The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-11-11

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Father and !, coming down the lane
one day from the grove, where we had
been for autumn leaves, found him stand
ing at the parsonage gate waiting for US
to come up--a bare-headed, bare-footed,
ragged young negro, who looked just
then entirely out of season and out Of
place. -
z He took one of bis hands from bis
pocket. long enough to give pull at a
lock of his woolly hair as we drew ne.r.
"6ood mornin', folks" he said with a
tone of assurance; II was long dis way
an l jes' dropt in ter take dinner wifi
ser." asaaaIs i49i.fs fg-n,f.s n" q.
/ stopped iu astonishment, while my
'ather stood looking down at him with
an amused smile l think that father
was never provoked or surprised at any
thing or any body. ,srs-
"We9 are all OF US just as God made
us, after ALL" he used to say. "He only
knows the whole story. and perhaps We
had better let Him do the judging
sAnd who are you, prsyY' he asked
the boy. terfg 2 a.-;}
"I'm Peniychuke.'' eli go . u
& "Pentateuch How in the world did
you come by such name as that 7"
"Yaas, ssh," was the rapid answer.
aMy OIL man, yer see his name was Mo-
Ises, an be christianed me Pentychuke,
cos / was his works. he say."pi.E 3 q
c Father laughed heartily atithis expla-
nation. GAL sf'ae;si {&7k '5st3 ~ I'll
well, Pentateuch,''l said be, "you
shall have some dinner for your names
sake, if for nothing else It will never
do to have it said that minister of the
Gospel turned the law from bis door,
Besides, for all know, yeu may be an
angel unawares.' 10 - y Il
Dear old father! Iu bis kindly, cleri-
cal way he always made joke of his
good deeds; bu, not one of Gods ma
ked or hungry ever went uncsred from
the parsonage gate. .iti ia i,as
He little thought now how true it1was
what be last had said, that Pentateuch
might prove an "angel unawares."
shudder even now whensI think how dis.
ferent it would be with all of us had not
God sent the negro lad TO our gate that
day. ,5osE 5J g 9a 4
So Pentateuch followed US into the
house; and be liked his dinner 30 well
that he remained about the place all the
afternoon and got bis supper. -.
Then, almost as q matter OF course,
be Was permitted to remain over night,
and &c bfeatfeee tise III morning; and
then, somehow, Pentateuch liked US 90
we'll, and We became so interested in
him that it was decided he should re-
main at the parsonage for thu. present,
doing what chores and errands we could
find for him in return for his board.
That was the way Pen,ateuch became
a member, of our family.
have not time to tell you very much
about Pentateuch, save Of the one thing
that he did, not long after we first knew
him, and on account OF which we have
always been 80 thankful that we knew
him at all. - :.
Perhaps It is enough to say that hs
was very much like great many othel
young negroes Of whom you have read
who have come to live with families hett
at the north, full Of carelessness and in
dolence and mischief, and yet at times
Idevoted and generous and kind-hearted
/ He certainly bad one trait which Is, ]
am sorry to say, quite common, amor gs
youngsters OF bis race-he did not seen
| to have the 1remotest idea OF any suci
thing as moral obligation. l'.'i'"'
He would do all sorts Of things an(
hell aall sorts of stories, without any re
! gard whatever to what was right or true
aud it was quite impo ssi5le to make hin
regret his misdoings save by punishin!
Iaim in some way. ,8la ni' eHsI H q
| We all were more or less ltrouble'
Iabout this moral obliquity Of aPen.s
Etench's. and my father felt particular.
anxious about it.. seeos ssh1s3 s iei+
EG But mother once said hopefully
hsThere must be some good in him some
where - He is always willing to put him
self out, and to do what be can to pleas
us It was only this morning that b
searched for more than an hour to en-
the hatchet for me. "sifam sifa3u a q
. eyes," father answered bitterly, an,
then laughed in spite OF himself, ian
be knew where it was all the time.
|saw him hide it under the wood-pile las
night, to get rid of cutting the kiudlins
I suppose" 1eq1sq
But let me come at once to my story
One evening just after tea--it was la'
in November and the nights were col
I've we're sitting about the old-fashior
ed 6re- place, variously occupied, whe
aather, who was looking over the even
ing paper. and was reading aloud no
| and then any items Of interest ths
caught his eye, suddenly uttered an e1
clama,ion OF. surprise. = ..eo-s,I r
We all looked up expecting to hes
something Of Importance, but he remair
| ed silent.
"W hat is it :" / presently asked. g
ooh, nothing" father answered, an
Then looked quite confused, knowing /
was not telling the troth. "That i
nothing OF any consequence" he adde
heaitatingly. aYoung Ellis escaped froI
the state-prison Yesterday morning an
that reminds me l was to 60 down
Mrs. Ellis tonight, Katie, child, won
you fetch my coat r rga1t
i I ran to bring his great-coat and vi
helping him on with it when moth'
came and stood beside him She Ia
her hand on bis shoulder and looked I
anxiously into his face,
-aa"I wish, DEAR" she SAID, and she tri,
Ito keep the trembling out of her voice
] Il wish you wouldn't 60 out Tonight
Esther gently took her hand from
shoulder and held it in his for momel
kissing It as fendly and gallantly as
might have done when they were DO
iofs,hem thirty wears younger e;s,
"Tut, tut, Susan" he said; 81 knt
s you would begin to worry again If
& told you that young reprohate was
/ large. Nv dear. what he said in CO,
bat dav was nothing but idle. brsvad
would never dare show himself abo
here" m 4sHsW z =raf ~ 8:t