The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-11-09


soul there was q bitter hatred Of the
whole family. But nothing would in
duce him to 60 to Ohio, or to be free.
He evidently was of the opinion that
the world, or the Champneys, owed
him living.
While | was looking out of the win
dow into the garden, Aunt Sileny and
Tilda both took time from their labors
to go out and berate Goost, to which
Tilda added some vicious blows on the
ear. She might as well have beaten
the horseback at the gate. GoOst did
not bulge nor wink while she struck
him, but as she turned away he shot a
malignant glance after her. Then
Jean and Ted, the boys who waited,
passed him in their natty dress-suits
and white aprons, and each of them
stepped out of his way to kick him.
He did not move, but grumbled out
oaths. Even | began to feel that
Goost had hard measure in this world.
Ny mother had gone down and the
grand dinner was now in progress |
was watching the procession of dishes
from the kitchen along the gallery be-
low, when | saw Nix run out.
Nix was my Uncle Bob's little boy,
about five wears old. The whole fami-
ly really thought that no such beauti-
full child had ever been born. Uncle
Bob, with his wife and boy, lived in
New Orleans, but were with us now on
a visit
mix! Nix / cried. What are
you doing there?"
But Nix did not hear nor heed me.
He flew straight down the path and
pushed Goost's head up.
make lapr' he ordered, and in a
moment had snuggled down, white
skirts, lace and all, onto the negro S
knees. They sat taking, apparently
on the most intimate terms, when Nix
bounded off, darted into the house, and
brought back plate of Aunt Sileny' S
famous kisses. He was proceeding to
ram the snowy, glistening sweetness
down the cavernous mouth before him.
when-could it be?-Goost remon-
strated.
Take 'em back, litty mas Dey'll
scold you. | don wan see You scold.
Take 'em back"
Goost's hoarse croak had actually q
sweet tone in it,
But Nix compromised by gobbling
up all the kisses himself, like a little
glutton, and then commanded Goost to
Gimme rider The man turned over
on his hands and knees, helped Nix to
climb to his back, and then crawled
away, trotting or galloping, as the
baby ordered.
Just at this moment Uncle Bob came
into the garden. Now Uncle Bob was
hOt-tempered man, and he had
warned my father that lit was danger
Gus to keep that half-idiot on the
place" He jerked Nix off his back
and angrily ordered Goost ''never to
touch or speak to the child again. =
Then he came up under the window
to the gallery. L wondered to see
Goost follow him.
Mas Bob" he said, humbly, ''don'
say dat, fob Gods sake! Lemme glib
de chile ride. bin gibin' him ride
cherry day. | won't hurt him. II
likes to glib him ride. Show him how
we do it, litty mas"
He dropped down on his hands and
knees, and looked up like a hungry
dog begging. 1t seemed pitiful 10 me.
because / saw that Nix was the ONLY
one of us who had ever taken any no
tice of him, and that he loved the baby
But Uncle Bob, / suppose, did not stop
to think. He kicked Goost once, twice.
Don't dare TO touch the child
againr' he said.
At that Nix flew to Goost where he
lay, and threw his arms about him.
''Stop at, Bad papar' he screamed.
''GOOst good! | love Goostn' hugging
the woody black head.
His father took him i'm, screaming,
and GoOSt got up and looked after
them. When he saw me. he said: IL
wOuldn't hey hurt dat chile. Miss An
ME. thought the tears were i'm hi,
eyes, but he suddenly went of. turn
ing hand-springs like wheel and
yelping just like dog.
Uncle Bob. Aunt Belle and Nix wen
home next week, and my mother and ]
went with them for visit. The dav
before we started, GOOSt came ND to
Uncle Bob, smiling rs if he had Just
taken a gold medal for good conduct.
Mas Bob, tink I'll. long to you
now. Mas William say | no count.
IF YOU femme go wild You, take
mighty good care OBJ Mas Nix
Uncle Bob was in good humor that
day, so he only laughed.
Thank you. Augustus. But
wouldn't rob your Master William of
your services. l have enough of Your
sort in the sugar-felds at Lafourche. =
Ever well, sahr' and Goost (hiS real
name was Augustus Imperator) disap-
Deared.
We went by boat down the river. Ii
was an immense boat, the Messenger.
with three cabins all gliding and glass
and gay hangings. There was "A party
of our friends going down TO New Or
leans, and mamma and Aunt Belle
wore their pretty gowns, and there
were music and dancing i'm the saloon
every night Nix. of course. was thu.