The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1891-01-21
OLD HECTOR'S VISTA.

A large picture nunS upon tne wall.
The frame was handsome and massive,
the painting one of Sully's best; por-
traits of a gentleman and lady in middle
life. They sat side by side, husband
and wife. The former possessed face
Of much power, thought and firmness,
blending with kindliness of expression.
The features Of the latter were still
handsome, wherein gentle dignity
combined with intellect to attract a
study Of the sweet face by all who 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 manhoods stature be-
cause of extreme age and feebleness. He
gazed long and earnestly upon the faces
enframed before him, as 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 Bobs" to hear "ittle missy"
play on her organ, and sing to him the
sweet gospel hymns; to gaze, as if en-
tranced, by the hour on the revered faces
Of "old NAUSEA an missus" which were
the greatest enjoyments of his fading
life.
Ella Merton, little Missy" turned to
look at the old man as he sat. For ten
minutes he had not moved.
"Uncle Hector" she said, 81 wish you
would tell me what you think of when
-it rt11 nt
fathers and grandmother's pictures
"Oh, title 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. look down
an look down, an pears like can see
ebery ting eber happen to me in all life,
an all member, too"
"Do tell me about it. What is the
first thing you seer
"Why, down yander way de trees so
little dey look like dey touch an meet
de sky. see great big ship. It is so
far off I can't see it plain, but I hear de
water on de outside go swish, swish,
swish, an know l 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 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 eber
see, an yer grandpa up dar is one O de
'ittlest ones, an e SO good to little
Afcan nigger, an so pooty, dat I hub
'em straight off, an lub 'em till yet"
"Go on, Uncle Hector"
"Well, den, we git de big boys, an
yer grandpa, ma e let me tex 'em wild
me a-fshin, an | mex em w'istles, 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 'possum
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
eber lite on. Den Q went to e own plan
tation an TEX me an gang more, tell q
mex up e min to move near Columbus
Were de Injuns was. Den q buy Ian
fun dem Injuns an pay 'eln all in gor
an silber money, an dey call 'em de
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, IN dis de truf | 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 mortar, nor pestle, nor
bread tray, nor piggin, clean TO de barry
calabash, an fore de Lawd dey neber tex
chicken nor nuttin wot b'longs to ole
NAUSEA Dat shows de way Injuns will
ave wen w'ite men treat 'em right like
yer grandpa did. Well, e treat cherry
body right. Niger knew e had to wuk,
for true, but e glib 'eln 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
shuekin's. Niger don't hab de fun an
de frolic like dey useter in slab'ry times,
no mon, dat dey don't
"Now pears like Lombaady poplars
CROWN bigger, an kin soc de daylight
'twix EN-, same like Christmas mark off
one year from amirrer.
CAN de chillen now CROWN up, de gals
dey gwine OF TO school, an de boys to
college An wen dey cum home for
holiday, missus gin 'em more partiesi
An den dey git married. one after anud-