San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-05-05

ton shed and wasted. 1t seemed to the ex-
asperated planters more than they could
stand.
The weather was hot and sultry. storms
had been freq in the vicinity, and they
lived in constant dread that their time
would come next and their crops be ruin
ed. A cyclone also had visited the adjoin-
ing county and blown people and houses
about in a lively manner. The terrible re-
ports of its havoc had set the negroes wild.
Those who were not interested in the gold
digging were full of terror of the cyclone,
and wished to stop work and go to digging
cyclone pits-that is, the wicked ones were;
the more pious insisted that it would be
resisting the will of the Lord.
Chief among these was, Aunt Bina, Mrs.
Rodgers nurse. This godly woman main
tanned the extreme sinfulness of taking
any precautions against the commissions
of nature, as they We're instruments of the
Lords vengeance, and should be so re-
ceived.
While the negroes thus wasted their
time and their employers crops the plant
ers fumed and fretted. AS for Sam
Rodgers, he used more ugly language than
he had in a twelvemonth, cOnsigning the
diggers OF pits and gold to unmentionable
localities. He was moreover much pro-
voked by the disfiuratiOn of his pet game
cock, and he attacked SilaS and his son
Titus, whom he found disConsolately
lounging about his horses lot.
"Who pulled out the tail of my rooster!
If I could find the fellow I'd lay my buggy
whip over him."
II dunno nuttin' bout it," said Silas, 81
think too much OBJ myself to bodder wild
rooster, specially gamecock, which is a
vice OBJ Satan, an nuttin' fer me, a Chris
tain IMAM an de chief gran lambkin OBJ de
Chosen Sons Oh Identity tuh NEEDLE wild"
"Silos, exclaimed Mr.. Rodgers, "Inever
suspected you before, but l believe in my
soul that you and Titus had something to
do with it.
Me, MarSe Samr' cried Titus, as Silas
stood dumb and conscience stricken. Fore
Gaud | nebber fetch dat rooster; he'll spur
you eff he get chance. Hetoo 'spise cul-
lud pusson fer me tub fool wild 'em. He's
better AN watch dog in de chicken COOP
De moment you try ter get in he crow"
What! have you been trying to break
into my chicken house?"
"Laud! no, sub! uebber t'ink OBJ sicher
thing. only try de do tub see, jis' by way
OBJ speriment. year de niggers say so, so
tried, not dat I'd demean myself tub steal,
an leastways yO' chickens, Marse Sam. But
TO- Gaud jcs' rs put my han on dat do,
dat rooster riZ up an crow, coo-coo! go-go-
go! ies' same Us he could talk"
We'll, now his tail is gone he don't
crow"
''No, sub, seems like all his pride in life
is gone! His hea-at is broken"
Il wish Icou,d break the head of the fell
low that robbed him."
eyes, sub, wish you could" said Titus,
smiling sympathetically.
Mr.. Rodgers, having heard of Silas'
downfall, determined to make use of him
in overthrowiEs old Juba. The alief grand
lambkin was now an altered man. AS he
stated it, "he was now nowhar." While
he was in this f0rlorn condition, Mr.. ROdg-
ers unexpectedly came to his relief by of
fering him - to break up the gold digging
fever.
"There is no gold down there in that bed
of rock" said Mr.. Rodgers. THAT old
darky is crazy, and you negroes are pack
of fools to believe him"
Silas smiled in silence He did not be-
lieve Mr.. Rodgers, but still he thought it
would be a good plan to run off old Juba
and get the gold in the pit himself, and at
the same time recover his lost prestige as
chief grand lambdn.
Mr.. Rodgers was waggish man, 50 he
took great pleasure in preparing Silas and
Titus for the parts they were to play. Ac-
cordingly at midnight the gold dggers
who were working in profound silence,
were startled by strange sounds and groans
that proceeded from the woods. Two tall,
white phantoms, each supplied with two
heads, adorned with fiery eyes and mouths,
appeared, followed by another that looked
like cleaning skeleton.
"Who NEEDLES with my gold? cried
they.
"Laud hab mercy" cried the negroes,
and began to fly. Old Juba leaped up.
Some baudy's bin a-spitten'" he yelled.
AN SO an ebil sperit."
"Juba-a Juba-a! | come after your
cried hoarse voice.
With another wild yell Juba fled, fol-
lowed by the mob of frightened negroes.
"Now I'll get my cotton picked" said
Mr. Rodgers, and he went to bed with
cOntented mind.
But with daylight the negroes courage
returned. and they swarmed about the pit
full of excitement In the bottom of it
was found a paper on which was written:
81 have taken the gold and left you the
hole"
Curious to see how matters were pro-
crossing at the gold diggings, in the after
noon Mr.. Rodgers took his wife for a stroll
and walked in that direction. Aunt Bina
accompanied them with the baby. He was
a big fat fellow, more than q year old and
quite load for the old woman, but she
dotted on him and thought him wonder of
the earth.
The day was hot and oppressive. A
strange sultriness filed the atmosphere.