The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-09-10

gave the promise she asked. Forgive
ness and help were % new TO him ne
could not fully understand them. but
he felt their Divine influence. ''Aunt
Chany' was an ancient negrcss who
lived In a miserable hut in barren
field. She was held In awe BY the
negroes on account Of her prctensions
a. ''conjure woman" and her super
stitions practice Of charms and phil
ters.
LEI she don't whip me, teacher"
said Syphax. as they drew near the
house. he holding on TO her dress for
protection. Use feared shc'H put u
spell on p me: an Ill git pains all
ober me an die"
"That Is all nonsense. my child. God
does not give such power as that to
any one. She can do that TO you any
more than you can TO her.
but she glib pennyroy'l tea TO
Clarissy, wild snails' tongues In II, an
she lay bundle o. crooked sticks Mt
her do, an Clarissy she nebcr git we'll
no mo-" insisted he. his eyes growing
large as he spoke.
<tAs yVt4 1AAurA 1lVA UIiIfNc NuAtt 0n0
has no such power
When Chany saw them coming. she
came out TO her door. and greeted the
young lady In the blandest tones.
| BLESS your pretty face" said she,
''comc In and rest you'se'f. wonders
dc boys don't run away wild you, you
| 50 SWEET
| Not noticing what she said, Greta
Syphax."
| "What you been dom. You var
mint?" said the woman, turning to-
ward him, and he covered beneath
her glance. She was a short. wrv ne
| gress, with . very black face, and a
very yellow bandanna on her head.
Her eyes were small but piercing.
| II want to tell you. interrupted
Grcta, ''that il you and Syphax have
not enough to eat, we win try and
help you from our kitchen. but he
mustn't be encouraged to bring things
home from school that are not given
| to him."
| "He been stealin'? dat little niggah!
Miss Bond, done raise him from de
bottle; his mother she die when he wah
| Ai&S v Nth1 OiS> sc Slttiu w 0c Ill Oit
oman now. / amt got but two teef
| in my head. but bless de Lord. one o.
| denis on top o de udder! an now dat
boy take to stealin'v'
| Notwithstanding her fluency, she did
| not inspire Greta with confidence; she
felt that Syphax had told her the truth.
Looking steadily and sternly at her.
Grcta replied: Yes, he has been steal
| ing. and th;nkit was because he was
told to. Now let me say, that If you
whip to-day. or any day. l shall know
| it. As surely as you do it, shall take
means TO prevent your doing it in the
| future"
Chany had evidently no desire to
offend the white people around her,
and was impressed by the firm man
ner of the young teacher, for she re-
piled:
Il amt gwine to tech him, lady; he
won't steal no mo-. He'll be a good
boy, I'm shua. Won't you have a
glass o. buttermilk TO- you COP
mo. / thank YOU. Goodbye. Now
remember whatI say" and she left the
two gazing at her. Is she walked away
up the road.
After this the devotion Of Syphax to
| his teacher was very touching; he fol-
lowed her about ike faithful dog.
| One day he came late TO school; as
he rclapsing into his truant waysP
When she asked his excuse. he said:
Il tell after de school, teacher.
When the school had closed. Syphax
said: Teacher, come wild me down
home; got somethin' to show you
doun dar. \"
Old Chany's cabin was just outside
Of Mr.. Cameron's plantation.
''Shc's in de field now. l reckon
pickin' up goubers for herself" he
said, and in his eagerness. he almost
dragged Grcta into the cabin with him.
Then he rushed to the bed. and
drawing key from under the pillow,
he unlocked haircloth trunk in the
corner.
% teacherr' he gasped. s.don't
scoIe me. l didn't know IL was yourn
nobody tole me, till done glib il to
Aunt Chany"-and he handed her a
watch.
Greta started. and her eyes and
mouth opened wide.
rs it de one you lostP" he asked,
eagerly.
THE oncP--ycs, said she. joyfully.
1t once recognizing the enamcled case
Of Miss Ambler's long missing watch.
''Whcre did you find it?''
I'm dem woods obcr Wonder. II
shine up at me out O. the gronn'. She
gwine to take it to town an sell it.
she say. but couldn't let her. till
see II It was yourn fust. Tub you so
much. teacher" here Syphax began
to cry; you is de onliest pusson who
cher was real good 10 me.
Now the sweet note Of the Southern
mocking-bird came through the open
window, like a song If triumph over
this little struggling soul, newly born
through love and sacrifice.
Grcta reached out her hand to take
the watch, when black hand. skinny
and muscular. closed in firm grip
over hers, and shrill voice cried at
the highest pitch:
what yer doin'. comm here to
poor 'oman's house when she's out.
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