The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-03-25
Selfrt Sfury.
THE FAITHFUL GUEST
A STORY OF SLAVERY'S DAYS

to take grandfather aud grandmother
away from home one day in October OF
the year lived with them 10 Burns
Hollow. 1t may have been funeral or
some religious meeting, for they both
drove off in their best in the gig, with
old Ajax harnessed to II, and alter had
tucked in grandma's iron gray silk skirt
and ran back to the house for grandpa 8
spectacles and had seen The gig vanish
il the distance, ! felt lonely Burns
Hollow was d handsome, rambling man.
sion, which might have sheltered regi.
ment, and had q ghostly air about Il
when one wandered through the upper
rooms alone.
There were but two servants in the
kitchen, Hannah Cakes and the Irish lad
Anthony. I heard them laughing mer.
rily together, for, though Hannah was
an old woman, she was full Of fun, and
in Eve minutes the door opened and Han.
nab came in with ,he tray.
please Miss" said she as she set il
down, "may run over to Mapleton to-
night2 My sisters daughter hsd boy
aast night, they say, and wantsto see i,
nat'rally-it's the first I've ever had oi
erandniece or nephew"
"Who brought the news?" / asked.
Anthony, Miss" said Hannah, He
met George-thats my niece's husband
when he was out after the COW, stray.
ing as she always is, and told him to tell
Hannah she's grand aunt"
"Yon may CO." ] said, "but don stay
late Grandpa and grandma may be
away all night, and feel nervous. To
be sure, there's Anthony, but / never rely
on him. Be certain not to stay late. -
! repeated this injunction with sort OF
fright stealing over me-a presentiment
of evil, might say-and something
prompted me to add: BE back by nine
Why, cannot say but / felt as If by
nine / should be in some peculiar dan.
ger.
Hannah promised, and, after doing all
/ required, went away, and l heard her
heavy shoes OF the garden walk outside.
Early as it was,I had dropped the cur
tain aud lighted the wax candles on the
mantel. and l sat long after my tea, find
ing certain companionship in it, as wo-
men of all ages will.
] sat thus long time, and was start
led from my reverie by rap at the door
IA timid sort of rap, 80 that / knew at
once that il was not member of the
house nor an intimate friend. waited
expecting Anthony to open the door, but
finding be did not I went to it myself.
1t had grown quite dark and the moon
rose late that night. At first I could
only make out crouching figure at the
bottom Of the porch; but when / spoke
it advanced, and by the light Of the
hall lamp I saw black man. I had al.
ways had sort of fear OF negro aud
instinctively shrunk away, but as did
so he spoke in husky whisper:
"This is Massa Morton's, isn't i,T
"Yes," ] Ireplied, "bpt grandfather is
out" ~
I retreated as be advanced.
"Please, Miss" he said, Judge B
sent me here. He said massa 'ud help
me on. Let me stay here a night, Miss
Pse trabbeled five days since left him,
hidin' like. Use awful hungry. Pears
like / drop, an ole massa arter me For
de lub of beaben, Miss, let me hide
somewheres, and give me jes' crust.--
Judge B. said Massa Morton 'ud
help me, and It's kept me up. Missus
will, l know"
/ knew that grandfather had given
succor to some of these poor wretches
before; but felt that l might be doing
wrong by admitting stranger in his ab.
sence.
Caution and pity Struggled with me
At last I said, "You have note from
the Judge, suppose, sir ?"
II had some writin on paper" said
the man, shut Use lost it in de night il
rsiued SO All! Miss, Use tellin tbs
truff-Judge sent me sure as Use sin.
ner; l'se been helped along 80 far, and
pears like can get to Canady can't go
back noways Wife's dare and the young
ones; got clear year ago. Miss, I'll
pray for YOU ebry day of my life ef
you'll be so good 10 me: tank You,
Miss" i1@ ts9r ia-aH
For somehow when he oke of wife
and children ! had stepped hack and let
him in.
1t was the back hall door to which the
rap had come, and the kitchen was close
at hand; led him thither When saw
how worn be IVES, bow wretched, how
his eyes glistened, and how under his
rough. blue shirt his heart heat so tha,
you could count the pulses I forgot ms
caution brought out cold meat and
bread, drew mug Of cider, and sprea1
them on the table The negro ate, sDd
1left him m And A nkh0nv m vhrssv,