Connecticut western news., 1890-12-24

the plaintive sound of negro voices from Freeman's quarter, and as Tom listened his heart seemed to go out in sympathy to the singers, for as they progressed he slowly raised his head and leaned for ward, as if to catch the sound. and his lips moved in unison as the words
 T took her hand within my own,
 A tear was in her eye,
 asked her if she would be mine
 Her answer was a sigh
 Oh, Emma, dear, dear Emma
 From the Mississippi vale
 In all this wide world over
 There Is none like Emma Dale, swened upon the breezes. and at the fin ish he arose from his seat and walked toward the woods
 "When the niggers got through with their frolic Tom was gone, and the next morning when the other niggers went to work thar want no Tom there, and it was soon known that Tom was 8 run away.
 sPeter and Lucy wouldn't hear to put ting hounds after Tom, and so he was not heard from any more, and they had quit talking about him on the place. Thus it went for year. The crops were sorry and Peter failed to pay anything on his thousand dollar note to old man Smith, but had to renew and borrow a little more. Peter was confident and Lucy was cheerful, and so they pitched another crop and resolved to economize and work hard, never thinking that luck had turned ergin 'em.
 "Erlong in June, though" continued Plunkett, .the niggers that Peter had bought got the smallpox ermong them, all three of them died and the crop was lost, but Peter rolled up his sleeves and worked the harder and Lucy she was jist the same good little woman, and they made CT pretty good crop and got 1t housed, and don't think ary one of 'em ever thought erbout luck being ergin 'em.
 But" continued the old man, Ion the Sd day of December-on the night of that day-I never would forget it if l were to live CT thousand years, Peters barn ketched CT fire and burned up his whole crop and all three of his horses, and the very next morning old Smith was over there CT pressing him for the twelve hundred dolls.s and said he had to have it or he'd take possession of the farm The money would be due on the 25th day of December, and old Smith wanted his money or possession on that ! day. The prospects for a happy Christ mas was mighty gloomy for Peter, but Lucy said:
 "sWel, Peter, you've got me and the children yet
 "'Yes,' said Peter, and you've never herd me complain, but do hate to give up the home
 'That was erbout as much to do as there was erbout it, until at last Christ mas eve night rolled around and the lit tie children hung up their stockings and talked themselves to sleep about old Santa Claus, and Peter and Lucy listen ed with hidden tears, and all through the long night they sat until the hands on the clock pointed to the hour of three, and then Peter raised his head and lowed:
 "'Lucy, we will have to give up our home to Smith
 Before Lucy could answer soft, cat like tread was heard upon the porch and the latch string was pulled, and as the door opened there was revealed to the Ight of the astonished pair:
 "Old Tom, the runaway.
 "Tse worth 5000 of any mans money, and that will pay off old Smiths mortgage,' said old Tom as he unslung . clean pillow case from his shoulder that was filled with goodies for the little ones, and that soon swelled the little stockings that hung on the mantel
 
 "With the return of old Tom came prosperity to Peter and Lucy, for when old Smith found that Tom had returned and if put up for sale would pay the mortgage he made terms that enabled Peter and old Tom to go to work upon the farm and not only get out of debt, but get rich, and Tom was set free long fore any Yankees howed him, and Pc ter he went out to Texas and found old Squire Crawford and bought the woman what Tom loved and brought her back to Georgia on Christmas day, 18+, and | give her to Tom for his Christmas pres ent, and they live at yonder moss cover ed log house, and wish them merry, | merry Christmas Atlanta Constitu-