Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-06-11
OLD HECTOR'S VISTA.

ULD HECIURS VISTA.
A large picture hung upon the wall.
The frame was handsome and massive,
the painting one of Sully's best; por-
traits of gentleman and lady in middle
life. They sat side by side, husband
and wife. The former possessed face
of much power, thought and frmness,
blending with kindliness of expression.
The features of the latter were still
handsome, wherein a gentle dignity
combined with intellect to attract a
study of the sweet face by all who saw it.
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, las devotee atsaint-
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 cabin
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-
Tanced, by the hour on the revered faces
Of "old NAUSEA an missus," which were
the greatest enioyments of his fading
life.
Ella Merton, "'ittle Missy" turned to
look at the old man as he sat. For ten
minutes he had not moved.
"Uncle Hector" she said, ''I wish you
would tell me what you think of when
you sit still so long and look at grand
fathers and grandmother pictures"
ooh, little missy, dunno eff kin tell
you. Seems like lookin' down dem Lom-
baady poplar abenus useter be in Lib'ty
county fore you was born. I look down
an I look down, an pears like L 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?''
''Why, down yander way de trees so
little dey look like dey touch an meet
de sky. I see a 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 I 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 I eber
see, an yer grandpa up dar is one O de
fttlest ones, an e so good to little
Afcan niger, an SO poorly, dat I Tub
'em straight off, an I lub 'em till yet"
$50 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 go in
a-washin', an bring up de cows, an
swing on to calf tail, and go 'posum
huntin' till git bigger an go to pickin'
cotton an hoein' corn an all dat yer"
"Look down your avenue again, uncle,
and tell me what you see."
81 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 sun
cher lite on. Den e went to e own plan
tation an tex me an gang more, tell e
mex up'e min to move near Columbus
were de Injuns was. Den e buy lam
fun dem Injuns an pay 'em all in gol'
homes man wot eber lib, an tink de sun
pure rise an set in 'em.
eyer grandpa e plant e corn plum up
to Injun door, case dey neber move de
fust year, an dis de truf I tell you, de
neber teef de fust roastin' year, nary one.
After vile de buckra and Injun gwine
fte, an dey all move off 'twixt dark an
daylite, an tex all dere tings wild 'em,
neber leab a mortar, nor pestle, nor
bread tray, nor piggin, clean to de barry
calabash, an fore de Lawd dey neber tex
chicken nor muffin wot b'longs to ole
NAUSEA. Dat shows de way Injuns will
ave wen wife men treat 'em right like
yer grandpa did. Well, e treat cherry
body right. Niger knew e had to wax,
for true, but e glib 'em plenty to eat, and
TUX good care of 'em wen e sick an git
OLE An de fun we useter hab at Christ
mas! an Fort O. July! an de barbecue!
an wen we lay by de crap, an de corn
shuckin's. Niger don't hab de fun an
de frolic like dey useter in slab'ry times,
no mon, dat dey don't.
sNow pears like Lombaady poplars
CROWN bigger, an kin see de daylight
'twix 'em. same like Christmas mark off
one year from amirrer.
Cali de chillen now CROWN up, de gals
dey gwine off to school, an de boys to
college. An wen dey cum home for
holiday, missus gin 'em more parties!
An den dey git married, one after anud-
Ter, an de big cakes an de fine doin's,
ean't tell you! NAUSEA gle 'em off land
In niggers, an some go to plantin' an
tome go to lawn, but e neber gle me to
lny o em, cause me an him played to-
gerrer wen we was chillen, and one day
e laff an say, .Nuttin' but def gwine
paat me an you, eh boy? Den 1 laf back
an say, No, NAUSEA, you shet my eyes
or 1 shet yours, OATS de way want EN-
to be, an hope to de Lawd my eyes'u
shet fore yours is Now e gone an l
left! An e bin gone more n twenty
year! Peas like de las paat O de abenu
is heap de longes'.
Snow" drawing long breath, ''cum
de grades longside de way. Fust e
youngest chile jess married an gone to