The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-12

June had often heard, had Just found her
father, who had been sold away from her years
ago, and had come into Richmond with the
Yankee soldiers. But nothing had happened
to June. Everything went on SIS in the old
days before Massa Linkum came She washed
dishes, and scrubbed knives, and carried baskets
Of wood, so heavy that she tottered under their
weight. and was scolded if she dropped so much
as shaving on the floor; she swept the rooms
with a broom three times as tall as she was, and
had her ears boxed because she could not get
the dust up with such tiny hands.
One night Creline was going by the house,
when June called to her softly through the
fence.
"Creline!"
Whats de matter?" said Creline, who was
in great hurry.
"Is gwine to find Massa Linkum-don' you
tell nobody"
Laws massa, what q young un dat ar chile
is " said CreliRe, thinking that june had just
walked up from dream, and forthwith for
getting all abont her
Madame Joliet always locked June into her
room, which was nothing but a closet with
window in it, and heap of rags for bed.
On this particular night she turned the key rs
usual, aud then went 10 her own room at the
other end of the house, where she was soon
soandly asleep.
About eleven O'Clock, when al the house was
still. the window of june's closet softly opened.
There was a rooted doorway just underneath
II, with an old grapevine trellis running up
one side of it, little dark figure stepped out
timidly on the narrow, steep roof, clinging with
its hands 10 keep its balance, and then down
upon the trellis, which it began to crawl slowly
down. The old wood creaked and groaned and
/ trembled, and the little figure trembled and
stood still If it should give way and fall
/ crashing TO the ground,
She stood a minute looking down; then she
took slow, careful step; then another, and
/ another, hand under hand upon the bars. The
/ trellis creaked, and shook, and cracked, but it
held on, and june went on, and dropped softly
! down, gaSping and terrified at what She had
| done, all in little heap on the grass below.
She lay there moment perfectly still. She
/ could not catch her breath at first and she
trembled so that she could not move.
Then she erept along on tiptoe to the wood
| shed. She ran a great risk in opening the
wood-shed door, for the hinges We're rusty,
and it creaked with q terrible noise. But Hun
CRY was in there. She could not go without
| Hungry. She went in, aud called in faint
| whisper. The kitten knew her. dark as it was,
and ran out from the wood-pile with joyful
! NEW, to rub itself against her dress.
IVES gwine to fine Massa LinkuIn, you an
me, bof two togeler," said June.
Pur. pur-r-r!" said Hungry, as If she were
quite content; and June took her up in her
arms and laughed softly. How happy they
! Linkum would smile and wonder when he saw
them coming IN and how Madame Joliet
| would hunt and scoldi
Ii was very still and very dark. The great
trees stood up like giants against the sky, aud
| the wind howled hoarsely through them. it
made June think of the bloodhounds that she
| had seen rushing with horrible yells to the
sWamps, where hunted slaves were hiding.
I" reckon 'taint only little ways, Hungry"
she said, with q shiyer; wen git dar fore
long. Don't be fraid."
"Pur! pur-r-r!" said Hungry, nesting her
head in warmly under June's arm.
"'Spect yos lub NE, Hungry--'spects you
does!"
And then June laughed out softly once more
What would Massa Linkum say to kitty2 Had
he ever seen such kitty rs that in all his lifel
So she folded her arms tightly over Hun
grys soft fur, and trudged away into the
woods. She began 10 sing little as she walked,
in that sorrowful, smothered way that made
Madame Joliet angry. All, that was all over
now? There would be no more scoiding and
| beating, no more tired days, no more terrible
nights spent in the dark and lonely cellar, nc
more going TO bed without her supper, and
crying herself to siecp. Massa Linkum would
never treat her SO. She never once doubted
in that foolish little trusting heart of hers, that
| he would he glad 10 sec her and Hungry TOO
Why should She? Was there any one in al
, 4
June?
So on and away, deep into the woods and
swarnps, she trudged cheerily; and she sans
low TO Hungry and Hungry purred TO her
The night passed on and the stars grew pale, th'
woods deepened and ihickened the swamp
were cold and wei, tie branches scratched hel
hands aud feet.
Its tjes ober here little ways, Hungry =
trying TO laugh. "We'll fad him purity soon
Is terrible tired an'-sleepy, Hungry"
I About noon :hey came TO bit of a brook
june scooped the water in her hands, ant
Hungry ia?ped it with her pink tongue. Bu
, there was no dinner TO 5A found and no sign o
Massa Linkum; the sun was like great bal
Of fire above the tree-tops, and the child grew
faint and weak
didn't 'spect it was so fur" groaned poo
June. " But don yer be feared now Hungry
Pears ike we'll find him berry scon."
The sun went down, and the twilight came
Nothing but the great forest and the swamp
! and the darkening shadows and the long hum
cry night. June lay down once more on TN
, damp ground where the poisonous snake hit
IN the bushes, and hagged Hungry with he
weak little arms, and tried TO speak ont brave
". well find him, Hungry, sure, to-morrel
He'll jes' oper de door an let us right in. b
viii; an he'll hab breafas all ready an waitin'-
. pears like he'll hab a dish OBJ milk up in d
corner for you-now tink o. dat ar, Hungry
and then the poor little voice that tried to b
so brave broke down into great sob. Ef
only jes had one little mouthful now, Hungry
! -on'y one!"
So anothern night passed, and another mornin
G came s bitter wind blew from the east tina
6 day, and long before noon the rain was falling
dreary and chilly and sharp. 1t soaked June
@ feet and ragged dress and pelted in her face
; The wind blew against her, and whirled abou
her, and tossed her TO and fro-ske was such
] little thing and so weak now and faint.
!. Just as the early twilight fell from the leade
4 sky, and the shadows began to sialk under th
bushes and the birds gathered to their nes
a with sleepy twitter, she trippea over littl
stone fell weakly to the ground and lay still
!. She had not the strength to get to her fee
e again.
But somehow June felt neither troubled nc
|, afraid She lay there with her face upturne
TO the pelting rain, watching it pstter from lie;
S. TO leaf, listening to the chirp of the birds i
u their nests, listening TO the crying of the wine
le She liked the sound. She had dim notion tn;
se it was like an old camp-meeting hymn that sh
had heard Creline sing sometimes. She neve
understood the words, but the music came bac
- like dream. She wondered If Massa Linkul
sr overheard it. She thought he looked like
She should like to lie there all night and liste
II to it; and then in the morning they would {
t. and find HMM the morning; it would con
n very soon.
The twilight decpened, and the night can
er on. The rain fell faster, and the sharp wiz
i