The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-04-29

|
that's a fact Blest il this amt the
queerest piece OF business Use ever seen
at this house yit2 A wallentinel Missus
Ruth's way is so Unexpected Here, you
poor little white boggarl"
Dinahs crusty manner softened lit
tie as she watched the greediness with
which the child devoured the big slice
OF bread and butter; but she melt ID out
right when, as she finished her feast,
the "little white beggar" slid from her
chair and caught and kissed the big
black hand, saying:
81 likes you, cause you look like Dick.
/ likes good black folks"
When Aunt Rlth came down she
found her "wallentine" seated in Dinah's
own rocking chair before the fire, while
Dinah herself, down on the floor, had
the almost frozen feet in her lap, warm
ing them, and giving vent to some very
unorthodox expressions Of opinion as to
the ordering of Providence.
"Sakes alivel don't knows it's SO, but
the Lo'd seems to pay mighty sight of
'tention to some folbs and fergit all
about the rest. Pears like chilun ought
to be looked after anyhow. They amt
though, half on 'eml Things is queer in
this world if It's the Lo'd's worldl"
"Well, child" said Aunt Ruth, "now
that thee is warmed and fed, will thee
tell thy name and where thee belongsP"
She shook her head.
"Don't belong nowheres. Father al
ways called me Drat-you-Babr"
Aunt Ruth sighed over this dolorous
compound cognomen.
"Has thee no motherP"
"Once. She called me 'Here.you-
Babl-Father struck her once with o
bottle, and in the morning she went
dead. And one day the perlice took
father away, and old Bet told me to go
long too, and l went long fer as could.
1 hadn't nowheres to stop to, and l
crawled into Dicks box and he put things
over me and fixed me a jolly nice place,
and ev'ry day he took care of me. He
made this"-and here the child stopped
and drew from one of the capacious
boots, which she put on again, upon
getting down from the rocking chair, q
doll, whitfield from stick and artistical-
ly finished with coal, as to hair, eyes
and mouth. She looked al it admiring-
ly for moment, rearranged its drapery
of old print, which was somewhat dis.
turbed by its journey in the boot, and
restored it to its resting place.
Aunt Ruth sighed again.
"Give her warm bath, Dinah, and
then thee may make her a bed on the
lounge in my room, I will give thee
something that will serve her as night
dress"
The poor little wandering child was
soon wrapped in warm shawl and
curled down on the lounge in Aunt
Ruth's pleasant room, too much excited
by the novelty of her position to sleep
too comfortable to do anything but hug
her wooden treasure and stare, first at
the pretty surroundings, then at the
kind face at the ireside. Suddenly she
raised herself on her elbow.
"Dick said he heard there was nangels
that lived somew'eres an took care of
folks. Be you oneP"
mo, no, child" said Aunt Ruth,
gently; 81 am only Aunt Ruth. Go to
sleep"
"Yes, m. But / do wish Dick was a
valentine. "It's very cold into his
box"
Aunt Ruth and Dinah sat late into the
night hastily fashioning warm garments
for the little one, and considered them.
selves we'll repaid by the delight with
which they were donned in the morn.
ing.
While happy little "Drat-you Bah"
was taking her breakfast by the side of
the kitchen stove shadow darkened the
window, and the little girl, looking up,
exclaimed, ioyfully:
80, there's my Dickl"
Dinah opened the door and baie him
"come long in" giving him jerk to
facilitate his movements. He shambled
bashfully in, and in moment the
child's arms we're around his neck, and
her face, pretty in it's unwonted cleanli-
ness, nestled against his black cheek,
while she poured out a torrent OF eager
EXPLANATIONS of satisfaction at being
"wallentine."
When she at last released him Dinah
took him by his shoulders and seated
him firmly in a chair.
"Now," said she, "you's jest a goin'
TO ret there till you splain this whole
'rangement to me and Missus. An you
Jest lay out to tell the truie, the whole
trute, an noffin but the trufe all the
way through-that is, if ye kin. Niggas
is mostly mighty unsartinl"
When Aunt Ruth came down she
found her "wallentine" bringer sitting
by the FIRE with little Bah at his side,
her two little hands tightly held in one
Of his own, and supreme satisfaction at
the success of his odd scheme shining in
every feature of his honest face. Her
eyes filed as she stood in the door
moment unnoticed by the children, but