Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-08-28

when | went on a trip to keep hiln from
running away. hunting for me. as he
calls it.
His only passion besides his fondness
for me is his love for music. The banjo
that / gave him is his constant com
panion. and he will sit for hours as you
saw him today. singing plantation songs
and straying aimlessly through the
woods. After ! had brought him home
the first word he uttered was Sam, and
Sam | named him. How he came N
the sad condition in which | found
him. whether be was always half wit
ted or whether his mind was affected
by the suffering he experienced | know
not. but | have always felt that fate
threw him in my way for some purpose,
and | will always keep him with me.
Such was the story Of Sam as told
me by his master II was now quite
late. and showing me t. my room, Mr..
Delon bade me good night For some
time | lay awake, thinking of sam. l
could almost see the little black face.
filled with "a look of affection for Marse
Arthur who had saved his life
IL was broad daylight when / awoke
next morning and / could hear Sans
banjo already tinkling. and Sans
voice singing the song that ! first heard
him sing Arising ] dressed and went
upon the gallery Here I found
Mr.. Delon sitting ou the steps. while
beside him sat Sagu waited until
Sam had finished playing and then APP
preached Thanking Mr.. Delon for his
hospitality. ! told him that [ must pro-
ceed at once upon my way. as | had
already lost a whole day through the
laziness Of Lazarus.
He, however. insisted upon my re
naming until breakfast. telling Sam at
the same time TO have my pony saddled
We went in at once and were waited on
as before, by Sam, who appeared even
more anxious to please his master than
ever. After We had finished our meal,
l a again thanked my courteous host and
prepared to depart Sam led Lazarus
TO the door, and shaking Mr.. Delon by
the hand bade him goodby. Mount
ing my pony | left the yard and turned
down the narrow path After the thick
woods had shut the house from my
view, ! could still hear the tinkle Of
Sans banjo. and the last sound | heard
was "Oh. SaInf'
That day | reached my destination,
and sent Lazarus back 70 Bogville by a
Ny work was finished in a few
days, and returned again 70 my home.
Several years passed and I had forgot
about my trip e Bogville. and all
remembrance of Sam had faded from
my mind. one day / received a letter
from the head Of my department. tell
Ing me 20 90 70 Bogville and survey
land between thar town and Mad
don. as a railway was 20 be built
through that section
| proceeded at once to Bogville and
reached that little town at dusk Next
morning / prepared 70 start upon my
way 10 Madden, and then il was that /
remembered my former trip through
.hese woods. The thing that brought
memory S 10 forcibly 20 my mind
vas the horse that | had 10 hire to
make the trip Ii wa no other than
lazarus, upon whom the flight Of years
lad had no visible effect knowing
What was before me / sorrowfully
mounted the little beast, resolving TO
top again az the house of my hospita-
de friend Delon Once more | slowly
raversed the little path. Once again
lid the trailing vines catch me under
he nose Once again did Lazarus
reep along with me, needless Of word
blow.
Late in the evening l reached the
urn in the road where ] had first seen
lam, and halfway expected 70 see him
gain, sitting upon the fence. with his
in his hand. But he was not
here, and I rode on toward the house.
soon reached it, and entered by the
anne gate as before. No one was in
ight, so | dismounted, and walking up
be steps, knocked on the door. It was
pened by Mr.. Delon, who recognized
ne at once and invited me TO enter. /
id so, and looked around, expecting
= SC DaAus Dul hC- was nOl lltFe.
'oked toward the fireplace. and there,
upon the chimney, I saw the
aniO that Sam held In his hand when
rst / saw him. Turning to Mr.. Delon,
asked him where Sam was. Helooked
{ me with tears in his eyes, and said in =
voice filed with emotion, Come,
III show you"
Silently | followed him through the
pen door, out upon the smooth grassy
ard, toward the large oak tree, under
.hich Sam had so often sat, playing
pom his banjo. Silently Mr.. Delon
to a small plot, inclosed by a
w paling fence. / approached and
Nv a grassy mound, at the head Of
.hich was a white marble cross bear
g only this simple inscription;
SAM,
Aug. q. IS.