The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-07-20

and chance like other boys, and she
was so miserably poor! If Cassius was
alive, how could he ever find her in this
great full North?
But Marty never was miserable long:
.'De Lords undeh all, she said, and be-
gan to sing, going to her work, when
the door burst open, and in rushed Bug
by, a cabbage in hand.
.sLook dahr' holding it out, II jess
took off de two outest leaves an look
dahr'
The cabbage was literally tunneled by
worms. Marty took it with gulp of
dismay.
s.'Tisn't wurf muffin. Dah's ten
cents gone. Well, leab it, and hurry
along"
'But de rest, mammy?"
..Oh hi' She had not thought of the
others. She ran out to the cart, inspect
ed each one, then to the great heaps
There was not single sound one; they
were riddled through and through
But the outer leaves were fair and
sound.
Marty was weak and sick from hum
ger. She felt this disappointment was
more than she could bear. She drew
her apron over her head and sat down
on the kitchen steps without word.
Bugby stood looking at the Eeap of
cabbages. Where was his holiday din
ner now of chicken pie, his breakfast?
He kicked the cabbage as hard as he
could.
NANNY" he said the next moment.
''they don't look bad at al. An'-an'"
eyeing her furtively-''Mr. Frishy don't
pick de outest leaves off. He ju8t tum-
bles 'em in de cellar mong de rest. He's
got wagon-loads dab. An his
voice got very thick and fast-"he
wouldn't nebber know whose dem dar
cabbages was"
Marty took down her apron. Cor
nelius Bugby johnson, am you thief?
It's bad enuff to lose de cabbages, but
don't let me tink my boys gone-gone
toh de debbil.n.
In the grain, Bugby was honest.
I'm not a thiefr' he howled, and
kicked the cabbages again. ''But I'm
go hungry I'm sick, nanny"
Il know, sonny" Marty turned into the
cabin desperately, to see if there were
any of their poor little belongings which
she could sell. But who would buy the
WORKOUT chairs and table from negro
cakin?
'rIl go down to the village an see if
l kin git days work for our vittals,
Bug. An do yoh take two or three OBJ
de cabbages an show to Mr.. Frisby, an
essplain de reason why we can't send
him any"
Pug set off on his errand with half
dozen of the cabbages lying on the bot
tom of the push-cart.
Never had such savory smells tor
mented his nostrils as came that morn
ing through the frosty air. Buckwheat
cakes, sausages, hot coffee! And he was
SO ravenously hungry!
At Frisby's shop door, too, hung
chickens, ducks, strings of pudding. His
mouth watered; he stopped at the steps
with his push cart. Why not sell Fris-
by the cabbages and buy chickenP He
could tell his nanny that Frisby had
given it to him. Why not? He stood
irresolute. The devil was fighting as
hard for the soul of the little black -.
80 rteoeIItiy 80 it he ran up the steps carrying
cabbage, and went up to Frisby who
was busy taking an order from lady
in black.
..Ah, Bugi brought the cabbages?
Put them in the cellar. Tom will pay
you
Seer burst out Bugby. ..Dey're
wormy; dey're all done gone wormy!
Nanny hain't got one to sell you. y
Then he turned and kicked the cabbage
furiously down the steps. ''You ole
cheat! Clar out O my sightn' he scream
ed
The lady, who was young, laughed.
.What ails the child?" she said. ''Who
is hep
It's Martyrs boy Bug. Miss Given.'
said the grocer "a very honest woman.
Now, half-a-dozen wealthy farmers have
| sold me wormy cabbages within the
| week And think it likely Marty de-
| pended on hers for her winters living.
What else did you say? Any canned
goods"
Miss Given came down the steps a
moment later. Bug still stood eyeing
the cabbages with kind of blank des-
pair, which was so funny on his ugly
| little phin that she laughed again.
''What were you going to trade for
them? Come, Bug, tell me all about
it''
I'D be glad to trade de whole eighty
for hoe cake, an dat's fac',' almost
sobbed Bug.
The young lady looked grave. Have
YOU had no breakfast. Is it SO bad as
that? Here, jump up behind on this
phaeton. | am going to drive out home,
and you shall have your breakfast and
something to take home"
Miss Given heard Bugs whole story
before she reached home-cabbages,
chicken pie. lost father and all. Her
| checks were warm and her eyes wet as
she stopped at the door and flung the
reins to Il servant. WAIT here for a
moment, Bugby,'' she said, running up
the steps into broad hall where sever
al gentlemen stood smoking and chat
| ting.
.:Who is your groom, Elsie,n said her
father. "A new discovery?h
Il want to tell you about him." she
said, eagerly. ''And you, DR.. Coyt."
turning to an old gentleman near. s'Just
listen to this" and she told Bugs story.
Il call that heroism." when she had
ended, IF it was about nothing better
than cabbages and bacon"
DIR. Govt, who was gentleman from
the neighborhood of New York on a
|
visit to her father, had listened intent
| ly.
This is very singular" he said, Il
half suspect-Did the boy tell you his
fathers name?' 'V3 =
No But their master was Col.
Denham. of Louisa County.n
Il thought so! Send my cpaehman
here" he said to a servant passing
Sand, Miss Given, please call your
boy"
A stalwart. middle-aged colored man
entered Miss Given looked at him anx-
iously. He had q manly. honest face,
but sad one, like most of his race.
''Cassius." said the doctor. did you
leave any family in Virginia."
"A wife an chile. Eah went back
for den when de war-was ober. but dey
mas gone. nobody knew wbar. / neb-