The morning call., 1890-06-25
ROBSING.

CLEAN OF light In darkness. And lie was the
most happy go-lucky little negro you ever saw.
lie had tumbled up in life somehow, for his
mother, Aunt Liza was the cook Cup at de big
house." and had very little time 10 devote to her
own numerous brood.
Robinson had one aim in life--tO get enough to
eat, and one all-absOrbing object of admiration
his pretty young mistress. Size was only GIRL
though she was his masters wife, and 1t pleased
her 10 see how completely she queen over
the faithful, humble hearts OF her husbands
slaves: for what am going to tell you happened
many years ago while Abraham Lincoln was
still splitting rails.
Robinson Henry Clay Green was his mistress
adurer-in-chef and he followed Ter about like
dog watching her face so as 10 anticipate her
wishes before they were expressed. Ii Robsing,
as Aunt Liza called him when he was good
wien he was In disgrace he always received the
full benefit OF his grand names-had been called
upon TO give his idea of an angel. beyond doubt
be would have answered briefly: " Mis- Rose
By and by, though Mis- Rose had Il rival in
RObSlng'S affections. That was the baby. But
alter all, il was the same thing, for the division
only meant multiplication as he loved them both,
and neither less because OF his devotion 10 lhe
other. Now you can imagine how proud he was
when appointed by Mis- Rose TO the position of
nurse 10 the o-yeaI-old boy baby. No King
ever received a diadem with half as much honest
pride as Robsng felt when Mis- Rose gave the
baby into his eager arms aud, smiling, said:
" believe you love me, Robinson, and L trust
you with my dearest treasure"
lie made no speech yOwinG eternal fidelity but
the words sunk in his heart 10 blossom Que day
into beautiful fruit.
The plantation belonging to the bab y'S father
was on the banks of the great Mississippi, aud
TO keep out the water they had built what IS
is called levees. But for these leveeS, which are
made of logs stones and earth, the waller when
II rises, which 1t does very often, would overflow
the land. This has happened when The levees
have broken. and in many Instances the planla-
lions thus OyeIiOwed were never again seen.
But Robsing never gave 4 thought TO the fear
full power Of Tie great sluggish stream. II pos
sesSed for him, On the contrary. wonderful las
ciuaIiOn, and his great delight was 10 carry The
baby of to the banks and watch for the steamers
as they passed up the river going TO ST. Louis or
Cincinnati and down again, The chow chowlng
OF the machinery, tile cunning paddles and the
long line OF foemy water left behind were never
failing sources OF delight and WOud 10 Tie baby
aud his nurse
When Robsing's master first heard of this
paStime he bade II. but Miss Rose, knowing
how careful ROb,lng was never 10 let the baby
approach nearer than dozen yards or SO 10 The
waters edge, persuaded her husband not to de
prive the Two children OF The diversion. So 1t
became daily thing Tor Them To spend hours on
| The banks.
often lie women OF the plantation would come
| down to the river to wash the clothes, aud for
| their convenience a long, low Sued had been
| built under which the Tubs were kept. These
| tubs when not In use, were Ulaythings for the
little nurse and his charge, for they were glorl-
| Gus make believe boats. and the tWO although
on dry land, would often 20 on imaginary V0y'
One spring, however, the long rains kept the
| two children in the house and the wonderful
steamers went by unmatched for from tile bank
by bright eyes, black aud blue. But June
day. when the rain held up and The house had
grown prison, Miss Rose at her wits ends 10
amuse the Two Gagged birds, gave them perms-
sion 10 go for play by the river. Z" Take the
beaTskin. ROBINSON" she said, 'fOr;the ground is
damp stlli ana here IS some cake for you 10 play
They went oil in glee and ran up aud down
The bank for awhile.
Look hyah, Baby, JUS look hyah al dis water,
IL JUS a-trlcklin long"
II was Jus a-tricklin," but it was trickling
through an erwidening crack in the leyee.
To the children, however this meant nothing,
and they played IN The little stream. 10 see which
would have sent all the color out Of the masters
cheek; but lac had gone 10 jackson the day be-
fore aud there Was no warning whisper to hurry
him home -,,..--
little stream, they went back To tile clubhouse
ana climbed into one Of the great wooden yes
sells.
"Dis is er steamboat, baby. You hole de bar
skin en- de cake en- I'll be de wheels" And
leaning over The side OF the tub the two arms
swept backward and forward 10 initiate the
de liver mad!" said the baby pointing to the
swollen Mississippi, no longer sluggish but
swirlihg rapidly by. As the baby said, II looked
angry and the leyee was trembling with the
shock OF the running water. kobsing's paddles
stopped and lie looked up as the baby SPOKE.
