The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-11-29
Scan o get your hand out of the

"Can you get your hand out of the
crack?" asked Joe.
"Lord, yes, sub; I'd "a done got it out fc
now, but when you lipt on me so quick all
my senses was skeered out'n me"
''Well," said Joe, "get your hand out and
stay here till / come back and I'll fetch you
something to eat"
You amt foolin' me, is you, little mars
ter?,
DO look like I'd fool your" said Joe
scornfully. ~
II can't see you plain, sub" said the ne
gro, drawing a long breath, but you don
talk like it,"
"Well, get your hand loose and wait"
said Joe.
As Joe turned to 90 to the house he saw
Mr.. Snelson standing i'll the door.
cts all right, sir" the youngster said.
"None of the chickens are gone" !.
"a great deal of fuss and no Feathers,
| said Mr.. Snelson. II doubt but it was a
mink
"Yes," said Joe, laughing. sit must have
been a mink, and Pm going to set a bait
for him."
I'm all this dark?' said the printer.
"Whv, l could stand in the door and crush
it wit my teeth" y
why, yes,'' replied Joe. "Pll take some
biscuit and n piece of corn bread, and
| scatter them around the hen-house, and il
the mink comes back he'll get the bread
| and leave the chickens alone.
"Carital"' exclaimed Mr.. snelson, slap
| ping Joe on the back. II says to mother
here. says l. as sure as you're born to die,
old woman, that by has got the stuff in
| i'm that they mako men out OF. l said them
very words. Now didn't l, mothsry'
Joe got three biscuits and 4 pone OF corn
| bread and carried them to Mink. The ne
eroe had freed his hands and doomed up in
the darkness rs tall as Il giant.
''Why. YOU seem to be as big as q horse,
said Joe.
.Thanky, little marster, thanky. Yes
sub, Pm Il mighty stout Niger, an Of
marsser would just make dat overseel
work, an I'd n heap druther do it dan tc
be hidin' out in do swamp dis wa like
some will yarmint. Good night, little mars
terri
Good night" said Joe.
''God bless you, little marster," criol
Mink ns he vanished in the darkness.
That night in doe Maxwells dreams thu
voice of tho fugitive came back to hin
crying. Go bless you little marster..'
But it was not in dreams alone that Mink
came back to Joe. In more than one way
the negro played an important part in thu
lads lifo oil the plantation. One evening
about dusk, as Joe was going home, TAKING
a "near OUT through the Bermuda pasture
II tall form doomed up before him, outlining
itself against the sky.
"Howay, little marster! faint nobody
but Mink. l des come to tell you dat 81
you want anything out'n de woods des sen
me word by Harbsrt. l got some partridge
eggs here now. Deyer tied up in y rag, but
dat don't hurt UNI. IF you'll aes sproac
out You hank'oher lll put UNI in it,"
"Haven't you gone home yetY' asked Joe,
/ as he held ont his handkerchief M
lord no. snb 7" exclaimed the negro
''De bows say dat dc overseer say he .waitin
fer Mink wild II club
There were four dozen OF these eggs. and
Joe and Mr.. Snelson enjoved them hugely.
From that time forward. in one way nnd
another, Joe Maxwell kept in communicn-
ton with Mink. The lad was not toe
young to observe that the negroes on the
plantation treat d him with more consider
alton than they showed to other white peo-
ple, with the exception Of their master.
There was nothing they were not ready to
do forahim at any time of day OF night.
The secret of it was explained by Harbert,
the man Of all work around the "bin
house,
"Marse Joe" said Harbert ono day, II
wuz gwine long do road dc udder night an
l met a great big niger man. Dish yer