Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-10-01


A cart drawn BY n single OK drove
up TO tho depot platform and middle
aged colored man and his wife and five
children got out. They had bundles
and we're going up to somo point in
Georgia. The cart was driven away
By negro boy. and twenty minutes
later ono os the qheerest old darkios
you ever saw canie down the street Il
had taken. IIo was bow-legged.
hump.bncked. grey-hoaled and lame.
Thar comes daddy exclaimed the
woman rs SHE caught sight OF HIM and
zach unc OF thv children echoed tho
cry.
The oil man hoppei and hobbled IN
a queer way. aud he looked scared aud
envious rs he finally arrived at tho
platform. just then the husband oario
up and demanded:
Now. wnat ys's doin' yere, olo
daddyp"
Il dun cant stay-'decd | can't" re-.
piled the old man.
But yo's got tol Didn't we talk Il
all oberl Didn't we dun say we could.
MT take yo'P'
''Chillens!n said daddy. as he reach.
ed out his hands "doan' leave the ole
man ycrcl He's dun gwine to starve
to death II yo' dol Moses-Mary-~
take dc ole man long up TO Gawgia
wild yoln
We began to make inquiries. and We
found tho family to bo sduatters on
piece Of land tour or live miles from
town. Moses was his own son aud for
four or i've years the old man had
been almost helpless and consequent
ly burden. 10 get rid of him they
were going to journey to new loca-
tion. leaviGg him entirely alone on the
'squat" to five as best he could.
They had talked il over two or three
times with him, but he was so old and
childish that he had not fairly under
stood. They had secretly laid their
plans and had slipped quietly away in
the early morning leaving him fast
asleep. When he awoke and missed
them he set out for the depot. aud here
he was to appeal to his own flesh aud
blood not to be left behind.
The danghter-in-law seemed to be
bitter against him and to exercise d
strong influence over the son. Whilo
he stood thero begging for his life. aa
it we're, she rose up and gave him O
slap and said:
''Irs no use, ole daddy We hain't
dun gwine TO take yo'. and II you doan'
go back III hurt 20 powerful badr'
Several Of us interfered to prevent
further assault. The old man took il
meekly. and turned TO the son with:
Moses yo' was de only chile 1 goti
Was yo' gwine to leave yo' ole daddy
to die in de breshp"
I'VE dun cant take yo', cause yo's
too old an II costs too much
"rll work Moses-rll work hard II
you take mer'
II say we amt going to take yo'r'
bluntly exclaimed the woman.
Gran chillenr' be pleaded as he
turned to the little ones, 'is yo' all
gwine to leave yo' ole gran'fadder to
starye aud die?"
They were silent
Yes yo' clair right out. now yo'
useless trashl" shouted the wcman
looking around ia defiant way. And
after looking from one TO another in
hopes to arouse pity the old man half
fell, half relied of the platform and
walked down the track.
IL was straight away for two or three
miles and he had shambed of to
distance about forty rods when he saw
an express coming. He was facing il.
lie hobblcd few yards further, and
then halted. faced about aud dropped
on his knees right in the center of the
track. IL was "A half-minute before we
understood. Then Il was too late.
The engineer whistlcd and we saw fire
fly as the airbrakes hHgged the wheels,
but the heavy train could not be stop
ped. When IL drew up at the depot
there were splashes Of blood on the
pilot and the limp and broken body of
old daddy was lying in the hazel
bushes up the track.--M Quad "a NJ
u World