The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-09-02
CHAPTER T.
THERE IS A DIVINITY THAT SHAPES
OUR ENDS

A typical April morning, sucn rs Is
peculiar to the Sunny South. Every
farmer is now busy preparing
his cotton land-none more SO than
the two young boys with which this
story opens.
The taller OF the twain is a white
boy, the other black, very black boy
who is ploughing sorrel mule, while
the Saxon youth holds the plowhan-
dies behind high-bred horse. They
are both working faithfully and talk
ing earnestly the black boy having
occasionally 10 applya little forcible
persuasion to the flauks of old sorrel,
in the shape of Il hickory withe in
order to make him keep pace with
his more spirited companion
Yes, sir. Marse Sidney, I'se been to
college," said Ike, his big eyes rolling
and his ebony face shining with de-
lighted Importance.
''College?" echoed Sidney, whoa,
haw, DAMP and Sidney pulled his
horse back into the furrow, "college,
what college have you been to >"
"Clayton college. way down IN
Owensburg.
"How did you get there and where
y
pay your way?"
GAS to dat, young boss said Ike
with comical dignity that only soh
of Africa can assume, II shall answer
your questions catumgorically. as de
white Porfessor Gunneybags used to
say. In de fust place, u drover hired
me to tend his horses to Owensburg
and when I got dar, oh, pshaw, ! ort-
enter say dar-when l got there, just
went to school right Off at the col
lege."
I'But who boarded you?"
"Yah, yah," laughed Ike, "that is
where er nigger boy gifts away wild
white folks. Why l boarded myself,
and dat is why Pm back here"
"But what did your table fare have
TO do with your leaving. Didn't they
feed you alright" 2"
didn't have no table, nor nothing
good to eat. / bought a spider and
some rations and cooked my own
meals. They gin ME room for moth
ing en- / cooked for myself. just got
80 wared out eatin bad cooking, that"
with an air Of triumph, clearing his
throat II coined home"
"Well, WE'LL" said Sidney "the State
or somebody is certainly very kind to
YOU blacks. | don't believe | could
get such terms as that anywhere in
the State. 1t almost makes fellow
wish he was q Niger" he concluded to
himself-then he hit Dan with the
line aud plougped almost in Il trot the
length of the field.
Resuming the conversation, he said.
fiWhat did Won learn TEeN
"Lots ndicordS, en- not much nuth-
er, said Ike shamefacedly," if you Ak
me what dey kin teach it wud be more
to der pint. You see, I'se fool niger
an my forefathers was savages and
slaves and that's why can't catch
on-so der free nologists say" Then
rolling his eyes in way that would
make fortune for pl professional negro
minstrel, Ike continued. ut will in
quire two or three generations of cul-
shur to make er Guild pusson equal to
er white man i'm his head. $50 Per-
fessor Gunnybags says.
Sidney threw back his curly head
and laughed such happy ringing
laugh that the old rooster scratching
for his numerous harenl, flew out of
Dams trough, at the barn, on to the
door sill, and crOwed loudly and
defiantly.
"I dare say it will require three gen-
erations and o million added to that to
make the races equal" said Sidney,
with fine scorn.
"Say, boss, why don't You 60 TO col
lege? You is too smart and fine look
ing to spend your life atween the
plOw handles. The boy blushed-he
was handsome, remarkably so, and
clever far beyond his opportunities,
for the cruel chain of circumstances
had allowed him but few school privi-
leges, and those at long intervals.
Though only fifteen he was, and had
always been, fond Of reading. The
weekly newspaper was read and stud
ied-even to the advertisements and
market quotations, and altho' q
youthful. he was an authority on such
matters in his country neighborhoOd.
Sidney johnston ploughed on
i'm silence, meanwhile Ike ratified
on.
"You looks like der picturs del
grand picturs Of de old soldiers.
"Der piclurs / seed at Clayton.
member one in perticlur, kase Ole
Marse Billy had er bully fine mule o
de same name-Hector-and he was !:
fighter and anoder chap dey call iAsl
Heels, and dar is whar Ash Heels have
killed Hector Ell is dragging hin
round Columby, Souf Callina, while
ole man Sherman is Il burnin it! AnC
fore de Lord, if dar, in anoder place
aint ole man Sherman a sittin OH dt
very topof de State House or playing
on u fiddle, and Columby dies u burn
in ~
Sidney was laughing at Ike's mix
ture of fact and fiction when Ikt
again earnestly asked:
"Why don't you go to College? Il
don't TEX so much money as it TEX
cheek Don't mean to be sassy boss
but you is der modestest white boy
knows on and de smartcst. If coult
talk like you, I'd be a niger bishol
fore long. l hear old Mr.. Smith say
if his boy was clever in his head a
you, he'd gin any mount o. money
Twas Saleday at town an he say,
bet that boy can tell what cotton i