The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-03-27
OLD BEN.

.L. .0 WYNN " oSOhOS
OF the past, the pictures grow so clear
and brightthatI seem almost compelled
to give q name to the dark and angry
creek which roars like thunder as Il
PUSHES through the low grounds on into
the river, along whose banks lay nv
fathers broad acres of heaYily-timbered
land and his cotton fields. But should
give name to creek or river, there are still
living many who would follow me in
memory, and point to an almost oblit-
Grated hillock on the hill-side-old Ben's
graveA
Should 1 name my little brother who
stood at my side looking in awe upon
the wide waters, as accumulated BY re.
cent rains had overfowed the low-Iying
grounds, and was creeping slowly up
the hill side, there are those who would
point to the old plantation homestead,
where he now lives. Did I call by name
the dusky-hued playmates who scram-
bled slowly up the hill with us, some OF
them would, perchance, smile to see their
names in print, and would readily re-
call the scene on Chestnut Hill, as we
stood watching the abundance of open
burrs and the nuts, seemingly on the
v of falling at our feet.
THE burrs are open and waiting for
the wind to blow cried, eagerly.
elbow, windl Blow, wind!"
"Hush, Kater, cried Elsie, my black
skinned companion, as she stood as if
waiting in superstitious awe for the wind
to obey my childish mandate. sHush,
chile! Don We no dis is a witch hill
top, and dar's"-with an impressive
wave of the hand-"whar We see dat
little cedar pen is whar dey buried a
man what was hung long fore our folks
come from Callina. 'Spose de witches
does blow in de tree-tops now. 'Spose
dey does nowl. What We dop" This
speech from a girl older than the 9th
ers of the group, coupled with her i'm
pressive gestures and voice, caused us
to draw more closely together in trepi-
dation, ready at the slightest sound to
scatter, like partridges, among the
bushes.
.tBut, don't you wish the wind would
blow?" said Richard, my little brother.
the while his eyes watching the laden
branches.
AS If in answer to the wish, we heard
a NEST unearthly groan, and saw a stick
flying through the air far above our
heads. The groan was too much for
our superstitious ~fancies, and we scarn-
peredinto the thick brush along the hill
side. Laughter in the familiar tones
of Uncle Ben staid our panic. and
caused a feeling of shame for our
cowardice. As we turned about, the
coveted nuts fell in rafting showers
from the lofty branches. Again and
again the stick sent by the force of his
strong arm sped OF its mission through
the tree tops till the ground was streWWn
with nuts. At his command we ran to
fill our little baskets. He leaned HIM
self very eontentedly against the trunk
of the tree to watch US. A slow smile
came and went upon his thick rolling
lips. He made his dog to lie at his
feet, and seemed to have no further
interest than in our sport.
Richard remembered first to carry
his basket that Uncle Ben might help
himself. Being thus reminded, we all
fastened to offer our baskets, but he
refused each one of us in turn, and con-
tinued to fill his ~capacious pockets from
Richards basket. But his refusal to
share our treasures, and his batteries of
my little brother, was meant, we knew,
as a rebukc for us. We stood about
him abashed and regretful. Believing
that we had acted very selfishly, we
were ready to make any amends in our
power. After his pockets were full, and
Richard had been fiattered with prom
ises of home made toys, birds and birds
eggs, he took handful after handful out
of our baskets to replace the nuts he
bad taken from Richard. NV brother
walked like a little hero, his basket
heavy laden and his heart triumphant
from Uncle Ben's laudations. We
myself and troop of little negro play
mates-neve questioned his decree,
and stood about him crestfallen as little
culprits. Far across the crestof hills
q voice echoed and re echoed till the
forest dells were alive with the sound,
and the name called was:
'.Ben! Benz"
He placed his hands about his mouth,
the palm turned inward as a tube, and
shouted back.
80, Uncle Ben. don't go yet" Ny
brother caught him by the hand as he
made a movement to go.
.Tm 'bleegin to go. OATS de ole
man callin'."
'.Why. Uncle Ben, are you obliged
to goP"
cease I'm a niger, chile. OATS de
difference tween niger and white man.
Call niger and he bound to go. Call
white man and he go when he gifts
ready"
He had lifted my brother to his
shoulder, walked rapidly down the hill,
leaving US to run at his heels. Along
the banks of a branch, now filled BY
back waters to the dimensions of a
creek, he walked more slowly, caution
ing us in this wise: Now fall in an
get a duckin'. De fishes mighty
hungry. Fall in, / tell yer. 1 wish
some OF yer would, so I'd larf. L
wouldn't wet my foots to git yer out"