The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-26
Printed oy sDseias Arran0emsns-ceDyioAssd 1885,
Pc TE,S CHANCE.
BY MARION MANvILLE.
A STORY OF THE LOUISIANA BAYoUs

In sluggish bayou In Louisiana on q day so
warm that any wellregulated mercury would
have refused to register such pitch of heat,
there was floating small boat which contained
two children. one black. and one of that peculiar
sallow yellowness which indicates the poor white
of the South.
The boat was cross between a wash-tub and
bath-tub and had every appearance of having
outiived its usefulness The one shrunken and
shriveled paddle which furnished an occupant
with propelling power was warped by the fierce
heat and resembled nothing so much as an old
and shriveled arm, which might have belonged
to some Congo chief of long ago. but had in
some way become dismembered from the black
body, and now trying in feeble way to
get somewhere out of reach, where it could re.
turn to its dust by the process of nature, undis-
turbed by eager little black or yellow hands,
and uncondemned to stir up the sluggish and
thick waters of a 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 like freak of nature which had gut
four short legs upon a log, watched it with
sleepy eyes, as if he we're specializing upon the
prospects of meal in case it went to pieces sud
denly, like the wonderful onehoss shay, which
was built in such logical wAy,"-although
am not prepared to assert that he associated it
in his mind with that miracle Of workmanship
whose sudden and violent demise used to crafty
my small longngs for excitement when was
deep in the mysteries Of the Fourth Reader.
''Hi see dat ole CATER sun he self! Pear like
he done gone to sleep for shor!"
Then the white child replied with an accent
so much like the negros as to seem one of his
kind:
'Dat gator he pow'ful lazy He cayrn't Wrinkle
he eye TO- de troubl. Say" with a provident eye
upon him, she back full oh chips but dey doan
com off,"
The children were clad in the one garment
which forms the toilet of small black and poor
white alike. The shins of the black boy being
originally darker than any Dirt showed no
signs of soil, but those of the white child ap-
peared to be the worse for wear and exposure.
They watched the alligator with the langud
interest of the day and climate, which enervates
everything.
Suddenly a vigorous shouting was heard
through the low brush and swamp cypress at
the left accompanied by the sharp crack of
breaking twigs and small limbs, and the yelp of
a dog.
"Hi Pete, dat Gumbos bark, an dat nanny
comm ar dis chile"
The little black eyes showed liberal margins
of white, and he made some ineffective and Dor
tive efforts to sheer the floating Tub out of sight
but being unable to do SO, finally gave up the
job and sat awaiting mammy's appearance
They had not long to wait She burst through
the thicket with fna! grunt of hatred to exer
tion and at once spying the craft in mid stream,
begun such TRADE and in such stentorian tones
dad
neighborhood and pumped off into the bayou
with more haste than dignity.
''Dar yo is-yo' brack imp! Wharform yo'
doan com when 20 hear 20 nanny calm? Use
gwine to war yo right out when 20 gifts home.
How come yo out playin wild dat Pete Barker
agin2 done gone tole yer long go If carnt hav
my chillun playin' wild no po white trash, an a
gittin' devilment of dem which dey got 'nough
on themselves. Yo paddle dat punk heah now
right lively, yo WASH 1 ain gwine argument no
noah bout yo runnin' off dis away. Yo heah me
now :
During the delivery of this stump-tailed yell
low dog kept up a continuous yelping bark as #
to supplement his MISTRESS argument or enforce
it. AS she concluded he also discontinued his
efforts, save an occasional short bark of I'M
mixed satisfaction at the sight of the approach
ing craft and crew. For, despite the threat of
being worn out" Wash, short for Washington,
of course padded in shore directed, and pro-
ceeded to land bis comrade and himself The
white boy seemed to be lost in utter abasement.
He hung his head as far as it was conve nent to
hang it and nos remove that useful member of
his body, and his tattered gunny shirt seemed
to fall into sympathetic detection, although this
may have been in part due to the fact of it's
having been made first for his brother
Joseph. and worn through successive periods of
decay by Joseph, Erasmus, Matthew and Luke,
before reaching Peter This may have accounted
for the absence of fit, not to say style. which
distinguished it. Yet it was serviceable gar
ment, on the whole, and still retained its self
respect. except in the presence of this august
black woman, whose head was wound with the
inevitable bright turban, which made spot of
brilliant coloring in the place.
b ''Yo, Pete Barker, rs bound to tar de head
off'n 20 if 20 DOESN'T quit chasn my chien
roun dis-a-way. Dey amt gwine fur to sociate
wild no swump clav-swollerin po white. Dey's
gwne wld spectabl bracks dey amt gwine
wild nottin but Gumbo hyar Yo hyar me now,
an doan 20 max no misinterpent OBJ what tole
yo right now. / ain gwine tell yo mon seben
hunder times noah. Yo heah me-"
Poor Pete signifed his understanding Of this
mandate by deeper abnegation. if possible. than
before; and she turned her attention to Wash
ineton and ''shooed" him before her as if he
were featherless duck Pete made bold to
sneak off in the opposite direction to his own
humble cabin.
A skinny looking woman of the same peculiar
yellow white sat before the rude door with a
Pipe in her mouth Without removing it she
interrogated
"Wha benz"
Bayou"
"Hungryp
"Some."
''Vittles on tabr."
Pete went meekly in and helped himself to a
chunk of soggy bread and piece of fried bacon
which he brought to the door to eat informally.
Most of his meals were taken this way. After
he had finished his repast and washed it down
with drink of poor water he found time to
observe his mother. Something unusual about
her seemed to strike him.
''Ben shakin gin marmP
mop"
SCOT tn fever gin2"
mop"
The woman shook her head slowly as though
its weight were burdensome to her. and pulled
away upon the old pipe as if it exhausted all
her energies to produce the feeble puff of smoke
which she exhaled through her nosErils Pete
did not feel satisfied with her replies, and
watched her furLiyelv She was a lone lank