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

not see Aunt Tempe die with any wish
ungratilicd, and little Nan and Roy
and Susy, and even baby Tom, bcgar
now TO clamor for Doctor Bob: there.
fore. though Mawse Tom had often
declared that Doctor Bob should never
set foot an his plantation. lie was sent
for.
Had Doctor Bob refused TO come.
the negroes Of Tom-in.laick would
have felt themselves doomed by whole
sale TO the powers of darkness; but
Doctor Bob lad never been known
to refuse. II was. rs the negroes say,
"a half hour by sun" when tho on
cart that had been sent for him was
seen toiling up the hill beyond the
peach orchard, and, by Mawsc Toms
indulgence, the negroes stopped work.
and assembled 10 receive the illustri.
Gus doctor--all except Unc' Primus.
Primus was mauling rails in the
woods, and he went On nauling rails.
But lie was not missed from the
company that crowded around the big
gate. rs the cart approached. Little
Miss Nan and Roy aud Susy were
mou.Itcd on the topmOst rcd bar. and
Nom Rhody was there with baby Tom
in her arms; score of little pickanin.
mics swarmed over tho fence rails, and
lost their balance and tumblcd into the
sand. and picked themselves upngain.
afraid TO cry. The older negroes
formed a line oi each side of the way,
bowling obscquiously as the cart
passed through.
Tho cart was full of somcthing-no
doubt Of that. but ut first Doctor lob
did not make much of show. Il was
Christopher Columbus, seated on the
buckboard' and shouting TO the OK.
that chiefly struck the eye" Christie
phcr Columbus. swcllin wild his own
insigniiicancc. dat boy" Nom Rho,ly
remarked severely; for Nom Rhotly
did not believe IN forwar,lncss in youth.
However. Christopher. though hc
I sat exalted. did not command the eye
for long; when tho cart halted im front
Of the cabin assigned to Doctor Bob's
exclusive use there WAS seen in the
I midst Of u motley array Of squat and
bulging jugs. u dwarIish figure. clad
/ III dingy brown. and crouching with
arms a.kinibo, So that lIc was hardly
to be distinguished from the uncouih
vessels thatl lsroum,lcd him, save for
the bright nnt., Nintillaiing black eyes
illuminating hh, Sbon face. and dart.
ing iirc at every s Ncc.
When, ut Muws Toms approach.
he removed his di. q cap. and re.
vcalcd II peaked head whitcas snow,
tho effect was so st;a l,ing that the
awe stricken negroes fell back, and
>omio of the pickaninnics stiilcd u yell
in their M, tlic.s skirts.
I she cuor. mass,." said Doctor
Fob, with a cleaning grin. ~ hc
scrambled out of the cart. When he
stood upon his feet. his resemblance to
his squatty jugs was more marked and
more ludicrous than ever.
lie was very short and very bow
legged. with n pronounced nl,nch,
which hc supported with his two
hands. lie said lac was a thousand
years old, and the negroes believed il,
but he had none OF the fceblcncSs,
none Of the apathy Of age.
Doctor Bob en- hc jug ncbcr fail, :"
lie said Ia Mawsc Tom, with another
grin. rs he proceeded to remove the
numerous vessels Of different sizes,
and TO set them within the cabin door.
lastly. he took from the cart long,
/ stout. knotty stick. black and polished,
and cut into three spikes at the top.
At sight Of this there was u more pro.
nonnccd retreat ON the part Of tho be-
holders. and some of ~ ing
ones ran away howlinS
Doctor lob cviGcniL n1 the
commotion he excited; his eyes twin.
klcd and glanced. taking in every
movement Of tho crowd, while he
raised his stick aloft, waved il around
his head. muttcring strange words;
then. walking backward around the
cabin, he cast handful after handful
Of a curious kind Of hard. shrivclcd
rcd berry or bean. which he took from
his pockets, and Of which his supply
seemed To bc incXliaustiblc.
This done, hc paused in front of the
door. waved his hands thrice. which
the ncgl ocs seemed 10 accept as n dis.
missal. for with one accord they strag.
glcd away; few Of the older ones.
whether through inherited tradition,
whether through an instructive sense
Of dccorum characteristic of many Of
obcisancc 10 Doctor Bob. and solcmaly
retired.
Doctor Bob entered his cabin, and
and was seen no more until about noon
the next day. This was the time fixed
for the initiation OF his ministrations Ia
Aunt Tempe. He began by walking
backward around her cabin, rs hc had
walked around his own, throwing
handful after handful Of his shrivelc,l
scarlet beans. There were not so many
witnesses on this occasion. for tho ne.
gIscs were at work. but Mis- Mamie
was present, and Nom Rhody.
Aunt Tcmpe's cabin with its little
garden was one OF the tidicst on tho
plantation. Her little flower bed had
been gay all summer with -four
oclocks" and ''old maids. which tod.
ding baby Tom would pull and lay
on her pillow. saying: "Piity towers.
make Nom Tempe we'll"
~ first Aunt Tempe smiled at tho
child and fccbly sirovc 10 stroke his
curls, but she had not ,gnilc,l now for
many days. When. however, Doctor
Eob looked ut her aud said: Doctor
Dob know; Doctor Bob cuorc." Aunt
Tempo smiled once more.
To Mis- Nannic's great alarm for il
was a chilly day in November and
Aunt Tempe was almost skeleton
Doctor Dob uncovered his patients
feet, aud with great solcmniiy laid
his staff across the solcs al Aunt
Tcmpc's feet. uttcring some cabalistic
words that Nom RhOdy evidently un-
derstood. for she made "a rcslunse in
similar gibbcrish. ut which pocior
Dob seemed greatly pleased.
lie HOW lok his position ~ the
middle Of the ruon. lixc,l his eyes on
Aunt Temps. and bending his crooked
legs To an extraordinary angle. bcgan
swaying slowly back and forth. wav-
ing his arms and crOoning wild
chant.
Ills voice never roSe above this low,
monotonous grooming. but his move.
ment presently grew faster and faster.