The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-02-25
STEVE'S LITTLE ANGEL.
BY OPIE r. READ.

The negroes living in the vicinity of Hale's Landing, on the Lower Mis- sissippi river, got up one morning and discovered that new white man had taken up his abode in the midst of them. He was gruff, thick-set man, with coarse black hair and evil-look- ing eyes; man whose voice was harsh and whose silence was oppress- i've. He bought out the stock of small plantation supply-store and without speaking word that would tend to win the friendship of the ne- groes, upon whom his success as merchant depended, established him. self behind his pine board counter.
 "Look we're, Steve," said one of the negroes, addressing an old fellow who held the position of root and catnip doctor and general philosopher of affairs, "Wyn't you go in dar an fine out sunthin' 'bout dat cuis w'ite man? In dar ies now ter buy CT piecer meat, an blame eff didn't think he gwine ter draw fly blisters on me wid dem eyes O hizen."
 "Been CT thinkin' 'bout dat" old Steve replied; "been CT thinkin' CT 'bout it, sho'. Doan like dis way folks has drappin' roun' in dis 'munity Widout 'clarin' da principles. Wy, we doan know wuder he CT Meferdis' UT Baptis' UT what. B'lebe I'll es go in dar an see eff kain' git some 'mu- nication Wid him."
 When old Steve entered the mer- chant was standing with his elbows resting on the counter.
 "How you do, sah how you do?"
 The merchant grunted.
 "Sorter pleasan' weder we'se habin' now, sah. Mighty fine time fur gittin' out de cotton"
 The merchant grunted again.
 1ou'Il fine dis CT mighty socyable place down we're, sah."
 Another grunt.
 "Everbody like it down yere, dat is, dem wut Establishes daselves. Whar you come tum, mister?"
 "None of your d-d business" the merchant replied.
 "Well, l reckon dat's CT fack, sah. 'Stonishin' how easy it is fur folks ter tell de truf."
 "Do you want to buy anything?"
 "Well, yes; jes cut me off CT 'bout CT yard an CT ha'f O perliteness eff you please, sah."
 "Go on away from here."
 "Yas, sah I'll do dat do dat, sho. {"
 The negroes learned that the mans name was Giles, but beyond this their patient and good-humored inquiry could find out nothing concerning their peculiar neighbor. One night they attempted to serenade him with fiddle and banjo, but he drove them away. The passing months brought but little change in the merchant. Once ne gave old Steve a cigar, but this was the outer line of his famil. iarity.
 Old Steve had no family, with the exception ofa little boy, and to this child the old man bowed down in worship. When crops were bad, and when decline in the price of cotton caused the other negroes to grumble, old Steve, taking the boy in his arms would say: "Lawd, I ain't gwine grumble laung ez yer lets dis little angel stay wid me. Let de floods come am let de cut worm do his work. but let me allus hab dis little streak O sunshine in my house."
 "Steve," said an old woman who stood in fence corner, whither she had gone for wild greens, "still takin' on ober dat chile, is you?"
 "Yas, Aunt Lily; oh, yas, an allus will long ez de Lawd lets me.''
 "Look we're, Steve" The old woman reached down, and, muttering, "Misses de weeds, but snatches de flower; misses de weeds, but snatches de flower" plucked wood violet and held it up. The old man turned away. AS he approached the store he saw Giles sitting out in front, leaning back against the house.
 "How you do, Brudder Giles?"
 "Pm not your brother, you internal old fool. What do you talk to me that way for?"
 "Oh, I jes wants ter be socyble."
 "Well, I don't"
 Ane oiu negro sat Qown. "Now, Mir. Giles" said he, eff we all gwine ter make our libin' yere tergeder wy not be sorter frien'ly."
 "You are the most persistent old fool ever saw"
 "Dat may be so," Steve replied, "but de Lawd knows I ain't meanin' no harm by it. MT. Giles, does you eber tink erbout de salvation O de soul?n
 Do you ever think about the fool ishness of the body?" Giles asked.
 "Oh, yas, sah: thinks erbout dat in de night wen you'se ersleep. Whar you get dat piper"
 "None of your business"
 "Dat whut da calls CT meeshum, ain't it? Ole mars uster bab one an we boys stole it out one day, we did,