San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-02-02
OLD HECTOR'S VISTA.

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 tirmness,
blending with kindliness of expression.
The features of the latter We're still
handsome, wherein gentle dignity
! combined with intellect to attract a
study of the sweet face by all who sawit.
| A very old negro sat on 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 adevotee 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 Bob's" to hear "'ittle 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, little Missy" turned to
look at the old man as he sat. For ten
minutes he had not moved.
"Uncle Hector" she said, II wish YOU
would tell me what you think of when
you sit still so long and look at grand
fathers and grandmother's pictures"
"Oh, little missy, dunno eff kin tell
10 yi,,' H. 7
baady poplar abenus useter be in Lib'ty
county fore you was born. look down
an / look down, an pears like can see
cherry ting eber happen to me in all life,
an all member, too"
''Do tell me about it. What is the
first thing you see?" #t## ~ &
why, down yander way de trees SO
little dey look like dey touch an meet
de sky. see great big ship. 1t is so
far off can't see it plain, but / hear de
water on de outside go swish, swish.
swish, an 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 chillen eber
see, an yer grandpa up dar is one O. de
ittlest ones, an e so good to little
Af'can niger, an so poorly, dat l Tub
EN- straight off, an lub 'em 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-fishin', an I mex 'em Whistles. an
gun for shoot chiny berry, an we mex
rabbit trap an bud trap, an 90 in
a-washin', an bring up de cows, an
swing on to calf tail, and go possum
huntiu' till git bigger an go to picbin'
cotton an hoein' corn an all dat yer"
. Look down Your avenue again, uncle,
and tell me what you see." n
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 de pootiest lady de SIN
eber lite on. Den e went to e own plan-
tati0n en- TEX me an gang more, tell e |
mex up e min to move near Columbus I
Were de Iniuns was. Den e buy Ian
FUN dem Injuns an pay 'em al in gol
an SLIDER money, an dey call EN- de
homes maa wQt eber lib, an tink de sun
pure rise an set in 'em.
Yer grandpa e plant e corn plum up
to InJun door, case dey neber move del
fust year. an dis de truf l tell You, de
1eber teef de fust roastin' year, nary one.
after vile de bucEra and mjun gwine
lite, an dey all move off 'twixt dark an
eayHtc, az $el, eli aere tings wild e.. :
lebar Ieab mortar, nor -, ~,
,sIoba Soy 49, Eqi p1S a. clean to de barry
/ chic -vfe tt9 Lave 9ey "eVeEI'eh
maUsEB: Dat shows de way Injurs win
ave wen W ite men treat 'em right like
yer grandpa did Well, e treat cherry
body right. Niger knew e had to wuk,
for true. but e bib femplenty to eat, and
TUX good care of 'eih wen e sick an AT
ole. An de fun we useter hab at Christ
mas! an Fort o July! an de 5arbecue!
an wen we lay by 2e crap, an de corn
shrckin's. Niger don't hab tie fun an
de froIic like dey useter in slab'ry times,
no mon, dat dey don't.
"Nov pears like Lombaadl poplars
CROWN bigger. an I kin see de'daylight
'twix en-, same like Christmas mark OFT
one year from amirrer, .s a,..
"All de chillen now grown up, de gals
dey gwine off to school, AN de boys to
college. AM wen dsy cum home for
holiday, missus gin em moro parties!
An den dey git married, one after mud
der. an de ~ cakes an de fine doin's, l
can't tell You. Mans:a sic EN- CT land