The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-14

Ing, the boy would see them whenever he
should awake. Once while he was thus
engaged Mrs. Dustin opened her mouth to
demonstrate against such lavish provision
of food for q mere child, but a glance at
her husbands determined face caused her
TO change her mind and she wisely re-
manned silent.
There had been another and more an
preciative witness of Mr.. Dustin's thought
full act. 1t was Uncle Phin, who, kneeling
outside the shed and gazing through an
open chink in its rough wall. was waiting
patiently for the family to retire that he
might have private and undetected con.
versation with his ELL marse."
As Mr.. Dustin again left the shed the
old man said softly to himself:
"De good Lawd Dress You fer what you
is jes done. Marse Dustin. You is got some
OBJ pore Marse Richards goodness into you
after all If it waren't fer de ole Miss an
dem wicked chillun me an lii marse would
try an stick it out awhile longer. But it
can't be did. No, sab. it can't be did,"
Here the old man shook his white head
sorrowfuily. Dem young limbs ia too
powerful wicked, an ole Miss she back 'em
up. Fer fac ole Phin got ter tax his lam
away from heah, an may be de good Lswd
lead us to de green fiel's OBJ de still aters.
where We kin lie down in peacefulness."
An hour later, when the lights of the
house were extinguished, and all was still
with the silence of sleep, Uncle Pin eau
tiously opened the shed door and, tip-toe-
ing heavily TO where Arthur lay, rested
his horny hand gently on the boys white
forehead.
The child opened his eyes and smiled as.
by the moonlight. now flooding the place,
he saw who was bending over him.
"Sh-h-h. honey" whispered Uncle Phin,
with warning finger uplifted. "Git up
quiet like fiel' mouse an come erlonp wifi
me. Sh-h-h."
Then the old man and the child stole
softly away, the former not forgetting to
carry with him the supply of food pro-
vided by Mr.. Dustin. As quietly as two
shadows they moved across the open space
between the house and the barn.
Not until they were safe in his particular
corner of the haymow did Uncle Phin
venture TO speak aloud. Here he drew a
long breath of satisfaction, for in this
place they could talk freely and without
danger of being overheard.
First he made Arthur drink all that he
could from the bowl of milk and eat heart.
lily of the bread and cakes that Mr.. Dustin
had left for him. After eating the food
OF which he stood so greatly in need. and
which the old man assured him had been
left by one lob de good Lawd's own ra-
bens," Arthur said:
'0hi Uncle Phin, I've tried as hard "a 7
can 10 oe good. and make them all love me
here; but they won't do it, No matter
what DO it seems to be the wrong thing
and only get punished for it. am get
ting almost afraid to try and do right anv
more, and if We stay here much longer I'm
pretty sure shall grow TO be bad bow
such as my own dear mamma and mana
wouldn't love. Now, don't you think We
might run away and live somewhere else
where 1t would be more easy to be good
than II is here? Do you think it would he
very wrong II We did2 Pm sure Aunt
Nancy would be glad 10 have US go. and
perhaps Uncle John would, too"
Why, honeybuel" cried The old man
deiightedly. Dat ar is prezactly what vo'
old Unce Phin's been prolectin to hisse,f
only you mustn't call il runnIn' away. like
you was pore niggah. A Dale don,t
neboer run away. He only changes De
spere OBJ his ibbin'. when ne gifts tired oh
one place, an takes up wifi anudder same
like we'se gwine ter. Use been consi6.
erin fer lsng while back da, desc we're
Dustins, who isn't much better'n pore