The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1880-02-19

lay, an MISS JaSmln, lore gracious,
dey say it was dead man wrapped in
a sack, an hardly cole yitr'
With sticking plaster over his
mouth?'
Il dunno, m. Law! Miss Jasmin,
how kin you laugh? Miss Jasmin, eff
[ was to go cross de road some dark
night to see Charlotte, an dem stu
dentses was to grab me, you'd never
know no more bout it! You'd jes'
know your cook was missin', an you
never would know what got me.
But, Diana, don't you know they
wouldn't dare to murder people by
wholesale in that way? Don't you
know they would be hung if they
killed the smallest child? But go
away; I might collect together all the
negroes in this neighborhood, and talk
solid sense to them by the hour, and
give them my'word and honor as a
lady. they wouldn't believe a word |
said"
''Yes, m, Miss Jasmin, we would
believe you; yes, m, of co'se we would;
but den we'd be afraid to resk it.
I couldn't hep leughing at her.
well, go your ways, Diana" said.
ut wilt only keep you at home OF
nights, and if | were like some people
| would have told you an extra horror
or two to make sure you were thor
oughly scared. [ expect the worst
stories that have got about came from
the desire to tease and. frighten the
servants after they began to be fright
ened at ALL Who told you about this
frst?"
''De fust as tole me was Mr. Brin-
ley, Miss Jasmin; an den Aunt jules |
husband, he brought de news from
town, too; an an ole colored lady at |
Aunt Dinah's gate ore mornin', I
heard Aunt Dinah say, Come roun'
IN spen' de ebenin tonight she say,
an she say to Aunt Dinah, 'Unhuh,
honey, you don kotch me out nights,
wild desc here studentses on deir roun's,'
she say; an I asst her, Lady said,
please tell me, is dat all so bout steal
in folks an cuttin' 'em up?' an she
say, Yes, it is so; an dey takes 'em
over to de ole soap factory back O de
college, an cuts DER flesh from deir
bones Ugh! Miss Jasmin, you
wonder all de meetin's is broke up an
de churches ain open for night meet
in, or pra'r meetin' any mo-? Ef de
preachers is 'fraid, you know we is"
Diana, did you ever hear Mr.. Brin-
ley preach?"
"Yes, m, he breaches reg'lar. He
works as bricklayer wild Mr.. Long
ley week days, an breaches Sundays.
Dey amt lazy bone in his body"
I'm glad to hear it for your sake,
Diana. I've never seen him yet, you
know; but [ should think"
Miss Jasmin, eff you an Mars Cor
don didn't always ha' so much COM
p'ny. He bin a wantin' to come in
an ask Mars Gordon for me desc two
weeks. We wants to git married
week from Wensday."
''Well, Mr.. Alexander will come out
an talk to him any evening if he will
only ask to see him. [ am sorry he
believes in this nonsense about tie
students, Diana; I should think more
of his intelligence if he didn't. ="
Miss Jasmin, we all can't help be-
levin it. It come too straight. Too
many niggers missin', my soul!'
She went, and left me in despair Of
ever convincing her. I told Gordon
about it when he came home, and it
amused him immensely; he could not J
resist the universal spirit Of mischief.
Linton, are you afraid of the stu
dents?" he asked as Diana's tN elve-
year-old boy came i'll that evening.
just after sunset, with an armful Of
wood.
mo, sah!' Linton bravely res
ponded, his eyes Instantly becoming
bigger. -.
"Go way, niger, you's lyin','
calculated Diana, in low, reproachful
accents, as she followed him into the
room. Mars Gordon, [ can't git him
out the door at night, not two steps
from de house, to pick up chip fo'
my fire. He so 'fraid O studentses he
can go to de well fo' a gourd O. water
wild de moon shinin' like day! Say he
ain skeered! Huh!' and Diana picked
up the water pitcher and retired, dart
ing scorn from her eyes.
II amt 'fraid to go to town right
now,' Linton Dragged, as soon as his
mother was out of hearing. MARS
Gordon SEN me to town right now I'd
90. Nothin' won't hurt me, will dey,
Mars Gordon?"
Il don't know, Linton; | can't an
swer for that" Gordon said, solemnly.
':Perhaps it may not be true. | did
hear that they had got all they needed
for this week, except about three or
four pounds. They might not kill
you, you know. They might just
take you to the soap factory and blind
fold you so you couldn't see who they
were, and you could only hear them
grinding at their knives and saws; and
they might just take an arm or half
dozen ribs, you know, and let you off
easy. | hope it wouldn't take more
But you can go to town. Here's
quarter; go down WHITEHALL"
"Gordon!'' | said, for the little dar-
key stood, piteous mingling Of ter
ror and increduIity on his face, an i'm
pudent smile frozen on his lip, but his
eyes staring" Gordon, you shall not
scare him so! Go away, Linton; your
Mars Gordon is only making believe,
to see if you are smart enough to find
him out. You cannot go to town.
| Go to your mother"
''Jessica, it would do that little ras-
cal good to believe that yarn Gordon
said, standing up and laughing as Lin
ton disappeared.
agreed to disagree" we let the
matter drop; but few nights later
Gordon came home and found that |
Linton, who had been sent on an er-
rand aarIv in the afternoon had not |