Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-31

bar, an desc late years ben too poo1y
10 do nothin'. Dey ulster to take me
out a arm. but dey done give tup now,
Gaze l ben got SO feeble an my lagos
shake 80 when / walk feard 10 pen on
'em. hnint seen de face o dc sun fur
I don't know when, but sometimes O
single solitry streak o. shine falls across
do prisop flo. sets up in my bed an
looks at il and tries to think It's Rays
sperit come back to comtit me. hay
know | amt do him no harm, dat he do.
Dat sunshine mind me o the day l
last saw de ole plantation, de road rom
dc cote house to down dis way come by
de big barn at de bottom o de hill.
Twas hazy day sich as Mistis call injun
summer. an YOU couldn' see fur, fur de
blue mist. De sun look like a great red
ball O. fire an could look at 1t same as
| kin at that black wall TO me now.
AS we rid long dc Constable an me,
We stop at de we'll back o de barn, whar
de hans list come up to water de bosses
an mules as was stretchin dey necks to
de cool water in de trough. Jemes an
Ben was a washin' dey faces at dc cen O.
dc spout, an Jack was drinkin' oil de
aige O. de well-bucket.
When We come by, dey all stop an
say good-by to me, powerful sorry
like. Gaze we farm niggers sot a
heap o sto' by one mother. les' like eff
n hawk cit AFTER a crow all dc crows fur
miles aroun' nd come to hep dat crow.
Dey couldn' hop me do, fur | never tell
as how were innocent. Jack he raise
he self up an wipe he nouf on he blue
cotton shirt sleeve. He run he han in
he pocket an han me he own 'bacco-
bag an he pipe he say as bow he want
to give me sumpin' to member him by.
[ Law of to ak him sumpin' bout de
white folks, but dey never give me no
time.
As we rid long everything 'peared
sorry fur me de bees as l ulster like TO
hear buzzin in de trees over me hade
'peared to be hummin' sort o sad like
out f'om de white thunder wood on de
side o. de road. An de birds as alays
sing so sweet nd twitter f'om branch to
branch IN a pitiful way like snakes was
arter dey ages.
When we come to de bend il de road
/ turn ROM an see de ole house once
mo-, an dat were de cen O it, but seen
it constant in my dreams.
Onct when / ben here nigh week |
hearn dc clock on de ingine-house strike
fur 4 in de mornin'. | jump up an
start to run to see if dem niggers was up
a-feedin' de mules an horses, when
sompin' cotch me round de ankle an
threw me flat on de 70. l thought it
were de plantation bell-rope, an / grab
at it to hang it on de hook when it come
over me ns how it was de chain dey made
me war in dose days wild de ball on de
cen. iis' sot down an cried.
never know why dey dim hang me.
hear sumpin bout nobody seem de
deed, IN 'stantial evidence, but don't
know what dat is. so quit studyin' over
it. | 'speck it was Marster's kind heart
whar save NO fom hangin'.
But mostly thinks 'bout Ray. Last
night as l lay down on dis pile o straw
in de cornder, couldn help de tears
whar come to desc ole eyes, an when L
drap to sleep thought heared de sweet
voice o. little Ray a-calin' me, an / felt
he soft little han on my face, so | know
| amt got long to stay here, an Is glad
OF it.
Two mo- weeks did you say, Marster ?
Well l amt got but two mo- weeks an
den come Christmas an dis old niger
whar come here nigh on twenty-eight
years ago IL, sot out to fin he ole Marster
You say dey leased me two years 70 de
time Gaze l have we'll? Thank you, ole
Marster, dat you teach me good manners
thank yon, sar. De time pears to pass
by slower an before. 'Speck It's Gaze L
alays feel so tired like but III be better
soon. thank de Lord. | been thinkin'
an thinkin' bout de chile Jesus whar
come dat Christmas night in de stable.
/ dream bout he comm to lease me-
/ so tired. Who, who dat, de baby
Jesus ?-Ray-'tis Ksy-Bless de
Lord It's Ray come to let me out I'm
comm -comin'-Ray-
MARGARET b. Cooke.