He saw dark pool along Tie leYee pool that
was spreading VlsiDly every moments higher and
nearer every moment
All around them now was water The baby
laughed and pul out his little hand to dabble in
Ii. he sbreked with delight when the water
| caught the tub and slightly moved IL, but tile
next moment Tie current carried 1t swiftly along
| the ground
Tie levee had broken and the plantation was
| under water.
| The tub and Its burden fioated easily, and for
| the first hour II was only new game 10 the chill
| dren, but then tile baby grew sleepy aud cross.
| RObslng pl!lowed him in his arms, aud wrapped
| The DeaT-skln well about nm.
As FIR as eye could see there was nothing but
| the dark, switliug water. Here and there tree
| emerged few feet from the surface, bodies OF
| cattle went floating by and huge logs danced
| ike chips upon The rushing tide. Often seemed
| as II one would surely strike the tub but tile
| danger would pass for that lime and the queer
| boat go bObblnG on.
| As evening lell ii grew chilly and the raiu be.
| gan 10 eone down in torrents; but RoOsng,
though he Gas shiyerng In his one thin garment,
! never once thought OF taking the bear-skin from
| The by; only wrapped II more closely about
| him. lie afraid horribly afraid now OF the
darkness and the water, and his cramped position
| caused him TO ache In every limb, but lie dared
not stir, for The slightest movement caused the
| tub 10 dip most alaTmiugly.
The baby woke once and said he hungry.
| RobSing gave him piece Of cake and ate some
| himself But IL looked very small now and the
| little negro knew it WAS all they were likely to
have for some time, SO he put 1t IN his pocket to
| avoid further temptation.
| After what seemed nearly week the dawn
| broke aud and a few minutes after the tub came
| into violent collision with something. 1t was Il
| jutting tree trunk. growing OH one OF the num-
beress little isles that dot Mississippi. Robslng
! caught the tree aud, stradylng himself as well
| as lie could, got out and drew the tuo up GU the
| land.
Wien be had lifted the baby out with much
| difficulty, lie succeeded In dragging their boat
| up 10 a comparatively dry spot The baby was
crying bitterly for his mother aud the rest OF tile
| cake had 10 be gwen 10 him to console him, but
| 1t only kept him quiet Il few minutes. He
| began to cry again. while his faithful bond>man
| dried the tub as well as lie could with the wet
| moss clIngug to some OF the trees. He then
| kuDcked 10 off The hear and
the baby in 1t again aud lifted him back into the
tub
| mighty mad ef Ie yer ketch de Group"
There was deadly chill creeping along his
own bones, but he scarcely needed IT,. He had
all he could think OF 10 amusing the baby. for
| that small tyrant had 10 b. Kept quiet by songs
| and antics until he tell asleep again. Poor Rob
| sing lay down by the tub on the wet earth i'll his
| soaking garment and slept also, long and
| heavily. When he awoke he was shiyering ana
yet consumed by burning thirst.
| 90 dOUe kOtcl er chill" he said 10 himself
'but, good lOr! when de baby wake up lie
gwlne cry fer lie dinner, en- whar's 1 gwine ter
| git il?"
He staggered to his feet dizzy and weak. but
| sank back pOwerless. His pockets, turned care
| fully out, were found to contain handful of
| cake cruInbs, aud nearly as much popcorn.
| OATS all ] got" lie murmured. En- pse
| pow'Iul weak FUN starvn'. but IF eats ii up de
| baby lie mouent die. Now l amt gwlne treat
| de baby dat er way. Hes got fer ter hev it, but
| LoTdy oil, my LOrdy, j wish we was home 'giDI'
All that day and the next night ii rained stead
| uy, ana Rnlle INC Dauy was uTS ana warm under
| his wrapping. though cross and hungry, the
| poor little darky lay C Id and shlyeIng. lie
| began 10 fancy that he was surrounded by bright
| angels, one and all wearing the face OF MIS-
| Rose. Delirlum lent HIM strength, though, and
! drew him often and often TO the waters edge,
| where he would peer over the eddying flood for
| thr hip that seemed so long coming.
Early IN the morning OF the third day he
| steamer fighting her way down the river, ana
| with one despalrmg shrek lie hailed her. The
| effort caused HIN TO sins down for moment in-
| sensible. When lie could move he crawled back
| to the tub
lie had forgotten the steamer.
| But that shrili cry had made itself heard, and
| the anxious searchers on board the vessel,
| solved TO let no chance escape them. persuaded
| the captain 10 send i boat TO search the little
| Isle.
| A poor fearful mother Insisted Oh going IN the
boat with her husband.
| III was Mis- Rose. She had been carried TO
| high point OF land when the house was swept
| away and had never been able TO quite believe
| hat lle children were lost.
When the rarly came upOn the Tub under the