Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-01-01

crisp, sar"&ea & . /: G&t.i2us /. contrast TO his 49, ~
black face. one arm was bare, only the
ragged remains of a sleeve hanging over
the shoulder, and it seemed no great mis-
fortune that his legs had been shoueuod,
for hc had hardly pantaloons enough 20 COW
er what he had len.
lie looked at the pie, and Joe looked at
him. Presently the latter inquired ser!-
Gus, "Whar yo' legs?'
'Cut of" WAS the an ,wer.
"How come day cut Otf?'
"Feel was frost-bt. Like ter kill me-"
"What yo' p asked Joe
"Kish"
"What were yo' ole mas name?"
Didn't have no ole mas"
"Was yo natchful free nigger?'
Dunno what you mean" said Kiah.
"'Fore we wos all sot Free" exclaimed
Ltte Joe. "Wos you born wid ole mas
an a ole mis-, or wos you born free ?--ies
natchfully free"
Free" said Kiah, thus placing himself,
as every soulherner knows, under the ban
OF Joe's contempt. "Umpb! my Lorr
Dat pie sholy do smell eoodr'
| GU looh Huu-IN, sdlu Joe gIdNelN.
II is" said Kiah, "hungry as a dog =
Joe stepped to the table, took out a rusty
old pocket knife, and cutting out a piece of
the pie handed it to Kiah. Kiah bit of a
point OF the triangle, with his ewes fixed
on ice as If in doubt whether he would be
allowed to proceed, but finding that the
liberty was not resented, he eagerly de-
voured the remainder, drew his coat sleeve
across his mouth, aud said "Thanky."
And thus their friendship commenced.
II was very touching aud beautiful, the
attachment which was formed between
these two unfortunate creatures. Neither
could perform the labor or join in the
sports incident TO his age, and they seemed
drawn together by the attraction Of a COM
mon misery. Every day, some liltlo SER
vice, pitiful in its insignitcance except tC
themselves, some little, humble office
from one TO the other, some little act of sell
denial-perhaps the saving of a few cold
potatoes that had been given TO Kiah, ol
the sacrifice Of a buttered roll that Joe hat
got at Mr.. Wise's-eyery day some it'll,
thing served to cement this friendship
NuiNh SANN ~ NNNh " companion NV wv
not mortiry him and they became insepa
rable, Joe taking Kiah TO the little she,
where he spent his nights, aud making
; him an equal partner in business durin
; the day.
The next time Joe came TO he set up h
gave Mr.. Wise a knowing wink and sal
: mysteriously: "Don't you so buyin' II
bres'pin to wa'ar 10 de weddin', Mas
Tom."
: "Why not, Joe ?"
"Cos amt no use In two bres pins, al
: dar ain't no tellin' what mout happen 'lor
r dat weddn' come off,"
a Mr.. Wise laughed, but he had no PR
4 monilion that Joe had entered into a su,
l. cessful negotiation for the grocers execri
q BILE crescent, and the shock was therefor
9 unbroken when on the evening of the ma
/ rlage Joe entered his dressing room an
presented II to him with an air OF pride
l. pitiful that II would have made woma
: cry.
+ Tom was fully as much surprised as j
y had anticipated, and affected to be as grea
?. ly delighted and when he had complete
is his toilet OF laulllessly quiet tone he plnn'
y the horrible thing to his shirt bosom, al
4. thanked little Joe for the gin with oil Il
gracious courtesy Of his nns nature.