The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-25
OLD HECTOR'S VISTA.

A large picture hung upon the wall
The frame was handsome and massive,
the painting one of Sully's best; por-
traits of a gentleman and lady in middle
life. They sat side by side, husband
and wife. The former possessed a face
of much power, thought and frmness,
blending with kindness of expression.
The features Of the latter We're still
handsome, wherein a gentle dignity
combined with intellect to attract
study of the sweet face by all who sawit.
A very old negro sat on a low stool be-
fore it. His head was white with the
SHOWS of many winters. His frame had
dwindled from its manhood's stature be-
cause of extreme age and feebleness. He
gazed long and earnestly upon the faces
Unframed before him, as a devotee at saint
ly shrine might gaze and worship. 1t was
not the first time he had so sat Indeed,
it was his frequent pleasure to slowly
come on fine days from his humble caoin
TO Mass BObs" TO hear little missy"
play on her organ, and sing to him the
sweet gospel hymns; to gaze, as if en-
tranced, by the hour on the revered faces
of "old NAUSEA an missus," which were
the greatest enjoyments of his fading
life.
Ella Merton, ''ittle missy" turned to
look at the old man as he sat. For ten
minutes he had not moved.
Uncle Hector" she said, 81 wish you
would tell me what you think of when
you sit still SO long and look at grand
fathers and grandmother's pictures"
ooh, little missy, dunno eff kin tell
you. Seems like lookin' down dem LON
Saady poplar abenus useter be in Lib'ty
county fore you was born. l look down
an look down, an pears like can see
ebery ting cher happen TO me in all life,
an all member, too"
"Do tell me about it. What is the
first thing you seer"
"Why, down yander way de trees so
title dey look like dey touch an meet
7e sky. see a great big ship. 1t is so
far off l can't see it plain, but hear de
water ON de outside so swish, swish,
swish, an i know / am dar wild lots O
folks. and it's awful hot, an heap O. dem
die, an seems like de water neber gwine
stop goin' swish, swish, swish on de out
side o dat vessel Den / see de quarter
at de old plantation in Lib'ty county,
an / go to playin' wild sum buckra chill
len. Dey is the fust wife chil]en | eber
see, an yer grandpa up dar is one o. de
'ittlest ones, an e SO good to little
Afcan niger, an so poorly, dat / Tub
'em straight off, an hub 'en till yet"
go on, Uncle Hector"
well, den, we git de big boys, an
yer grandpa, ma e let me tex em wild
me a-fshin', an / mex 'em Whistles, an
gun for shoot chiny berry, an we mex
rabbit trap an bud trap. an go in
a-washin', an bring up lie cows, an
swing on to calf tail, and go 'possum
huntin' till git bigger an go to piclin'
,otton an hoein corn an all dat yer"
Look down your avenue again, uncle,
md tell me what you see"
Il see de big weddin' wen yer grand
pa e marry yer grandma an cut out lots
o rich men wot useter court her, case
she shorely was dc pootiest lady de sun
cher lite on. Den q went TO e own plan
tation an TEX me an gang more, tell q
mex up e min to move near Columbus
were de Injuns was. Den e buy Ian
fun dem Injuns an pay EN- all in gol
ar SLIDER money, an dey call EN- de
homes man wot cher lib, an tink de sun
pure rise an set in EN-.
yer grandpa e plant e corn plum up
to Injun door. case dev neber move de
fust year, an dis de truf / tell Won, de
neber teef de fust roastin' year, nary one.
After vile de bucbra and Iniun gwine
fife. an dey all move of 'twixt dark an
dayhte, an TEX all dere tiugs wild 'em,
neber leah mortar, nor pestle, nor
bread tray, nor piggin, clean to de barry
ealabash, an fore de Lawd dey neber tex
schicken nor muffin wot blongs to ole
NAUSEA. Dat shows de way Iujuns will
ave wen wife men treat EN- right like
Ter grandpa did. Well. e treat cherry
Body right. Niger knew e had to wuk,
FOR true. but e glib 'em plenty to eat, and
TUX good care of EN- wen e sick an git
ole. An de fun we useter hab at Christ
masl an Fort o July! an de barbecue!
an wen we lay by de crap, an de corn
shucldn's. Niger don't nab de fun an
de frolic like dey useter in slab'ry times,
40 mon, dat dey don't.
Now pears like Lombaady poplars
CROWN bigger. an kin see de daylight
twix EN-, same like Christmas mark off
one year from amirrer.
"All de chillen now erowin' up. de gals
dey gwine off TO school, an de boys to
college. An wen dey cum home for
horday, missus gin EN- more parties!
An den dey git married, one after anud-
der, an de big cakes an de fine doin's,
can't tell you! Maussa gle 'eIn Of land
an niggers, an some 90 TO plantin' an
Bome 80 70 lawin', but e neber gle me to
any o EN-, cause me an him played to
gerrer wen we was chillen, and one day
e laf an say, Muffin but def gwine
paat me an you, eh boyT Den Ian back
an say, No, NAUSEA, you shet my eyes