Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-05-21
An Old Pupil.
Hdrpcr'S Bazdr.

How many scholars have you? Kate
asked.
Sixty-seben, when dey's all yere; but
dare's only bout fifty to-day. reckon.
Down yere's de youngest. pointing to a
little four years old, asleep under the stove
and back dar is de oldest-nigh on to
sxty-three, l reckon.
We followed the direction of her cane,
which pointed with a flourish, indicating
some pride, to the rear seat, where sat an
aged man, entirely engrossed with books
his whitened woody head resting on his
great black hand.
Jess yer go down and see de old man.
He's mighty glad TO get a 'couraging
word Pears like when folks get stiff in
dere knees dey get stiff in dere heads and
it's mighty hard learning old folks.
gathered my skirts closely-the place
was not over clean-and went down the
aisle to where this Georgian school boy
sat quite alone. He raised bis head push
ed an immense pair of spectacles up into
his wool, and asked me very politely to be
seated beside him.
What are you doing here with the little
school children, uncle? l asked him.
Is learning to read the good book, mis-
sis. Is a schooly boy myself, and he
laughed heartily.
Inever saw school boy of your age
before.
Ireckon not; 'spects Is de oldest
school boy in all dis country, but yer see
missis, it war de Lords will dat | should
wait till my head grew white fore got
de chance to 60 to school,
| How old are YOU?
Sixty-free, coming June. Jess you
look around yere, misses. Every chile in
dis room am the chile of q slave. But
war slave myself war fifty year
another man's-so l nebber learned to
read de good book, though l war alus
looking forard to it as sartin as l looked
for de kingdom of glory.
How long have you been in school?
Only five months, missis. Yer see it
says in my copy book. Neber too ole TO
learn. White lady from de hotel 'splain-
ed dat to me one day. allus take cour-
age from dat ar, when | gets a fghtin'
and struglin' wild de readin' and wrilin
Did you never learn anything till you
came here?
Nebber; nebber had no time when |
b'long to Mas'r Dick, war allus work
in. When l warn't workin' in de cot
ton field. war workin' in dc Lords field
| war de preacher. and dar war no 'pertu-
nifty to learn to read in those days. But
) one day Mars Linkum he say, wees all
free! Bress ole Mas'r LiDkum's hebbenly
face! Dey had mighty 'spect for Mas'r
Linkum down here. and nobody said ii
warn't de truf. Mas'r Dick says: Yer
better stay by me, Jerry. And Mas'l
Dick, he laugh, when tell him now Is
goin' to read. So went out to work on
de railroad after de war. putin down
dem rails de Yankees tore up, and when
dey's all down | run on de train, kase ]
war mighty pore. still KEEP on workin
for de Lord and trustin', but it wal
ttOelUe year fore could lib in idleness nc
: how. rs all right now, mssis, and dc
rest dis nigger's life he 'spects to spend in
preacbin' and learnin.
The old man lowered his voice, BEN
over closer to me and went on.
I'd been here six years ago, but Mas'l
Dick he got into trouble, and just us
saw my way clear to readin' de good bool
: he say, Jerry, yer money'll keep yer ol,
, mas'r out de poor house, if yer'll lend i
for few days. Mas'r Dick was always
good mas'r, and l glib it to him
: but he nebber see de time to pay it back,
he's SO unlucky for sure-it war dradfu
dis'pointment sure huff; but l done ge
over dat, and 90 TO work again. and yer
o | am, bress de Lord!
a Have you wifep asked.
n All the life went out of his face, and h
/. hesitated. but suddenly, in tone half de
fiant. half sad. but which precluded al
: further questioning on that subject, h
!, answered.:
j No, Is no wife. no chile. Dar's deb
# bill in me, Is allus fightin'. Dat ar deb
/. bill would hab killed de man, black o
@ white, dat laid hand on my wife. l net
/ ber forgot dat, when war a slave. Whe
Is got de freedom. it war too late.
l There was a sweetheart, and real o