The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-12
WANTED THE COAT.
A Great Sufferer Who Could Not Place Confidence in His Young Friend


 Confidence in His Young Friend.
 "What's the matter, Uncle Ike p' asked young Mulkittle when he entered the cabin and found the old man sitting on the edge of the bed.
 "Oh, Tse got da. pizen rheumatiz erg'in. neber did see de like. It do peer like de mo- tries ter 'habe myself de mo- de Lawd sens punishment an miz'ry down arter me. Now, whut harms done dat haster suffer dis way Peer like ter me dat de Lawd oughter know by dis time dat I'se one O His chuzed servants. l doaD' un'erstan' it all, sw'ar doan'. looks roun' an sees bad men joyin' darselbes while I'se grabbed by dis awful c'lamity. Oar neber wuz CT mo- homes man den l is, but dar neber wuz CT man dat suffered fur nuthin' mo den her. doan' blebe in dis sufferin'"
 "Christ suffered" said the boy. The old man looked at him, shut his eyes, clasped his hands, rocked himself to and fro, and then said
 "Dar yer go. I'll be soun' dat vessel woul' hab some sorter slam ter gin CT pol ole man. When yer gits ter be CT man yer1l make it CT business ter go roun' an pussycute pol ole men. De Sabyer suffered-co'se he did, but yer needn' mine me O dat fack. Whut's dat bulgin' outen yer pocket?"
 "A beach,"
 "Wall, femme hab it. Settin' roun' heah sufferin' while yesse'f's prowlin' roun' eatin' peaches an sich."
 The boy gave him the peach. He put it under his pillow and said:
 When 1 wakes up ter-night I'll put desc ole teef inter dat fruit. do b'lebe dat ef didn' hussle like does de folks woul' lew ne ter starb ter death. 1 doan' know whut pse gwine ter do dis winter. Ain got no cloze an doan' know how gwine ter git none. Yessef doan' hab no trouble dat way. Yer daddy buys yes self all de cloze yer needs. Yer ain't got no pity on CT po' pusson like l is. Whose ole coat is dat hangin' out dar on de poa'ch2"
 "Uncle Henry Jeff it there some time ago."
 "Whar yer Unkle Henry now, chile ?" "He's gone to Texas"
 Wall, didn' think dat white man had sich CT good membry. Tole me some time ergo dat he wuz gwine ter leab CT coat-look heah. ain't dat CT gray coat2"
 "Yes, sir"
 "Ah, hah. Dat's de coat. 'Peer'd like yer daddy didn' want him ter gin me de coat, so yer Unk' Henry tole me dat he wouP leabe it hangin' roun' some whar fur me. l'se powerful glad dat l'se 'skivered it. De place peers mighty quiet ter-day. Whar ali de folks gone, honey?"
 "Down town"
 "Yas, an lef' yessef Dat aim right Da treats yer erbout like da does me Honey, I'd be powerful o'bleeged ter yer if yer'd step out dar an git me dat coat. l wants ter brush it up CT little an git it ready fer winter war"
 The boy hesitated.
 @Wy'nt yer go on an 'complish de faek whut tells yer?"
 Pa might not like it."
 {" De debil yer saysl It aim no biz ness O hizen. Go on."
 No, don't van. to-"
 The old man glared at the boy.
 @Yer's fine speciment O CT human 'bedence. De Lawd's got His eye on yer dis heah berry mint an His face ain warin' CT smile, nuther. Keep on dis way am no power on 'arth gwineter keep yer outen trouble. Knowed CT boy bout yer size wonst-but doan' want ter talk erbout him. It hu'ts me ter think CT bright young pusson hankers arter 'struc- tions."