Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-09-23

gave tie promise she asked Forgive
ness and help were so new to him he
could not fully understand them. but
he felt their Divine influence. '.Aunt
Chapy" was an ancient negress who
lived in a miserable hut in barren
field. She was held in awe by the
negroes on account OF her pretensions
as a '.coniure woman" and her super
stitious practice of charms and phil
ters -.
..Ef she don't whip me, teacher"
said Syphax. as they drew near the
house, he holding on to her dress for
| protection, use feared she'll put a
spell on to me, an I'll git pains all
obcr me an die
| THAT is all nonsense, my child. God
does not give such power as that to
any one. She can't do that to you any
more than you can to her.
but she glib pennyroyl tea to
Clarissy, wild snails' tongues in it, an
she lay bundle O. crooked sticks at
her do, an Clarissy she ncber Git well
no mo-" insisted he, his eyes growing
large as he spoke.
..Oh, YOU must not believe that! She
has no such power
! When Chany saw them coming, she
came out to her door, and greeted the
young lady in the blandesr tones.
BLESS Your pretty face" said she.
s:come in and rest you SET. l wonders
de boys don't run away wild you, you
SO sweet!
Not noticing what sne said, Grcta
said: Il want to see you about
Syphax."
'.What You been dom, you var
mint?" said the woman, turning to-
ward him, and he covered beneath
her glance. She was short, wiry ne
gress, with very black face, and a
very yellow bandanna On her head.
Her ewes were small but piercing.
81 want to tell yOu." interrupted
Greta. ''that if you and Syphax have
not enough to eat. we will 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, l done raise him from de
bottle; his mother she die when he wah
free weeks ole; Use gittin' to be an ole
oman now. l 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'!'
| Notwithstanding her fiuency, she did
not inspire Greta with confidence; she
felt that Syphax had told her the truth.
Looking steadily and sternly at her,
Grcta replied: Eyes, he has been steal
ing, and / think it was because he was
told to. Now let me say, that if you
whip to-day, or any day. shall know
it. AS surely as you do it. l 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:
II 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 fo' you go?'
No, l thank you. Goodbye. Now
remember what say" and she left the
two gazing at her, as she walked away
up the road.
After this the devotion of Syphax to
his teacher was very touching; he fol-
lowed her about like a faithful dog.
One day he came late to school; was
he relaps.ng into his truant ways?
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; l 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. reckon
pickin up goubers for herself" he
said, and in his eagerness, he almost
dragged Greta into the cabin with him.
} Then he rushed to the bed. and
drawing key from under the pillow,
he unlocked a hairclOth trunk in the
corner.
80 teacher he gasped. ''don't
scoie me. didn't know it was yourn
nobody tole me, till done glib it to
Aunt Chany"-and he handed her a
watch.
Greta started, and her eyes and
mouth opened wide.
SIS it de ore you lost?" he asked,
eagerly.
1.-The one?-yes, said she, ioyfully,
at once recognizing the ename!ed case
of Miss Ambler's long missing watch.
''Where did you find ,t?''
, I'm dem woods ober yonder. II
shine up at me out o the groun'. She
gwinc to take it to town an sell it.
She say, but couldn't let her, till
see if it was yourn fust. lub you SO
much, teacher''-here Syphax began
, to cry; ''you is de onliest pusson who
cher was real good to me.
Now the sweet note of the Southern
mocking-bird came through the open
window, like song Of triumph over
this little struggling soul, newly born
through love and sacrifice.
. Greta reached out her hand to take
| the watch, when black hand. skinny
and muscular. closed in firm grip
over hers. and a shrill voice cried at
! the highest pitch:
what yer doin'. comm here to a