Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-09-05

I Ur NIITNIHL EllL W -HN-Ar 1A"a
path. and in a few minutes Eas out q
sight I returned 70 vheFe lsft I.aza-
rsIs. and dragging the shaggy little
pony 70 his feet ! mounted and fol
; lowed the direction taken By Sam A
} ride Of ffteen minutes brought me in
sight of farmhouse standing upon a
little elevation a short distance from
the road. Passing through the open
gate ! rode up to the front porch, upon
which stood a white man. while By his
side stood the queer negro bog. Sam
Disruounting. ascended the few steps
that led up 10 the gallery. and intro
ducing myself 70 the owner. begged
permission 70 pass the night The gen
fleinan welcomed me cordially and
babe me make myself perfectly at
home. Ills name, me told me. was Ar
thur Delon. and he was the proprietor
Of large tract Of land that lay be
tween BOgvilIe and Naddon.
/ Turning 10 Sam, who had stood all
the time staring at me, he told him to
take my horse 70 the stables Sam at
once obeyed. casting at his master a
look Of affection as he left TO do his
| bidding. Mr. Delon now asked me
to enter the house. Doing 50 he
showed me TO a room and told me to
get ready for supper He returned in
a few minutes and showed me at once
20 the dining room, where supper was
already prepared, although It was barely
dusk We we're waited on by Sam, who
stood behind Mr.. Delons chair and
executed each little order as though II
we're very important matter. could
easily see that he was deeply attached
to his master, for IL evidently gave him
great pleasure to obey his orders.
When he was unoccupied he would
stand behind Mr.. Delon's chair, look
ing at him with sad. earnest gaze that
made his large, black eyes almost beau
tifui.
Supper being over my host invited
me TO smoke n cigar upon the porch.
Thlther we went. and together walked
slowly up and down In the moonlight.
! We had been there but a few minutes
when we were Joined by Sam, who car
ried his banjo He came up TO Mr..
Delon, and taking his hand walked by
his side. At length Mr. Delon told
him to sing. He at once seated him
self upon the steps and began playing
upon his banjo. He sang song after
song. while the shadows deepened
around us. and the stiffness of night
/ L. Irx.lar, I..y Tha uafan ~ fhn
negro and the tinkling Of the banjo.
At last his master told him to stop.
| He obeyed at once. and upon being
told TO leave us he arose, and taking
Mr. DeloD's hand kissed II. and saying
Good night, he turned away and left.
When he had gone asked Mr.. De
lon what was the cause OF Sans great
affection for him Delon turned to me
and said
will tell you. Five years ago |
chanced TO be riding through the
woods, along the very path that you
Travelled today, when ] heard faint
cry II proceeded from a dense thicket,
and at first thought 1t was the cry OF
some wounded animal. For a few
minutes listened, and again heard
IL. This time thought 1t sounded like
the voice OF a human being. and get
ting of my horse forced my way into
the thicket Again | heard the cry,
and going little farther found lit
tie negro boy lying naked upon the
ground and apparently dying. He was
so weak that he could not talk, and
from time to time he would utter the
fnint. despairing cry that had attracted
my attention.
picked him up, and carrying him
out Of the thleket, wrapped him In my
saddle blanket and brought him to my
house Here he has been ever since.
IIe soon recovered from his weakness,
which was due TO starvation, but his
brain was affected, and he has been
ever since ms you have seen him today
An that his brain Is able to grasp Is the
fact that | saved his life, which he says
is mine. The strange part Of his delu
sion Is that some day he will give his
life for mine and save me as | saved
hin He will never leave me unless l
order him TO- and at night he sleeps In
my room He will will wear nothing
except my old clothes, and will listen TO
no one except myself Sometimes his
devotion Ii almost pathetic, and at
times have had to take him with me
when ! went on trip TO keep him from
running away, hunting for me, rs he
calls II.
His only passion besides his fondness
for me is hls love for music. The banjo |
that | gave him il his constant com
panlon, and he will sit for hours as you
saw him today, singing plantation songs
and straying aimlessly through the
woods After had brought him home
the first word he uttered was Sam, and |
Sam | named him. How he came In
the sad condition In which l found
him. whether he was always half wit.
ted or whether his mind was affected |
by the suffering he experienced | know
not, but have always felt that fate
threw him In my way for some purpose,
and will always keep him with me-
Such was the story OF Sam as told |
me by his master II was now quite
late, and showing me 10 my room, Mr.
Delon bado me good night For some
time lay awake, thinking OF Sam.
could almost SEQ the little black face,
filled with look Of affection for Marso
Arthur who had saved his life.
IL A. A a 4 a