Evening star., 1886-09-25
Written for The EVENING STAR.
PETES CHANCE.
A STORY OF THE LOUISIANA BAYoUs,
BY MARION MANyILLE.
copyrighted 1SS6)


there was floating a small boat which contained
two children one black, and one of that pecu
liar sallow yeilowness which indicates the poor
white of the South.
The boat was a cross between wash-tub and
n bath-tub, and had every appearance of hay-
ing outlived its usefulness. The one shrunken
aud shriveled paddle which furnished an occu-
pant with propelling power. was warped by the
fierce heat and resemb bled nothing so much rs
an old and sbriveled arII, which might have
belonged to some Congo chief of long ago, but
ha6 in some way become dismembe-ed from
the black body and was now trying in feeble
way to get somewhere out OF reach where il
could return to its dust by the process ofnature.
undisturbed by eager little black or yellow
hands, and uncondemned To stir up the slug
gish and thick waters or bayou which seemed
always at this season, to be about to reach the
boiling heat
The rotten old boards of the boat barely held
together and big alligator upon the near
shore, looking ike freak of nature which had
put four short legs upon a log, watched it wit
sleepy eyes aS II ne were specializing upon the
prospects of a meal in case it went to pieces
suddenly, like the wonderful one boss shay,
which was built in such Il logical way
although am not prepared to assert that ne as
s0ciated ii in his mind with that miracle OF
workmanship whose sudden and violent de-
mise used to crafty my small longings tor ex-
element wheG was deep in the mysteries OF
the Fourth Reader.
HI, see dat ole CATER sun he self Pear like
he done gone 10 sleep for short
Then the white child replied with an accent
SO much like the negro as TO seem one OF his
kind.
.Dat gator he pow'ful lazy. He cayrn't VIM
kle he eye TO de troubi. Say Win provident
eye upon ninl,-"he back lull OBJ chips, but dey
GOan com OFT.
The children were clad in the one garment
which forms the toilette OF small black and
poor white alike The shins OF the black boy
being sinaliy darker than any dirt, showed
no signs vi soil but those OF the white child ap-
No. IN q mo vnTN ftr md
They watched the alligator with the ianguid
interest OF the day and climate, which enervates
everything
Suddenly vigorous shouting was heard
through the low brush and swamp cypress at
tine lett, accompanied by the sharp crack of
breaking twiss and small limbs, and the yelp of
"a dog.
Iii, Pete, dat Gumbo's bark, an dat mammy
The little black eyes showed liberal margins
OF white, and he made some Ineffective and
stbortive efforts sheer the floating tub odt of
sight, but being unable to do 80 finally gave up
The job ana sat awaiting mammy'S appearance.
They had mol long 10 wait. She burst through
the tbicke; with u final srunt ol hatred to exer-
tlon, and at once spying the craftin mid-stream
begun such Il tirade ana in such stentorian tones
That the alligator concluded he was in AN nn-
sale neighborhood and pumped of into the
bayou with more haste than dignity.
'-DAr yo' is-yo brack imp. Wharform yo'
0oan com when yo hear yO nIanny ciiiine i Sc
gwine TO war you right out when yo gits home
How come yo out wild playiu dat Pete Barker
:gin? / done gone tote yer lon" 90 cayrn't
hav my chiilun playin wild no po wEiIe Trash,
an "a gttIn devi!ment OF denl which dey got
,nougn on demselve. lo paddie dat punk heah
now right lively. yo, Nash! l ain gwIue arggi-
menL no NOAH bout yo ranntn on dis-a-way.
10 hear Inc now"
During the delivery of this stump-tailed
yellow dog kept up continuous yeIpiIs bark
as II 10 supplement- his mistress argument or
enforce II. A. she concluded he aIso di>con-
unued his efforts, save AN occasional short bark
OF unmIXed satisfaction al the signt oil the ap-
preaching craft and crew. For, despite the
threat OF being worn OUT Wash shOrl Tor
mao al
recied aud proceeded 10 land his comrade and
himself The mite boy seemed 10 be lost lii utter
aDiisement- he hung his head as Iilr as III
convenient 10 nang II and not remove that use
ful member Oi his body, ana his tattered gunny-
snIt seemed 10 lii4i Into ~ pathetic detection,
although this may have been in part due To- the
1act oil It's having been MADE first Ior his
brother Joseph. and worn through successive
perlo0s OF decay by Joseph, Erasmus, Matthew
and Luke, before reaching Peier. Tins may
nave accounted Iar the aUStnce of lit, not to
say style, whicn distinguished it. Yet it was a
serviceable garment on the whole, and still re-
talned It's self respect except III the presence of
tnis august black wonian, whose head was
wound with tine inevitable bright turban, which
made spot OF brilliant coIoring in Ihe place.
