Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-08-24

and at that instant Nom Rhody en-.
tered upon the same performance.
which was maintained with great
yigor until both fell to the floor cx.
hausted. Doctor Bob was the first 10
recover. lie removed his staff from
Aunt Tcmpc's feet with one hand. and
with the other he held up TO view two
small balls Of hair.
See um!" he said to Mis- Mamie.
Come outen foots. but tr,beled dc
body froo."
DO you expect me TO believe such
nonscnsel" said Mis- Mamie. indig-
nantly.
Honey. honey" painted Nom Rho
dy, 'doan balk dc cuOrc!"
I'm gwan sec" muttcrcd Doctor
Bob, in dudgcon. as he wrapped the
balls of hair in fabric. the like Of
which Mis- Mamie lind never seen be.
fore. lie then left the cabin. but pres.
emily returned with one of his smallest
jugs full Of stcaming liquid; this he
placed at Aunt Tcmpcs feet. and
covered all closely with marvellous
patchwork.
"Um no better, chr" hc said TO Mis-
Mamie. jerking his thumb toward the
bed. Certainly Aunt Tempe was no
worSc.
So the "powwow. ms Mawsc Tom
called il. went on day after day, with
this difference: that il took place after
dark when more Of the negroes
special selections OF Nom Rhody's-
could be present ITO assist" in the
ministratiOns, and Mawsc Tom came
to look ON. instead of Mis- Mamie.
Every night Doctor Bob drew bigger
and bigger balls Of hair from Aunt
Tempc's feet, and put bigger jug Of
some mysterious stcaiping compound
in her bed. and Aunt Tempe began TO
recover the power Of speech aNd the
use Of her hands.
AZ last. when for eight consecutive
days he had exhibited those mystcri.
Gus balls Of hair. supposed to travel
through Aunt Tcmpc's body and come
out ut her feet. and Aunt Tempe all
the while visibly growing better. on
the morning of the ninth day. that
being Friday, Doctor Bob announced
that she would bc looscncd from the
"kunjcr" nj sundown, and that who
ever had been instrumental in putting
il upon her would "dap in dc tracks. -"
and only Doctor Bob's mercy could
save that person from the effects of
that same "kunjcr."
Al Doctor Bob's rcquisition all the
negroes were summoned at Sindown
TO march in procession around Aunt
Tcmpc's cabin. ole Mis- and Mnwsc
Tom and Mis- Mamie being there ms
lockers on with all the children. cx.
ccpt baby Tom. who was asleep on u
blanket in front Of Aunt Tcmpe's fire.
Aunt Tempe lay on her bed opposite
the door, which was wide open, that
cgrcss might bc allowed the Invisible
''kunjcr." aud that she might be seen
of each one in the procession. She
was very feeble still. not having yet
recovered the power Ia move herself
freely. Doctor Bob stood outside. fac.
ing the door, at "a sufficient distance Ia
allow the procession TO pass between
him and the cabin.
Despite his diminutivc size. despite
his dcformi,y. this hoary headed blacl;
dwarf wore an air Of majesty. and
humbuggcry though he felt il all Ia
be-, Mawsc Tom could not laugh; Ia
these ignorant creatures il bore sig.
niiicancc SO terrible.
Mis- Mamie. when Doctor Bob bc.
gan his uncarthly grooming. chung
trembling 10 lcr husband. and was
half sorry she had permitted the chill
dcn To bc present.
Most ncgwcs incline 10 II rocking
gait. and Mawsc Toms slaves. under
tho influence of Mcior Fob. swayctl
and swung heavily. and doubtless.
had the marching and the grooming
continued many minutes. they would
all have passed into convulsive
dance. but the march presently came
abruptly 10 an end.
In obedience to n fascination none
could resist, each negro. in passing,
looked in ut the invalid on the bed.
but when lrimus looked in he uttered
yell and fell Hat upon his face.
lie l,ad seen what nobody else stayed
o. scc. for the negroes scattered farnnti
wide. ~ il "a bombSllcll had burst
among them. l'rimus saw Aunt
Tr'alc. who had not moved for 80
M ny weeks. spring out Of bed and
ru,!, to the fireplace. for Aunt Tempe.
too. had seen what nobody else saw
sl.r had seen the log in the fireplace
bur,i aSuntlcr and SCATTER in its fall the
burning Goals over baby Tom.
No one could understand ut first the
aplariiion Of Aunt Tempe in the door
way. with the sleeping child in her
aims. and the tears running down her
wasted checks. Even Ia Mawsc Tom
and Mis- Mamie il seemed sort OF
miracle. and make no doubt that
Doctor Bob himself was in measure
asionisllcd. but hc said. complaccntly
I'm done looscd. feed um. warm
um. INN walk bombyc."
Then hc turned his attention 10
Primus, who upon recovering his
senses, foisworc Cnc' December and
all his arts.
AS for Aunt Tempe, she did not re-
cover her full strength Immediately,
but she improved rapidly. and never
was i'll again. She died in freedom
at an extreme old age. chccrcl TO the
last by the atrcctionatc devotion Of
baby Tom. whom she was accustomed
60 pet and scold long after his beard
was grown.
Mawse Tom paid Doctor Bob's fee
wiihout questioning his skill. but il
was not To be doubted by any reason
able mind that Aunt Tcnipe's faithful
affection for baby Tom was a power
ful factor in her cure. though Doctor
Bob took TO himself all the glory OF it.
Elizabeth W. Dcllamy in Youths
Companion.