! Kiah's done deaar
 .Kiah! Is it possible? What was the matter?' asked Mir. Wise.
 oh, Lordyl oh, Lordy!' sobbed Little Joe. Me an him went down to de creek, an was playin' babtizin', an I'd done babtized Kiah, an'-oh, Lordy! Lordy!- an Kiah was jes' gwine to babtize me, an he stepped out too fur, an his legs was so shor he lost his holts on me an drowned; an couldn't ketch him cos couldn't | stanaup widout nothin' to hold on te. Oh, Lordy! I wish I nuvEur had ha' heerd O babtizin'! I couldn't git him out an IJes' kep' on a-hollerin', but nobody didn't come till Kiah was done drownd- ed I am sorry for you, Joe; I wish had been there. But, as far as Kiah is con- cerned, he is better of than he was before said Mr. Wise. sNohe ain't Mas Tom, said Joe sturdily; Teas ways, Kiah didn't think so hiss. cos eff he had a-wanted to die he could ha' done it long an merry ago. I don't be- ieve in no sech fool talk as dead folks bein' better off dan dey was befo'
 Tom was silent, and Little Joe went on with renewed tears: T come up to ax you to gimmer a clean shirt an 6 par O draws I to put on Kiah. You needn't gimme no socks. cos he ain't got no feet. Oh, Lordy! | oh, Lordy! sobbed Little Joe; 'ef me an Kiah had ies' had feet like some folks, Kiah wouldn't ha' been drowndedr
 Take this up to the house, said Mir. Wise, handing him note, and Miss Mol lie will give you whatever you want | Thanky, sir, said Joe. T know you ain't got no coffin handy, but you can gimme de money, ant can get one I don't reckon it will take mnch, cos Kiah warn't big
 b Then Mir. Wise wrote note for the un- dertaker, and directed Joe what to do with it.
 The next day was cold and dark aud msd neTed ab 1d ke ts vas dvan so fastthat poor Little Joe. the only mourner, could hardly keep up as he hop ped along behind it on his crutches biasS grsw keener and the mist heav- | fer, and before Kiah was buried ont of sight the rain was falling in torrents that drenched the poor little cripple sobbing beside the grave, and the driver of the l hearBe, good Irishman, said to | him: e'1n wid ye, or get mp here, by me, an ye're mind to. I'll talk ye back But Joe shook his head. and prepared to hop back as he had hopped out. "Thanky, Sir,' said he, but I'd rather walk. feels like 1 would be gittin' ride out O Kiah's funeral l The wind blew open his. buttonless shirt, and the ram beat 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 and Kiah had had for stall. Now 1t was drenched with rain and the sides bespattered with mud, and the news paper that had served for 8 cloth had blown over one corner was soaked and torn, but clung to it's old companion, though the wind tried to tear 1t away and the rain to beat 1t down. Little Joe stood minute beside 1t, and cried harder than ever
 For several days Little Joe dropped and shivered and refused to eat, and at length he grew i'll and sent for MT. Wise, but Mir. Wise was out of town, and did not return for week; and though, when he got home, the first thing he did was to | visit Little Joe, he came too late for Joe would never again rise from the straw pallet on which he lay, nor use the | ner.
 His eyes frightened and he smiled falntly as Tom entered like a breath of fresh air-so strong and fresh and vigor- ous that it made one feel vigorous. ''Why, Joe! how is this?"
 The little cripple paused to gather up bis strength; then, he said, Busted agin, Mas Tom, and you can't nuvvur sot me up no mo-
 'Oh, stuff! Dr. North can, if I can't. Why didn't you send for him when you found I was away?'
 I dunno, sir; l nuvvur thought bout 1 it,
 Turning to the woman with whom Joe lived. Any why the al didn't you do it?' said Tom angriIy
 I didn't know Joe was so sick said she. Taint no use sen'in' for no doctor now. Jes been rell1n' Joe he bctter not put off maxim peace wid de Lord
 don't reckon de Lord is mad wid me. Nancy. What IS l done to him? I didn't use to cuss, an didn't play marbles on Sunday, cos couldn't play ,em no time, like de boys dat had feet
 Elf you don't take keer you'll be too late, like Kiah. I ain't sayin' whar Kiah IS now-tain't for me to jedge, said Man. cy-Dut you better be a-tryln' to open de gate O paradise
 Piping the words out slowly and pain fully, Little Joe replied: T don't b, ,leeye I keer bout goin' less Kiah can git in, too; but I spec he's dar, cos don't see what de good Lord could ha' had agin him. He oughtn't to thought hard O nothin' Kiah done cos he warn't nuvvur nothin' but a free nigger. an didn't have no ole mas to pattern Iy. Maybe he'll let us bofe in. | know Eiah.s waitin for me somewhar, but dunno what to say to him. You ax him, Mas Tom.''
 He spoke more feebly, and his eyes were | getting dull, but the old instinct of servi- tude remained. and he added, .Ain't you got nottin to spread on de flo, Nancy. so Mas Tom won't git his knees dirty?'
 Immediately and reverentIy Tom knelt on the clay floor, and, as nearly as he re- membe,ed it, repeated the Lords prayer.
 'Thaaky, Mas Tom,' said Little Joe.