Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-24
IN AUNT AIELY'S CABIN.
BY SHERWOOD BONNER.

sky bending SO close to the earth that one
might fancy that the very steam OF the
worlds passions condensed in the black
clouds that rolled heavily across it; no
sound save the ceaseless soft splashing of
the Mississippi waves. Suddenly light
wind rose : a piercing shaft of moonlight
struck through the clouds, falling on the
black letters over beer-shop, and ideal
izing to purple and fine linen some hut-
tering rags that hung from dingy tene-
ment house. The wind grew stronger;
the clouds were blown into wild shapes;
the shaft Of moonlight melted into "a
broad piece of silver.
A steep bluff overriding the river; slop-
ing away from it were the long, curving
streets Of a southern city. A flight Of
stone steps led from It's highest point to a
flat level, where new workshops ruins OF
burned houses and long cotton sheds were
crowded together, 1t was damp, dirty
place. People called it"Hells Half acre.
and in the day it justified its name
But the moon denies her gift of beauty to
naught, and tonight that melancholy
half-acre seemed to have a better right to
be. And the river by daylighta vul-
gar muddy stream now flowed in wide,
,jsterlous grandeur, with distant CLEANS
OF silver on its slow waves.
Across the river, on the line OF another
state, was a little town, so white and sim
pie and still that it might have been the
home Of moths and shadows. But as the
moons light grew clearer a keen eye
might have seen a mans form standing
ut the waters edge, keen ear might
have heard the sound of a body falling
into the water. The river was narrow at
ibis point, and man could easily swim
across it, as this one was doing. His body
undulatcd nnder the waves as a snakes.
His head, barely visible above the water,
was small, and the wet hair hung closely
about it like cap. When he had landed
he stood for a moment shivering with cold
and casting sharp, nervous chances around
him as if he had been pursued. Then he
walked irrcsoutely toward a cotton shed,
and throwing himself on the ground, part
~ sheltered by a bale of cotton, he fell
asleep and deep exhaustion seemed to
hold him hand and foot. At daylight the
sun found him out anG dried his jean
clothing. warmed his bare feet, and even
tried to pierce through his cold body to
the dark, soggy earth on which it rested.
It beamel on his close hair until it blew
from his face, light in color and curling
at the ends The face was one common
enough in a malarious country--a yellow,
lean, sharp face; besides this, it was
young, weak, passionate face. The sun
beams were kind and did not arouse him
The eyelids pressed close upon the eyes,
and the lashcs Law .nOtionless on the thin
checks
After a time a negro passed near the
!, cotton shed-one of the kind called
''roustabouts' in that part of the country
people who live in a happy -go-lucky
sort Of way, dependent from day to day
on stray jobs or stray theft, never losing
flesh Or vivacity, never appearing other
wise than extremely content with life
and their lot. This one had his work for
8 the day. A bag was hung over his shout
der, and he was picking up the loose cot
ton that had fallen from burst bales pre-
paratory to cleansing it for the gin. He
saw the sleeping man, and became in
stinct with the natural hostility that the
negro seems to have for the poor white.
Cit up dar, you lazy tramp!' he shout
ed, and, seeing that the man did not stir,
he picked up bit Of coal and threw it
with such precision as to hit the sleeper
on the sunburned neck.
He started up and stared around him
with CLEAN of ferocity in his eyes.
The negro laughed loudly. ssWhat
gyarden did you come euten?" he said
'You's enough to skeer de crows, you is"
The man took no notice of his gibes,
but staggering to his feet walked slowly
across the flat and up the stone steps.
Now and then he put his hands to his
head in a confused way' must git across
the city, he muttered; 'sthere's good
hiding in some O the slums round the
bayou
He turned up Promenade street, walk
ing with slow, dragging steps. ''Seems
to me m powerful weak" he muttered
HAS it been longer'n day sence TUX
my tood?'
''Chick! chick! chick! chick!'
He stopped at the sweet sound Of a
childs voice, and looking over broken
gate saw little blue-eyed girl feeding
chickens by the wood-pile in the yard.
Sissy can you give me glass of but
ternilk?"
Mamma mammal" called, the child
''He will have to wait for ii, y answered
q voice from the house; sthe churn won't
be ready for half an hour"
''Come in" said the little maid, rnn-
ming to the gate and holding it open.
You can wait a while, can't you? Here's
a seat On the wood-pile."
He followed her like one in a dream.
She stood up before him, straight
sweet shape, and began to talk "You
don't look very NICE" said she, her eyes
wandering over his torn, soiled garments,
with bits OF coal and dirt falling away from
he side that had lain next to the earth !;
but suppose you were SOLDIER
: mo, little girl; never was soldier
Pm s'prised to hear that. My papa
vas colonel and nearly all the men