Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-28

Maum Phillis used for to say as Roses
temper goose pimpled when the cold
air struck it. We kim from Charleston,
mistis. We's speckin to work ont some
land for ourselves, and hev home. We
kim up norf to git wages, SO as we kin
all help at it. I'd like to stop hyar,
insists.
"Hyar +! I low wes goin soufard
when we gifts from dis yer, you Jim, .
suffered "Rose Moncton," her ia e up
to the sunshine.
Poor Jim looked careworn. dare
say my face was tolerebly sympathetic.
It felt so, at least.
"Mistis," the fellow said, "s she's KEEP
us tackin' souf an norf, souf an MORT,
all dis yer week, or we'd been some
whars. She didn't like de looks of no
town yet. We's sIep' roun' in sheds six
weeks now. [ gifts sawin' an chopin,
an SIGH, to do once a day, while dey
warns up in de sun, an eets bite.
Den up we gifts, an tramps on. He's
got on SO fur, but Rose amt clar at all
yit whar we's stop. Mistis, whar is de
warmest place you knows on ?"
[ thought better and better Of myself
as the heavy-faced fellow thus appealed
to me. l felt fattered by his confidence
in me. / always feel hattered when 81
strange kitty follows me, or the brides
hop near for my crumbs. But [ will
confess that no human vagabond had
ever before SO skillfully touched the
soft place in my heart. Poor dusky
wanderer he looked SO hungry, he
looked so worn out, too, as head of a
family will when the other head pulls
he Their way.
"Well, Jim, the warmest place I
know of is my kitchen, left rousing
fire there ten minutes ago. You all stay
here until come back, which will be
in about seven minutes; then you shall
60 home with me, and [ will give you
good hot dinner. You may stay all
night, if you like, and perhaps [ can
advise you. You will be rested, at the
least, for a fresh start"
Rose Moncton lifted her Hstless
head, and looked in my eyes. CLAWS !"
said she. claws said she again.
Jim pulled his forelock to nae, yelled
the fash in his warm umbery eyes with
timely wink of the heavy lids. He
composed himself at once into a waiting
attitude.
[ heard another CLAWS /" as I hast
ened away.
".That young mistis is done crazy.
She'll nebber come back hyar, pend on
dat! |" Such was Roses opinion of me.
opened my ears for Jim's, but he
made no reply.
Father and mother had gone out of
town for two days. Our hired girl had
left. I really was "mistis of the
premises. If chose to gather in
circle of shivering little "niggas"
around my kitchen stove, and heat that
stove red-hot, there was no one to say [
had better not.
/ was back In five minutes, instead of
seven. Jim stood straight up on his
feet the moment he discovered me COM
ing. Rose showed some faint signs of
life and interest. "'Clar, now, mistis
Kim along, den, Jim, and see you look
to that there verlise. Hyar, you Kit!
She managed to rouse her sister with
her foot, still keeping her hands warmly
hidden, and her face to the sun.
But the other head took the little
ones actively in charge. "Come,
Peyty,, boy! Come Kite we's gwine
now
Peyty opened his eyes-how starry
they were! go, we goin'' MOE Him,
don't want to go no mo- p
"Ain't gwine clar thar, no, Peyty,
boy; come, Kit-only to a house to
warm the Peyty boy-come Kit?'
Kit was coming fast enough. But
Peyty had to be taken by the arm and
pulled up. Then he stepped slowly,
! the tears coming. The movement re-
vealed great swollen welts, where his
stiff, tattered, leathern shoes had chafed
and worn into the fat, black little legs.
sis dat ar Mistis Nelly? he asked,
opening his eyes, wonderingly, at the
white lady.
Rose had got up now. A sudden
culver ran over her face. "No, Peyty.
Mist Nelly's dead, you know. Wish
we's back to Mas'r Moncton's, and
Mist Nelly ibbin', an Linkum sojers
dead afore dey cum!"
There was long sigh from every
body, even from Jim. But he drew in
his lips tightly the next moment.
"Some niggas nebber was WORT freein.
Come along, Peyty, boy-ready, mistis. :"
[ walked slowly along at the head of
the strangers from the South. Little
feet were SO sore, Peyty couldn't walk
fast. Kits big woman's size shoes
were SO stiff she could only shuttle
along. Jim's toes were protruding,
and fancied he and Rose were as foot
sore as the little ones. I dare say
people looked and wondered; but am
not ashamed to be seen with any kind
of children.
took them around to the back door,
into the kitchen, which [ found unen.
durable while baking my bread and
pies. The heated air rushed out against
my face as opened the door. It was
a delicious May-day, but the procession
behind me, entering, proceeded direct
to the stove, and surrounded it in win
ter fashion, holding their hands out to
the heat. Even from Jim I heard soft
sigh of satisfaction.
Poor, shivering children of the trop-
les. 1 drew up the shades. There we're
no outer blinds, and the sun streamed
in freely.
There, now, warm yourselves, and
take your own time for it. Put in wood,
Jim. and keep as much fire as YOU like.