The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-02-13

when GllOeTC TeUurneu, some Time AZ
ter shutdown, he found Missy seated at
his cabin door.
"Brer Nicholas is in Tallahassee" she
announced i'm triumph.
de Laud! Wha' dat you tell me,
Missy? Nobody ter Eden, nur ter Sun
rise kin tell whicherway is Mawse Nick
gone. Is hit fur fac he is in Tallahas-
see?'
Missy nodded, with comfortable sense
Of superiority in the possession of knowl-
edge that this old man had missed,
though he had made journey Of thirty
miles. CAT Cousin Myrtilla's," she ex-
planned further.
'You doan tellr'..
"And he is ill; dreadfully ill.," whim-
pered Missy. Sand l know he wants to
see me-"
"Lawd! Lawdr' CALCULATED old Gill
bert.
:'You got to carry me up to town to-
morrow" said Missy authoritatively.
You got nothin' else to do" ~
Old Gilbert shook his head. "Hit
mought be ketchin' complaint, chile"
81 hate hard hearted people" Missy
declared, bringing her little fist down on
her knee with violence. "And every
body on this old hill has got hearts like
mile stones-'ceptin' me. You mean old
Niger! sha'n't give you any Christ
mas gif."
"You mus TAX patience. honey" coun-
seled old Gilbert. "Hit amt mon three
.da NO cavoa Maxr,n Mich 10 laf, ,,s. 4l,;,,.
gwan mend-maybe."
Sand it might be thousand years.
sighed Missy.
"Chillen mus obey" Gilbert reminded
her.
Missy was silent long time; then she
said, at last:
Daddy Gilbert, you've got religion,
Rin't your"
"Bress de Lawdr' CALCULATED the old
man. piously.
"If," proceeded the child, with great
seriousness, eff you was to make, right
here, solemn VOW to the Lord, like the
Bible says, you'd keep it, wouldn't you,
If it killed your"
'Tubbe shor' the old man answered,
journey and the look of strange resolve
on Missy's face.
At this assent she stood up, on the step
above him, her hair tossing in the even
ing wind, her eyes burning, her slender
hands clasped against her breast; she
looked, in the dim twilight, like spirit,
and old Gilbert felt awed.
"Kneel down." she said imperiously.
Old Gilbert obeyed as though the com
mand had come from another world, as
he half believed it did.
"Say after me-" Missy dictated: 81
promise and vow, in the help of the
Lord, to keep track of Mawse Nicholas
Thorne to the end of my days. Amen.
These words Missy recited with fervid
solemnity, the old negro repeating after
her, in an awe stricken voice; he thought
the child must surely be inspired.
"Now," said she, in q matter Of fact
tone. when this ceremony was over, SIN
goin' back to the house and bring you
some supper. I've got to take care OF
you, cause you've got to look after Brer
Nicholas"
The old negro stood watching her as
she went along the lane. "Dat chile
amt gwan live out half her days." he
muttcred, with a sorrowful shaking OF
his old head.
When Missy returned presently with
the promised supper, he declared that he
could not eat.
"Well, but you better" Missy insisted.
You got to 60 up to town tomorrow.
know Aunt Elvira Is goin' to send you"
'Dat cawfee do smell pow'ful encour-
agin', tubbe sho," he admitted, with o
slow smile, and soon found his appetite.
He had just ended his meal, when Miss
Elvira stood in the cabin door, and the
old man rose stiffiy to make his awkward
obeisance.
"Sit down, Gilbert, you must be tired"
said Miss Elvira, graciously. "Winifred,
my dear, run on back to the house; it is
too late for you to be out"
whats the use?" said Missy, with an
impatient shrug. 81 know all about it..
Daddy Gilbert had been to look for Brer
Nicholas and Brer Nicholas amt there. "
''Nicholas is at Mrs. Herry's," said
Miss Elvira, YEARLY.
$50 Missy been tellin' me, Hukkom
you know, Missile vireyf"