1o, Pete Barker, I>e bound 10 de 4le al
on yo II yo DOESN'T quit ch'sin my chillen
Toun dls-;i-way. Dey amt gwIne fur 10 sOcIaIe
Wild no swuinp ciay-swOtlerln' po' white. Dey' S
gwine wild spectabl braehS er dey amt gwine
wild nOttln but GuImDo hyaT. IO hyar me
now, an doan yo max no nlisluterpent ob what
tole yo right now. ain gwine teil yo MON
seben hunder times NOAH. 10 heah me-
Poor Pete signltied his understanding of this
mandate by deeper abnegaton, il possible,
than before; and She turned ter attention to
Washington anu '-snOoed' him before her as if
he were a teatherless duck. Pete made bold To
sneak on in the opposite direction TO his own
humble cabin.
A skinny looking woman OF the same peculiar
yenow-white sat before the rude door with a
pipe in her mouth. Without removing it she
"W ha benz"
bayou"
"Hungry?
s.Sorne"
"vittles on tabr.-
Pete went meekly in and helped himself to
chunk OF soggy bread and piece OF fried bacon
which he brough; to the door to- eat Informally.
Most of his meals were taken this way After
ne had nnished his repast and washed it down
Win drink OF poor water, he found time to
observe his mother. Something unusual about
her seemed TO strike him.
Ben shakin gin, marm?"
"Gott fever gin9"
It's weight were burdensome to her. and pulled
away upon tine old pipe If il exhausted ali
her energies TO produce the feeble puff of smoke
which she exhaled through her nostriIs. pete
oio not feel satisfied with her replies and
watched her furiisely. She was a long. iank
woman, VINO had come originally IRON. VI issour
ana followed her ne eer-do-weii husband TO Lou
Isiana 20 engage in fruit raising. How he eN-
pected to raise fruit without an orchard or
money 10 buy one, was one OF the mysteries
which can never be solved, but certain II is that
being 100 poor To go back, they had remained
until health and energy were alike exhausted
ana only the abundance OF nature in the south
sstNeu tnell from starvation. Chills and fever
700, those persistent guests of illied humanity
III 10" countries, added TO their discOnfo fort. and
soon made the weak ambition remaining OF no
use oslOreHnaIIy biOttIng II out Oh their natures
forever, together with tive OF the seven mem-
pers OF she family.
sick, marm?' finally asked Pete, varying
his questions iorm.
Inc woman slowly removed her pipe and
hl.Sl d minute deiloeratlon replied:
ID. nEI 4 fs,fr
Sno. said Pete, as much agLast as his ener-
SateO nature permitted. He had seen four
prOthefs Ole, and his father, and he knew that
death came often there
lhe woman had forgotten to replace her pipe
IN her mouth, and api i,eared 10 be study ing over
SOME problem fInaiiy she spoke again:
How 30 goin To git up Nori?f
Pete stared III auaZeinent, so genuine and
perEadlng that II shook the monumental calm
OF his nature To its foundations
"NOri marm? Me 20 Nori?"
"ie p, yer got tee. We uns cayrn't live hyar-
soInethin'. My Iolks they waz likely 'nough
people up Norf, but Yer dads was powerIu'
poor Never mount to nOshin'-'specaiy In
LOweeseaDy." The woman replaced her pi pe
and smoked or in moody silence. Finally,
with sigh, she said again:
should like powerful well to see tn Mort
again."
Pete hesitated a moment and then said:
Sayrnt ye go, marnl?
Mop. HalDt got strength 'nuff. Sh'd die
on u road. Blu. yer gotieT git thar someways =
ernUtheT."
She relapsed into silence, and the boy sa,
tnlhhIIg over this problem OF how ue was 10
gel North without money, strength or friends.
Presently his mother resumed conversation.
Sele IelI vague wonder at her talking 81