Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-04-26


"SplendidI Just the thing. I'll put
the words down right away"-taking
pencil and sheet OF paper ont CT my
satchcl. "Now say the first words
over"
"Look-a-look a heah, look-a-look a
wharf? he repeated; "set that down
in yo' rememberandum book"
Then when ] had all the words be-
fore me began TO sing them as well
as / could, with random accompani-
ment on my banjo. How weak and
thin my imitation.
Royal wriggled in his seat-"Scuse
me eff disrup' you, man, but you
don't screech mon half lou1 enough;
des make up yo' mind Ter take de roof
of-dis way-'wooow'"
He opened his mouth like a yawning
cavern. " Johnny, come down de
hollowp Strike t'err string dar, dat
off string yandah, pull on it lax yo'
boun' ter rip de insides outen de BAN
jer. You is as well built lady as
/ ever see; don't be skeered o. yo' own
yoice--des boiler 'wooowl' wild de
bes' of 'em. OATS some BETTER"
After / had gone over the song twice,
"Don' yo' be disencouraged; eff Lad
yo' two or free days Id make fust-
rate singin' bird out o. yo'. Can't yo'
lay yo' plans ter stay awhile in Well
DOM"
"Stay here, in this place? no in
deed!n
.'Dat wat dey all say dat has ter
stop heah-dey swivetin' to git on"
81 wish you'd let me have your
banjo to carry away with me, Royal,
and take mine in place of it. Perhaps
l could learn TO play if / had yours"
He glanced down lovingly at his, as
parent regards an afflicted child.
claws, ma'am! dis heah instrument
aim wuf shucks long side o. yourn
can't tell me muffin bout him; l.
knows dis banter inside and out; didn't
desc hands make him fom de wud go?
He gittin' ole an shreaky, He don't
hold he age as good as he marster, but
/ got ottached to him, somehow. /
don't want ter part wild him twell dey
gives me harp ter play on, up in de
New Jerusalem. made dis here
banter on de old Roy'l plantation wen
was co'tin' Tidy. Dat 'oman-she
i gwine ter stick to me clean fru' twell
| de crack o. DOOM nuver had no vile
like her."
After strumming at ''Look-a-look a
heah' awhile longer, l said, "Can't
you sing me another one now,
a Royal?"
lie turned his eyes to the ceiling
: with an distracted air, as though his
+. Thoughts were wandering far away
. from this room. There was something
! pathetic in his gaze, something i'm
: ploring; was the an praying? Hi:
fingers strayed over the strings til
they found a soft minor, and ther
e came a tender, lingering wall tina
d thrilled me to the core, his voice melt
h ing to the consistency of wistfu
e lullaby:
q sob, Susie, oh, Susie! wouldn't you like t
!, go
IS Way up in de mountains:
q Oars whar de river flow,
Oh, de hills an de mountains VIII all pas
J.. away,
l An YOU viii have new heart again som
= other day.'
IL The music had ceased with broke
sr sob. Royal leaned his head again;
n the banjo; his tears fell over tn
e, strings. s.What's the matter? Poo
as fellowl Are you sick? Is it that 70
$ are so awfully poor? Never mind, L
" help you some
at Il mighty po', lady; dat why
'bleege to come hea an pick up a fey
$ cents today: but dat amt troublin' m
re now. You must 'scuse me. Roy
ut heart too heavy. He can't sing no mo
ut oh, my I'll Susie! dat onlies' lamb d
m Lawd send me after all my misty
she living daid at home!"-Frances A
:" bert Doughty, in the Home Magazine
o,