Telegram-herald., 1890-12-25

sFrVslfa1 orzlOng Lns otbeF nisgers that
saver 49, sIsas ADD that be i rafiier
be deai thAn satuat G. it. Ihiags went
srio1s this say ul Ton he get ~orse
aAd sorse. al zs last oae night ~hen
Ehe ulgg~rs ha1 gathered ogt iH thvar
yafd and were pl4yinS slaa e. singing
undeE ~ o&k Ca ths grsss fom 70
1est set oaE on sr horse block ana whit
tlea with MS knife AID l0oked down az
the gFound till no hered tbs nigsers sing
the old sougs
"O4d usassa sise ne boli-r aay
lie sasa - a give nl- iaofr.
All tlauksd ana ssFs kia1ly.
Al saosed uy haet frosa ssofa
is 90. us desresg Hay
Aoure pvs8 as the dsy.
1oar eyes - orighs
They shins a night.
Whfa tlo naen has sens assy
"And fr0m across the branch came
thc plalntiyc sound If negro voices from
Freemans quarter, and a. Tom listened
his heart seemed - go out IN sympathy
- the singers, for - they progressed he
slowly raised his head and leaned fer
wapl. as Il 20 catch tho sound aud his
Il took her hand githin my o~a.
A tear was 10 her eye.
asked her Il she would % nina
Hef answer sigh
Oh tmme, dear dear Emma
froHn the Mississippi vale.
IL ali this side world over
There Is noao hEe Emma Dals
swelled upon the breezcs. and at the fin-
ish he arose from his SCAT and walked
toward tho woods.
When the niggers got through with
their frolic Tom was gone, and tho next
morning when the other niggers went
10 work thar wait no Tom there, and
it was soon known that Tom was a run
away.
Peter and lucy wouldn't hear 10 put
ting hounds after Tom, and so he was
not heard from any more. and they had
quit talking about hun on the place.
Thus 1t went for year. The crops were
sorry and Peter failed to pay anything
on his thousand dollar note 10 old man
Smith, bat had 20 renew and borrow
little more. Peter was confident and
Lucy was cheerful, and so they pitched
another crop and resolved TO economic
and work hard, never thinking that luck
had turned ergin 'em.
"Erlong in June. though, continued
Plunkett, "the aiggers that Peter had
bought got the smallpox ernong 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 er pretty good crop and got it
housed. and | don't think AIRY one Of 'eIn
ever thought erbout luck being ergin
'em.
But, continued the old man, con the
81 day of December-on the night Of
that day-I never would forget it if |
were to live er thousand years, Peters
barn ketched or fire and burned up his
whole crop and all three Of his horses,
and the very next morning old Smith
was over there er pressing him for the
twelve hundred dollars 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 happy Christ
mas was mighty gloomy for Peter, but
Lucy said:
"'Well, Peter, you've got me and the
children vet
"'Yes, said Peter, and you've never
herd me complain, but do hate to give
up the home
That was erbout as much 70 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 viii 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 rs the
door opened there was revealed to the
sight Of the astonished pair:
old Tom, the runaway.
Use worth 5000 Of any mans
money, and that wiz pay Off old Smiths
mortgage said old Tom as he unslung
2 clean pillow case from his shoulder
that was filed with goodies for the little
ones. and that soon swelled the little
stockings chat hung on the nantel
with the return Of old Tom caTEe
prosperity 60 Peter and Lucy. for when
old Smith found that Tom had returned
ard If put up for sale would pay the
mortgage he mnde terms that enabled
Peter and old Tom 80 60 70 work upon
the farm ard rot only ge- out of debt,
but set Tich a8d Tom was set free long
fore anv Yankees lnowcd him. and Pc
ter no went ont % Texas arc found old
Squire Crawford and bougb' the woman
what Tom loved and broaght her back
81 Geor-a On Christmas day. 1s4. and
give he~ 70 Tom for his Christmas pres
cat and they hive AZ yonder noes cover
"a log hcuse. and wish thorn rperTv.
merry Christmas. Atlanta Constitu-
ticn.