The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-06-21


dy were no-'count nigger preacher,
but | didn't think bofe on 'em to-
gedder cud "a had sich awful fool
niger fer son. Boy, eff you dom
call yerse'f fool ejot. what does yer
call yerse'f2"
This was too much even for the
meekness of Isham, who replied
with dignity: Il calls myself a gen.
leman."
''Yer does does yer? By what
qualifications does you consult
youse'f to be a gentleman? ?" retort-
ed Nanny Isabel again returning
to her recollections OF the converse
ton of "ol' massa."
"Marm ?" again proceeded from
the distracted Isham.
What l was'in' time on you fer?
You dom know nothin' an you neb-
er will. Jes' answer me one ques'n:
Whar is you an Salindy Ann gwine
ter lib ? Jes' tell me dat ?"
Isham slowly shifted MS stick to
the hand that held the hat, and his
unoccupied digits travled to his
head, where they burrowed perplex-
edly.
II Fought fought" he stam-
mered at length, with much hesita-
ton, you mought-let-Salindy
Ann an me-lib-wid-y0u."
Nanny Isabel rose to her feet as
the last monosyllable struck her ear.
She grasped the stick with which
she walked-and which having a
head like a trident, was believed to
be an instrument of magic-and
shook it at him violently
NE" she screamed at the top of
/ her shrill old voice-"mc ~ Then,
with a glance of whitening scorn at
Isham, she turned toward the cabin
door, "Salindy Ann," she shouted,
come ere to me y
A moment later a saucy, trim
looking girl appeared in the door
way in answer to the peremptory
summons.
''Salindy Ann" said Nanny Isa. |
bel, with grim emphasis, pointing
with her stick at the trembling Ish-
am, who had retreated a few steps,
in case hasty flight should seem |
advisable, did yer tell dat dar
Is'am Coombs you wanted ter mar
ry him ?"
Isham looked imploringly at Sa- |
Indy Ann, who had said that very !
thing. Salindy Ann glanced et him,
and then at the outstretched stick,
with which she had an intimate and |
painful acquaintance, and her heart /
failed her.
NO, Nanny" she said, falter
ingly, "'clar to goodness | neber did"
You hear dat, niger, don you ?"
inquired Nanny Isabel, trium-
phantly, of the detected Isham.
You clar yourself ofi7n desc ere |
premusses, an don you leave no
tracks ahin' you, an ef you eber
sets yo' foot inside o nay palms
agin, you'll 'pent de day, or de night
elder. An you kin tell all de mig
gers what wants ter marry Salindy |
Ann an come an lib wild me, dat |
we eats snakes an toads an lizards
an pole cats an buzzards, an de
debil comes ter supper wild us ebery
Sat'dav night Now clar out. )"
He clored.
But 1sham was much in love
with Salindy Ann, and even forgave
her base desertion of him in time of
need. He was horribly afraid she
might think him finally disposed of,
and turn her attentions to some
other suitor, and he racked his brain
for a method of imparting to her his
faithfulness. Not for worlds-even
with Salindy Ann thrown in /
would he have crossed dem palms"
in defiance of Nanny Isabel's pro-
hibition, but surely the road was
free to all. Isham was a good ban
jo-piayer, and a leader in the church
choir, so he concluded that he
would serenade his lady-love. But
unluckily for him he announced his
to several of his con-
freres. boasting in an unguarded mo-
ment that he ''warn't 'fraid of Man,
my Izzable, dom keer eff she is a
witch oman" One of Nanny Is
abel's cronies repeated this to her,
and with a malicious chuckle she
resolved to be ready for him.
One moonlight night, about
twelve O'Clock, our hero wended his j
way TO the cherished yet dreaded
spot, and there. Just outside of the
"palins," he poured forth his soul III
melody. He warbled OF Dinah:
Her eyes 50 bright, dey shines at night
When de moon am gone away
of Cindy, whose
"neck's so long an stringy.
feared she'll neber die -
of Nellie, who /.
was lady,
Ny dark Virginia BRIDE
of Susannah the tors AIKEN, and Lu-
cy the betrayed, feeling more and
more courageous as the end of each
song found him still unmolested.
At last Snap" went a string, and
he looked round for a convenient
place to sit down and mend it.
Close to the fence was section of
big pine log, and upon that he es.
conced himself. He tinkered the +;
string, he tuned a little, and ,
sang great deel more, enjoy
ing himself famously, and feeling
uncommouly brave. At last the
moon disappeared under u cloud,
the night grew chilly, and Isham
concluded to leave, with the pleas |
ing consciousness that Salindy Ann
must have appreciated his devotion.
He prepared to arise but his hair {
was the only portion OF him that {
rose. He could not move from his ;
seat. He wriggled and twisted, ne
pulled and tugged, his eyes nearly ;
popping out OF his head, and his I
teeth chattering with fear; iron
chains could not have bound him
faster.
Lord have marcy pom rnep he
CALCULATED presently, dropping his
banjo and ciasping his hands. "De
ole oman done trick me sho ,nuff ,,
I